Year: 1865

tur and importance to tho rebels Of ts town defended


Is now well under way and the reasons why tho expe
dtion was reunderaken liable In
tho public mind If not early rightly Swallowed forth,


initiate this despatch with somo explanatory statements


First of all, it is proper to state that many hold
10 the opinion that tho present expedition
against the fostering harbor and city OF the


blockade runners in wise suggested by the recent


partial discontinue OF similar well planned, and
far as the military arm was concerned, admirably exc
cued attempt to close up this leading artery Of supplies


to the rebels In this relation may be truhfully said


however, that this offensive armada, sent to
at usually incement and inauspcious season OF the
year. when sailors according to tradition experience but
comparatively few halcyon days, furnishes an ad-
ditional and vivid proof Of the unbending and
stubborn element in the character Of the commanding
General from whose well diciplined army the
present operating forces wholly drawn Is then,
but another instance Of that intensity Of stubborn
military genius that has heretofore often in this war
compelled victory to standards. Such being the
truth touching the relations Of this undertaking to the
similar eliminating before Fort Fisher on Christmas
evening Of last year. naturally ask for the animatng
purpose suggesting the fitting out and sending forth Of
this offensive transport eet under Brevet Major General
A. Terry in cooperation with the feet under Admiral
Porter This question Is answered In the statement that
tho expedition believed to have been organized for the
purpose Of cooperating with General Sherman who Is
known to be marching from Savannah into South Caro-
lima, touching at arauchyle mpss important strategic
point in continuation Of hts winter canpagn, anS is
capable Of bearing useful and comprehensive results in
two separate and totally distinct ways 1t may operate
to compel the retention Of large rebel force defend
the approaches to Wilmington in which event is clearly


scornblo that shormans chances Of success few
In numbers hazardous In character, would be
teally enhanced il not visby heightened On the other
hand the peous exigencies Of the rebel fortunes in
South Carolina Southern Georgia, and along the
Atlantic coast, may imperatvely demand the with
drawh Of these identical rebel forces as well as
others to oppose the progress OF General Sherman.
In which event. it is also equally clear to be seen
occupancy and tenure Of Fisher Caswel and the other
works defensive Of Wilmington, and ultimately Of the
city ITSELF would bc at speedy and easy Of accom-
pshment On the contrary the impression obtains, it


is but consderate to sate among some and general ON


Of the number that this attempt against Will
mngon is but effort to successfully accomplish what
was sought to be done Chrstmas This view derives
additional importance from the known opinions Of
Lieutenant General Grant bearing upon the Union po-
sition this portion Of tho coast, which are unde
hiaby 70 the effect that the Union cause will be
materially subserved by the closing up OF Cape Fear
river and for this reason, efforts matter how many
may require to make the point in wise TO be re-
laxed until the desired aim is attained AT oil events
the military rescrpt has forth that the rebel port Of
Wilmington must be closed in behalf Of the interests Of
the Union arms and thus csope put upon the receipt


from abroad by the rebels Of immense supplies of stores
comprising many If not all Of tho necessares OF life and
all the munitions Of The operations of this morn
ing win doubtless determine tho result finally


AT about eleven o'clock the night Of January 1,





General Terry returned to his headquarers the north
OF tho James, from prolonged interview with Lieutenant
General Grant at City Point whittier they went early in
tho afternoon Of that day The doors of the commanding
Generals quarters had scarcely closed before appa
rent that military movement Of nconsiderabe cha
ractor about TO be naugurated against the enemy
The next day the instructions for tho guidance
Of tho brevet Major General TO be entrusted
with the command OF tho expedition were
prepared by the competent authority, reviewed and
approved by the commander Of tho armies and finally
sealed for delivery TO General Terry to be opened or
Cape Henry just preparatory to their being acted upon
On tho I'd Of January also the orders for the
preliminary movements Of the troops werS issued,
and on the evening Of the ID the several
divisions and brgades intended to compose tho MILL
tary part Of tho undertaking, were well on their
march to Bermuda Hundred landing, where they
to rendezvous previous to joining the
ports at Fortress Monroe In most instances tho
numbers and the men, those incapacitated in
the interim, participated In the previous offensive
movement Wilmington, selected for partcpanoy
In the new movement They were supplied with four
days ratons in addition to the food for the dinner and
supper OF the next day. the 4h instant They also had
forty rounds Of ammunition, and wore their KNAPP
sacks carried and shelter tents Especial caution
given to the commanders Of divisions to observe



necessary to be made All the troops reported to Brsvet
Major General A. H Terry in accordance with special
orders number two from tho headquarters Of the Armies
OF the United Satos BY Of the 9Th inst through
tho untring labors Of Colonel George s Dodge Chief
Quartermast0 OF tho Army OF the James, and
Captain wabridge, Chief Of Water transportation,
all the expeditionary forces had left Bermuda
Hundred Landing for the common rendezvous Of
The feet at Fortress Monroe General Terry
arriving the latter point his flagship the Mcclellan
the evening of that day At six O'Clock on the morn
ing OF the 9th inst the entire transport feet set sail from
Hampton Roads, under sealed orders furnished TO each
one OF the commanders which TO be opened or
Cape Henry, when the next point Of rendezvous would
be made known. This point proved to bc twenty-five
miles or Beaufort North Carolina In the Atlantic Ocean
The transit Of General Terry's feet from Hampton
Roads 70 its point Of rendezvous in the Atlantic was
attended by storm, which delayed its progress
for period Of thirtysx hours Tho gale, commencing
the night OF the 9th, increased in energy until the
night Of tho 7th when s greatest volume was attained
is demise occurring Ieary on the morning Of tho Sth
On the night oe the 7h the gale exceedingly heavy
from the northwest compelling many Of the lesser trans
ports 70 nd refuge anchorage under Haera and with
the placid lee OF Cape Henry The greatest danger Incl
dent 70 this storm from tho strength
and persisency Of the great cross seas which eased
alike tho major and the minor transports evcnatRg In


great delay in their arriving At the Atlantic rendezvous
where many Of the transport commanders reported ~
fact OF the dsablement Of their ships and tho necessity
OF proceeding to Beaufort for repairs Hero was new
delay extending from the afternoon Of tho sta TO the
morning Of tho 12h whom the entire neet set impressive
SAIL iu conjunction with the navy for point i've miles
north Of New Inlet North Carolina The following s the
ordcr OF their sailing, In the wake OF tho navy