Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1911-08-01

to allow the enemy to erect batteries
TO annoy Fort Monroe"
The Iawyer-general had not been at
his post a week when he decided to
size Newport News. In his autobiog-
raphy-Butlrs Book"-he states that
in the course of a reconnaissance he
found the premontory here, so feet
high, with several miles Of very deep
soundings on the James close to the
shore, q spot which. il held by US and
fortified would forever keep safe the
to concentrate fleet and make an at
tack upon Norfolk. which lay at the
left from the bluff facing the fort and
some seven miles up the Elizabeth.
II also saw" he adds. that this
post, as long as 1t was held. WOULD
control the ascent of James river GER
tainly as far as jamestown island, or
some 26 miles toward Richmond"
Describing the place as he saw It
lrst-he went there on small steam
boat-General Butler said:
I'VE landed at little jetty at New
port News, and climbed the banks Of the
finest scenes that ever beheld,
AT the point nearest the river was
farmers house shaded by some very
fine ellns. and a field of some % or 70
acres, perfect plain, covered with a
beautiful growth of spring wheat wav-
Ing in the light wind.
Even this eursoFy examination proved
to me that the point was all could hope
for"
EXPEDITION DISPATCHED,
The expedition to occupy this charming
place was prepared forthwith. General
Butler saysI
"That evening I organised an expedi-
ton of 1900 men, some artillery, and
some heavy guns to command the river,
with the necessary internchlng tools. ana
with three days rations in the haver-
sacks of the troops.
+" got off the next morning (May
I'D at 2 o'clock, and at $50 we were
ruthlessly tramping down that field OF
wheat In pitohing our camp and mark
ing out the line OF intrenchments stretch
ing across the point from water to. wa
ter.
zone OF the regiments was that OF
Col. J. w, Phelps (First VermonD, and
/ detailed him In command. From that
time Newport News was always the
place where the feet of the navy found
fine air. fine anchorage and plenty Of
water and was never disturbed by
hostile shot until the arrival of the Mer-
rimae In the spring following.
Later on I mounted at Newport News
the most efficient piece OF artillery OF
that time-and / have seen few more
efficient since. IT was a 24-pounder. car
rying a 5s-pound 6-inch shell, grooved
mechanically so as to fit exactly the
grooves of the bore; and later on a
shot was thrown six miles across the
James river.
This being done, ! felt myself COM
pIetely established at Fortress Monroe"
MOVING ON HAMPTON.
Having started this strong outpost
General Butler proceeded to establish a
large practice camp on the Virginia shore
about midway between Newport News
and Fort Monroe.
This was rendered necessary By the
size Of the garrison at the fort Con-
sisting at first of about 800 regulars.
under Col. Justin Dimmick-who had held
the place when other southern forts were
being surrendered to the states in which
they were situated-the garrison had been
early strengthened by the list Pennsyl-
vania and the Third and Fourth Massa-
chusetts regiments, and was soon to be
Increased by nine New York regiments,
to a strength of about 10000 men,. As $500
men was the full war complement for
the fort, the others must be put into
camp.
AS preliminary to selecting a camp
site, General Butler. the day after his
arrival. on May "a, had sent Colonel
Phelps Vermonters over the bridge from
Fort Monroe to the town Of Hampton.
Stationed there was Maj. J. B. Cary,
of the Virginia sersrice, with about 200
undrilled volunteers, who spent their