HEADQUARTERS DEPARTMENT
OF VIRGINIA,
May 29, 1861.
SIR: The expedition to Newport News, of which I spoke
in my last, eight miles from this place, landed without opposition. 1 have
caused an intrenched camp to be made there, which, when completed, will be able
to hold itself against any force that may be brought against it, and afford
even a better depot from which to advance than Fortress Monroe. The advantages
of the News are these: There are two springs of very pure water there; the
bluff is a fine, healthy location. It has two good, commodious wharves, to
which steamers of any draught of water may come up at all stages of the tide;
it is as near any point of operation as Fortress Monroe, where we are obliged
to lighter all vessels of draught over ten feet, and have but one wharf. The
News, upon which I propose to have a water battery of four 8-inch guns,
commands the ship channel of James River, and a force there is a perpetual
threat to Richmond.
My next point of operation I propose shall be Pig Point,
which is exactly opposite the News, commanding Nansemond River. Once in command
of that battery, which I believe may be easily turned, I can then advance along
the Nansemond River and easily take Suffolk, and there either hold or destroy
the railroad both between Richmond and Norfolk, and also between Norfolk and
the South. With a perfect blockade of Elizabeth River, and taking and holding
Suffolk and perhaps York, Norfolk will be so perfectly hemmed in, that
starvation will cause the surrender, without risking an attack on the
strongly-fortified intrenchments around Norfolk, with great loss and perhaps
defeat.
If this plan of operations does not meet the approval of the
Lieutenant-General I would be glad of his instructions specifically. If it is
desirable to move on Richmond, James and York Rivers, both thus held, would
seem to be the most eligible routes.
I have no co-operation substantially by the Navy, the only
vessels here now being the Cumberland and Harriet Lane, the former too unwieldy
to get near shore to use her heavy guns, the other so light in her battery as
not to be able to cope with a single battery of the rebels.
I have yet need of surf-boats for sea-coast and river
advances, and beg leave to suggest this matter again to you.
This evening the First New York Regiment, three years' men,
came in on board the State of Georgia. It is in a most shameful state as
regards camp equipage, camp kettles, &c.
Another matter needs pressing attention. The bore of a
majority of the muskets in my command is smooth, of the issue of '48, and I
have only 5,000 rounds of buck and ball and no other ammunition to fit this
arm. Might I request immediate action upon this vital subject!
I have the honor to
be, your obedient servant,
BENJ. F. BUTLER.
Major-General,
Commanding.
General WINFIELD SCOTT.
SOURCES: The War of the Rebellion: A Compilation of
the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies, Series I, Volume
2 (Serial No. 2), p. 54
