, 1865-01-18
THE LATE WILMINGTON
EXPEDITION.



HnQns. ARMIES or TIE UNITED STATES.
~ Cn1 PonT, Va, Jan; Z, 1864 .
:, Respectfully, forwarded. 70 avoid publicity Of
ton against Fort Fisher, my ordcrs 10 General
Butler TO prepare 1t were given verbally, and the
pediton we're mado BY him and submitted to me.
e. osbe4 sqsh &
copies Of my dispatches and Instructions 10 Gene
nj patler relating to the expedition. n eeM b.
General Butler sAould accompany fhs erptdnIon,
but that Mstor General Weitzel WIS especially
named as the commander Of t. Ny hopes Of snc-
Fisher, and had even hope Of gettng Whining
ton before the enemy coa1d get troops there 70
a. u se nad @
to ascribe the delay, which has coauds 50 dearly,
eanpoxda1 sn il he af ~ aspateses % s fo General
Butler will show his report to bc In error where
5:sss sats aE on
contrary, these instructions contemplated no
Withdrawal or future attsF 1sndlnf %n: made. qsn
). (Conddential.I
uEADQ'ns. DEr'T. or V1noIHA AND NoR1u)
cA4oLMA, ANTI amt 9f 1T TUE JAAKs' 9sa:
Mai. Gen. g. WsItzel. Commanding 6th 0orp:
GrSEnA1: Tho Major General commanding
dition about 10 embark for tho North Carolina
coast 1t will consist Of about 800 tnfantry, two
batteries Of ast11sIy' nd aX fssalry TIE e e
Corps will furnish the fnfantry force. Gen. Paine
lie under your orders, and Gen. Ames will be or
dered to report to you In person Immediately.
Yon will confer with thcso 0facers and arrange
detallr, Instruct them to select their best men,
making your force about 500 men. The Chief Of
artillery in conference with you, will designate the
nEtilleEy 10 be taken The horses Of the Batteries,
except one horse for each officer and chtefof piece
viii BE- left. Take one set OF wheel-hasness. Fifty
men Of the Massachusetts cavalry will be ordered
to report to yor. Forty ambulances 1.-TWO horse)
with the necessary medical stores, have been Sc
1ected for tho expedition, which will be distri.
buted on at least: two boats. Take s29 rounds Of
ammunition for the men, 100 rounds In boxes to
be distributed through the Hcet Ifyour division
trains do not furnish the Necessary amonnt, the
balance required will be furnished By The Chief Of
ordinance at the point OF embarkshon. Three
hundred rounds Of artillery ammunftf1n per
gun win be taken. So much oft 81 ts not CON
tanned in timber boxes and catssons, will DO load
cd in boxes at the Point Of emharkaton., Let each
tlsys' rationa, three days cooked nest twenty
deys additional will be taken In at Fortress Mon
roa, distrtbrsi1g It through The acet., Field ra-
vislon and brigade headquarters will be allowed.
Mounted officers will take but one horse for per-
Eonal use.
The Chief Qna.sermaster has been instructed to
furnigl $50 mules harnesses. It u expected to
obtain the ANIMALS from to- eneny'a cavalry. The
Chief Qua!tcrmaeter will also furnish party or
wha1f-buildefe, and small amount Of material Tor
5 Ms5ros f. Ell r siens asp a.
Ger has been instructed to order signal officers and
men 10 report to you. Lieut.. Parsou, with COM
pany Of engineer soldiers, will report to you. Five
hundred shoye!s, $50 axes AID 100 pleka hare been
portation will be ready Tomorrow, at Deep Bot
You will report in person to the Major General
Commanding, tor further Instructions.
/ m. tnENPctfutT.