Adam Badeau, Military history of Ulysses S. Grant from April 1861 to April 1865. Volume 2

‘ [328] a simple business it was. I will work night and day to be ready. . . . Please impress the commander with the importance of consulting with me freely as regards weather and landing.’

Butler received no intimation of the renewal of the expedition. Grant simply telegraphed him on the 2nd of January: ‘Please send Major-General Terry to City Point to see me this morning.’ ‘I cannot go myself,’ he said to the Secretary of War, ‘so long as Butler would be left in command.’ Grant was always slow to anger, and it was not till the accumulated testimony of naval and military officers convinced him that the failure was owing solely to Butler's military incapacity that he took decided measures. He often seemed to be worked gradually up to an important point, but, when once this was reached, he never receded.

On the 4th of January, he asked for the removal of Butler; ‘I am constrained to request the removal of Major-General Butler from the command of the Department of Virginia and North Carolina. I do this with reluctance, but the good of the service requires it. In my absence General Butler necessarily commands, and there is a lack of confidence felt in his military ability, making him an unsafe commander for a large army. His administration of the affairs of his department is also objectionable.’ Stanton had just left the capital on a visit to Sherman, at Savannah, and this letter at first received no answer; but Grant was now very much in earnest, and on the 6th, he telegraphed direct to the President: ‘I wrote a letter to the Secretary of War, which was mailed yesterday, asking to have General Butler removed from command. Learning that the ’