The Maine bugle ... campaign; 1-5 Jan. 1894-Oct. 1898 - Maine.gov

.4 MAN FROM MAINE. 81
which was an error of itself, and then again, on account of the
faulty arrangement for ignition, but a small part of the powder
was burnt, (icneral Butler knew nothing of the explosion until
it was over.
It is not generally known that although General Butler
accompanied the expedition as commanding general of the
Department of Virginia and North Carolina, still, Major-General
Godfrey Weitzel was in actual command of the troops by order
of General Grant, and upon Weitzel and Lieutenant-Colonel
Cyrus B. Comstock, United States I-^ngineers of headquarters
of the armies of the United States, rests the responsibilit\- for
the withdrawal of the military forces. But I will waive this
position, which may be called technical, and state the facts.
While the arm\- was storm-bound in Beaufort. North Caro-
lina, vvhere it had been driven for coal and water. Admiral Porter
attacked Fort F'isher. The War and Navy Departments had
determined that a combined attack of the two branches ot the
service was necessar\- for the reduction of the fort. Porter
made a purely naval attack on December 24. What would the
country have said if Butler, while lying off New Inlet waiting
for the navy, had taken advantage of the beautiful weather that
preceded the storm and had made the attack without waiting
for the navy? The na\'y had no more right to attack without
the presence of the army than the army would ha\'c had to
attack in tl^e absence of the navy.
After ordering his transports to follow him. Butler, who had
heard of the operations of the navy, started for and arrived off
New Inlet between four and fi\e o'clock in the afternoon, in time
to see the end of the first da\'s bombardment.
A staff officer was sent on board the Hag-ship " Malvern " by
Butler to confer with Porter, but the admiral returned word that
he was too much fatigued to give him audience, but would
receive General Weitzel and Colonel Comstock in the morning.
A brigade of Ames' division were the first troops to land, at a
point two miles and a half north of the fort. This brigade was
immediately formed and marched towards the fort along the sea
beach. But it was soon evident that the surf was becoming