of May embarked his troops on transports, descended the York
river, passed Fortress Monroe and ascended the James River. Convoyed by
a fleet of armored war vessels and gunboats, his transports reached
Bermuda Hundreds on the afternoon of the 5th. General Wilde, with a
brigade of the Phalanx, occupied Fort Powhatan, on the south bank of the
river, and Wilson's Wharf, about five miles below on the north side of
the James, with the remainder of his division of 5,000 of the Phalanx.
General Hinks landed at City Point, at the mouth of the Appomattox. The
next morning the troops advanced to Trent's, with their left resting on
the Appomattox, near Walthall, and the right on the James, and
intrenched. In the meantime, Butler telegraphed Grant:

"OFF CITY POINT, VA., May 5th.

"LIEUT. GEN. GRANT, Commanding Armies of the United States,
Washington, D. C.:

"We have seized Wilson's Wharf Landing; a brigade of Wilde's
colored troops are there; at Fort Powhatan landing two
regiments of the same brigade have landed. At City Point,
Hinks' division, with the remaining troops and battery, have
landed. The remainder of both the 18th and 10th Army Corps
are being landed at Bermuda Hundreds, above Appomattox. No
opposition experienced thus far, the movement was
comparatively a complete surprise. Both army corps left
Yorktown during last night. The monitors are all over the
bar at Harrison's landing and above City Point. The
operations of the fleet have been conducted to-day with
energy and success. Gens. Smith and Gillmore are pushing the
landing of the men. Gen. Graham with the army gunboats, lead
the advance during the night, capturing the signal station
of the rebels. Colonel West, with 1800 cavalry, made several
demonstrations from Williamsburg yesterday morning. Gen.
Rantz left Suffolk this morning with his cavalry, for the
service indicated during the conference with the
Lieut.-General. The New York flag-of-truce boat was found
lying at the wharf with four hundred prisoners, whom she had
not time to deliver. She went up yesterday morning. We are
landing troops during the night, a hazardous service in the
face of the enemy.

"BENJ. F. BUTLER,

"A. F. PUFFER, Capt. and A. D. C. _Maj.-Gen. Commanding._