E.D. Townsend to Benjamin F. Butler, June 10, 1861
Maj. Gen. B. F. BUTLER, Commanding Fort Monroe, Virginia :
Sir: Your letters of the 4th and 6th instant are received.
The General-in-Chief desires me to say in reply, that he highly commends your zeal and activity, which oblige the enemy to strengthen his camp and posts in your vicinity and hold him constantly on the alert. The principal value of your movement upon Suffolk is, that it would be the easiest route to the Gosport navy-yard, and the objects (including many ships of war) which our people on the former occasion left undestroyed. The possession of Norfolk within itself is of no importance whilst we blockade Hampton Roads; but the destruction of the railroads leading from that city, as far as you may find it practicable, would be a valuable coercive measure. ¥
The naval commander should aid you in the collection of boats for joint expeditions, and the Secretary of War has said that he would cause some eighty horses to be bought and shipped to you for a light battery.
very respectfully, your obedient servant,
Assistant Adjutant-General.
CHAMBERSBURG, June 10, 1861.
DEAR GENERAL: I have your note, and thank you for the attention.
stop troops at Harrisburg. Under authority from General Scott I have
ordered from New York regiments in succession to proceed from Harrisburg to this place, and in each case the colonels have refused to obey.
If the Department will send orders to their camps to come here, they