Wood River times. [volume] (Hailey, Idaho) 1882-1915, 1892-03-28

Gilmore even intimated that he should
feel it his duty to refuse even il it
were ordered. Butler thereupon .aid
he would not order it for no could |
have no hopes Of an expedition against
the will Of the commander.
Butler was tempted to 60 himself,
but he had sent ksutx and his cavalry
below Petersburg, to cut the Weldon
Railroad, and General West with his |
cavalry to the !Chickahominy to inter
cept aud delav possible reinforce
ments and supplies from that direc-
zion. He had to look, through and
with his chief of staff, after all tho de-
tails Of the entrenchment, supplying
and management Of the army; 30 he
concluded that he could not 60. He,
however, seat for General Weitzel.
But before he could be got the night
was w-ll-nigh spent. General Welt
eel said:
"General, l shall 60 il you order me
to, As you know, and do the very best
| can, but it is exceedingly hazardous;
and if it should fail after your two
corps commanders, Smith and Gill.
more. have SO strenuou,ly advised
that it should not be undertaken, it
would entirely ruin you, although to
take charge OF it under your orders
would not harm me. They have been
to mo and told me what you want
done. and supposing you would send
for me have advised strongly against
{ it. And as your strongest friend, l
, myself must advise against it, espe-
/ cially because l think they will throw
. every obstacle in the way Of our hav-
ing an early march," Butler then
h gave it up.
May 9th tho line Of occupation Was
!. established and the Notifications be-
gun which resulted in Buffers posi-
b ton being 90 strong that he was
"bottled up" aud he could hold il,
!. with 10000 troops against the whole
. rebel army.
The same day General Smith made
a reconnaissance between Petersburg
o and Richmond, met with no opposi-
d ton except perhaps 300 pickets, and
r detached companies, but did not cut
q the railroad nor accomplish anything,
j. Butler, determined to cut that road
70 ordered General Gilmore to move &c
d do it the morning of the 9TH OF May
n General Gilmore reported that he
10 did not make the movement 10,
,. reasons which seemed to him perfect,
=. satisfactory"
Al Butler, determined to cut the rail.
r. road by a movement which should no,
n. fail, put General Smith in command
ID and ordered General Gilmore to lenG
70 Smith one brigade from each corps
of his command. by s O'Clock the
evening of the 7sh.
81. Gilmore claimed that these brig
;, AIDES were still under his command
f. Butler thereupon issued general or
der placing Smith in command of thu
detached forces of Gillmore's corps q
{, we'll rs of the Eightee nth Army Corps
y The movement Was thereupon &C
;. complished. The railroad betwee,
!. Richmond and Petersburg was cut
~ communications betwee" those points
b. cut of, and reinforcements and sup
n plies stopped from the South to Lee.
" The enemy had, in the meantime
~ however, recovered from his surprise
10 every man capable of bearing arms
" from IA to 65 years Of age, had bt o.
i, armed and put in the trenches. an,
ID the advantage gained by Buffers ce
n leritY of movement was, to a erea
. extent, lost.
,e General GiIlmore's name being be
ID fore the Senate for confirmation
or General Butler caused him to be re
"a jected. He then relieved him from
r. command.
he In the meantime, however, troop
were brought from North Carolin
to and Lees army retreated to Rich
10 mond' 1t took about 10 days, how
I'd ever, TO bring it to Richmond, an,
nv during that time Butler again At
tempted to take Petersburg and Rich
mond.