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Northumberland County (Virginia, United States) (search for this): chapter 19
ked unfavorable, and I telegraphed General Grant that the army was ready, and was waiting for the navy. See Appendix No. 115. On the next Monday evening the fleet not having yet sailed, I ordered nearly all the transports to move up Chesapeake Bay to the Potomac River and Matthias Point, and then if they could, to return in the night-time and anchor off Cape Henry. They were started at 3 o'clock on the morning of Tuesday the 13th. We knew the enemy continually kept scouts in Northumberland County, Va., at the mouth of the Potomac, to report every transport that passed up and down the bay, in fact, everything that occurred there. We had frequently seen their reports in the Richmond papers. I ordered the fleet to go up the bay that they might be reported to the enemy as going up the Potomac. Then, after dark, they were to come down the bay again with all lights put out, and thus deceive the enemy as to our movements. Early on the morning of Wednesday, the 14th, a steamer cam
Alexandria (Virginia, United States) (search for this): chapter 19
and I telegraphed General Grant that the army was ready, and was waiting for the navy. See Appendix No. 115. On the next Monday evening the fleet not having yet sailed, I ordered nearly all the transports to move up Chesapeake Bay to the Potomac River and Matthias Point, and then if they could, to return in the night-time and anchor off Cape Henry. They were started at 3 o'clock on the morning of Tuesday the 13th. We knew the enemy continually kept scouts in Northumberland County, Va., at the mouth of the Potomac, to report every transport that passed up and down the bay, in fact, everything that occurred there. We had frequently seen their reports in the Richmond papers. I ordered the fleet to go up the bay that they might be reported to the enemy as going up the Potomac. Then, after dark, they were to come down the bay again with all lights put out, and thus deceive the enemy as to our movements. Early on the morning of Wednesday, the 14th, a steamer came in from the D
Norfolk (Virginia, United States) (search for this): chapter 19
ite ready, but it would be ready directly; and he said that at any rate it would not be advisable to go to sea in the state of the weather then. On Saturday afternoon, December 10, I asked Colonel Comstock and General Weitzel to go with me to Norfolk to see Admiral Porter on board his flag-ship. The conversation with Porter related mostly to the powder-boat and the time when it would be ready. Both Comstock and myself told Porter that haste was necessary, and that probably it would be bettto make one more effort, and if he failed, to stop and intrench. Reinforced by additional troops the effort was made, and resistance became less effective until with thin ranks and ammunition exhausted the garrison surrendered. William Lamb. Norfolk, Va., Jan. 20, 1890. Let us now see how the fort appeared to General Weitzel at the time he reconnoitred it from a knoll a short distance from the fort. In his testimony before the Committee on the Conduct of the War, Report before the Comm
France (France) (search for this): chapter 19
the Navy, dated Jan. 17, 1864, he uses this language:-- I have since visited Fort Fisher and the adjoining works, and find their strength greatly beyond what I had conceived. An engineer might be excusable in saying they could not be captured except by regular siege. I wonder even now how it was done. The work, as I said before is really stronger than the Malakoff tower, Report of the Committee on the Conduct of the War, Vol. II., p. 190. which defied so long the combined power of France and England. I might rest upon this testimony as to the strength of Fort Fisher, but I will not, as my misfortune is that my witness has shown himself to be a reckless, consciousless, and impudent liar, while on the stand, and I must proceed further by better witnesses to show the condition of Fort Fisher at the time of the two attacks. I therefore call Col. William Lamb, of the Confederate Army, who was in command of the fort on the occasion of both attacks, and who largely superintend
Richmond (Virginia, United States) (search for this): chapter 19
noitre the position of Fort Fisher, and that I should act in conjunction with a fleet which was being prepared by the navy. General Weitzel was accordingly sent down to make that reconnoissance. About the 20th of September, as I remember, he returned and reported the condition of things there. On the 29th of September, the Army of the James made a march across the river, which resulted in the capture of Battery Harrison and the line that we subsequently occupied on the north bank of the James until the surrender of Richmond in April, 1865. It was from this line that the negro troops under Weitzel marched and took possession of the rebel capital. This movement across the James required all the force I had. General Grant said to me that we could not go on the Wilmington expedition at that time for two reasons. The first of these was the want of disposable forces, although at that time it was not contemplated to send down but about three thousand men, as it was supposed that Fort
Cincinnati (Ohio, United States) (search for this): chapter 19
oung officer in a moment of fearful responsibility, from the consequences of a proper act which might have injured him in his profession, but which cannot harm me, who have a different one. The judgment of cool reason hereafter will applaud it, but hot passion might have harmed you, as it has done me, for the hour. Indeed, it was in view of this very event that I went at all. With the invocation of every blessing upon you and yours, I am, your friend, Benj. F. Butler, Major-General. Cincinnati, Jan. 26, 1865. My Dear General:--I was so delighted this morning to receive your note from Willard's. As the truth became developed I saw I had not made a mistake. At first, I was terribly frightened. Many of my friends and fellow-citizens here, too, at first, made long faces, and only one paper, our oldest and most respectable, the Gazette, stood out for you boldly as against marking Pot Porter as they called him. In one of his best despatches, however, Porter is compelled to a
City Point (Virginia, United States) (search for this): chapter 19
admiral upon the Roanoke expedition after my consultation with General Grant. I answered his telegram by repairing to City Point in person to get further instructions from General Grant. They were that we should move as soon as the navy was ready.received the first written instructions from General Grant as follows:-- headquarters armies of the United States, City Point, Dec. 6, 1864. Benj. F. Butler, Major-General Commanding: General:--The first object of the expedition under Generay operating against Richmond without delay. U. S. Grant, Lieutenant-General. By personal arrangement with Grant at City Point at his headquarters, as I went down the river on my way to Fortress Monroe to make final preparations for the expeditios I had issued, a copy of which had been forwarded to him for his approval:-- headquarters armies of the U. S., City Point, Va., Dec. 7, 1864. Major-General B. F. Butler, Commanding Army of the James: I had sent you a cipher despatch before
North Carolina (North Carolina, United States) (search for this): chapter 19
1864. Maj.-Gen. G. Weitzel Commanding: General:--The major-general commanding has entrusted you with the command of the expedition about to embark for the North Carolina coast. It will consist of about sixty-five hundred infantry, two batteries of artillery, and fifty cavalry. The effective men of General Ames' division of t informed Admiral Porter that in my judgment there was nothing to be done but to go to Fortress Monroe, and I went there. Before I got away from the coast of North Carolina I passed all the heavier vessels of the squadron, such as the Wabash, the Colorado, and the Ironsides, going up to Beaufort to get ammunition. Upon my arrirows no light on the question, and by and by I may consider the motives for sending it down. Sherman with his army had at that time nearly or quite enveloped North Carolina or was proceeding in his victorious march to do so. In less than thirty days he would be behind Wilmington which must of course fall as did Savannah. That wo
United States (United States) (search for this): chapter 19
ill make any suggestion that may occur to him in aid of the enterprise. Benj. F. Butler, Major-General Commanding. On the same day I received the first written instructions from General Grant as follows:-- headquarters armies of the United States, City Point, Dec. 6, 1864. Benj. F. Butler, Major-General Commanding: General:--The first object of the expedition under General Weitzel is to close to the enemy the port of Wilmington. If successful in this, the second will be the captut time. My troops were ready on the 6th. On the 7th, also, I received the following from General Grant in relation to the instructions I had issued, a copy of which had been forwarded to him for his approval:-- headquarters armies of the U. S., City Point, Va., Dec. 7, 1864. Major-General B. F. Butler, Commanding Army of the James: I had sent you a cipher despatch before receiving your instructions to General Weitzel. I think it advisable that all embarkation should take place at B
Roanoke (United States) (search for this): chapter 19
yer, chief of ordnance, a message that the army would also furnish one hundred and fifty tons of powder at Fortress Monroe. See Appendix No. 97. General Grant had then returned. From information received it was supposed that the garrison at Wilmington and all the forces about Wilmington, except a small garrison at Fort Fisher, had been detached to meet General Sherman. Thereupon, after a consultation, General Grant desired me to do two things. One was to send an expedition up the Roanoke River and endeavor to reach the railroad between Weldon and Wilmington, so as to cut off supplies and reinforcements from the enemy going north to Petersburg and Richmond, and also to prevent reinforcements being sent by the Weldon Road to Wilmington in case we moved in that direction. The other was to get a force to be sent down to see if we could not effect a surprise at Wilmington, as it seemed evident that the enemy supposed the expedition gotten up early in the fall had been abandoned.
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