The Norfolk post. [volume] (Norfolk, Va.) 1865-1866, 1865-12-09

- Washington city, ecelVea Oenerai
Thomas's despatch announcing ms at
tack upon the enemy, and the result as
far rs the battle had progressed. ] was
delighted. All fears and appreheusions
We're dispelIed. | am not yet satisfied
but that General Thomas, Immediately
upon the appearance of Hood before
Nashville and before he had time to
fortify, should have moved out with his
whole force and given him battle, in
Stead OF waiting to remount his cavalry,
which delayed himuntil the inclemency
of the weather made it impracticahle To
= attack earlier-than he did. But his final
defeat of Hood was so complete, that it
will be accepted as q vindication of that
distinguished officers Judgment. 81 ~
TIE WILMINGTON EXPEDITION. M
Ii, The navy had been making strenuous
exertions to seal the harbor of Whining
ton, but with only partial effect. The
nature of the outlet of Cape Fear river
!, was such that IL required watching for
SO great u distance, that without pos
session of the land north Of New Inlet.
! or Fort Fisher. il was impossible for the
navy TO entirely close the halbor
against the entr,inee of blockade-run-
ners. Ht s5tf '''i1
faiiIo. secure the possession of this land
required the co operation of a land
force, which | agreed to furnish. Inl-
mediately commenced the assenblagc
in Hampton Roads, under Admiral d.
ID. Porter. Of the most formidable ar
NADIA ever collected for concentration
upon one given point. This necessarily
attracted the attention of the enemy, as |
well as that of the loyal north; and |
through the imprndence of the public
press, and very likely of officers of both
n pf % ii, q
the expedition became subject OF COM
mon discussion in the newspapers both
north and south. The enemy, thus |
warned, prepared to meet it. This
caused a postponement of the expedi- |
tfon until the latter part of November, |
when, being again called upon by Hon. |
u. V. Fox, Assistant Secretary of the |
Navy agreed to furnish the men re-
quired at once, and went myselfin com
ptny with Major General Butler to |
Hampton Roads, where we had a con
ference with Admiral Porter as to the
force required and the time of starting.
A force of six thousand five hundred
men was regarded "a sufficient.
General Butler commanding the army |
from which the troops were taken for
i this enterprise, and the territory within
which they were to operate, military
courtesy required that all orders and IN
structions should go through him. They
were so sent; but General Weitzel has
since officially informed me that he
never received the foregoing instruc-
tons, nor was he aware of their exist
ence until he read General Buffers
published official report of the Fort FISH
err failure, with my endorsement and
papers accompauyingit. 1 had no idea
OF Gen. Buffers accompanying the expe-
.dition until the evening before it got off
from bermuda Hundreds, and then did | [
not dream but that General Weitzel had 9
received all the instructions, and would
be in command. rather formed the
Flea that General Butler was actuatcd | i.
by desire to witness the effect of the I
explosion of the powder-boat The ex- n
petition was detained several days AT d
Hampton Roads, awaiting the loading
Of the pOwder-boat 5aE Ill ~ no
The Importance of getting the Will !,
mlhgtou expedition off without anv de-
lay, with or without the powder-boat, II
had been urged upon General Butler 7
ana he advised to SO notify Admiral 4
Porter. s,a a., t.... - - :
ID, E.a*9 The powder boat was ex-
piode.ton The morning of the oath, bel /,
,ofe The return of General Butler from | !:
beaufort but it would seem from tie
notlcet!ken of itiin the southern news t
papers That the enemy were never en-. a
ighteped as to the object of the explo :,
sion until they were informed by the =
lofthern press. fafi 4tif .a.454E#l4I
On the 18th landing was effected
sitheut opposition, and "A reconnis
ance, under Breyet Brigadier General IN
furtis, pushed up towards the fort. But tb
efore. receiving full rep jrt of this re- :"
onnoisance. General Butler, in direct co
collation. OF the instructions given, ors w
cred the decentralization of the troop tin
1d the return of the expedition. =. No
me decentralization was accomplished A.,
y tho morning of the 9th. ttf-'f no til
On the, return of the expedition, Off. wi
ars ana men T7among them Brevet Ma an
u General then Brevet Brigader Gen 81
rad M. e. Curtis, First Lieutenant q. gu
'. Ross, y regiment Vermont yolun-
ers First Lieutenant George w. Wal
ng and Second Lieutenant George Ha
One Hundred and Forty Ma
cohd New York Volunteers voluntar HI
reported to me, that when recalled "''
ey We're nearly into the fort, and. in AIRY
err opinion, it could have been taken G.
ltbont much loss. =, ma
At my request, Major General or
:. Butler Was relieved, and Major VI
enerai q. Q, G.. Ord assigned TO the ara
liMahd OF the department of Virginia Coz
q North Carolina. - AR
TIE LAST DAYS BEFORE RICHMOND.
had spent days of anxiety lest each III
lrning should bring the report that abb
enemy had retreated the night be- aco
e. | was fully convinced that Sher ma,
ms crossing the Roanoke would be 80
, signal for Lee to leave. With rep'
lpston and him combined. n lone -.
iolis, and expensive campaign. col, ~
ming most of the summer, might bn- Mel
ne necessary. BY moving Gt,t 7 i, Z
hld put the army in better conditio,, :"
pursuit, and would ut least, by the NAT
tfuction of the Danville road. retard amo
concentration of the two armies of GERS
and Johnston, and cause the enemy O., I'm
bandon much material that he migLi '
erwlse save. ! therefore determined 20 Z
to delay the movement ordered. prev
THE FIVE FORKS 9t3 at b duri
heridan advanced, and with a por. men
OF his cavalry got possession of the IVA,
FORKS, but the enemy, after the af- .oa'
with the Fifth corps, reinforced tho sessi
u cavalry, defending that point with sivel
nlry, and forced him back towards Orle,
widdie Court House. Here Vdncr0f ,hon
iddn displolyed ,yreat geneyakshDJ. ,n''
cad of retreating with his whole theh
maud on the main .rn,,, n, t,II IL | gel g