Cleveland morning leader. [volume] (Cleveland [Ohio]) 1854-1865, 1865-01-14

The Examiner says it is not afraid of
being conquered by the enemy SO much
as Of being defeated by Mr. Davis. He
despises all warnings, and constitutiOnaliy
snubs Congress. The press and the army
call slmosL unanimously for him to make
Lee geuerslissIno, but he will hear nothing
Of the kind. Il insists that the present
course Of Davis is tending to break up the
Confederacy snd throw them back under
the old rule.
The WHO has q very bitter TRADE against
submissionists, and all others who see any
cause for dependency.
The ENQUIRER insists that the Confeder-
cy is not badly hurt and thinks it can soon
win peace by bravery and determination e.
The Augusta Chronicle publishes an ae-
count of Shermsn's conduct in Savannah
as seen through rebel eyes. 1t pays high
compliment TO the excellent behavior Of
the troops and officers and their kindness
70 citizens, and the excellent regulations
of General Sherman.
BUTLER's OFFICIAL REPORT.
NEW YORK, Jan. 13-
A very lengthy report has been received
from the Headquarters Of the Army of
the Potomac, giving detailed official re-
port of Butler to Grant, Of the late VIII
mington expedition: General Butler states
that after embarlling his forces on trans
ports, he was detained from the 9th to the
18th of December, waiting Porters feet.
He Joined the transport feet of Cape
Henry on the 11th, and arrived at the rem
devious off New Inlet, on the evening of
the 18th, where they waited till the even
lug of the 18th. Porter came from Beau
fort to the rendezvous, when tho sea be-
came rough, and on the 10Th the winp
sprung up making it impossible to lad
troops, and by the advice Of Porter, the
troops were TendezVoused at Beaufort
This was necessary, as the transports were
eosled for ten days, and that time had
then boon consumed. For four days
the wind blew a gale, during which time
the transports were cosled and watered-
at four o'clock in the afternoon of the
Path, Butler came in sight Of Fort Fisher,
and found the naval fleet bombsrding it,
tho powder vessel having been exploded
the morning previous. Arrangements
were made TO land the troops the next
morning, under cover of the gunboats, as
soon ss the fire. of the Half Moon and Flag
Pond Hill batteries we're silenced, which
vera up the shore tive or three miles
above Fort Fisher. Admiral Porter was
sanguine that he had silenced Fort Fisher.
He was urged, if that we're so, to run BY
the fort into Cape Fear, and then the
troops could land and hold the beach with
cut fear of being shelled by the rebel gun
boat Tallahassee. whichsYas seen in the
river. General Butler argued that if
Porter would put his ships in the river, the
army could supply him ACROSS the beach,
and that at least, the blockade of Will
mington would be thus effectusl, even if
they did not capture the fort. Admiral
Porter declined going by, and the expedi-
tion was deprived of thAt essential ele-
ment.
At noon on the 25th, the batteries we're
reported silenced, and the transports sue
cessfully landed their troops. Finding
that the accommodating party which had
landed could hold the Shore Butler de-
termined that the land force should at
tempt an assault.
CuItiss brig ade pushed within . few
hundred yards of Fort Fisher, capturing a
half moon battery and its men. This
skitmish line advanced within seventy-fve
yards of the fOTt-the garrison being kept
in bomb-proofs by the naval fire. When
the fire of the navy ceased, the parapet
was fully manned, and personal exam.
nation by Butler, within few hundred
feet of Fishor, showed it to ba well pro
tected from assault by extensive stocksde
bsstions fifteen feet high and fifteen wide
and that no material damage has been
done 10 the fort by the Navy. Seventeen
heavy guns tore up the beach. The
flag, which had been cut down by shell
was captured on the edge of a ditch, anC
an Orderly killed about one third of 1
mile from the fort. The report that any
soldiers entered is mistake. During
this time Ames' division had csptureC
| 2Is men and 10 commissioned officers o
the North Carolina reserves.
Gen. Butler learned from these prisoner
that two brigados Of Hoke's division wer
within two miles of the rear Of his forces
Their slirmisheTs were actually engaged
and the remainder Of Hoke's division ha
arrived the night previous at Wilmington
and Were on the march, thus forming
force outside of the works superior to But
ler's. In the meantime, the weat1Ir bt
came bad, and tho surf was rolling 50 tbs
a landing became difficult.
Gen. Weilzel reported TO Gen. Butle
that to assault the work, in his judgme1
and that of experienced officers of his con
1nand, was impossible with any prospect
success. This opinion conceded with &c
Butler's. but much as he regretted the r
cessity of abandoning the attempt, yet
considered his duty plain. Not so stroT
works as Fort Fisher had been taken
: assault during the war, and he referred
= the slaughtered thousands in the assault
I. on Port Hudson and Fort Wagner.
General Butler says: therefore orde
: cd mat no attack should be made and th
the troous should re-embark. Whilo t
nraparations to re-embsrk were BEN
81 made, the firing of the navy ceased, t
guns of the fort were fully manned and
sharp fire of musketry, grape and cam
f, ter swept the plain over which the eolun
A. must have advanced. 1t "
found impossible to get the troops
aboard before the sea ran so high as
Z. render further embsrkstion, or even sen
= ing of supplies ashore, impossible.
On the 26th, having made all proI
a. disposition for getting the troops on boa
a a General Butler gave orders to the tral
" port feet, as fast as ready, to sail
Fortress Monroe, in obedience TO ord
from the Lieutenant General.
Q, Gen. Butler states that he learned fr,
I'd deserters and prisoners that tho supposit
On when the expedition was planned Il
:. Wilmington was destitute of troops
IL correct, and that at the time of the arri'
no of the army off Wilmington there was
than 400 in Fort Fisher, and less u
d 5 900 within twenty miles. But the de
M of three days, waiting the arrival of
sW navy. and the further delay caused by
L9r storm of the Dist, 22d and 23d, gave t
ls, for reinforcements TO be brought Fl
Richmond.
The Instructions of the Lieuten
ng General did not contemplate siege,
ge, neither siege trains nor supplies for
es- contingency. Gen. Butler here sa
ks The exigency of possible delay, for wi
lad | =, Sf-;'bE cf tha commanders