The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1865-01-06

from the testimony presented, Will b
pronounced the correct one BY the army,
navy and people ct large, with but . very
few dissenting voices. It seems 20 us
that never Was there fairer opportunity
for an easy conquest and that, although
ordered to make haste and return with
his troops to Fortress Monroe, General
Butler committed the greatest mistake
Of his whole military career in deciding,
Oh Christmas day against IN attempt
to carry Fort Fisher at the, point of.the
bayonet, as it might have been carried in
a rapid dash Of thousand, or even five
hundred, men.
One of our war correspondents, ac-
cc,npanying this Wilmington expedition,
says that when General Weitzel, after
his reconnaissance Of the fort, went TO
consult with General Butler, leaving
General Ames in command Of the troops
on shore to await orders, tho opinion
was expressed by General Curtis that
he could carry the. fort. General Anes
then told him to take his brigade and Try
it; but the night fell before his prepars-
tons for the assault could he perfected,
and with the night came orders for the
re-embarkation Of the troops. Besides,
a storm was brewing, so that tho army
could no longer delay in getting on board
ship through the surf And SO Admiral
Porter was left "pegging away" at Fort
Fisher. If not recalled, We have no
doubt he will prove within few days the
soundness of his late opinion by accom-
plishipg, with detachment Of m ariness.
the job which was regarded too hazard
GUS for three thousand veteran soldiers.
We await the opinion of General Grant
upon this subject. If he, who began his
glorious career in this war by "rnoving
ON the enemy's works, and who believes
in that style of warfare, shall support the
opposite course adopted by General But
, Ter and General Weitzel in regard to
Fort Fisher, we shall consider the opin-
ion of Admiral Porter fairly neutralized.
, Meantime, however, we feel satisfied that,
had Grant been on the ground, the opin.
4 ion of tho General and the Admiral
would have beon the same, and that the
: result would have been the capture q
= Fort Fisher on Christmas day.
n From tho New York Tribune Correspondence.]
J. General Weitzel is known to have I'd.
n vanced his skirmish line within fifty
! Yards of tho fort, while the fire from the
e fleet was so heavy and continuous thai
d the enemy were kept closely housed IL
their bomb. proofs.
Surely here was chance to take thu
!. work by assault, if ever there WAS ono
Fl Our troops were not only willing. bu
is eager, and to judge by the struggling
"a SQUADS of the foe who appeared at inter
" walls only to give themselves up, quite
g equal 20 the task. But it was not to be
4 1t had been decided that the fort VA
~ ''left substantially uninjured as . deten-
n sive work by the navy fire." and it Va
"a settled that the work should be aban'
N doned. Soon after 5 o'clock the order =
20 re- c-embark was given, and before dari
e the boats were busily engaged IN carry
,t ing the order into effect.
"a The re-embarkation of the troops, .
already stated, commenced shortly befor'
i sundown of the 25th, and was continue
r through the night Owing to the heav,
ID rain and almost Egyptian darkness whic
- prevailed, the consequent difficulty .
to landing the boats on the beach, and th
Ia unmistakable reluctance Of the men
v leave the shore, it took much longer
~ reembark them than itdid to land then