Benjamnin F. Butler, Butler's Book: Autobiography and Personal Reminiscences of Major-General Benjamin Butler

Headquarters Department of Virginia and North Carolina, Army of the James, in the field, Dec. 6, 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 the Twenty-Fourth Corps will furnish the infantry force. General Paine is under your orders, and General Ames will be ordered to report to you in person immediately.

You will confer with these officers and arrange details; instruct them to select their best men, making your force about sixty-five hundred men. The chief of artillery in conference with you will designate the artillery to be taken. The horses of the batteries, except one horse for each officer and chief of piece, will be left. Take one set of wheel harness. Fifty men of the Massachusetts cavalry will be ordered to report to you. Forty ambulances (two horse), with the necessary medical stores, have been selected for the expedition, which will be distributed on at least two boats. Take sixty rounds of ammunition for the men, one hundred rounds in boxes, to be distributed through the fleet. If your division trains do not furnish the necessary amount, the balance required will be furnished by the chief of ordnance at the point of. embarkation. Three hundred rounds of artillery ammunition per gun will be taken. So much of it as is not contained in limber boxes and caissons will be loaded in boxes at the point of embarkation. Let each regiment draw and take with it on transport five days rations, three days cooked meats; twenty days additional will be taken in at Fortress Monroe, distributing it through the fleet. Field rations only will be taken. Two pack-mules for division and brigade headquarters will be allowed. Mounted officers will take but one horse for personal use.

The chief quartermaster has been instructed to furnish one hundred and fifty mule harnesses. It is expected to obtain the animals from the enemy's country. The chief quartermaster will also furnish a party of wharf builders and a small amount of material for landing, etc. Thirty launches will be taken on board at Fortress Monroe. The chief signal officer has been instructed to order signal officers and men to report to you. Lieutenant Parson, with a company of engineer soldiers, will report to you. Five hundred shovels, two hundred and fifty axes, and one hundred picks have been prepared. It is expected that the necessary transportation will be ready to-morrow at Deep Bottom.