Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1865-01-20
News OF the Week

A very lengthy despatch has been received
from headquarters Army of the Potomac.
covering full and detailed official report of
Butler to Grant of the late Wilmington ex-
petition. 1t makes over two columns of
fine type, and is furnished blythe Secretary
OF War at the request of Grant.
Gen. Butler states that after embarking
his forces on the transports, they were de-
tanned from the 9th to the 18th. waiting for
Porter's feet, and Joined the transport feet
off Cape Henry. Dec. 18th, arriving at the
rendezvous of New Inlet, near Fort Fisher,
on the evening of the 18th, where they wait
ed until evening of the 18th, having the fine
est weather possible.
On the evening of the 18th, Porter came
from Beaufort to rendezvous, when the sea
became rough, and on the 18th the wind
sprung up. making 1T impossible to land
troops, and by the advice of Porter. the
troops were rendezvoused at Beaufort. This
was necessity, as transports were ooaled
for ten DAYS, and that time had been con-
sumed For four DAYS the wind blew gale
during which time the transports were coal
ed and watered.
At on the afternoon of the oath, Butler
came in sight of Fort Fisher, and found the
naval feet bombarding 1t, the powder vessel
having been exploded the morning previous
Arrangements were made to land troops
next morning under cover of the gunboats,
as soon as the fire of Half Moon and Flag
Pond Hill batteries had been silenced, which
were up the shore two OF three miles above
Fort Fisher. Porter was sanguine he had
silenced Fort Fisher. He was urged if that
were so, to run by the fort into Cape Fear
river and the troops could land and hold the
beach without the fear of being shelled by
the rebel gunbOats, the Tallahassee being
seen in the river.
Gen. Butler argued that if the Admiral
would put his ships in the river the army
could supply him across the beach. That at
least the blockade of Wilmington would be
thus efectual. even if we did not capture the
fort.
The Admiral replied that he should proba
bly, lose boat by tOrpedoes if he attempted
TO run by. and was reminded that the army
might lose 500 men by the assault, and that
his boat would not weigh in the balance, even
In a money point OF view, with the lives OF
these men. The Admiral declined going bv,
andthe expedition was deprived of that essen
tial element of success.
At noon of the 25th the batteries were re-
ported sIlenced. and the transports success
fully landed their troops. Finding the re
conncitering party that landed could hold
the shore, Butler determined to land force
to attempt an assault. Curtis brigade push
ed within few hundred yards Of Fort Fisher,
capturing the Half Moon battery and Its men.
This skirmish line advanced to within IS
yards of the fort, the garrison being kept IN
the bOmb-proOfs by the naval fire. When the
fire of the navy ceased the parapet was fully
manned and a personal examination by Gen.
Butler. within few hundred feet of Fisher,
showed it to be well protected from assault
by interior stOckade bastions, Il feet high
and l. feet wide and wet ditch, and no
material damage had been done to the fort
by the navy. Seventeen heavy guns bore up
the beach 4 has which had been cut down
by sLell was captured on the edge o. the
ditch, and an orderly was killed about third
OF mile from the fort. The report tbateny
soldier entered the fort Is mistake
Butler learned from these prisoners that
two brigades of Hoke's division were within
two miles of the rear Of his forces Their
skirmishers were actually engaged, and the
remainder of Hoke's division had arrived the
night previous at Wilmington, and were on
the march, thus forming a force outside of
the works superior TO Buffers Meantime
the weather became bad. and the surf rolling
in so that landing became difficult. At
this time Weitzel reported to Butler that TO
assault the works, in his judgment and in
that OF experienced officers of his command,
was impossible with any prospect Of success.
This opinion coincided with Buffers too.
and much as he regretted the necessity Of
abandoning the attempt, yet considered his
duty PLAIN. No - strong work as Fort
Fisher has been taken 10y assault during the
war, and he refers to the slaughtered thou I
sands in the assaults on Port Hudson and |
Wagner. Butler says. e |. therefore, " /
dered no assault should be made. and the I
troops To re-embark.
" bile the preparations TO re-embark were 4
making tie firing OF the navy ceased. Instant
ly the guns OF the fort were fully manned,
and a sharp fire Of musketry, grapc and can I
lister, swept the plains over wnch tie col /
umn must have advanced. IL was found .
impossible To get all the troops uu board be .
fore the sea ran 50 high az to render further .
embarkation. o.. even sending of supplies.
impossible On the Doth. HAVING made eli .
dispositions for getting his troops on board,
Butler gave orders to the transport fleet. as
fast a. ready t. sail for Fort Monroe. DO ale-
dience 10 orders from Lieut. Gen. Grant
ten. Butler states be learned from de-erters
and prisoners that the suplusition when the
expedition was planned, THAI Wilmington
wss denuded of troops To oppose Sherman,
was correct. and was ~ at iht time OF the
arrival of the army of Wilmington, there
being less than 400 men in Fort Fisher, and
less than one thousand within twenty
miles, but the delay OF three days waiting
the arrival OF the navy. and the further de-
lay by the storm Of the DIST, 22d and 23d,
gave time for reiniOTcements 10 arrive iron
Richmond. The instructions of the Lieut..
Gen did not contemplate siege be had
neither siege trains or supplies for suca con-
ingency. Gen. Butler says
The exigency Of possible delay, for which
the foresight OF the commander 81 the ar
mics had provided. had arisen, 70 VIII, the
large reinforcement Of the garrison, with
the fact that the navy had exhausted their
supply of ammunition in the bombardpent,
left Inc with DO alternative but to return
with my amy To tie army OF the James
The loss of Friday. Saturday and sunday,
the 10th. l7th and 18th. was the immediate
car. .s - '-ilure If the expedition 1t is
nUt my province even to suggest blame TO the
navy for their delay OF four days at Beau
fort know none OF the reasons which do
70. not justify il; it Is 10 be presumed
they are sufficient.
Gen. Butler then refers to the excellent :
behavior Of the troops ana assistance offer
ed him by certain naval officers
The report of Gen. Weitzel states that af- !
Ter getting full survey OF Fort Fisher, he
Tankly informed Gen. Butler that it would I
oe butchery to order an assault on that work
inder the circumstances.
Gen. Curtis and Gen. Ames' reports are q
appended, confirming all the above essential !
POINTS, and copies of Gen. Grants kilograms
md orders to Gen. Butler. conclule the doc
lment. a
Gen. Grant in his endorsement of Buffers t
eport, says it was never contemplated that f
Butler should accompany the expedition, n
Neitzel being especially named as comman- a
Ter. Gen Grant thinks the delay in moving 2
4 the expedition can be charged to waiting {
or the gunpowdcr boat to be prepared
irant says Butler is in error in stating that
he decentralization of troops was By his in !.