Gen. Weitzel had concurred in the propriety of returning, but in entire ignorance of this order. Had it been directed to him, and he placed in command of the expedition, he would have obeyed it. Advised by the Navy Department that the fleet was still off Fort Fisher, and ready for a fresh attempt, Grant promptly determined that it should be made. Designating Gen. Alfred H. Terry to command the new expedition, he added a brigade of about 1,500 men and a siege-train (which was not landed), and ordered Gen. Sheridan to send a division to Fortress Monroe, to follow in case of need. Terry's force, therefore, though nominally but a quarter stronger, was really much more so; since all who were under his orders added vigor and confidence to his efforts. Gen. Terry was first apprised of his destination by Gen. Grant, as together they passed down the James. The new expedition, composed in good part of the old one, minus its two Generals, left Fortress Monroe Jan. 6, 1865; put into Beaufort, N. C., on the 8th; was detained there by bad weather till the 12th; was off Wilmington that night; and commenced its landing, under cover of a heavy bombardment from Porter's fleet, early next morning; and, by 3 P. M., nearly 8,000 men, with three days rations in their haversacks, 40 rounds of ammunition in their boxes, arms, intrenching tools, munitions, &c., complete, had been landed, in spite of a heavy surf; having thrown out pickets which had exchanged shots with those of the enemy. The work assigned them was already well begun. Gen. Terry's first concern was to throw a strong defensive line across the sandy peninsula whereon Fort Fisher stands, so as to isolate it from
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Butler's military department, he did not absolutely forbid it. Still, as Weitzel was his choice, and the decision not to assault was primarily Weitzel's, he could not object to this.
But he did complain, and with reason, that his express order, addressed to Butler for Weitzel, had been violated in the return of the expedition.
That order is as follows:
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