American citizen. [volume] (Butler, Butler County, Pa.) 1863-1872, 1865-01-25
VOLUME 2.
Gen. Buffers Official Report.
HDQRs. OF THE ARMIES OF THE .. S
City Point Va, Jan, 7. 1865.


SIR: Herewith have the honor to
forward Maj Gen Benjamin F. Butler S
and subordinates' reports of the expedi-
tion against Fort Fisher, n. G,
As the report of Rear-A lrniral D. d.
Porter has been published in the papers,
would respectfully reGuested that Gen.
Buffers report, with all the paper ac-
companyiag IL, be a.iso given to the pub
lie.
Fery rcspc stfully, your obedient SER
vent. u. S. GRANT, Lieut.-Gen.
HpoRs. DEPT. OF VAANDN n c., ARMY
oFTHEJAMEs, IN THE FIELD ,Jan.3, 1863
Lteu.- Gen. U. S. GRANT, Commanding
armies Of the United States:
GENERAL: On the 7th of December
last, in obedience your orders, NOV
ed force of about sixty five hundred
(6500) effective men, consistingof Gen,
Ame's Division of the oath Corps and
Gen. Paine's Division of the 25th Corps,
under command of Maj.-Gen Weitzel, to
an encampment near Bermuda.
On the 9Th the troops embarked for
Fortress Monroe.
On the 9th (Friday) reported to Rear
Admiral Porter, that the army portion of
the conjoint expedition directed against
Wilmington, was ready to proceed.
We waited there Saturday, the 10th,
Sunday, the 1lth, and Monday, the 18th.
On the 18th, Rear Admiral Porter in
formed me that the naval feet would sail
on the 18th, but would be obliged to put
into Beaufort to take on board ammunition
for the monitors.
The expedition having become the
subject of remark, fearing lest its desti-
nation should get to the enemy, in order
to direct from it all attention, on the
morning of Tuesday, the 18th, at three
o'clock, ordered the transport feet to
proceed up the Potomac during the day
to Matthias Point so q. TO be plainly visit
BILE to the scouts and signal men Of the
enemy on the northern neck, and to re
trace their course at night and anchor un-
der the lee of Cape Charles.
Having given the navy thirty-six hours
start, at II o'clock noon of the l4th
Wednesday, I joined the transport fleet
off Cape Henry and put to sea, arriving
at the place of rendezvous off New Inlet,
near Fort Fisher on the evening Of the
18th (Thurs lay.)
We there waited for the navy Friday
the 10th, Saturday the 18th, and Sunday
the 18th, during which days we had the
finest possible weather and the smoothest
sea.
On the evening of the 18th Admiral
Porter came from Beaufort to the place
of rendezvous That evening the sea
became rough, and on Monday, the 10Th,
the wind sprang up freshly, so that it was
impossible to land troops, and by the ad-
vice of Admiral Porter, communicated to
me by letter, | directed the transport fleet
to rendezvous at Beaufort. This was a
matter of necessity. because the transports,
being coaed nd watered for ten days,
had already wasted that time, to wit,
from the 9th (the day on which We were
ready to sail) to the 10Th.
On the goth Tuesday, 2lst (Wednes-
day). 22d (Thursday) and 23d Friday
it blew a gale was occupied IN coal,
ing and watering the transport fleet at
Beaufort The Baltic, having large
supply of coal was enabled to remain at
the place of rendezvous with brigade
on board of twelve hundred men, and
Gen. Ames reported to Admiral Porter
that he would cooperate with him.
On the 23d | sent Capt Clarke of my
staff from Beaufort, on the fast-sailine
armed steamer Chamberlin, to Admira
Porter. to inform him that on the evening
of the 24th I would again be at the ren
devious with the transport feet for th'
purpose of commencing the attack, th'
weather permitting.
At 4 o'clock on the evening of tht
oath I came in sight of Fort Fisher, anC
found the naval fleet engaged in BON
harding it, the powder vessel having beel
exploded on the morning previous, abou
one o'clock.
Through Gen. Weitzel, / arranged witt
admiral Porter to commence the landing
under the cover OF the guuboats, as earl
as eight o'clock the next morning if pos
sible- as soon as the fire Of the Hal
Moon and Flag Pond Hill batteries ha
been silenced. These are up the shor
some two or three miles above Fort Fish
er.
Admiral Porter was quite sanguin
that he had silence the guns of Fort Fish
er. He was then urged if that were s