from Bermuda Hundred,
and then did not dream but that General Weitzel had received
all the instructions, and would be in command. I rather formed
the idea that General Butler was actuated by a desire to witness
the effect of the explosion of the powder-boat. The expedition
was detained several days at Hampton Roads, waiting the loading
of the powder-boat. The importance of getting the Wilmington
expedition off without any delay, with or without the powder-
boat, had been urged upon General Butler. The powder-boat
was exploded on the morning of the 24th, before the return
of General Butler from Beaufort; but it would seem, from the
notice taken of it in the Southern newspapers, that he enemy
were never enlightened as to the object of the explosion until
they were informed by the Northern press."*

[Footnote]
* "Personal Memoirs, U. S. Grant," p. 604 appendix.
[End of Footnote]

"General Butler, in direct violation of the instructions
given, ordered the reembarkation of the troops and the return
of the expedition."*

[Footnote]
* Ibid., p. 605.
[End of Footnote]

"I advised Admiral Porter to hold on, and that I would send
a force and make another attempt to take the place. This
time I selected Major-General A. H. Terry to command the expedition."
"At my request Major-General B. F. Butler was relieved."*

[Footnote]
* Ibid., p. 607.
[End of Footnote]

I will not undertake to give a detailed account of the blundering
strategy of what General Grant aptly called the "Bottling
up at Bermuda Hundred" which enabled a powerful Union army
to be held in check by a small Confederate force, leaving
free the bulk of their army for hostile operations against
the Union forces.

So the contribution of General Butler's military genius to
the success of the United States in the war consisted of
a scheme to blow up a powder-boat in the capture of Fort
Fisher, somewhat after the Chinese fashion of warfare, which
General Grant said hardly had the effect to excite the curiosity
of the occupants of the fort which it had been intended to
demolish; and of his scheme of engineering at Dutch Gap and
Bermuda Hundred.

General Grant got tired of him at last and ordered him to
report at Lowell. So ended the military career of incompetence,
boasting and failure.

Massachusetts soldiers from those of the humblest origin
to those who came from the most cultivated circles have always
had the reputation of gentlemen. I know of