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

[857] book, which, when they were shown to me, I asked to have stricken out; yet it was retained there, though against my wishes.

I make this statement here because, although I have often made it before, it has never been in my power until now to place it where it will correct history; and I desire to rectify all injustice that I may have done to individuals, particularly to officers who were gallantly serving their country during the trying period of the war for the preservation of the Union. General Butler certainly gave his very earnest support to the war; and he gave his own best efforts personally to the suppression of the Rebellion.

May I ask the reader to go back with me for a few moments and look at the map of Bermuda Hundred where the exact configuration, topography, and situation of the peninsula of the Bermuda Hundred is accurately shown.¹ If he will then examine pages 627 and 628 of Chapter XIV., he will find that I met General Grant on the 1st of April, 1864, and with a map of Bermuda Hundred before him explained to him its relation to Petersburg, Richmond, and their vicinage on the James and Appomattox Rivers, showing him that by the possession of the two rivers, at a point between the Point of Rocks on the Appomattox and Osborn on the James, where the rivers were about three miles apart, a line of intrenchments could be thrown over that distance so as to make that peninsula, some thirty square miles, an intrenched camp as impregnable as Fortress Monroe. I described all its advantages and explained how his army could have a base of supplies' there when it came to operate on the south side of the James. It would make a stronghold, within eight miles of the defenses of Richmond by land, where his army could be encamped with safety, be defended by a small force, and operate thence by the rivers over all sides towards the North and South. This plan General Grant approved against the objections of Gen. William F. Smith.

Looking a little further on, the reader will find the order of General Grant directing me to seize City Point and fortify the peninsula so that it might be held (as was ever afterwards done) as ani impregnable base of supplies and army occupation in case of disaster certainly so long as our navy could hold the river. Those intrenchments across the neck of the peninsula were made so strong that although even attacked by the enemy they were always held during the war. I was