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

[734] Corps he had, with great gallantry, stormed Fort Harrison, a very strong work near James River, being the salient point of their line, and captured it without very considerable loss, the enemy retreating up the river line of fortifications. All the redoubts, as far as could be seen, had been abandoned largely because they could all be taken in the rear. But General Ord, desiring to reconnoitre the position, mounted upon the top of the highest point of Fort Harrison, and stood looking at the country, and while so doing, unfortunately received a very serious wound in his ankle from a single shot of a rebel sharp-shooter, which entirely disabled him, and from which he suffered great pain. As will be remembered, for the purpose of having a surprise the orders for the movement were intrusted only to the commanders of corps. Ord's staff, in their anxiety for the condition of their chief, immediately got him into an ambulance and took him to Deep Bottom, some miles down the river, where he could have proper facilities for surgical care, but very unfortunately, he not being in condition to remember about it himself, carried away in his pocket his orders, so that General Heckman who succeeded him in command knew not what to do.

Meanwhile General Grant, in natural concern as to the success of the expedition, rode over from City Point, arriving after a delay of some hours, and found my troops occupying Fort Harrison.

DeKay had ridden to find me and given me information of the condition of affairs. I asked him by what road he came. He said: “By the Varina road,” and I said to him: “That is covered by the enemy's line of fortifications.” He said: “They had all been abandoned, General, I saw as I came by them.” Thereupon I called a couple of orderlies and said: “DeKay, ride with me to Fort Harrison by the shortest route.” We rode out until we got on the Varina road, and there I could see plainly at a distance of some three or four hundred yards the line of redoubts and their connecting intrenchments apparently abandoned. We had ridden but a short distance when I was saluted by the discharge of a shell which passed over my head. Supposing this line of redoubts was occupied by our troops, as they ought to have been, and would have been I doubt not except for the accident to Ord, I said: “Well, DeKay, it is not usual to salute the commanding general with a shell.” He raised his glass and said: “But, General, that redoubt is occupied by the ”