The following was excerpted from reports in Chapter XLV of the War of the Rebellion submitted by Brigadier General Isaac Wistar and Major General Benjamin Butler regarding the Expedition Against Richmond. Although I have read in many places that the Butler raid never happened, that it not true, it was not successful for the reasons described below.

Brigadier General Isaac Wistar assembled 6200 men, 4,000 infantry and 2,200 cavalry, at Williamsburg after dark on the evening of the February 5th, together with Hunt’s and Belger’s light batteries. The infantry, consisting of three white regiments, a brigade under Colonel R. M. West, the First Pennsylvania Light Artillery, three colored regiments under Colonel Duncan, and the Fourth U. S. Colored Troops, moved out at 9 AM on February 6th, carrying six days rations and 70 rounds of cartridges- 40 in their boxes and 30 in their knapsacks. The cavalry, made up of detachments from five regiments under Colonel Samuel P. Spear from the 11th Pennsylvania Cavalry, moved two hours later. Colonel Spear was directed to arrive at Bottom’s Bridge, 12 miles from Richmond, by 3 AM on the 7th, surprise the Rebels stationed there, and move on rapidly to Richmond. A picked company under Captain Hill, First New York Mounted Rifles, with selected horses, was placed in advance to take down the three groups of pickets- at New Kent, Baltimore Cross-Roads, and at the bridge. Arrangements had been previously made to have the telegraph wire between Meadow Station and Richmond cut between dark and midnight on the 6th.

By these efforts it was hoped to surprise the enemy’s Battery Number 2, on the Bottom’s Bridge road near Richmond, and occupy Capital Square in that city for at least two or three hours; detachments previously detailed and carefully instructed would then break sequentially from the main column, on entering, for various specific purposes. The specific purposes were: for the 3rd NY Cavalry to move to Libby Prison and liberate the prisoners there and burn Mayo’s Bridge; 250 members of the 11th PA Cavalry were to destroy the New Yard; the 5th PA Cavalry was to destroy the Tredegar Iron Works; and the remainder of the 1st NY Mounted Rifles were to go to Jefferson Davis’ residence and capture him. The success of the enterprise was based upon the sudden and noiseless surprise of the strong picket at Bottom’s Bridge, without which it would be impossible for cavalry alone to pass Battery Number 2. Colonel Spear failed to capture the pickets at Baltimore Cross-Roads, owing to the excessive darkness of the night, which unfortunately proved to be cloudy and rainy. He reached Bottom’s Bridge, a distance of 51 miles, ten minutes before the time designated, but found the enemy there in strong force, with infantry, cavalry, and artillery. They had received notice some sixteen hours previously of the arrival near Williamsburg of additions to the Union forces there, and had during that time been vigorously making preparations. The bridge planks had been taken up, the fords both above and below were effectively obstructed, extensive earthworks and rifle pits were constructed, and a strong force of troops brought down by the York River Railroad were in place, and large numbers were still arriving. The darkness prevented an attack until morning, when a detachment of the New York Mounted Rifles, under Major Wheelan, made an unsuccessful charge on the bridge by the only approach- a long causeway flanked on either side by an impassable marsh. The enemy opened with canister, first checking and then repulsing the charge, with a loss of 9 killed and wounded and 10 horses killed. The river was reconnoitered both above and below for some miles, but at every possible crossing the enemy was found in force with newly placed obstructions. Three regiments of infantry were plainly seen, besides other infantry, which fired from the woods, where their numbers could not be ascertained. Four batteries of field artillery were counted, and at least one heavy gun was in position. The Union infantry had marched on February 6th a total of 33 miles, arriving at New Kent Court-House at 2 AM on the 7th. After a halt of three hours they moved as rapidly as possible toward the firing at the bridge, which was plainly audible. At 11 AM knowing from the continued firing ahead that Colonel Spear had not succeeded in effecting a passage, and that even if now effected their object of surprising the city would no longer be possible, General Wistar sent Spear orders to retreat. The infantry had arrived within 7 miles of the bridge when it met the head of Spear’s returning column, and after hearing from them the full state of the case, Wistar retired his whole force, not feeling authorized to incur the loss necessary to force the position without any longer the ability to surprise the enemy in Richmond. The cavalry continued rearward, except about 300 men of the Third New York Cavalry, under Lieutenant-Colonel Lewis, retained for a rear guard. At Baltimore Store the enemy overtook and attacked the rear guard with vigor, but were quickly repulsed, with the aid of a section of Belger’s battery, the two pieces being alternately fired and retired to new positions. The enemy in this affair lost at least one officer and a few men. The command bivouacked at New Kent unmolested, and on the 8th, the cavalry being out of forage, which the country did not afford, were sent ahead, arriving at Williamsburg the same evening. The infantry bivouacked in order of battle at Burnt Ordinary, and returned to their former camp, having marched during the four days of their absence 33, 28, 18, and 25 miles.

Major General Butler reported that when the flag-of-truce boat came down from Richmond, it brought a copy of the Richmond Examiner, which said that the Rebels were prepared for the raid based on information received from a Yankee deserter. The deserter told the Confederates that large numbers of cavalry and infantry were concentrating at Williamsburg to take Richmond. The report obtained consistency from a number of circumstances, and impressed the authorities to such a degree that a disposition of forces was made to anticipate the supposed advance. The deserter was Private William Boyle, New York Mounted Rifles, who was under sentence of death for the murder of Lieutenant William Wilkins Disosway. Boyle was allowed to escape by private Thomas Abrahams, of the 139th New York, the sentinel over him, four days previous to Butler’s movement. Boyle reached Richmond, and was arrested and placed in Castle Thunder. Boyle would have been hung several months earlier but for the President Lincoln’s order suspending until further orders the execution of capital sentences. Private Abrahams was placed in custody. Charges against him went forward. Butler sent the report to show the adverse impact the clemency order had on his raid. Butler requested that the order suspending executions be suspended in his department. Butler stated that the corruption and faithlessness of a sentinel, who is now being tried for the offense, a man condemned to death, but reprieved by the President, was allowed to escape to the enemy’s lines, and there gave them such information as enabled them to meet our advance. This fact is acknowledged in two of the Richmond papers, the Examiner and the Sentinel, and is fully confirmed by the testimony before the courtmartial, before which is being tried the man who permitted the escape.

The murder of Lieutenant William Wilkins (excerpted from a newspaper report)- On October 13, 1863, Lieutenant William W. Disosway was shot through the mouth by Private William Boyle of the regiment who had escaped from his confinement at Fort Magruder in Williamsburg and sought to desert to avoid punishment. While Disosway tried to talk Boyle into surrendering, Boyle shot Disosway in the mouth and made his escape. Disosway soon died of his wound. On the 2nd or 3rd of February, Boyle, whose trial had been delayed, escaped in the night from his prison at Fort Magruder, through the connivance of one of his guards, private Thomas Abrahams, Company G, 139th NY. A search was immediately made in all directions, and every possible effort made for his recapture without success. It was thought that he had crossed the James and fled in the direction of Suffolk.

Boyle enlisted in the Southern army, but of his subsequent life nothing is known. Private Abrahams was subsequently tried, convicted and executed on May 27th by firing squad.

Images from Fort Magruder in Williamsburg