Capt. WILLIAM A. LORD,
Aide-de-camp, Headquarter* Department of Xorth Carolina:
CAPTAIN: I have the honor to state, in answer to your letter just
received, that two troops of cavalry are now on the other side of the
river under command of Major West. The rest of the cavalry are
scouting on the Goldsborough and Snow Rill roads some six miles out.
They found one torpedo in the road, which exploded and killed one
hor>e, and they are now searching for others supposed to be planted
thereabouts. As soon as I can communicate with them I will order
enough to make the force across the river one-half, over to report to
General Couch.
Very respectfully, your obedient servant,
J. D. COX,
Major- Genera /, Com man ding.
HEADQUARTERS DISTRICT OF BEAUFORT,
Khmton, N. C.. March 15. 1865.
Col. J. W. SAVAGE,
Commandtiif/ Twelfth Xew York Caralry:
SIR : The general commanding directs me to say that General Schofield
wishes one-half of the effective cavalry on the other side of the river
for picketing and patrolling the roads there. You will therefore send
over at once a sufficient number, to report to Major-General Couch, to
increase Major West s force to one-half of the force under your imme
diate command.
Very respectfully, your obedient servant,
T1IEO. COX.
Major and Assistant Adjutant-General.
854 OPERATIONS IN N. C., S. C., 8. GA., AND E. FLA. [CHAP. LIX.
HEADQUARTERS DISTRICT OF BEAUFORT,
Kinston, March 15, 1865.
Col. J. W. SAVAGE,
Commanding Cavalry :
SIR: You may leave one of your majors with one troop besides Cap
tain Graham s to scout the south side of the river, and report with the
rest on the north side to scout in direction of Goldsborough, &c.
J. D. COX,
Major- General, Commanding.
SPECIAL } HEADQUARTERS FIRST DIVISION,
FIELD ORDERS, > DISTRICT OF BEAUFORT,
No. 10. ) In the Field, N. C., March W, 1865.
* ******
III. In accordance with orders from district headquarters the divis
ion will move across to Kinston this p. m. immediately after the division
of General linger. The order of march will be as follows: First, the
brigade of General Harland ; second, the brigade of Colonel Bought on,
and, thirdly, the brigade of Colonel Claassen ; the whole followed by the
two batteries, the Napoleon guns first. All the wagons of the division
will follow in the rear of the artillery. The rear guard will be detailed
from the brigade of Colonel Claassen and will march behind the artil
lery. The general has been sounded at these headquarters, but has
not been replied to. More attention must be paid to the calls and the
general sounded at once.
By command of Brigadier-General Palmer:
J. A. JUDSON,
Captain and Assistant Adjutant- General.
U. S. STEAMER AGAWAM,
New Berne, March 15, 1865.
Maj or- G en era! C o x :
I dispatched the gun-boat Whitehead up the river this morning.
She grounded below the obstructions and had great difficulty in getting
over. She is now, however, above the obstructions, but has damaged
her rudder so that she will be delayed. She will go up as soon as pos
sible. The Shrapnel is in the river above; one of the flats was taken
up by her, but I do not know how far she proceeded. The water is
very low.
Respectfully, yours,
A. C. liHIND,
Commander, Senior Officer.
CADE S PLANTATION, N. C., March 15, 1865.
Maj. Gen. A. H. TERRY,
Wilmington, N. C. :
GENERAL: Your dispatch to General Sherman was received and
forwarded by me.* The general has gone with the Left Wing. My
* See 14th, p. 840.
CHAP. LIX.] CORRESPONDENCE, ETC. UNION. 855
head of column is now twelve miles out. I expect to reach the railroad
north of Faison s Depot by Sunday. You will find enough in the country
for a few days. I hope you will get up as far as that.
Very respectfully,
O. O. HOWARD,
Major- Gen eral.
MARCHING- ORDERS.] HEADQUARTERS PROVISIONAL CORPS,
Wilmington, N. C., March 15, 1865.
The divisions of Generals Ames and Paine will advance toward
Faisoifs Depot, on the Wilmington and Goldsborough Railroad,
to-morrow morning, commencing their march at 7 o clock. The first
day s march will be from the Northeast Branch, fifteen miles, to the
neighborhood of Burgaw Creek. On the second day South Washing
ton Avill be reached, where supplies will be provided. On the first
day s march General Ames division, with Lee s battery, will lead.
The bridge equipage which Major Slosson has been directed to organ
ize will accompany the leading division. The wagon train will follow
the column. The commander of the rear division will detail one regi
ment to follow the train as a rear guard. In case Major-General Terry
should not be present at the time for moving to-morrow morning,
General Ames will take command and start the column. Guards have
been sent to the front and ordered to report at the house of Mr, Quince,
near Northeast Station.
By order of Maj. Gen. A. H. Terry:
A. TERRY,
Major <(}id Assistant Adjutant- General.
SPECIAL ORDERS, ^ HDQRS. PROVISIONAL CORPS,
DEPARTMENT OF NORTH CAROLINA,
No. 59. ) Wilmington, N. C., March 15, 1865.
*******
V. The senior officer of the detachment of the Thirteenth Pennsyl
vania Cavalry, accompanying the moving column, will proceed with
Ins command to Northeast Station this afternoon and bivouac at that
point for the night. In the morning he will have his men in readiness
to move at 9 o clock, but will await the arrival of the major-general
commanding.
***** * *
By order of Maj. Gen. A. H. Terry :
A. TERRY,
Major and Assistant Adjutant- General.
CADE S PLANTATION, N. C., March 15, 1865.
Brigadier-General HAWLEY,
Commanding Post of Wilmington, N. C.:
GENERAL: A train of 600 to 800 refugees, white and black, has
started this day for Wilmington via Clinton. These refugees have
been collected by both wings of the army, and it was impracticable to
furnish them with either very good teams or much of a supply of pro-
856 OPERATIONS IN N. C., S. C., S. GA., AND E. FLA. [CHAP. LTX.
visions. I will be under many obligations if yon will send scouting
parties out on the road from Wilmington to meet and aid them to their
destination, on their arrival with you.
Yery respectfully,
O. 0. HOWARD,
Major- General.
HDQRS. DEPT. OF NORTH CAROLINA, ARMY OF THE OHIO,
Ne-ic Berne, N. 0., March 15 , 1805.
Brig. Gen. H. AY. BIRGE,
Commanding Second Division, Nineteenth Army Corps.
GENERAL: The major-general commanding directs that you have
that portion of your command now in this place in readiness to take
the field without delay. Orders calling them to the front may be
received at any moment. He also desires that you have the Third
Brigade of your division, now at Morehead, supplied with everything
necessary to fit them for active field service, in order that they may be
ready to take the field when their services are no longer required at
Morehead.
I am, general, very respectfully, your obedient servant,
G. W. SCHOFIELD,
Brevet Brigadier -General, in Charge of Headquarters.
HDQRS. MILITARY DIVISION OF THE MISSISSIPPI,
In the Field, twelve miles from Fayetteville, N. C.,
Raleigh road, March 15, 186.5.
Maj. Gen. Q. A. GILLMORE,
Commanding Department of the South, Charleston :
GENERAL : I got a file of Northern papers yesterday from Wilming
ton, in which I observe you are in command of the Department of the
South. I have had no official communications from the War Depart
ment or General Grant since niy departure from Savannah, and am
compelled to pick up information the best way I can. I wrote to
General Foster from Fayetteville, supposing him to be in command of
the department, and hope you got the letter, and it is a fear that its
contents may not reach you promptly which induces me to write this.
When at Columbia I had the railroad broken down to Kiiigsville and
the Wateree bridge. Subsequently from Cheraw I aimed to strike
Florence, but sent too weak a party, but the enemy himself has
destroyed the Pedee bridge, and has on the railroad at Sumterville,
and between it and Florence, a vast amount of rolling-stock, the
destruction of which is all important, and it should be done before any
repairs can be made whereby they can be removed. I want it done at
once, and leave you to devise the way. I think 2,500 men lightly
equipped with pack-niules only, could reach the road either from George
town or the Santee bridge. I think also that you can easily make up
that force from Savannah and Charleston. As to the garrisons of
those cities, 1 don t feel disposed to be over generous, and should not
hesitate to burn Savannah, Charleston, and Wilmington, or either of
them if the garrisons were needed. Savannah and Wilmington are
the only really useful ports, because of their inland rivers. Still, I
suppose you can always get garrisons of sick, disabled, or indifferent
CHAP. LIX.] CORRESPONDENCE, ETC. UNION. 857
troops. All real good soldiers must now be marching. Do not let your
command rest on its oars, but keep them going all the time, even if for
no other purpose than to exhaust the enemy s country, or compel him
to defend it. The simple fact that a man s home has been visited by
an enemy makes a soldier in Lee s and Johnston s army very anxious
to get home to look after his family and property. But the expedition
I have indicated to Sumterville and Florence has even higher aims.
Those cars and locomotives should be destroyed, if to do it costs you
500 men. I know you can get there all the bacon, beef, meat, &c.,
your command may want, and a good deal of corn meal. The men
could march without knapsacks, with a single blanket, and carry eight
days provisions, which, with what is in the country, will feed the com
mand two weeks. Let it be done at once, and select your own point of
departure. After destroying those cars and engines (not merely
damaging them, but an absolute destruction of boilers, steam cham
bers, connecting rods, flanges, &c. powder can be used to good
advantage in blowing up boilers and engines, but we use cold chisels
and crowbars) you may reduce your garrisons to the minimum, and
send every man to New Berne and Goldsborough. I want to collect an
army that can whip Lee in open fight if he lets go Richmond, which I
think he will soon be forced to do.
Yours, truly,
W. T. SHERMAN,
Major- General, Com man fling.
KiNSTON, March 15, 1865.
Maj. Gen. Q. A. GILLMORE,
Hilton Head, 8. C. :
General Eastern informs me that he cannot send any steamers to
Hilton Head at present, but may be able to in a few days, and that he
cannot send any coal.
J. M. SCHOFIELD,
Mojo r-Gen era I.
SPECIAL ORDERS, \ HDQRS. DEPARTMENT OF THE SOUTH,
No. 66. } Hilton Head, S. C., March 15, 1865.
*******
VII. Col. B. 0. Tilghman, Third U. S. Colored Troops, will, during
the temporary absence of Brig. Gen. E. P. Scammon, exercise com
mand of the District of Florida.
By command of Maj. Gen. Q. A. Gillmore:
W. L. M. BURGEE,
Captain and Assistant Adjutant- General.
HDQRS. NORTHERN DISTRICT, DEPT. OF THE SOUTH,
Charleston, S. C., March 15, 1865.
Hon. EDWIN M. ST ANTON,
Secretary of War:
SIR: I have the honor to state that the Spanish consul has called
iipon me and informed me of three lots of cotton held by a Spanish
858 OPERATIONS IN N. C., S. C., S. GA., AND E. FLA. [CHAP. L1X.
subject residing in this town. He produces bills of sale of the same
showing that the cotton came into his possession either before the war
or during the early part of it. The consul requests that the owner
may be allowed to retain it. I have said to him that I will delay the
action in this case until I write for orders in the case. If any excep
tions are to be made to the general rule, which I could not advise, I
would suggest that this be one. From what I can learn I believe the
Spanish residents of the town have been more honest in their neutral
ity than other foreigners residing here, and attribute it in a great meas
ure to the consul himself, who has, I have no doubt, honestly carried
out the instructions received from his Government. Instructions on
the subject of the cotton have been requested. The amount is much
greater than was supposed when we first occupied the city.
I am, sir, very respectfully, your obedient servant,
JNO. P. HATCH,
Brigadier- General, Comm anding.
HEADQUARTERS DEPARTMENT OF THE SOUTH,
Hilton Head, S. C., March 15, 1865.
Brig. Gen. J. P. HATCH,
Comdg. Northern Disk, Depk of Hie South, Charleston, 8. C. :
GENERAL: The steamer New York is ordered to touch at Charleston
to take on board one or more of the regiments that are to be detached
from your command for duty in North Carolina. You will therefore load
this steamer with troops taken from the regiments already designated
(the Fifty-fourth and Fifty- sixth New York and the Fifty-second Penn
sylvania Volunteers), and direct her to proceed to the mouth of the Cape
Fear River, and report to the commanding officer of tho, troops there
for orders. The New York has some troops on board already.
Very respectfully, your obedient servant,
Q. A. GILLMORE,
Major- General, Commanding.
HEADQUARTERS IT. S. FORCES, POST OF CHARLESTON,
Charleston, S. C., March 15, 1865.
Capt. W. L. M. BURGER,
Aisst. Adjk Gen., Depk of the South, Hilton Head, S. C.:
CAPTAIN: I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of a letter
from the major-general commanding the department, dated the 13th
instant, and containing instructions for my guidance in the matter of
trade. These instructions will be carefully obeyed. I have thus far
forwarded to the honorable Secretary of the Treasury, through your
headquarters, thirteen sets of applications for as many applicants, "ask
ing for shipments to the value of 8900,000. I propose to approve about
$600,000 more and then to await future developments. I believe the
parties recommended are safe men.
Very respectfully, your obedient servant,
STEWART L. WOODFORD,
Colonel 103d U. 8. Colored Troops, Commanding Post.
CHAP. Lix.i CORRESPONDENCE, ETC. UNION. 859
CITY POINT, VA., March 16, 1865.
(Received 3.55 p. m.)
lion. C. A. DANA,
Assistant Secretary of War:
I am just in receipt of a letter from General Sherman, of the 12th,
from Fayetteville. He describes his army as in fine health and spirits,
having met with no serious opposition. Hardee keeps in his front at a
respectful distance. At Columbia he destroyed immense arsenals and rail
road establishments and forty three cannon. At Cheraw he-found much
machinery and war material, including twenty-five cannon and 3,000
barrels of powder. At Fayetteville he found twenty pieces of artillery
and much other material. He says nothing about Kilpatrick s defeat
by Hampton, but the officer who brings his letter says that before day
light on the 10th Hampton got two brigades in rear of Kilpatrick s
headquarters, and surprised and captured all the staff but two officers.
Kilpatrick escaped, formed his men, and defeated the enemy with great
loss, recapturing about all that he had lost. Hampton lost eighty-six,
eft dead on the field.
IT. S. GRANT,
Lieutenant- General.
HEADQUARTERS ARMIES OF THE UNITED STATES,
City Point, Va., March 16, 1865.
Maj. Gen. W, T. SHERMAN,
Commanding .Military Division of the Mississippi :
GENERAL : Your interesting letter of the 12th instant is just received.
1 have never felt any uneasiness for your safety, but I have felt great
anxiety to know just how you were progressing. I knew, or thought
1 did, that with the magnificent army with you you would come out
safely somewhere. To secure certain success I deemed the capture of
Wilmington of the greatest importance. Butler came near losing that
prize to us, but Terry and Schofield have since retrieved his blunders,
and I do not know but that the first failure has been as valuable a suc
cess for the country as the capture of Fort Fisher. Butler may not
see it in that light. Ever since you started on the last campaign, and
before, 1 have been attempting to get something done in the West, both
to co-operate with you and to take advantage of the enemy s weak
ness there to accomplish results favorable to us. Knowing Thomas to
be slow beyond excuse 1 depleted his army to re-enforce Canby, so that
he might act from Mobile Bay on the interior. With all I have said he
had not moved at last advices. Canby was sending a cavalry force of
about 7,000 from Vicksburg toward Selma. I ordered Thomas to send
Wilson from Eastport toward the same point and to get him off as soon
after the 20th of February as possible. He telegraphed me that he
would be off by that date. He has not yet started, or had not at last
advices. I ordered him to send Stouemaii from East Tennessee into
Northwest South Carolina, to be there about the time you would reach
Columbia. He would either have drawn off the enemy s cavalry from
you or would have succeeded in destroying railroads, supplies, and
other materials which you could not reach. At that time the Eich-
niond papers were full of accounts of your movements and gave daily
accounts of movements in West North Carolina. I supposed all the
time it was Stoneman. You may judge my surprise when I afterward
learned that Stoneman was still in Louisville, Ky., and that the troops
in North Carolina were Kirk s forces. In order that Stoneman might
860 OPERATIONS IN N. C., S. C., S. GA., AND E. FLA. [CHAP. LIX.
got off without delay, I told Thomas that 3,000 men would be sufficient
for him to take. In the meantime I had directed Sheridan to get his
cavalry ready and as soon as the snow in the mountains melted suffi
ciently to start for Stauuton and go on and destroy the Virginia Cen
tral road and the canal. Time advanced until he set the 28th of Feb
ruary for starting. I informed Thomas and directed him to change the
course of Ston email toward Lynchburg to destroy the road in Virginia
up as near to that place as possible. Not hearing from Thomas I tele
graphed to him about the 12th to know if Stoneman was yet off. He
replied that he had not but that he (Thomas) would start that day for
Knoxville to get him off as soon as possible. Sheridan has made his
raid and with splendid success so far as heard. I am looking for him at
White House to-day. Since about the 20th of last mouth the Richmond
papers have been prohibited from publishing accounts of army move
ments. We are left to our own resources, therefore, for information.
You will see from the papers what Sheridan has done. If you do not
the officer who bears this will tell you all. Lee has depleted his army
but very little recently and I learn of none going south. Some regi
ments may have been detached, but I think no division or brigade.
The determination seems to be to hold Richmond as long as possible.
I have a force sufficient to leave enough to hold our lines, all that is
necessary of them, and move out with plenty to whip his whole army.
But the roads are entirely impassable. Until they improve I shall con
tent myself with watching Lee and be prepared to pitch into him if lie
attempts to evacuate the place. I may bring Sheridan over; I think I
will, and break up the Danville and South Side railroads. These are
the last avenues left to the enemy. Recruits have come in so rapidly
at the West that Thomas has now about as much force as he had when
he attacked Hood. I have stopped all who under previous orders woiild
go to him, except those from Illinois. Fearing the possibility of the
enemy falling back to Lynchburg, and afterward attempting to go into
East Tennessee or Kentucky, I have ordered Thomas to move the Fourth
Corps to Bull s Gap and to fortify there, and to hold out to the Virginia
line if he can. He has accumulated a large amount of supplies in
Knoxville and has been ordered not to destroy any of the railroad west
of the Virginia line. I told him to get ready for a campaign toward
Lynchburg, if it became necessary. He never can make one there or
elsewhere, but the steps taken will prepare for any one else to take his
troops and come east or go toward Rome, whichever may be necessary.
I do not believe either will. When I hear that you and Schofield are
together with your back upon the coast I shall feel that you are entirely
safe against anything the enemy can do. Lee may evacuate Richmond,
but he cannot get there with force enough to touch you. His army is
now demoralized and deserting very fast, both to us and to their homes.
A retrograde movement would cost him thousands of men, even if we did
not follow. Five thousand men belonging to the corps with you are
now on their way to join you. If more re- enforcements are necessary I
will send them. My notion is that you should get Raleigh as soon as
possible and hold the railroad from there back. This may take more
force than you now have. From that point all North Carolina roads
can be made useless to the enemy without keeping up communications
with the rear. Hoping to hear soon of your junction with the forces
from Wilmington and New Berne,
I remain, very respectfully, your obedient servant,
U. S. GRANT,
Lieutenant- General.
CHAP.LIX.] CORRESPONDENCE, ETC. UNION. 861
U. S. STEAMER EOLUS,
Off Fayetteville, March 10, 1865 5 a. m.
Maj. Gen. W. T. SHERMAN,
Commanding Military Division of the Mississippi:
SIR: I had the honor to receive your communication of the 15th, at
7 p. m. of same date. I have written Captain Young, making known
your wishes in regard to this vessel ; also the tug. lie will see General
Dodge and make the necessary arrangements with him. I do not
think Captain Young has a tug at his disposal now. I shall remain as
near Fayetteville as possible till ordered down, or until I hear from
you that my services are no longer needed. The steamers Lady Lang
and Mary Benton are here unloading. The former goes down this
morning. I shall send my dispatch by her. The river has stopped
falling. More transports are expected up.
I have the honor to be, very respectfully, your obedient servant.
E. S. KEYSEK,
Acting Master, Commanding.
HDQRS. MILITARY DIVISION OF THE MISSISSIPPI,
In the Field, Kyle s Landing, X. c.,
March 16, 1865 2 a. m.
Major-General HOWARD,
Commanding Eight Wing :
GENERAL : Yours is just received. Your orders are all right. I fear
the present rain will make the roads utterly impracticable. Hardee s
whole force is in our front near the forks of the road, and I have ordered
Slocum to go at him in the morning in good shape but vigorously and
push him beyond Averasborough. Kilpatrick is ahead across the
branch marked [Taylor s] Hole, about two miles this side theforks. Your
courier brings me good news from Schofield and Terry. Schofield
reports he whipped Bragg handsomely at Kinston and undertakes to
have supplies for us there and probably farther along. Terry says he
can reach Faison s with his 9,000 men by Sunday or Monday, and that
the rest of Schofield s troops that had left Wilmington had made junc
tion with Schofield at Kiustou. Also that Sheridan is coming to us by
land with 8,000 cavalry. So all is working well around us and we
must not scatter, but aim to converge about Bentonville, and after
ward Goldsborough. The rain is as bad for our opponents as for
us, and I doubt if they have as good supplies or transportation as
we. Terry has sent up 3,800 pairs of shoes and 2,400 pairs of pants.
Divide with Slocum. We took Col. Alfred Rhett, of Fort Sumter, pris
oner yesterday. He is commanding a brigade in Hardee s troops
ahead, and from drop expressions I think Hardee will try and fight us
at the cross-roads.
Y^ours, truly,
W. T. SHERMAX,
Major- Gen era I, Com ma nding.
HDQRS. DEPT. AND ARMY OF THE TENNESSEE,
Rear Jackson s Farm, X. C.,
Graham s Bridge Road, March 16, 1865.
Maj. Gen. W. T. SHERMAN:
GENERAL : General Logan s head of column reached this point about
1.30 p. m. His divisions are going into camp ; three will be here by dark,
862 OPERATIONS IN N. C., S. C., S. GA., AND E. FLA. [CHAP.LIX.
Woods division will encamp near South Elver. The roads are so ter
rible that we cannot more than close up the wagon train to that point.
General Geary, with his train, is near by, and. will encamp on my lelt.
There is a cross-road here leading north into the Kaleigh road. "Gen
eral Blair will, without doubt, be at the cross-roads just east of Owens-
ville. In the morning I will move forward toward lien ton ville, till I
reach the road leading northward from Beainan s Cross- Koads. General
Blair has been directed to move to Beainan s Cross-Eoads, throwing his
mounted men down to Clinton, to cover the refugee train. General
Geary was going farther, but I took the liberty of stopping him here in