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

[686] Grant had crossed the James, and having the shorter line and the railroad from Richmond to Petersburg, should move directly to Petersburg, and that when Smith got there, he should find the city occupied by Lee's veterans. Grant was at that time at Charles City Court-House near Wilson's Landing, Fort Pocahontas. He asked me to send two regiments down to that landing to aid Sheridan in defending himself from the attacks of the Confederate troops who were close upon his rear. I sent the troops but advised that Sheridan should fall back the space of three or four miles from where he was to Fort Pocahontas where he would receive from Wilde's troops all the aid and protection he wanted. That suggestion I believe was adopted, but of the details of that I have no recollection, as Sheridan got across safely.

I had advised very strongly that the Second Corps, commanded by General Hancock, which was leading, and Burnside's corps, which was following, both arriving at the river on the 14th, should be hurried with the utmost celerity to occupy the intrenchments around Petersburg. I was sorry, however, to receive an order to send Hancock sixty thousand rations at Windmill Point, which was quite out of the direction for the purpose of a rapid march on Petersburg. Hancock had rations enough to last him three days, and I received an order to send the rations to City Point and thence up the Appomattox to be landed within four or five miles of the rear of Hancock's corps.

I did not share Grant's apprehensions that Lee had undertaken to outmarch him via Richmond to Petersburg. I supposed that Lee would have seen the rear of Grant's forces while they were being passed over the river, always the most dangerous movement for a withdrawing army, and if Lee had marched for the purpose of getting ahead of him he would have been far ahead, for the delays in getting across the river were to me at the time unexplainable.

I knew also that up to that time no troops could have passed through Richmond or below to Petersburg. My lookouts commanded that matter by their eyes and ears day and night. If so much of the defences of Petersburg could be taken as would enable our force to reach the bridges at Swift Creek so as to get that creek and the Appomattox between us and Lee, then by holding that line of communication and demonstrating toward Richmond so as to cut the