Benjamin F. Butler to Winfield Scort, June 20, 1861

Lieut. Gen. WINFIELD Scort, Commander-in-Chief, U. 8. Army:

Str: I send you inclosed a memorandum * of information obtained by me from two deserters from Sewell’s Point, who escaped this morning in a boat. They are both Northern men, apparently frank and honest, and they have been sent North by me. They belonged to the Macon (Ga.) Volunteers. The general will see that we have an experimental gun on Fort Calhoun, of 24-pounder bore, carrying a 53-pound elongated shot, of Sawyer’s patent, by which we are enabled to strike the enemy’s battery with a great degree of accuracy. , I think Sawyer’s shell is a success, and I have directed at the ordnance workshop two 6-pounder cannon to be rifled and perhaps one 12-pounder for field purposes, and I have also ordered a competent supply of shell for the same. I hope to have these orders filled within a week. It is among the possibilities, and perhaps the probabilities, that a concentration of troops may be made at Yorktown via James River, and an advance movement upon this post ensue. While waiting for the transportation and the further troops that have been promised me, I have turned my attention, with the aid of the Engineer officers who reported to me four days since, to strengthening my positions outside the walls of the fortress. Newport News, perhaps, can hold out with the three thousand men there against the attack of five thousand or six thousand men, but we have not, as yet, any field artillery here. To defend ourselves outside the fort, we have but about three thousand effective men, and some of them not the best troops. May I ask again for Cook’s battery and the Massachusetts troops which were promised me? The enemy are apparently preparing for an advance movement from Yorktown. By the concentration of the Yorktown and Norfolk troops, should they attack, I should be, to say the least, largely outnumbered.

There are plenty of regiments, especially the Second Volunteer Regi-

ment in Massachusetts, and Major Cobb’s light battery, ready, waiting, and anxious to join me here if an order were only given, and there are ample means of transportation for this.

The General-in-Chief is thus possessed substantially with all the information I have, and it is for his better judgment to deal with the exigency. I will do the best my limited knowledge and experience will permit with the material I have. Perhaps the General would advise a joint land and sea attack upon the battery on Sewell’s Point. Ifthere are any such numbers as are claimed at Norfolk, it will be seen that it would be impossible to hold the battery if it were taken.

I have the honor to be, with much respect, your obedient servant,