The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1865-01-17

'of tho expodition WDes made ~ him and
submitted 70 me Iskppend q the repofs
! CORY or General Butler's Instructions
10 General Wcitzel, together with copies
Of my dispatches and instructions to Ge.
neral Butler relating to the expedition.
1t will be perceived that. it was never
contemplated that General Butler should
accompany the expedition, but that
Major. General Weitzel was especially
named as the commander Of it.
NV hopes Of success rested entirely on
our ability to capture Fort Fisher, and
had even hopes Of getting Wilmington
before the enemy could get troops there
to~oppose us. KNEW that the enemy
had taken nearly the entire garrison IF
Wilmington and it's dependencies to OPP
pose Sherman. l am inclined to ascribc
the delay, which has cost us so dearly,
to an experiment. refer to the explo-
sion of gunpowder in the air. My dis
patches to General Butler will show his
report to be in error where he states that
he returned after having effected a land
ing in obedience to my instructions. On
the contrary, these instructions contem-
plated no withdrawal or failure after a
landing was made. u. S. GRANT,
Lieutenant General
The inside history ofthe reasons which
led to the Inauguration of an attack On
Wilmington will be found in the follow
ing orders to Butler before he sailed:
HEADQUARTERS ARMIES OF THE
UNITED STATES,
CRY Po1Nr, November SO, 1864.
Major General Butler:
have files of Savannah and Augusta
papers, by Colonel milford, from which
/ gather that Bragg has gone to Georgia,
taking with him, | Judge, most Of the
forces from about Wilmington. 1t is
therefore important that Weitzel should
get off during his absence; and if sue
cessful in effecting landing, he may, by
a bold dash, succeed in capturing Will
mington. Make all the arrangements
for his departure, so that the navy will
not lie detained one moment for the
army.
Did you order Palmer to make the
move proposed yesterday? 1t is impor-
tant that he should do so without de-
lay. U. S. GRANT,
Lieutenant General.
Official: 7. S. Boxers,
Assistant Adjutant-G General.
HEADQUARTERS ARMIES OF THE
UNITED STATES,
CRY PoINr, VIRGINIA,
December 4, 1864
Major. General Butler:
feel great anxiety to see the Will
mington expedition of, both on account
of the present fine weather, which we
can expect no great continuance OF, and
because Sherman may now be expected
to strike the sea--coast any day, leaving
Bragg free to return. l think it advisa-
BILE for you to notify Admiral Porter, and
get off without delay with or without
your powder boat. U. S. GRANT,
Lieutenant General.
Official: z. s. Boaoees,
Assistant Adjutant- General.
HEADQUARTERS ARMIES OF TuE1
UNITED STATES,
CRY PoINr, VIRGINIA,
December 6, 1864.
To Major- General Butler, Con,naandinq
the Army Of the james:
/ had sent you cipher dispatch be-
fore receiving your instructions to Gene
raj Weitzel. / think it advisable that
all elnbarkation should take place at
Bermuda. The number of entrenching
tools, / think, should be Increased three
or four times. u. S. GRANT,
Major-G General.
Official: Z. s. Boacers,
Assistant Adjutant> General.
HEADQUARTERS ARMIES OF TIE
UNITED STATES,
Cry PoINT, December 6, 1864.
Mujor General Butler, Compa,Riuq
ARMY Of the James;
General: The first object of the expe
dition under General Weitzel is to close
to the enemy the port of Wilmington. If
successful in this, the second will be the
capture of Wilmington itself There are
reasonable grounds to hope for success,
if advantage can be taken of the absence
Of great part of the enemy's forces. now
looking after Sherman in Georgia. The
directions YOU have giyef, for the n,,mhar