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fleet to go up the bay that they might be reported to the enemy as going up the Potomac.
Then, after dark, they were to come down the bay again with all lights put out, and thus deceive the enemy as to our movements.
Early on the morning of Wednesday, the 14th, a steamer came in from the Department of the South and reported the sea to be very smooth outside.
We at once started the transports already anchored off Cape Henry, and put out to sea. There was no vessel of Admiral Porter's in Hampton Roads when we left.1 It was arranged that we should meet the naval fleet twenty-five miles off New Inlet.2 But in order not to arouse any suspicion in regard to Wilmington, and in order that, if it became necessary, we might land at Masonboroa Inlet, which is eighteen miles above Fort Fisher, my fleet was ordered to rendezvous and did rendezvous off Masonboroa Inlet, but far out at sea that they might not be seen.
Admiral Porter was notified of this, so that he understood it.
My transport fleet arrived off Masonboroa Inlet the night of Thursday, the 15th of December.
The time of sailing had been so arranged that the vessels should sail only so fast, in order that all might get there together, and should not get there in daylight.
This was so that it would not be possible for them to be seen by any blockade runner or fishing vessel that might be out there.
My own ship being faster than the rest, I went forward eighteen miles down the coast, and twenty-five miles off the land, in order to meet Admiral Porter, who, I supposed, was with his fleet.
He had said to me that it would take twelve hours for him to go into Beaufort and get ammunition for his monitors and other vessels, but having had some experience in the delays of naval operations, I allowed him to have thirty-six hours start.
I reached the blockading fleet off Fort Fisher between six and seven o'clock on the evening of the 15th (Thursday). I inquired if
1 Testimony of General Weitzel before the Committee on the Conduct of the War on the Fort Fisher expedition, pp. 68, 69, 70:--
On Wednesday morning early, a steamer came in from the Department of the South and reported the sea as very smooth outside. We at once started, found the transports already anchored off Cape Henry, and started them at once to sea. When we left the harbor, I did not see there a single vessel that belonged to Admiral Porter's fleet. I think all the difference between General Butler and Admiral Porter as to the time we sailed is at that one point. Admiral Porter did not know that our transports went up the bay, but supposed they went right out to sea. Thence he says that General Butler started before he did. That, I think, is the cause of difference between them on that point.
2 See Appendix No. 116.
A. M. Thayer and Co. 1892.
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