Correspondence Between General Butler And Admiral Porter

HeadquarterS Depabtmext of vircitxia ) and Nortii Carolina, Dec. 2ótli, 186i. J Admiral : Upou landing the troopa, and making a tliorough reconnoisanoe of Fort Fisher, both General Weitzel and myself, are fully of tho opinión that the place could not bo carried by assault, as it ivas lefl substantially uninjured as a Lef ensive work by the navy Jire. We found seventeen guus proteeted by traverses, two only of which wero dismounted beariug up the beaeh .and covering a steep of land, the ouly practicable route, not wide enougb for a thousand mea in line of battle. Having captured Flag Pond Battery, the garrison of which (sixty-fivc men and two commissioned officers) were taken off by the navy, we also captured Half Moon Battery, and seven oScers, and two hundred and eight mon of tho North Caro lina Junior Reserves, iucluding its oommander, from whoin I learned that a portiou of Hoke's división, consisting of Kirkland's and Hapgood's brigados, had been sent from the liues before Kichmond on Tuesday last, arriviug at Wilmington Friday night. General Weitïel advaneed bis skir mish line within fifty yards of the fort, while the garrison was kept in their bomb-proofs by the fire of the navy, und so elosely that three or four men of ihc picket line ventured upon the parapet and through the sally port of the works, capturing a horse which they brought off, killing the orderly who was the bearer of a dispatch from tho chief of artillery of General Vhiting to bring a light battory within the fort ; and also broughfc away frota tho parapet the fiag of tfco fort. This was done while tha shells of the navy were falling about the heads of the daring men who entered the work; and it was evident, as icon as the Jire of the navy ceased because of ilie darkness, ikctt the fort was fully _ manned and opened mth rape and canister up%i our piehet line. Fiüding that notbltig but the operationa of a regular sie;-je, which did not come within my insliactions. would reduee tüe fort, and in viow of tbe threatemng aspect of the weather, the wind arising from the soutiiweat enderiD it imposible to make furthcr landing' through the surf, I causfid the troops, with their prisouers to re erabark ; and I see nothing furthsr that can le done by the land forces. I shall, thereforc, sail for Hampton roads as soort as the transport fleet can be got in order. My engineers and officers report Fort Fisher to me as substantlallv uninjured, as a defensive workI bave the honor to be, very respoctfully, Your obediont servaot, IJi-:n'.j. F. Butlkk, Major-Gencral Gommanding. ADMlltAL l'oiïTEIt's KEÏlY. NoRTtt Atlantic Squadron, United } States Flag sbh Malvkrs, Oi'F New Ixlet, N. C , Dec'26.) General : I beg leave to acknoTvledge the receipt of your letter of this dato, the substanco of whioh was com municated to me by General Weitzel last night. I have ordered the largest vessels to prooeed off Beaufort to fill up with ammutiition, to be ready for another attnok in case it is docided to proceed with this matter by muking other arrangements. We have not commeneed firing rapidly yet, and could keep any rebelsinsido from showing their heads until an assaulting column was within twenty yards of the works I wïsh some'more of your gallant fellows had followed the offioer who took the flag from the parapet, and the brave feilow who brought the horse out of the fort. I think they would havo fouud t an casier conquest than is supposed. I do not, however, pretend to place my opinión in opposition to Gen. Weitzel, whom I know to be an aecomplished soldier and engincer, and whose opinión has great weight with me, I will look out that the troops are all off in safety. We will havd a ycst wind prcsently and a mooth boach about 3 o'clock, when sufficieut boats will be sent for thetn. The prisoners now on board the Santiago de Cuba, will be delivered to the Provost Marshal at Fortrcss Monroe, unless you wish to take theni on board one of the trausports, whieh would be ineonveniunt just now. I remain, general, respectfully, Your obedient servant, David D. Portkr, lloiir Admiral. To Maj Gen. B. F. Butler, Com'd, &c.