Daily State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis, Ind.) 1861-1865, 1865-01-04
Butler and Admiral Porter.
eES. BcTLER 20 4DxIzAL PoETEE.
HEApor ARTEKs DrYAKrxKxT OF VIRaISfl


HEAporARTKKs DrrAKrxEsT OF vIRsrSIhl
Asp NORTH CAEoLiSA, Dec. ID, 1864. \
ADxIRAL:-Upon landing the troops snd max
ing thorough Reconnaissance OF Fort Fisher
both General Weitzel and myself are Of the
opinion that the place could not be carried by
assault. as j; was left substantially uninjured as
a defensive work by the navy FIRE. We found
seventeen guns protected by trayerses, Two only
OF which were dsmounted. bearing UPON the
beach aud covering a steep OF land, the only
practicable route. lot vide enough for tbous-
and men in line Of battle.
Having captured Flag Pond battery. the garri-
ION Of which (sixty- FIVE men and two commits
stoned officers were taken oil by the navy, We
also captured Half Moon battery and seven OH
GERS and two hundred and eight men Of the North
CArolina junior reserves. including is command
er from whom learned that portion Of Hoke :
division consisting OF kirkland's and Hapgoed's
brigades, had been sent from the, lines before
Richmond on Tuesday last. arriving IT Whining
ton Friday night
Gen Weilzel advanced his skrmish line with
in fifty yards Of the fort. while the garrison were
kept In their bomb proofs by the fire OF the navy.
and closely that three or four men Of the pick
Ell line ventured upon the parapet and through
the sally port of tho works. capturing horse
which they brought OFF, killing the orderly who
was the bearer OF dispatch from the chief OF ar
tillery of Gen. Whiting 10 bring light battery
within the fort: and also brought away from the
parapet the flag of the fort This done
while the shells Of the navy we're falling about
the heads Of the daring men VINO entered the
work and il Was evident. as soon as the FIRE oil
the navy ceased because OF the darkness. that
the fort was fully manned again, and opened
with grape and canister upon our picket line
Finding that nothing but the operations Of e
nh nil in mt
instructions, would reduce the fort, and il
view of the threatening aspect OF the weather.
the wind arising from the southwest. rendering
IL impossible TO make further landing through
the surt-I caused the troops. with their prison
ers. to re-embark and see nothing further tina
can be done by the land forces. shall, there
fore sail for Hampton Roads soon as the trans
port can be got 10 order.
/ Ny engineers and officers report Fort Fisher L
ne AS substantially uninjured as a defensive
work.
I have the honor 10 be. very respectfully. you
obedient servant
Benz F. BUTLER,
Major General Commanding.
/ ADMIRAL PoRTER's REPLY.
NORTH ATLANTIC SQUADRON. }
UNITED STATES FLAG SHIP MALVERN,
Orr NEw INLET. n c.. December 26. lS64.l
]
ceipt Of your letter of this date the substance 0
which was communicated 70 me by Genera
Wetzel last night. l have ordered the arges
vessels to proceed of Beaufort to eli up with am
! muniten TO he ready for another attack in cas-
\ il is decided 60 proceed with this matter BY max
ing other arrangements We have not com
menced firing rapidly vet and could kee
| any rebels inside from showing their head
until an assauiting column within
twenty yards of the works wish some
more Of your gallant fellows had fOll0we
the officer who took the flag from the parape
and the brave fellow who brought the horse on
of the fort think they would have found
an easier conquest than is supposed. | do not
however, pretend to place my opinion in opposi
ton to Gen Weizel, whom know to be an &C
eomplished soldier and engineer. and whose opin
ion has great weight with me
will look out that the troops are all off il
safety. We will have west wind presently. an
a smooth beach about 3 o'clock when sufficien
boats will be sent for them The prisoners NOS
on board the Santiago de Cuba will be delivere,
to the provost marshal at Fortress Monroe. un
less you wish 20 take them on board OF one O
the Transports which would be ncony eDient jus
now
remain. General, respectfully,
DAVID ID PORTER.
Rear Admiral
To Maj Gen B. f. Butler