Creek, and it is already dark, your directions cannot be literally fol
lowed, and the circumstances impress me so strongly with the belief
that the enemy are about to evacuate Wilmington to-night, that I
venture to send one brigade now and wait further orders before with
drawing all. It will. take all night to get the whole command to Town
Creek, and it seems impossible to cross them all, beginning at an hour
so much later than you anticipated when sending the dispatch. Some
engineers on the railroad who have come into my lines, several other
citizens, and a number of slaves all agree in reporting the inten
tion of evacuating immediately. The destruction of immense quan
tities of property since I came up this evening looks the same way. I
have collected and repaired nearly all of the pontoons and materials of
the bridge, and had begun relaying them when your dispatch came. I
cannot retire my own force now without it appearing a retreat. I
would be entirely willing to stay here with one brigade, and should
feel quite confident that I could at any time bring it off safely, if we
remained here several days even. Thinking you would not desire
more troops at Town Creek than you can cross to-night, I have there
fore thought you would, if you knew all the circumstances, think it
right to send the one brigade; and if more can cross I can still send
them, so as to be not much behind the others if. the messenger makes
reasonable haste. 1 believe I mentioned in a former dispatch that the
rebels themselves destroyed the Brunswick Kiver railroad bridge.
Very respectfully,
J. 1). COX,
Major- General, Commanding.
HEADQUARTERS DEPARTMENT OF NORTH CAROLINA,
ARMY OF THE OHIO,
February 21, 1865 7.15 p. m.
General Cox :
GENERAL : My orderlies and your signal officer seem to have got lost,
and I have heard nothing from you since 10.30 a. in. I sent an order
to you by an orderly on foot about noon, but do not feel at all certain
that it has reached you. I want you to move back abreast of the fleet,
just above the mouth of Town Creek, to-night, and be ready to cross
the river at dawn of day in the morning. Send all your wagons and
horses to Fort Anderson. The men will cross in small boats. Better
8end a regiment with your w r agons, horses, and artillery. Should the
enemy be in force in your front it might, be necessary to cross Town
Creek before crossing the river. About this, act according to your
judgment. I intended you to cross the river to-night, but it is now too
late.
Very respectfully,
J. M. SCHOFIELD,
Major- General.
HEADQUARTERS ARMY OF THE OHIO,
February 21, 186510.20 p. m.
Major-General Cox,
Commanding Third Division, Ttventy-third Army Corps :
GENERAL: Your dispatch of 6 p. m. is just received and is highly
satisfactory. The one of an earlier date, but the hour not given, caine
CHAP. LIX.] CORRESPONDENCE, ETC. UNION. 523
at the same time. About 7 o clock I sent another to you directing you
to come back. I hope this will reach you in time to take its place. My
orders were based upon General Terry s report of an increase of the
force in his front, and that of prisoners that Hardee s forces had arrived
from Charleston. 1 think you would certainly have learned it if the
latter were true. That you have sent one brigade back is well. You
may send another as soon as you get this dispatch. Keep the other
two where you are until daylight in the morning. Then if the rebels
have gone you can enter the town, taking care to hold the river cross
ings. If the enemy has not gone, or you are not positive that he is
going, then move back and cross the river as before directed.
Very respectfully,
J. M. SCIIOFIELD,
Major- General.
HEADQUARTERS DEPARTMENT OF NORTH CAROLINA,
ARMY OF THE OHIO,
Campbell s Island, N. (7., February 21, 1865 10.30 p. m.
Ma]. Oen. J. D. Cox,
Commanding Third Division, Twenty -third Army Corps :
GENERAL : Send back another brigade as soon as you get this dis
patch. Keep the other two where you are until daylight to-morrow.
Then if the enemy has gone you can enter the town, taking care to hold
the river crossing. If the enemy has not gone, or you are not positive
that he is going, then come back and cross the river.
Very respectfully,
J. M. SCHOFIELD,
Major- General.
HDQRS. THIRD DIVISION, TWENTY-THIRD ARMY CORPS,
Brunswick Ferry, February 21, 18(15 11.15 p. m.
Major-General SCHOFIELD:
Your dispatch of 7.15 is just received. That sent this morning
reached me at dark. I shall put the rest of the command in motion
immediately in accordance with your orders.
J. D. COX,
Major- Gen eral, Com manding.
IIDQRS. THIRD DIVISION, TWENTY-THIRD ARMY CORPS,
Brunswick Ferry, February 21, ItiGo Midnight.
Major-General SCHOFIELD,
Commanding :
Your dispatch of 10.20 received in time to stop two brigades. Hen
derson s and Moore s have gone forward and will report at the river
above Town Creek. I will inform you of any changes in the morning.
The railroad employes who came in to me informed me positively that
Hardee s troops had not come here.
J. D. COX.
Major- General, Commanding.
524 OPERATIONS IN N. C., S. C. ? S. GA., AND E. FLA. [CHAP. L1X
HDQRS. THIRD DIVISION, TWENTY-THIRD ARMY CORPS,
Brunswick Ferry, February 21, 1805 Midnight.
Brevet Brigadier-General HENDERSON,
Commanding Third Brigade:
I have received a dispatch from General Schofield, countermanding
in part my movement. You will, however, follow Moore with your
brigade according to former orders. The rest of the division I will keep
here. You will report to General Schofield and please deliver or send
to him the inclosed dispatch.* Your horses will go to Fort Anderson.
Let one of your men who goes with them notify the wagons at our old
camp to come forward according to first order. Your regimental bag
gage is already at Fort Anderson. Communicate with General Scho
field in regard to getting it over to you.
Very respectfully,
J. D. COX,
Major- Gen eral, Comm a nding.
HEADQUARTERS DEPARTMENT OF NORTH CAROLINA,
ARMY OF THE OHIO,
Campbell s Island, February 21, 18657 p. m.
Maj. Gen. A. H. TERRY,
Commanding U. S. Forces East of Cape Fear River :
GENERAL: I have just received your dispatch t inclosing one from
General Ames. I approve of your determination to call him in and
concentrate your troops to night. Hold on where you are until I can
get more troops on that side of the river. I have not heard from Cox
since 10,30 a. in., when he was near the mouth of Brunswick Eiver. I
will send him across the river to morrow. He will not get back in
time to cross to-night.
About 5,000 more troops have arrived off the bar and are now
unloading. I hope to get them up to morrow. Please show this to
General Comstock if he is still with you.
Very respectfully,
J. M. SCHOFIELD,
Major- General.
HEADQUARTERS PROVISIONAL CORPS,
Before Wilmington, N. C., February 21, 1S65.
Bvt. Maj. Gen. A. AMES,
Commanding Second Division, Twenty -fourth Army Corps :
GENERAL: The major-general commanding directs that you with
draw your force from your present position to the ground in the rear
of our main line, where Abbott s brigade was encamped last night,
first breaking down the bridges which you have constructed across
Barnard s Creek. He desires you to leave a small picket at the mill-
dam; also to leave pickets for observation between the mill-pond and
the swamp on the left of our main line. Your withdrawal, of course,
should be conducted in perfect silence, so as to leave the enemy with
the impression that you are still there.
By order of Maj. Gen. A. H. Terry:
A. TEEEY,
Assistant Adjutant- General.
* See next, ante. t Not found.
CHAP. LIX.] CORRESPONDENCE, ETC. UNION. 525
HILTON HEAD, S. 0., February 21, 1865.
(Keceived 1.25 a. in. 25th.)
Maj. Gen. H. W. HALLECK,
Chief of Staff:
Arrived liere from Charleston this morning and shall return there
to-morrow, after the arrival of the Arago with Northern mails. There
are eight locomotives and other rolling-stock in Charleston, but I want
some engineers to run them. I also want two good railroad superin
tendents and some workmen. I am already advancing on the Wilming
ton liailroad, and hope to be able to aid General Sherman by reaching
the Santee Kiver with supplies for him. I have no news from Sherman
later than his reported capture of Columbia. 1 hope to capture George
town in a few days, either by an attack from the sea or by moving
down with a force north of the Santee River.
Your obedient servant,
Q. A. GILLMOKE,
Major- General, Commanding.
(Copy sent by Halleck to Grant, February 25.)
HEADQUARTERS DEPARTMENT OF THE SOUTH,
Charleston, S. C., February 21, 1865.
Rear- Admiral JOHN A. DAHLGREN,
Comdg. South Atlantic Blockading Squadron, Charleston, S. C. :
ADMIRAL : I am moving a force out on the Northeastern Railroad
toward the Santee Eiver, in order to have supplies there for General
Sherman, should he require them. If it be practicable to ascend the
Santee River with transports it would cover my movement and open up
even a better line for sending supplies on than the railroad. Could you
send some gun-boats up on a reconnaissance in order to get information
as to the character of that stream! Deserters report the battery at
Georgetown to be abandoned by the enemy. I hope to be able to send
a few hundred men there to-morrow, and request, if convenient, that a
couple of gun-boats be detailed to accompany them. Will you please
inform me if this can be done"?
Very respectfully, your obedient servant,
Q. A. GILLMORE,
Major- General, Commanding.
HEADQUARTERS DEPARTMENT OF THE SOUTPI,
Hilton Head, S. C., February 21, 1865.
Bvt. Maj. Gen. C. GROVER,
Commanding District of Savannah, Department of the South:
GENERAL: I inclose herewith a communication* to the commanding
general Confederate forces operating near this department. You will
have it placed, as soon as possible, in the hands of the officer command
ing the rebel pickets nearest your lines.
Yery respectfully, your obedient servant,
Q. A. GILLMORE,
Major- General, Commanding.
*See Gillmore to Commanding General Confederate Forces, Department of South
Carolina, &c., February 16, p. 452.
526 OPERATIONS IN N. C., S. C., S. GA., AND E. FLA. [CHAP. LIX.
WAR DEPARTMENT,
Washington City, February 21, 1865 2 p. m.
Major-General Dix,
New York:
This Department lias received the official report of Major- General
Gillmore, announcing the surrender of tbe city of Charleston, S. 0., to
the IT. S. forces under his command, at 9 o clock on Saturday morning,
the 18th instant. Among the captured property are 200 pieces of good
artillery and a supply of fine ammunition. The enemy burned their
cotton warehouses, arsenals, quartermaster stores, railroad bridges, two
iron-clads, and some vessels in the ship-yard.
EDWLS" M. STANTOX,
Secretary of War.
(Same to Governor Curtiu, Harrisburg, Pa.; Governor Bradford,
Annapolis, Md. ; Governor Fenton, Albany, N. Y. ; Governor Andrew,
Boston, Mass.; Governor Smith, Providence, II. I.; Governor Bucking
ham. New Haven, Conn. ; Governor Smith, Saint Albans, Vt. ; Governor
Gilmore, Concord, N. H.; Governor Cony, Augusta, Me.; Governor
B rough, Columbus, Ohio; Governor Morton, Indianapolis, Iiid.; Gov
ernor Oglesby, Springfield, Jll.; Governor Stone, Davenport, Iowa;
Governor Lewis, Madison, Wis. ; Governor of Michigan, Detroit; Gov
ernor Fletcher, Saint Louis, Mo. ; Governor Carney, Kansas City, Kans.)
CITY POINT, VA., February 22, 1865.
Hon. E. M. ST ANTON,
Secretary of War:
The following items are taken from to-day s Richmond papers:
Our readers will cheerfully forego their desire to be apprised of the pending mili
tary movements in the Carolines when they are informed that our reticence is in
compliance with wishes which have been communicated to all the newspapers.*
U. S. GRAOT,
Lieutenant- General.
ENGINEER DEPARTMENT,
Washington, February 22, 1865.
Lieut. Gen. U. S. GRANT,
Commanding U. S. Armies, &c., &c., City Point, Va.:
GENERAL: Your order of the 19th instant for a bridge equipage for
General Schofield, communicated to this department by General Hal-
leek, chief of staff, has been filled as follows: Fifty canvas boats, nine
teen boat wagons (16-feet reach), thirty chess wagons (9-feet reach),
and a full supply of balks and chesses, and army wagons for the trans
portation of the balks and chesses. These supplies are now going on
board the transports at this city for Wilmington, N. C.
Respectfully, your obedient servant,
RICH D DELAFIELD,
General and Chief of Engineers.
* For portion of dispatch here omitted see Vol. XLVI, Part II, p. 628.
CHAP.LIX.] CORRESPONDENCE, ETC. UNION. 527
CONFIDENTIAL.] QUARTERMASTER-GENERAL S OFFICE,
Washington, D. C ., February 22, 1SG5.
Colonel CARD:
General Gillinore has orders, as soon as lie is in possession of Charles
ton, to diminish the force in the Department of the South to what will
enable him to hold the most important points and to send every man
he can spare to North Carolina. The result of this measure will be to
diminish the consumption of supplies in the Department of the South.
The transportation wagons and animals of the detachment lately sent
by General Thomas from the Tennessee River to New Orleans will fol
low the troops as rapidly as steamers can be provided to move them.
Please read and sign this and return it.
Respectfully,
M. C. MEIGS,
Quartermaster- General, Brevet Major- General.
(Same to Colonel Brown.)
HDQRS. DEPARTMENT AND ARMY OF THE TENNESSEE,
Peay-s Ferry, 8. C., February 22, 1865.
Maj. Gen. AV. T. SHERMAN,
Commanding Military Division of the Mississippi:
GENERAL: A negro has just come in who left Charleston on Friday.
The rebels all left Charleston the same day and our troops immediately
took possession of the city. He says they left the city in a great hurry,
leaving several light batteries for want of horses, all their heavy guns,
and their commissary and quartermaster s stores. He accompanied
the troops as far as Summerville and Laurence, where they stopped.
Another negro has come in, who was employed in the engineer depart
ment on James Island. He left that place one week ago last Monday.
He says all the engineers left the same- day, going direct through
Charleston north. He came through Caniden last Monday. Says that
General Beauregard was there then, but not many troops. He says
the people are not going to destroy the bridge, in the hope that it will be
better for the town if it should be captured. The pontoon bridge at
this point was begun at 1 p. in. There was only a picket-post here,
which ran away at the approach of our soldiers.
Very respectfully,
O. O. HOWARD,
Major- (jenerai.
HDQRS. MILITARY DIVISION OF THE MISSISSIPPI,
In the Field, Rocky Mount Post- Office, February 22, ldo 5 ( J p. m.
Major-General HOWARD,
Commanding Right Wing:
GENERAL: Yours of to-day from Peay s Ferry has just been re
ceived. General Sherman desires me to say he would like to have
you put your whole command over the river with due expedition, and
suggests it would be well to move out in the direction intended some ten
or twelve miles, say Russell Place, until the high or table land may be
reached. He also wishes you to reconnoiter for roads toward Cheraw
well, and toward Cainden. Two divisions of the Twentieth Corps with
528 OPERATIONS IN N. C., S. C., S. GA., AND E, FLA. [CHAP. LTX.
the entire train of this wing have reached this point and are mostly in
canip. The bridge is completed ready for crossing. The balance of
the command are destroying railroad.
I am, general, yours, with respect,
L. M. DAYTON,
Assistan t A djutant- General.
SPECIAL ) HEADQUARTERS DEPARTMENT AND
FIELD ORDERS, > ARMY OF THE TENNESSEE,
No. 46. ) Near Peatfs Ferry, S. C., February 22, 1865.
I. The movements to-morrow will commence at 0.30 a. in. The
Fifteenth Army Corps, Maj. Gen. John A. Logan commanding, will
cross the Wateree at Peay s Ferry and move by the most direct route,
via Liberty *Hill and Keel Hill Post-Office, to lower Williams Cross-
Koads. The Seventeenth Army Corps, Maj. Gen. F. P. Blair com
manding, crossing the Wateree at Peay s Ferry, will move by the most
direct route, via Liberty Hill and Russell Place, to the cross roads at
Williams , near Copeland s. If, in any way, corps commanders can facil
itate the movement of the refugee train, or better provide for those
belonging to it, the order from these headquarters organizing that
train can be so far modified by them as they think best. As soon as
the Seventeenth Army Corps has crossed the Wateree the bridge will
be taken up and will follow that corps. Department headquarters
will follow the leading division of the Fifteenth Army Corps.
II. All foragers and others not authorized to be mounted will be dis
mounted at the crossing of the Wateree, and the worthless animals
will be abandoned on this side of the river. Corps commanders will
charge their chief quartermaster with the execution of this order.
By order of Maj. Gen. O. O. Howard:
A. M. VAN DYKE,
Assistant Adjutant- General.
HEADQUARTERS FIFTEENTH ARMY CORPS,
On Wateree River, S. C., February 22, 1865.
Major-General WOODS,
Commanding First Division, Fifteenth Army Corps:
GENERAL: Owing to the utter impossibility of moving the refugee
train over the heavy and difficult roads of the country with any pros
pect of getting it into camp at a reasonable time for the comfort of the
refugees themselves, or of the division with which it moves, the gen
eral commanding has decided to divide the train proportionately among
the respective divisions of the corps. The sections will report for
to-morrow s march as they may be assigned, and division commanders
will please designate an appropriate place for them in their column
and see that they (the refugees) are rationed and properly cared for
in every particular. Should any brigade or division commander desire-
to have a refugee family move with his headquarters, he will be allowed
to receive them, but must charge himself with their care and protec
tion. At any time during the campaign should improper persons be
found with the column the general commanding directs they be at once
removed from the command.
I am, general, very respectfully, your obedient servant,
MAX. WOODHULL,
Assistant Adjutant- General.
(Same to Generals Hazeu, J. E. Smith, and Corse.)
CHAP.LIX.] CORRESPONDENCE, ETC. UNION. 529
HDQRS. FIRST DIVISION, FIFTEENTH ARMY CORPS,
Camp near Peatfs Ferry, & C., February 22, 1865.
Maj. MAX. WOODHULL,
Assistant Adjutant- General, Fifteenth Army Corps:
MAJOR : I respectfully report that at 6.30 o clock this morning I
received orders to march and at once started on the road toward
Mickles- Ferry, as directed. Turning at Harrison s to the left, I sent
forward two regiments to the ferry for the purpose of making the dem
onstration ordered. No evidence of the enemy was found at the ferry.
Continuing on the road toward Peay s Ferry, I arrived in its vicinity
a+ 4 p. m., going into temporary camp with my troops, where I am at
present awaiting orders. My headquarters are at Peay s plantation.
I am, major, very respectfully,
C. K. WOODS,
Brevet Major- G enera I.
HDQRS. FIRST BRIG., FIRST Div., IOTH ARMY CORPS,
In the Field, S. (7., February 22, 1865.
Capt. FRED. H. WILSON,
Actg. Asst. Adjt. Gen., First Division, loth Army Corps:
CAPTAIN : In compliance with your request, I have the honor to for
ward the following statement of the number of soldiers captured during
the night of the nre at Columbia, S. C., by this brigade: Fifteenth
Army Corps, 136 enlisted men; Seventeenth Army Corps, 260 enlisted
men ; total, 396.
I have the honor to be, captain, very respectfully, &c.,
W. B. WOODS,
Bre vet Brigadier- Genera I.
HDQRS. SECOND DIVISION, FIFTEENTH ARMY CORPS,
Near Liberty Hill, & C., February 22, 1865.
Maj. MAX. WOODHULL,
Assistant Adjutant- General :
I have the honor to state that until the reception of Special Orders,
No. 53, of this date, from headquarters Fifteenth Army Corps, I had
supposed the mounting of foragers authorized, if not in orders, at
least from custom and necessity. Upon this supposition I had directed
my brigade commanders to mount about 5 per cent, of their com
mand for the purpose of gathering food. They had done this at no
little trouble and had just reported that they could subsist their bri
gades with but little assistance from the commissary of subsistence.
This cannot be done without mounting the foragers, and as our main
supplies must be derived this way, I would most respectfully call espe
cial attention to this subject. Late orders regulating issues from the
wagons make it necessary for each division of the army to procure
from the country about 7,000 pounds of food daily, which amounts do
not exist along the immediate lines of march, but must be procured
from points more or less remote along the flanks. It is as much as
footmen can do to make long marches along the straight line of the
road. I have given the subject of toraging my closest attention since
it was adopted as our means of subsisting the army, and have at no
time permitted more than the minimum number necessary to perform
34 R R VOL XLVII, PT II
530 OPERATIONS IN N. C., S. C., S. GA., AND E. FLA. [CHAP. LIX.
the duty to be mounted, and unless they are so authorized or mount
themselves without authority this command cannot be properly fed.
This is corroborated by all my brigade commanders, who, with myself,
desire only the best interests of the service. On the late campaign in
Georgia I found no difficulty in supplying my command and furnished
22,000 rations to needy troops, but at no time had a less per cent, than
f> of my men mounted and never had any of them dismounted. Should
this arrangement be broken up my supplies will fall short of absolute
necessity.
1 am, respectfully,
W. B. IIAZEN,
Major- General.
HDQRS. SECOND DIVISION, FIFTEENTH ARMY CORPS,
Near Liberty Hill, #. C., February 22, 1805.
Maj. MAX. WOODHULL,
Assistant Adjutant -General :
I have the honor to report that this division broke camp at 0.30 this
morning, marching to the Wateree River (Peay s Ferry), making that
point at 11 a. in., and after waiting till 3.30 p. m. it crossed the pontoon
bridge and marched to this point, making it at about sunset. My
headquarters are on the south side of the road, near the crossing of
Singleton Creek.
I am, respectfully,
W. B. HAZEN,
Major- Genera I,
HDQRS. THIRD DIVISION, FIFTEENTH ARMY CORPS,
Peaifs Ferry, 8. C., February 22, 1865.
Maj. M. WOODHULL,
Assistant Adjutant-General, Fifteenth Army Corps :
MAJOR: I have the honor to report that this command broke camp
at Harrison s Cross-Roads at 7 o clock this a. in., and marched via Pop
lar Springs to Peay s Ferry, crossing the Wateree River after dark and
encamping with reference to the comfort of the troops near the river at
8.30 ]>. m. The rear of the command did not arrive in camp until 11.30
p. in., the passage of the column being frequently interrupted for the
purpose of repairing the bridge. Headquarters are 011 the bank of the
river, south of the main road ; distance marched, eleven miles.
I am, major, very respectfully, your obedient servant,
JXO. E. SMITH,
Brevet Major- General.
HDQRS. FOURTH DIVISION, FIFTEENTH ARMY CORPS,
In the Field, near Wateree Creek, S. C., February 22, IMt.
Maj. MAX. WOODHULL,
Assistant Adjutant- General, Fifteenth Army Corps:
MAJOR : I have the honor to submit the following report of the move
ments of my command this day: I broke camp at 8 a. m. and moved
upon the Rocky Mount road via Poplar Springs and the intersection
of the Carlyle Court-House, Winnsborough, and Rocky Mount roads,
taking the right-hand and direct road to Peay s Ferry and the Wateree
CHAP. LIX.] CORRESPONDENCE, ETC. UNION. 531
River, near which I bave placed my command in bivouac, having
marched ten miles. One hundred and fifty bales of cotton were burned
by iny orders during the day.
I am, very respectfully, your obedient servant,
JOLLN T M. CORSE,
Brevet Major -General.
CIRCULAR ^ HDQRS. FOURTH Div., FIFTEENTH ARMY CORPS,
In the Field , near Wateree River , 8. C.,
]S"o. 5. ) February 22, 1865.
At an early hour to-morrow, the 23d instant, this command will be
stripped of all horses and mules not allowed by existing orders and
regulations, by orders from corps headquarters; and the trains of this
division, especially the ordnance, are much in need of mules to haul