Clearfield Republican. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1851-1937, 1865-02-08

: ,"eiVe uay's provisions ard all tbo :,
!renching tools. The men were ro,,al
IN .ne SUIT wet their cartridges, and fiIl.
eu up with more. hae s,r = -
ihey went there to STAY, and l,rs,v
; we would have the fort before MANY dav"
> from the conduct of The men and officers
mere was no necessity for General Rntlor
: re-emoarkipg his men on account os ,ha
: weather. 1t was rough on the beach br,
: our boats from the feet commpn;cs,sd 20, .,
times, and when it was neoessarv Tho
gunboats laid within six hnndrsa vards ne
Of The bench, s-d covered the troons Iert
= "a snore, whenthe general went away af
yer nearing The news from some North
Carollna reserves that Holle's brigade was
advancing, and that the fort was stronolv
reinforced. But what if it was? We
came down here to take it, and General
Terry with the same men did it. They
were determined to follow there brave
general wherever. he might think proper to
lead.
After General Butler left for Fortress
) Monroe, 1T was rather rough too rough
10 land troops or bring them off. but il
only lasted twenty-four hours, and the
troops came off without much difiicuty
IN fact there was no time when comnuui.
cation stopped altogether.
Had General Butler commenced land.
ing men with the determination to stav)
at o'clock in the morning, they would
nave all been on shore 10y sunset.
We landed General Terry's $500 men
IN % hours, and had no time to give
me fort good shaltering before
dark.
GENERAL Butler says lie gave order to
the transports to sail for Fortress Monroe
as soon as the troops were on board. in
obedlance to the orders OF the Lieutenant
General.
Gen. Grant never contemplated the
withdrawal of the troops. lie sent them
there TO stay. and having once effected n
landing, he knew that the most diflicut
part was done, The army once in posses
SION OF that narrow mock of land, and COW
cred by the guns of the fleet, the capture
OIL tors tlsher was mere matter OF time.
In heavy gale lowing yesterday and to
day, the vessels outside did not desert
their posts.)
| General Butler states that the garrison
OF Flag Pond battery belonged TO Kirk
lands brigade. He is in error there :;
they were part of Junior North Carolina
Reserves.
He also stated that he captured two
heavy riiled guns, two light guns, some
eaiss9ns, &c: &C.. MS such captures were wesis
| SO much has teen written. were rough
earthworks, thrown up for the purpose of
firing ut blokaders when they chased
close in shore They made no resistance
after few shots were fred by the gun
boats.
have nothing to say in relation TO
General Weitsel's report, beyond this
he has made mistakes in his statements.
lie admits that he requested me to wait
few days until we could cooperate more
favorably, on which suppose General
Butler grounds his belief that the navy
detained him.
did not wait, ard have waited ever
since, until the right man and q good
time offered 10 take the forts. They
were taken, as said they could be, and
that is the strongest argument in favor Of
the navy, on whom il was ioolshly
attempted to fix this blunder.
AS it has turned out the first failure
had its advantages. and the country will
derive great comfort therefrom.
IfGeneral Butler had not descended TO
q subterfuge to cover the mistake, would
willingly have allowed him to 90 into re-
tirement with the honors he has won
but no man shall reflect unjuslly on me
or the corps to which | belong with
out his hearing from me in some way or
other.
have sent you documents and extracts
from og-books TO show that what say
is correct, and the log-books of the whole
fleet can be examined if necessary.
In concuson, permit me TO say that I
don't See what il matters whether General
Buffers troops landed one day or anoth- .
er. He decided the fort could not be
taken when he did land. He could not .
expect the rebels to leave work like
that with less than 500 men in it, and he
certainly could have tried TO assault that
number. General Terry had 1900 to CON
tend against and he carried the works
without very serious loss, considering
the importance Of the position to the
country.
! enclose you the report of the rebel
General Whiting who states plainly that
"no reinforcemenls had arrived until
Tuesday morning (rhe 2Sth) when all our
troops were embarked"
If the evidence already presented is
doubted, the report of General Whiting
eaunot be, therefore the excuse for .re-em-
barking the troops because the forts had
been reinforced 10y Hoke's division is
poor one.
General Whiting says "lhe garrison re-
mained steadily awaiting the renewal OF
the assault of bombardment, until Tues
day morning (27th), when they were re-
leived by the supports of Major General
IToke and the embarkation of the enemy"
This was two days after the attack Of the
navy and the landing and re-embarking
of the troops ..
am, sir, very respectfully, your obedi-
ent servant, DAVID ID. PORTER,
Rear Admiral. =
Hon. Gideon Wellss, Secretary of the !
Navy Washington, d. c.
gly~Children aud fools, says the old adj
nre. always tell the truth;