Grant The Forgotten Hero

by Charles Henry Vessey

  Butler's force arrived off the coast of Fort Fisher on December 15th, but the naval force was not ready to proceed, including the powder ship. The fleet was assembled and ready to begin by December 18th, but by then Butler's force was out of provisions, so they had to put in to replenish their supplies. About that time, another storm blew up and the mission had to be postponed again.

  Everything was finally in place on December 23rd. That evening Admiral Porter had the powder ship towed into position as near to the fort as possible. At two o' clock in the morning on December 24th, the explosion took place which had absolutely no effect whatsoever on Fort Fisher. All it really succeeded in doing was to wake up the inhabitants of the fort.

  Later that day, the naval armada opened fire upon the fort, but succeeded in doing little damage. On Christmas Day, Butler's forces were landed north of Fort Fisher under the command of General Ames. His men landed out of range of the fort's guns but were protected by the naval forces. Part of the force under General Curtis pushed to within 75 yards of the fort. General Weitzel accompanied Curtis' brigade to where he could get a good look at the fort. Weitzel discovered that the fort had suffered little damage, so he sent word back to Butler cautioning against an assault.

  During his advance, General Ames captured some rebel soldiers who informed Butler that Fort Fisher was currently being reinforced by Hoke's division which had been sent from Richmond.

  Upon hearing these reports, Butler decided to withdraw his troops and return to Fort Monroe. When Porter learned of Butler's intentions he was much distressed and pleaded with him to continue the mission promising enough firepower to keep the rebels cowed, but Butler refused to change his mind. He soon re-embarked his troops and headed back to Hampton Roads.

  By retreating, Butler had violated his orders which were specifically spelled out in the following correspondence.

  CITY POINT, VIRGINIA, December 6, 1864.

  "GENERAL:--The first object of the expedition under General Weitzel is to close to the enemy the port of Wilmington. If successful in this, the second will be to capture Wilmington itself. There are reasonable grounds to hope for success, if advantage can be taken of the absence of the greater part of the enemy's forces now looking after Sherman in Georgia. The directions you have given for the numbers and equipment of the expedition are all right, except in the unimportant matter of where they embark and the amount of intrenching tools to be taken. The object of the expedition will be gained by effecting a landing on the main land between Cape Fear River and the Atlantic, north of the north entrance to the river. Should such landing be effected while the enemy still holds Fort Fisher and the batteries guarding the entrance to the river, then the troops should intrench themselves, and, by co-operating with the navy, effect the reduction and capture of those places. These in our hands, the navy could enter the harbor, and the port of Wilmington would be sealed. Should Fort Fisher and the point of land on which it is built fall into the hands of our troops immediately on landing, then it will be worth the attempt to capture Wilmington by a forced march and surprise. If time is consumed in gaining the first object of the expedition, the second will become a matter of after consideration.

  "The details for execution are intrusted to you and the officer immediately in command of the troops.

  "Should the troops under General Weitzel fail to effect a landing at or near Fort Fisher, they will be returned to the armies operating against Richmond without delay.

  "U. S. GRANT, Lieutenant-General.

  "MAJOR-GENERAL B. F. BUTLER." 126

  At the time of the failure of the mission against Wilmington, Grant had just recently experienced great anxiety from the reluctance of Thomas to attack the rebels at Nashville. Now, Butler had expressly violated his orders. In addition, Grant had earlier troubles with Butler who was difficult to get along with at best. If that was not enough Butler was a political general with no real military aptitude. He had failed to take Richmond when he could have and allowed himself to be bottled up at Bermuda Hundred. He had failed to take Petersburg when in so doing he could have shortened the war by one year, albeit, the real culpability belonged to W. F. Smith. Later, Grant found out that Butler had even failed to show Weitzel the above orders of December 6th or he would not have withdrawn after having effected a landing.

  Butler had attained a major accomplishment, but had negated all the good by withdrawing. Grant was fed up and soon recommended that Butler be relieved from duty. In his place, as commander of the Army of the James, Grant selected General E.O.C. Ord.

  On December 28th, Grant telegraphed the President expressing his consternation about the failure at Wilmington.

  CITY POINT, VA.

  Dec. 28, 1864.--8.30 P.M.

  The Wilmington expedition has proven a gross and culpable failure. Many of the troops are back here. Delays and free talk of the object of the expedition enabled the enemy to move troops to Wilmington to defeat it. After the expedition sailed from Fort Monroe, three days of fine weather were squandered, during which the enemy was without a force to protect himself. Who is to blame will, I hope, be known.

  U. S. GRANT,

  Lieutenant-General. 127

  Apparently the old adage of "loose lips sink ships," applied to this mission as well as the aforementioned incompetence. It appears word got to the authorities in Richmond in plenty of time for them to send Hoke's division down to Wilmington to aide in driving off the Yankees while Bragg was off in Georgia opposing Sherman.

  Soon after Butler abandoned the mission, Admiral Porter sent a number of dispatches complaining the army had left him high and dry just when it appeared the fort was almost in Union hands. Porter pleaded for the army to return with a different commander feeling assured of success.

  Porter had been communicating with the Navy Department, but when Grant got wind of his dispatches, he promptly answered asking Porter to hold on and as soon as transportation could be arranged he would send the army back under a different commander and with additional forces to offset the Confederate reinforcements.

  Grant selected General A. H. Terry to command the expedition and personally gave Terry the following instructions in order to avoid a repeat of word about the mission becoming public knowledge once again. These orders were not to be opened by Terry until after he had put out to sea.

  CITY POINT, VIRGINIA, January 3, 1865.

  "GENERAL:--The expedition intrusted to your command has been fitted out to renew the attempt to capture Fort Fisher, N.C., and Wilmington ultimately, if the fort falls. You will then proceed with as little delay as possible to the naval fleet lying off Cape Fear River, and report the arrival of yourself and command to Admiral D. D. Porter, commanding North Atlantic Blockading Squadron.

  "it is exceedingly desirable that the most complete understanding should exist between yourself and the naval commander. I suggest, therefore, that you consult with Admiral Porter freely, and get from him the part to be performed by each branch of the public service, so that there may be unity of action. It would be well to have the whole programme laid down in writing. I have served with Admiral Porter, and know that you can rely on his judgment and his nerve to undertake what he proposes. I would, therefore, defer to him as much as is consistent with your own responsibilities. The first object to be attained is to get a firm position on the spit of land on which Fort Fisher is built, from which you can operate against that fort. You want to look to the practicability of receiving your supplies, and to defending yourself against superior forces sent against you by any of the avenues left open to the enemy. If such a position can be obtained, the siege of Fort Fisher will not be abandoned until its reduction is accomplished, or another plan of campaign is ordered from these headquarters.

  "My own views are, that if you effect a landing, the navy ought to run a portion of their fleet into the Cape Fear River, while the balance of it operates on the outside. Land forces cannot invest Fort Fisher, or cut it off from supplies or reinforcements, while the river is
in possession of the enemy.

  "A siege-train will be loaded on vessels and sent to Fort Monroe, in readiness to be sent to you if required. All other supplies can be drawn from Beaufort as you need them.

  "Keep the fleet of vessels with you until your position is assured. When you find they can be spared, order them back, or such of them as you can spare, to Fort Monroe, to report for orders.

  "In case of failure to effect a landing, bring your command back to Beaufort, and report to these headquarters for further instructions. You will not debark at Beaufort until so directed.

  "General Sheridan has been ordered to send a division of troops to Baltimore and place them on sea-going vessels. These troops will be brought to Fort Monroe and kept there on the vessels until you are heard from. Should you require them, they will be sent to you.

  "U. S. GRANT, Lieutenant-General.

  "BREVET MAJOR-GENERAL A. H. TERRY." 128

  Terry's expedition was assembled and got under way from Fort Monroe on the 6th of January. This time, the final destination of the mission was known only to a chosen few.

  The fleet carrying Terry's troops rendezvoused with Porter's fleet on January 8th, but due to inclement weather did not arrive off Fort Fisher until January 12th.

  At daylight the next morning the operation began with the ironclads opening fire on the fort. As the attack began, Terry landed his forces under the cover of the navy and out of range of the fort's guns. By 3 o' clock on the 13th, all 8000 of Terry's men were safely ashore some five miles north of the fort.

  Porter conducted this attack somewhat differently from the attack made in December. He ran his ironclads in close to the fort to ascertain the position of the enemy's artillery. Having discovered their placements, he then ordered the entire fleet to concentrate their fire on the rebel guns. Soon the rebel batteries fell silent. In addition, portions of the fort appeared destroyed.

  On the 14th, Terry's artillery was landed and his main position was intrenched within two miles of the fort, while his most forward advance was established less than a half mile from the fort under General Curtis. Terry had already accomplished one of his primary objectives, by effecting a landing and, entrenching his position to establish his beach head. Next Terry met with Porter to coordinate the attack which was set for the next day at 3 P.M., following an all-day bombardment by the navy.

  The bombardment began at dawn on the 15th, as Porter's fleet poured a murderous fire into the fort driving the Confederates from the parapets and into bombproof shelters. Terry established a northern defensive line with 4700 men under General Payne to hold his rear against any attack which might be made. The assault was to be made by Ames' division with 3000 men under Generals Curtis, Bell and Pennypacker. While the navy had silenced the Confederate artillery, the fort still contained 2400 defenders. During the navy's bombardment, Terry moved Pennypacker and Bell's brigades to a forward position within supporting distance of Curtis.

  At 2 P.M., sharpshooters were thrown forward. The enemy responded by re-manning the parapets. Curtis' brigade advanced by the double quick to within 500 yards of the fort. Meanwhile, Porter landed 2000 marines and sailors under Lieutenant-Commander Breese along the sea front to cooperate in the assault. By 3:30 P.M., the marines had worked their way to within 200 yards of the fort. At 3:25 P.M., all the preparations were complete and the order to attack was given by General Ames. Curtis' brigade sprang to life and rushed the parapets of the fort under very heavy fire. At the same time, the sailors rushed the fort, but suffered severe casualties because the marines failed to fire at the rebels on the parapets. Before long, Curtis' brigade entered the fort, but the intense fighting was only beginning. As soon as Curtis broke the rebel line and entered the fort, Ames sent Pennypacker to his support entering the fort on Curtis' right. Finally, Ames sent Bell's brigade toward an area where there was no parapet.

  The fighting from here on out was as intense as any seen during the war with much of it, hand-to-hand. The entire fight lasted about seven hours until ten o' clock, when the fort was finally secured. While the battle raged, Hoke made a feeble attempt on the National northern defense line, but was quickly repulsed. After this incident, Terry ordered reinforcements to Ames which helped turn the tide in the Federals favor.

  The battle over Fort Fisher was a resounding Union triumph. The Yankees lost a total of 1341 casualties, while the Confederate casualties were about 500 with 2200 forced to surrender.

  With the fall of Fort Fisher, Grant emerged with still another ace in his hand. The last blockade running port was closed to the rebels and if one looked west, one could see the sun setting on the Confederacy.

  The Peace Commission

  As 1865 began, Sherman was in Savannah after capturing that city and presenting it to the President as a Christmas gift. Sheridan had cleaned out the Valley of the Shenandoah, removing their breadbasket and avenue of invasion from the rebels. Thomas was in central Tennessee after decisively defeating one of the three major Confederate armies. Fort Fisher had fallen to Terry and Porter, effectively closing the port of Wilmington. Wilmington was soon to follow as Grant ordered Schofield to that place with instructions to cooperate with Sherman as he moved north to come up on Lee's rear. Grant had originally entertained the idea of transporting Sherman's command north via sea transport to complete the encirclement of Lee, but Sherman's unopposed march through Georgia had demonstrated the ease with which Union forces could move throughout the hollow Confederacy. Perceiving this, Grant asked Sherman to make the march north through the Carolinas hoping to keep Lee in place so his forces would not take to the hills as guerilla fighters and prolong the war.

  So it appeared to the untrained military observer that all of Grant's lieutenants were winning the war, while he was languishing around Petersburg. To anyone in the know, Grant was in fact, the key player. He was holding tight to Lee allowing him no room to send significant reinforcements to help against any of his subordinates. Later in January, due to the rising stars of his subordinates, some in Congress proposed to make Sherman a Lieutenant-General as well, thinking Grant was lollygagging. Hearing of this, Sherman sent Grant a letter dated January 21, 1865. In the letter he said: "I have been told that Congress meditates a bill to make another lieutenant-general for me. I have written to John Sherman to stop it if it is designed for me. It would be mischievous, for there are enough rascals who would try to sow differences between us, whereas you and I now are in perfect understanding. I would rather have you in command than anybody else; for you are fair, honest, and have at heart the same purpose that should animate all. I should emphatically decline any commission calculated to bring us into rivalry....."129

  Grant soon replied to Sherman. "No one would be more pleased at your advancement than I, and if you should be placed in my position and I put subordinate, it would not change our relations in the least. I would make the same exertions to support you that you have ever done to support me, and I would do all in my power to make our cause win." 130

  On January 31st, Sherman responded: "I am fully aware of your friendly feeling toward me, and you may always depend on me as your steadfast supporter. Your wish is law and gospel to me, and such is the feeling that pervades my army." 131

  Horace Porter summarized the above episode better than anyone else could. "In all the annals of history no correspondence between men of high station furnishes a nobler example of genuine, disinterested personal friendship and exalted loyalty to a great cause." 132

  Someone might question Grant's veracity in making the magnanimous statement to Sherman listed above, declaring his desire not be bested by Sherman, but such a statement would demonstrate a lack of understanding of Ulysses’ character or a desire to disbelieve that anyone in such a position could truly be as modest, humble and honest as he actually was. An episode occurred at the end of the 1864, which was related by Horace Porter, which displayed Grant's truthfulness and the extent he went to insure every effort was made to tell the truth, even to the point o
f boredom. One night after Grant had retired a conversation was struck up by the remaining staff members. Rawlins began by saying, "'The general always likes to tell an anecdote that points a moral on the subject of lying. He hates only two kinds of people, liars and cowards. He has no patience with them, and never fails to show his aversion for them.' Ingalls added, 'Such traits are so foreign to his own nature that it is not surprising that he should not tolerate them in others. As man and boy he has always been the most absolutely truthful person in the whole range of my acquaintance. I never knew him to run into the slightest exaggeration or to borrow in the least degree from his imagination in relating an occurrence.' One of the party remarked, 'I was amused one day to hear an officer say that the general was 'tediously truthful.' He explained that what he meant by that was that the general, in mentioning something that had taken place, would direct his mind so earnestly to stating unimportant details with entire accuracy that he would mar the interest of the story. For instance, after returning from a walk around camp he would say: 'I was told so and so about the wounded by Dr.----while we were talking this morning inside of his tent'; and a half-hour afterward he would take the trouble to come back and say, as if it were a matter of the greatest importance: 'I was mistaken when I told you that my conversation with Dr.----occurred inside his tent; that was not correct: it took place while we were standing in front of his tent.'" 133 Such was Ulysses S. Grant's character. This could be is one of the reasons history has done him so much injustice. It is hard for people to comprehend someone who is entirely truthful and has no hidden agendas. He lacked the dash of a Lee or Napoleon. In fact, he was boringly truthful. Qualities such as these should not cause such a great man to be discarded to the trash heap of also-rans, especially when Grant was possibly the greatest of them all.