Benjamnin F. Butler, Butler's Book: Autobiography and Personal Reminiscences of Major-General Benjamin Butler

“ [223] rebel division will attempt to attack Washington with us behind them at Manassas Junction, cutting off their supplies and communications. Let us go there and form an intrenchment as a nucleus of a very much larger force.”

Chase appeared impressed by my advice and suggestions and said they were his own, and asked me if I would walk over with him and see General Scott. I did so, and was called upon to explain the proposition to General Scott. But he bade it wait, as I supposed he would, and the movement was never made, although it was very earnestly pressed upon the President and Cabinet by Mr. Chase. Scott did not consent to have our armies cross the Potomac until the movement in which Ellsworth was killed, on the 24th of May, the day after the vote on the ordinance of secession. On that occasion we marched into Alexandria to take a position at Arlington Heights, within short cannon shot of Washington.

It may not be improper to state that I was sustained in my view of the importance of the occupation of Manassas Junction by the Committee on the Conduct of the War. That committee made a very full and stringent report upon the subject, in which it characterized the omission to seize Manassas Junction at this time as the great error of the campaign.

There would have been this advantage at any rate if we had intrenched ourselves at Manassas Junction: the disastrous battle of Bull Run would never have been fought.

My second interview with General Scott was, as I had occasion to remember, on the 3d of May, and at his request. He said he was desirous of holding the junction of the Washington branch of the Baltimore & Ohio Railroad with the main branch which led west up the Patapsco River to Harper's Ferry. This junction was at the Relay House, about eight miles from Baltimore and within my department. He stated that the rebels were gathering in considerable force at Harper's Ferry, and it might portend an attack upon the capital, and in that event they would use the railroad in transportation, having seized enough of the engines and cars to make that practicable. He desired to know if I knew anything of the topography of the country about that junction. I told him, I had a general acquaintance with it, having passed over it frequently. He asked me how many troops I thought would be