The Monmouth inquirer., 1865-08-03
Gen. Butler at Fort Fisher.

Ihe New York papers last week published
the official report of the Committee on the
Conduct of the War, concerning Gen. But
ler's attack on Fort Fisher. #y A 81
| In the opinion of those who knew the
facts, Gep. Butler was long since acquitted
of blame iD that matter, and their opinion
now finds an official confirmation in the re-
port of a Committee which had the best pos
sible opportunity of judging. The Tribune
| says:-
The expedition underwent remarkable
change of commanders. Admiral Farragut was
l first appointed to command the naval force, but
was too il, and Admiral Porter was choseniin
his place. Gen. Gilmore was designated by
| the War Department to command the lard for
ces, but Gen. Grant objected, and substituted
| Gen. Weitzel. A point has heretofore been
made that Gen. Butler accompanied the expe-
dition Without authority. The Committee says:
I" Although. until Gen. Butler EXPRESSED his in,
tention, it may not have been expected that he
would accompany the expedition, no objection
was made by Gen. Grant to his doing so, not
withstanding he had ample time and power to
have ordered otherwise "-sr
| There has been question between the land
and naval commanders whether either delayed
the other. 1t now appears that the expedition
started on the 18th and 14th December; that
Gen. Batler with his transports went Straight
1 to the rendezous, and there waited during three
days Of fine weather for Admiral Porter, who
had gone to Beaufort and was taking in sup
plies for his feet. By the time Porter was
ready, a. storm came up, and the transport feet
was obliged to go to- Beaufort for safety and
focal. While the land force was thus seventy
miles away, Admiral Porter, on the Gath Of
December. began his attack BY exploding the
Powder boat, and twelve hours later by bonn
bardment. l 8.-,4
| As soon as Gen. Butler was able to reach the
scene of action, he arranged for the landing Of
portion of his troops, and a reconnaissance Of
Fort Fisher by Gen Weitzel. Upon the ques-
ton as to the advisability of an attack at that
time, Gen. Weitzel gives the following strong
Testimony
| (" After that experience, Tin assaulting works.
with the information had obtained from reading
and study-for before this war | was instructor
at the Military Academy. for three yea s, under
Professor Mahan, on these very subjects; remem
bering we'll the remark Of he Lieutenant General
commanding, that it was his intention should
command that expedition because another officer
selected by the War Department had once shown
timidity, and in face of the fact that had been
appointed Major General only twenty days before
and needed confirmation; notwithstanding all that
| went back to Gen. Butler and told him consid-
cred it would be murder to order an alta on that
work with that force" tE1a Mai 70 iw
| And Gen. Weitzel, upon being asked whether
he is still of the same opinion, replies So" YES
sir; am fully satisfied from all have, heard
since, from the result of the second attack, and
every .nis elsci ani iuiiy satisneu eiat oid
my NJ uuey .ne'e.
lne iepe' os.. "h..lnss mi'o was ~ com
auu ,n.u Io'L yna' ou' nv .ne
Butler was waiting in vain for Admiral Porter
| the garrison numbered but 607 men; on the
23d, the day before Porter began his attack, 400
lresI troops "ero 1hrowh into .,9 !' .cfe. lhe
oohpafunshs ~ suo nasys say (" li.in, was
u'n .ai:u a'eu 'ne isen
was ~ ~ 80 ~ iss unS auu
when lae hre iro.ii u ING sups ceaseu, the suns
ana ue'ehses u. es iauu-i,one meto in pe,ise'
orser, eAcepea IVY uisaoleo guns 3ou, .he ie'.
hiieleeu guns "s,e ~ posison pansaues ~
peIece oiuei anu .ne .nes .ne ms .no
no' na'is ueon ,..'....o ne moi % ,S.5
stIong, Tug saliisoh N soou spil.s anu iraey
ana the nre On the aapproaches t.ne assauitihs
coiulin nayins ., ~ co,ei1 noaiu nave osen "a
sraoroiharIy ,Isasy aIa.gt
~ ~ ~ rDt I; sS nees nau p.oasu .
sCa.o'iwa ,S.,,., m4a az h
90 80 60. 80. -
an,,,s,ano,. ~ -, ~, asssnes,h of can Ws;t
sai,s on;n;on sustained hy hot of rni Co,ns
stnck Con Grant,s oyyn snoineor 1en ,pntIer
ssa;Jsd not 10 attacS + - - : ! ''>
~ ~. Terrv attactred the for. and tool. II
= az ~ rrasd IJndonhtellr and ba deserves
lshs - = L'a. ~. has .ccryed :, hin fron, Il
d.. 'ae 80, a;fsaren, c;rcn,stansas Al
:, haartilv Win Csn.raJ
LII ~ Ca;.,a b..d;d ~, viii
o p.,.lnn 49, NJ .,ni ,hards,ant ,rsv;ons
oen IS a:ant"aI arty arsrv,
~ - a. ~ a',a;. ai,,nan viii .
Suu .nas ~ ~ 80 .. ~ ! haan ";
.ne ~ att.o,; na of o
80. W 80 .;a 49, a.. p,t.Iau a;5 ~,
sanors anu ina. uel' ula -
isse-ahu ~ o1n Ael'y n' e eng -, ~
enece ioagahen' al tne Eno iorce oi G zen ie,
acsuany ehsaSeu mas eoVos,nen nna' u,e
lotce OF zen Du'ies ao9us Aooo son 10. n., ,aa
olsh,anlleu ,ot. u0e ovo mun .ha. sou, eaa
seven hoars = naru usn''hs salnS0
aiingu'eu y nny We. on"neo "ooi' NoA 2
Soo nave nag xaa ~.
We heeu reief 70 oue o,e o.he' poins. ~ u.
ofant eeslnes tna. uell Dueer e,sooe, gu I's
inss' uctions py miehuiam aiis ioico ai.or ~
hau enectea iahu'ng. zen. u.ier Iep'ies ' ,e,s
paus,ols alas ne nau aneeaeu ~; no saen .s"us ps
"a ina;i, ~ rs ~