The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1892-05-05

| Sept !, 1864, and on the 9th OF that month
Admiral d. G. Farragut was assigned to the
| command. Illness, however, prevented that
| distinguished officer from assuming the posi-
ton, and Admiral d. D. Porter was selected.
| On taking command he visited Gen. Grant,
| then at City Point, Va, in company with the
| Assistant Secretary of the Navy, and the order
of the War Department relative to furnishing
| troops for the expedition was discussed. Grant
agreed to furnish about 8 900 men as as they
could be spared, and at the suggestion of Adj
miral Porter it agreed that they should be
commanded by Gen WeitzcI. The 18th of
October the date which the attack was
| to DO made but the failure of the troops to show
up compelled postpoDement. 1t seems the
matter was in the hands of Gen. Butler. in
whose Department North Carolina was located,
and he was evidently determined no troops
should move until it suited his convenience.
The delay became so embarrassing to the
Navy Department that the Honorable Secre-
tary wrote personal appeal to the President
of the United States on the subject, in which
he said:
1.-The Importance Of closing Wilmington is
80 well understood by you that / refrain from
presenting any new arguments. / am aware of
the anxiety OF yourself and of the disposition
of the War Department to render all the aid
in its power The cause of the delay is not
from the want OF proper conception OF the
importance of the subject, bat the season for
naval coast operations will soon be gone.
The vessels are concentrated at Hampton
Roads and Beaufort, where they remain an
immense force living idle awaiting the move
meats of the army The detention of so many
vessels from blockade and cruising duties is
most serious injury to the public service, and
if the expedition cannot 60 forward for want
Of troops. l desire to be notified, so that the
ships may be relieved and dispersed for other
service. The public expect this
Al.
is not made To procrastinate much longer
will be to peril its success. OF tho obstacles to
delay prevent military operations at once.
cannot Judge, but that the delay is becoming
seriously embarrassing to this Department, and
the Importance Of having the military author
tiles impressed with the necessity of speedy
action has prompted this communication to
you"
By orders Of the President the troops were
dispatched about the middle of December, and
landed at MasonborO Inlet Dec % two DAYS
after Porters vessels had opened fire on Fort
Fisher from over 100 ships With these facts
staring us in the face l ask in the name of
common sense, Who is responsible for the de-
lay?
On the evening of Dec. 25, a few hours after
the troops were landed, Admiral Porter was
astonished by receiving a dispatch from Gen.
Butler in which he said:
"ADMIRAL: Upon landing the troops and
making thorough reconnaissance of Fort
Fisher, both Gen. Weitzel and myself are of
the opinion that the Fort cannot be carried by
assault. We shall therefore re-embark the
troops and return to Fortress Monroe"
This was Buffers opinion. the falsity of
which was demonstrated few DAYS afterward
by Gen. Terry. Admiral Porter notified the
authorities of Bntlers disgraceful retreat. and
offered to land 1000 men from the fleet and
capture Fort Fisher himself He was notified.
however, "to suspend the bomba mi emit and re-
main at the scene Of action until the troops
would BIO returned under more competent
commander" which was DONE
These are the facts ON record regarding the
first attack on Fort Fisher, and Comrade
Wheeler simply exposes his ignorance in ac-
cusng the navy of causing any delay, when
we waited from the 9th of September until the
18th of December for the troops to show up
and SO anxious was Admiral Porter to capture
this place that he sont l,70O men on shore to
assist Gen. Terry in the grand and sue.
cessful assault made on Jan. IS 1865. Anyone
who is familiar with Gen. Buffers campaign
at Big Bethel. and the cause of his removal
from New Orleans, will not wonder at his fail
ure at Fort Fisher. He was O good lawyer, but
q poor soldier.
The public has been threatened with the
publication of his book for the past Is or 90
years. and it is evident that it was DELAYED un-
til after the death of Admiral Porter SO that its
falsehoods would BIO moro difficult to contra
dict. But the men who fought under Porter
on the Mississippi River and ut Fort Fisher do
not fear to place on record their emphatic con-
domination of such course, and to say in all
seriousness that those who attempt to defend
Buffers course. during the war or since. have
large contract on hand.-WILL1AM SIMMONS,
Past Post Commander Naval Post 400, Phila.,
Pa, and Secretary Survivors Association. Fort
Fisher Expedition.
THE NATIONAL TRIBUNE Ia the oalv
champion the soldiers haze among tie great pa