AlexanderStephens，R。M。T。Hunter，andJudgeCampbell，arenowatmyheadquarters，verydesirousofgoingtoWashingtontoseeMr。
Lincoln，informally，onthesubjectofpeace。Thepeacefeelingwithintherebellinesisgaininggroundrapidly。This，however，shouldnotrelaxourenergiesintheleast，butshouldstimulateustogreateractivity。
Ihavereceivedyourverykindletters，inwhichyousayyouwoulddecline，orareopposedto，promotion。NooneworldbemorepleasedatyouradvancementthanI，andifyoushouldbeplacedinmyposition，andIputsubordinate，itwouldnotchangeourpersonalrelationsintheleast。Iwouldmakethesameexertionstosupportyouthatyouhaveeverdonetosupportme，andwoulddoallinmypowertomakeourcausewin。
Yourstruly，U。S。GRANT，Lieutenant—General。
HEADQUARTERSOFTHEARMIESOFTHEUNITEDSTATES
CITYPOINT，VIRGINIA，January81，1865。
Major—GeneralG。H。THOMAS，commandingArmyoftheCumberland。
GENERAL:WiththisIsendyoualetterfromGeneralSherman。Atthetimeofwritingit，GeneralShermanwasnotinformedofthedepletionofyourcommandbymyorders。Itwill，beimpossibleatpresentforyoutomovesouthashecontemplated，withtheforceofinfantryindicated。GeneralSlocumisadvisedbeforethisofthechangesmade，andthatforthewinteryouwillbeonthedefensive。
Ithink，however，anexpeditionfromEastTennessee，underGeneralStonemanmightpenetrateSouthCarolina，welldowntowardColumbia，destroyingtherailroadandmilitaryresourcesofthecountry，thusvisitingaportionoftheStatewhichwillnotbereachedbySherman’sforces。HemightalsobeabletoreturntoEastTennesseebywayofSalisbury，NorthCarolina，thusreleasinghomeofourprisonersofwarinrebelhands。
Ofthepracticabilityofdoingthis，GeneralStonemanwillhavetobethejudge，makinguphismindfrominformationobtainedwhileexecutingthefirstpartofhisinstructions。Sherman’smovementswillattracttheattentionofalltheforcetheenemycancollect，thusfacilitatingtheexecutionofthis。
Threethousandcavalrywouldbeasufficientforcetotake。ThisprobablycanberaisedintheoldDepartmentoftheOhio，withouttakinganynowunderGeneralWilson。Itwouldrequire，though，thereorganizationofthetworegimentsofKentuckyCavalry，whichStonemanhadinhisverysuccessfulraidintoSouthwesternVirginia。
Itwillbenecessary，probably，foryoutosend，inadditiontotheforcenowinEastTennessee，asmalldivisionofinfantry，toenableGeneralGillemtoholdtheupperendofHolstonValley，andthemountain—passesinrearofStevenson。
Youmayordersuchanexpedition。Tosavetime，IwillsendacopyofthistoGeneralStoneman，sothathecanbeginhispreparationswithoutlossoftime，andcancommencehiscorrespondencewithyouastothesepreparations。
Asthisexpeditiongoestodestroyandnottofightbattles，buttoavoidthemwhenpracticable，particularlyagainstanythinglikeequalforces，orwhereagreatobjectistobegained，itshouldgoaslightaspossible。Stoneman’sexperience，inraidingwillteachhiminthismatterbetterthanhecanbedirected。
Lettherebenodelayinthepreparationsforthisexpedition，andkeepmeadvisedofitsprogress。Veryrespectfully，yourobedientservant，U。S。GRANT，Lieutenant—General。
HEADQUARTERSOFTHEARMIESOFTHEUNITEDSTATES
CITYPOINT，VIRGINIA，January81，1865。
Major—GeneralJ。M。SCHOFIELD，commandingarmyoftheOhio。
GENERAL:Ihaverequestedbytelegraphthat，forpresentpurposes，NorthCarolinabeerectedintoadepartment，andthatyoubeplacedincommandofit，subjecttoMajor—GeneralSherman’sorders。Ofcourse，youwillreceiveordersfrommedirectuntilsuchtimeasGeneralShermangetswithincommunicatingdistanceofyou。ThisobviatesthenecessityofmypublishingtheorderwhichIinformedyouwouldmeetyouatFortressMonroe。IftheorderreferredtoshouldnotbepublishedfromtheAdjutant—General’soffice，youwillreadtheseinstructionsasyourauthoritytoassumecommandofallthetroopsinNorthCarolina，datingallofficialcommunications，\"HeadquartersArmyoftheOhio。\"Yourheadquarterswillbeinthefield，andwiththeportionofthearmywhereyoufeelyourselfmostneeded。InthefirstmoveyouwillgotoCapeFearRiver。
YourmovementsareintendedascooperativewithSherman’smovementthroughtheStatesofSouthandNorthCarolina。ThefirstpointtobeobtainedistosecureWilmington。Goldsboro’willthenbeyourobjectivepoint，movingeitherfromWilmingtonorNewbern，orboth，asyoumaydeembest。ShouldyounotbeabletoreachGoldsboro’，youwilladvanceonthelineorlinesofrailwayconnectingthatplacewiththesea—coast，asneartoitasyoucan，buildingtheroadbehindyou。Theenterpriseunderyouhastwoobjects:thefirstis，togiveGeneralShermanmaterialaid，ifneeded，inhismarchnorth;thesecond，toopenabaseofsuppliesforhimonthelineofhismarch。Assoon，therefore，asyoucandeterminewhichofthetwopoints，WilmingtonorNewbern，youcanbestuseforthrowingsuppliesfromtotheinterior，youwillcommencetheaccumulationoftwentydaysrationsandforageforsixtythousandmenandtwentythousandanimals。Youwillgetoftheseasmanyasyoucanhouseandprotect，tosuchpointintheinteriorasyoumaybeabletooccupy。
IbelieveGeneralInnisN。PalmerhasreceivedsomeinstructionsdirectlyfromGeneralSherman，onthesubjectofsecuringsuppliesforhisarmy。Youcanlearnwhatstepshehastaken，andbegovernedinyourrequisitionsaccordingly。Asupplyofordnance—
storeswillalsobenecessary。
Makeallyourrequisitionsuponthechiefsoftheirrespectivedepartments，inthefield，withmeatCityPoint。Communicatewithmebyeveryopportunity，and，shouldyoudeemitnecessaryatanytime，sendaspecialboattoFortressMonroe，fromwhichpointyoucancommunicatebytelegraph。
Thesuppliesreferredtointheseinstructionsareexclusiveofthoserequiredbyyourowncommand。
Themovementsoftheenemymayjustifyyou，orevenmakeityourimperativeduty，tocutloosefromyourbaseandstrikefortheinterior，toaidSherman。Insuchcaseyouwillactonyourownjudgment，withoutwaitingforinstructions。Youwillreport，however，whatyouproposedoing。Thedetailsforcarryingouttheseinstructionsarenecessarilylefttoyou。Iwouldurge，however，ifIdidnotknowthatyouarealreadyfullyalivetotheimportanceofit，promptaction。ShermanmaybelookedforintheneighborhoodofGoldsboro’anytimefromthe22dtothe28thofFebruary。Thislimitsyourtimeverymaterially。
Ifrolling—stockisnotsecuredinthecaptureofWilmington，itcanbesuppliedfromWashington:Alargeforceofrailroad—menhasalreadybeensenttoBeaufort，andothermechanicswillgotoFortFisherinadayortwo。OnthispointIhaveinformedyoubytelegraph。
Veryrespectfully，yourobedientservant，U。S。GRANT，Lieutenant—General。
HEADQUARTERSOFTHEARMIESOFTHEUNITEDSTATES
CITYPOINT，VIRGINIA，March16，1865。
Major—GeneralW。T。SHERMAN，commandingmilitaryDivisionoftheMississippi。
GENERAL:Yourinterestingletterofthe12thinst，isjustreceived。Ihaveneverfeltanyuneasinessforyoursafety，butI
havefeltgreatanxietytoknowjusthowyouwereprogressing。I
knew，orthoughtIdid，that，withthemagnificentarmywithyou，youwouldcomeoutsafelysomewhere。
Tosecurecertainsuccess，IdeemedthecaptureofWilmingtonofthegreatestimportance。Butlercamenearlosingthatprizetous。
ButTerryandSchofieldhavesinceretrievedhisblunders，andIdonotknowbutthefirstfailurehasbeenasvaluableasuccessforthecountryasthecaptureofFortFisher。Butlermaynotseeitinthatlight。
Eversinceyoustartedonthelastcampaign，andbefore，IhavebeenattemptingtogetsomethingdoneintheWest，bothtocooperatewithyouandtotakeadvantageoftheenemy’sweaknessthere——toaccomplishresultsfavorabletous。KnowingThomastobeslowbeyondexcuse，IdepletedhisarmytoreinforceCanby，sothathemightactfromMobileBayontheinterior。WithallIhavesaid，hehasnotmovedatlastadvices。Canbywassendingacavalryforce，ofaboutseventhousand，fromVicksburgtowardSelma。IorderedThomastosendWilsonfromEastporttowardthesamepoint，andtogethimoffassoonafterthe20thofFebruaryaspossible。Hetelegraphedmethathewouldbeoffbythatdate。
Hehasnotyetstarted，orhadnotatlastadvices。IorderedhimtosendStonemanfromEastTennesseeintoNorthwestSouthCarolina，tobethereaboutthetimeyouwouldreachColumbia。Hewouldeitherhavedrawnofftheenemy’scavalryfromyou，orwouldhavesucceededindestroyingrailroads，supplies，andothermaterial，whichyoucouldnotreach。AtthattimetheRichmondpaperswerefulloftheaccountsofyourmovements，andgavedailyaccountsofmovementsinWestNorthCarolina。IsupposedallthetimeitwasStoneman。YoumayjudgemysurprisewhenIafterwardlearnedthatStonemanwasstillinLouisville，Kentucky，andthatthetroopsinNorthCarolinawereKirk’sforces！InorderthatStonemanmightgetoffwithoutdelay，ItoldThomasthatthreethousandmenwouldbesufficientforhimtotake。InthemeantimeIhaddirectedSheridantogethiscavalryready，and，assoonasthesnowinthemountainsmeltedsufficiently，tostartforStaunton，andgoonanddestroytheVirginiaCentralRailroadandcanal。Timeadvanced，untilhesetthe28thofFebruaryforstarting。IinformedThomas，anddirectedhimtochangethecourseofStonemantowardLynchburg，todestroytheroadinVirginiaupasneartothatplaceaspossible。NothearingfromThomas，Itelegraphedtohimaboutthe12th，toknowifStonemanwasyetoff。Herepliednot，butthathe（Thomas）wouldstartthatdayforKnoxville，togethimoffassoonaspossible。
Sheridanhasmadehisraid，andwithsplendidsuccess，sofarasheard。Iamlookingforhimat\"WhiteHouse\"to—day。Sinceaboutthe20thoflastmonththeRichmondpapershavebeenprohibitedfrompublishingaccountsofarmymovements。Wearelefttoourownresources，therefore，forinformation。YouwillseefromthepaperswhatSheridanhasdone;ifyoudonot，theofficerwhobearsthiswilltellyouall。
Leehasdepletedhisarmybutverylittlerecently，andIlearnofnonegoingsouth。Someregimentsmayhavebeendetached，butI
thinknodivisionorbrigade。ThedeterminationseemstobetoholdRichmondaslongaspossible。Ihaveaforcesufficienttoleaveenoughtoholdourlines（allthatisnecessaryofthem），andmoveoutwithplentytowhiphiswholearmy。Buttheroadsareentirelyimpassable。Untiltheyimprove，IshallcontentmyselfwithwatchingLee，andbepreparedtopitchintohimifheattemptstoevacuatetheplace。ImaybringSheridanover——thinkIwill——
andbreakuptheDanvilleandSouthaideRailroads。Thesearethelastavenueslefttotheenemy。
RecruitshavecomeinsorapidlyattheWestthatThomashasnowaboutasmuchforceashehadwhenheattackedHood。Ihavestoppedallwho，underpreviousorders，wouldgotohim，exceptthosefromIllinois。
FearingthepossibilityoftheenemyfallingbacktoLynchburg，andafterwardattemptingtogointoEastTennesseeorKentucky，IhaveorderedThomastomovetheFourthCorpstoBull’sGap，andtofortifythere，andtoholdouttotheVirginialine，ifhecan。HehasaccumulatedalargeamountofsuppliesinKnoxville，andhasbeenorderednottodestroyanyoftherailroadwestoftheVirginiaHue。ItoldhimtogetreadyforacampaigntowardLynchburg，ifitbecamenecessary。Henevercanmakeonethereorelsewhere;butthestepstakenwillprepareforanyoneelsetotakehistroopsandcomeeastorgotowardRome，whichevermaybenecessary。Idonotbelieveeitherwill。
WhenIhearthatyouandSchofieldaretogether，withyourbackuponthecoast，Ishallfeelthatyouareentirelysafeagainstanythingtheenemycando。LeemayevacuateRichmond，buthecannotgettherewithforceenoughtotouchyou。Hisarmyisnowdemoralizedanddesertingveryfast，bothtousandtotheirhomes。
Aretrogrademovementwouldcosthimthousandsofmen，evenifwedidnotfollow。
Fivethousandmen，belongingtothecorpswithyou，arenowontheirwaytojoinyou。Ifmorereenforoementsarenecessary，I
willsendthem。Mynotionis，thatyoushouldgetRaleighassoonaspossible，andholdtherailroadfromthereback。Thismaytakemoreforcethanyounowhave。
>FromthatpointallNorthCarolinaroadscanbemadeuselesstotheenemy，withoutkeepingupcommunicationswiththerear。
HopingtohearsoonofyourjunctionwiththeforcesfromWilmingtonandNewborn，Iremain，veryrespectfully，yourobedientservant，U。S。GRANT，Lieutenant—General。
HEADQUARTERSMILITARYDIVISIONOFTHEMISSISSIPPIINTHEFIELD，COX’SBRIGADE，NEUSERIVER，NORTHCAROLINA，March22，1865
Lieutenant—GeneralU。S。GRANT，Commander—in—Chief，CityPoint，Virginia。
GENERAL:IwroteyoufromFayetteville，NorthCarolina，onTuesday，the14thinstant，thatIwasallreadytostartforGoldsboro’，towhichpointIhadalsoorderedGeneralSchofield，fromNewborn，andGeneralTerry，fromWilmington。IknewthatGeneralJos。Johnstonwassupremeincommandagainstme，andthatheworldhavetimetoconcentratearespectablearmytoopposethelaststageofthismarch。Accordingly，GeneralSlocumwasorderedtosendhismainsupply—train，underescortoftwodivisions，straightforBentonsville，whilehe，withhisotherfourdivisions，disencumberedofallunnecessarywagons，shouldmarchtowardRaleigh，bywayofthreat，asfarasAverysboro’。GeneralHoward，inlikemanner，senthistrainswiththeSeventeenthCorps，welltotheright，and，withthefourdivisionsoftheFifteenthCorps，tookroadswhichwouldenablehimtocomepromptlytotheexposedleftflank。Westartedonthe16th，butagaintherainssetin，andtheroads，alreadybadenough，becamehorrible。
OnTuesday，the16th，GeneralSlocumfoundHardee’sarmy，fromCharleston，whichhadretreatedbeforeusfromCheraw，inpositionacrossthenarrow，swampyneckbetweenCapeFearandNorthRivers，wheretheroadbranchesofftoGoldsboro’。Thereaprettyseverefightoccurred，inwhichGeneralSlocum’stroopscarriedhandsomelytheadvancedline，heldbyaSouthCarolinabrigade，commandedbyaColonelButler。ItsCommander，ColonelRhett，ofFortSumternotoriety，withoneofhisstaff，hadthenightbeforebeencaptured，byKilpatrick’sscouts，fromhisveryskirmish—line。ThenextmorningHardeewasfoundgone，andwaspursuedthroughandbeyoudAverysboro’。GeneralSlocumburiedonehundredandeightdeadrebels，andcapturedanddestroyedthreeguns。Someeightywoundedrebelswereleftinourhands，and，afterdressingtheirwounds，welefttheminahouse，attendedbyaConfederateofficerandfourprivates，detailedoutofourprisonersandparoledforthepurpose。
WeresumedthemarchtowardGoldsboro’。IwaswiththeleftwinguntilIsupposedalldangerhadpassed;but，whenGeneralSlocum’sheadofcolumnwaswithinfourmilesofBentonsville，afterskirmishingasusualwithcavalry，hebecameawarethattherewasinfantryinhisfront。Hedeployedacoupleofbrigades，which，onadvancing，sustainedapartialrepulse，butsoonrallied，whenheformedalineofthetwoleadingdivisions（Morgan’sandCarlin’s）
ofJeff。C。Davis’scorps。Theenemyattackedthesewithviolence，butwasrepulsed。ThiswasintheforenoonofSunday，the19th。
GeneralSlocumbroughtforwardthetwodivisionsoftheTwentiethCorps，hastilydisposedofthemfordefense，andGeneralKilpatrickmassedhiscavalryontheleft。
GeneralJos。Johnstonhad，thenightbefore，marchedhiswholearmy（Bragg，Cheatham，S。D。Lee，Hardee，andallthetroopshehaddrawnfromeveryquarter），determined，ashetoldhismen，tocrashoneofourcorps，andthendefeatusindetail。HeattackedGeneralSlocuminpositionfrom3P。M。onthe19thtilldark;butwaseverywhererepulsed，andlostheavily。Atthetime，IwaswiththeFifteenthCorps，marchingonaroadmoretotheright;but，onhearingofGeneralSlocum’sdanger，directedthatcorpstowardCox’sBridge，inthenightbroughtBlair’scorpsover，andonthe20thmarchedrapidlyonJohnston’sflankandrear。Westruckhimaboutnoon，forcedhimtoassumethedefensive，andtofortify。
Yesterdaywepushedhimhard，andcameverynearcrushinghim，therightdivisionoftheSeventeenthCorps（Mower’s）havingbrokenintowithinahundredyardsofwhereJohnstonhimselfwas，atthebridgeacrossMillCreek。Lastnightheretreated，leavingusinpossessionofthefield，dead，andwounded。WehaveovertwothousandprisonersfromthisaffairandtheoneatAverysboro’，andIamsatisfiedthatJohnston’sarmywassoroughlyhandledyesterdaythatwecouldmarchrightontoRaleigh;butwehavenowbeenoutsixweeks，livingprecariouslyuponthecollectionsofourforagers，ourmendirty，ragged，andsaucy，andwemustrestandfixupalittle。Ourentirelossesthusfar（killed，wounded，andprisoners）willbecoveredbytwenty—fivehundred，agreatpartofwhichare，asusual，slightwounds。Theenemyhaslostmorethandoubleasmany，andwehaveinprisonersalonefulltwothousand。
Ilimitedthepursuit，thismorning，toMillCreek，andwillforthwithmarchthearmytoGoldsboro’，theretorest，reclothe，andgetsomerations。
OurcombinationsweresuchthatGeneralSchofieldenteredGoldsboro’fromNewborn;GeneralTerrygotCox’sBridge，withpontoonslaid，andabrigadeacrossNeuseRiverintrenched;andwewhippedJos。Johnston——allonthesameday。
Afterridingoverthefieldofbattleto—day，nearBentonsville，andmakingthenecessaryorders，Ihaveriddendowntothisplace（Cox’sBridge）toseeGeneralTerry，andto—morrowshallrideintoGoldsboro。
Iproposetocollecttheremyarmyproper;shallpostGeneralTerryaboutFaison’sDepot，andGeneralSchofieldaboutKinston，partlytoprotecttheroad，butmoretocollectsuchfoodandforageasthecountryaffords，untiltherailroadsarerepairedleadingintoGoldsboro’。
IfearthesehavenotbeenpushedwiththevigorIhadexpected;
butIwillsoonhavethembothgoing。Ishallproceedatoncetoorganizethreearmiesoftwenty—fivethousandmeneach，andwilltryandbeallreadytomarchtoRaleighorWeldon，aswemaydetermine，byorbeforeApril10th。
Iincloseyouacopyofmyordersofto—day。Iwouldliketobemorespecific，buthavenotthedata。Wehavelostnogeneralofficersnoranyorganization。GeneralSlocumtookthreegunsatAverysboro’，andlostthreeothersatthefirstdashonhimatBentonsville。Wehaveallourwagonsandtrainsingoodorder。
Yourstruly，W。T。SHERMAN，Major—General。
HEADQUARTERSMILITARYDIVISIONOFTHEMISSISSIPPIINTHEFIELD，COX’SBRIGADE，GOLDSBORO’，NORTHCAROLINA，March23，1865。
Lieutenant—GeneralU。S。GRANT，commandingtheArmiesoftheUnitedStates，CityPoint，Virginia。
GENERAL:OnreachingGoldsboro’thismorning，IfoundLieutenantDunnawaitingmewithyourletterofMarch18thanddispatchofthe17th。IwroteyoufullyfromCox’sBridgeyesterday，andsincereachingGoldsboro’havelearnedthatmyletterwassentpunctuallytoNewborn，whenceitwillbedispatchedtoyou。
IamverygladtohearthatGeneralSheridandidsuchgoodservicebetweenRichmondandLynchburg，andhopehewillkeeptheballmoving，Iknowthattheseraidsanddashesdisconcertourenemyanddiscouragehimmuch。
GeneralSlocum’stwocorps（FourteenthandTwentieth）arenowcomingin。IwilldisposeofthemnorthofGoldsboro’，betweentheWeldonroadandLittleRiver。GeneralHowardto—dayismarchingsouthoftheNenae，andto—morrowwillcomeinandoccupygroundnorthofGoldsboro’，extendingfromtheWeldonRailroadtothatleadingtoKinston。
Ihaveorderedalltheprovisionaldivisions，madeupoftroopsbelongingtotheregularcorps，tobebrokenup，andthementojointheirproperregimentsandorganizations;andhaveorderedGeneralSchofieldtoguardtherailroadsbacktoNewbornandWilmington，andtomakeupamovablecolumnequaltotwenty—fivethousandmen，withwhichtotakethefield。Hisarmywillbethecentre，asontheAtlantacampaign。IdonotthinkIwantanymoretroops（otherthanabsenteesandrecruits）tofillupthepresentregiments，andIcanmakeupanarmyofeightythousandmenbyApril10th。IwillpostGeneralKilpatrickatMountOliveStationontheWilmingtonroad，andthenallowthearmysomerest。
Wehavesentallouremptywagons，underescort，withtheproperstaff—officers，tobringupfromKinstonclothingandprovisions。
Aslongaswemovewecangatherfoodandforage;but，themomentwestop，troublebegins。
Ifeelsadlydisappointedthatourrailroadsarenotdone。IdonotliketosaytherehasbeenanyneglectuntilImakeinquiries;
butitdoesseemtometherepairsshouldhavebeenmadeerethis，andtheroadproperlystocked。Icanonlyhearofonelocomotive（besidesthefouroldones）ontheNewbernroad，andtwodamagedlocomotives（foundbyGeneralTerry）ontheWilmingtonroad。I
leftGeneralsEastonandBeckwithpurposelytomakearrangementsinanticipationofmyarrival，andhaveheardfromneither，thoughI
supposethembothtobeatMoreheadCity。
Atallevents，wehavenowmadeajunctionofallthearmies，andifwecanmaintainthem，will，inashorttime，beinapositiontomarchagainstRaleigh，Gaston，Weldon，orevenRichmond，asyoumaydetermine。
IfIgetthetroopsallwellplaned，andthesuppliesworkingwell，Imayrunuptoseeyouforadayortwobeforedivingagainintothebowelsofthecountry。
Iwillmake，inaveryshorttime，accuratereportsofouroperationsforthepasttwomonths。Yourstruly，W。T。SHERMAN，Major—Generalcommanding。
HEADQUARTERSMILITARYDIVISIONOFTHEMISSISSIPPIINTHEFIELD，COX’SBRIGADE，GOLDSBORO’，NORTHCAROLINA，March24，1865。
Lieutenant—GeneralU。S。GRANT，CityPoint，Virginia。
GENERAL:IhavekeptLieutenantDunnoverto—daythatImightreportfarther。Allthearmyisnowin，savethecavalry（whichI
havepostedatMountOliveStation，southoftheNenae）andGeneralTerry’scommand（which——to—morrowwillmovefromCog’sFerrytoFaison’sDepot，alsoontheWilmingtonroad）。Isendyouacopyofmyordersofthismorning，theoperationofwhichwill，Ithink，sooncompleteourroads。ThetelegraphisnowdonetoMoreheadCity，andbyitIlearnthatstoreshavebeensenttoKinstoninboats，andthatourwagonsareloadingwithrationsandclothing。
ByusingtheNeuseashighupasKinston，haulingfromtheretwenty—sixmiles，andbyequippingthetworoadstoMoreheadCityandWilmington，Ifeelcertainwecannotonlyfeedandequipthearmy，butinashorttimefillourwagonsforanotherstart。I
feelcertain，fromthecharacterofthefighting，thatwehavegotJohnston’sarmyafraidofus。Hehimselfactswithtimidityandcaution。Hiscavalryalonemanifestsspirit，butlimitsitsoperationstoourstragglersandforaging—parties。Mymarchingcolumnsofinfantrydonotpaythecavalryanyattention，butwalkrightthroughitIthinkIseeprettyclearlyhow，inonemoremove，wecancheck—
mateLee，forcinghimtouniteJohnstonwithhiminthedefenseofRichmond，ortoabandonthecause。Ifeelcertain，ifheleavesRichmond，VirginialeavestheConfederacy。Iwillstudymymapsalittlemorebeforegivingmypositiveviews。IwantallpossibleinformationoftheRoanokeastonavigability，howfarup，andwithwhatdraught。
Wefindthecountrysandy，dry，withgoodroads，andmorecornandforagethanIhadexpected。Thefamiliesremain，butIwillgraduallypushthemallouttoRaleighorWilmington。Wewillneedeveryhouseinthetown。LieutenantDunncantellyouofmanythingsofwhichIneednotwrite。Yourstruly，W。T。SHERMAN，Major—General。
HEADQUARTERSMILITARYDIVISIONOFTHEMISSISSIPPIINTHEFIELD，COX’SBRIGADE，GOLDSBORO’，NORTHCAROLINA，April5，1865
Major—GeneralGeorgeH。Thomas，commandingDepartmentoftheCumberland。
DEARGENERAL:IcanhardlyhelpsmilingwhenIcontemplatemycommand——itisdecidedlymixed。Ibelieve，butamnotcertain，thatyouareinmyjurisdiction，butIcertainlycannothelpyouinthewayofordersormen;nordoIthinkyouneedeither。GeneralCrufthasjustarrivedwithhisprovisionaldivision，whichwillatoncebebrokenupandthemensenttotheirproperregiments，asthatofMeagherwasonmyarrivalhere。
YoumayhavesomefeelingaboutmyaskingthatGeneralSlocumshouldhavecommandofthetwocorpsthatproperlybelongtoyou，viz。，theFourteenthandTwentieth，butyoucanrecallthathewasbutacorpscommander，andcouldnotlegallymakeordersofdischarge，transfer，etc。，whichwasimperativelynecessary。I
thereforeaskedthatGeneralSlocumshouldbeassignedtocommand\"anarmyinthefield，\"calledtheArmyofGeorgia，composedoftheFourteenthandTwentiethCorps。TheorderisnotyetmadebythePresident，thoughIhaverecognizeditbecauseboth，GeneralGrantandthePresidenthavesanctionedit，andpromisedtohavetheordermade。
Myarmyisnowhere，prettywellcladandprovided，dividedintothreeparts，oftwocorpseach——muchasouroldAtlantaarmywas。
Iexpecttomoveoninafewdays，andpropose（ifLeeremainsinRichmond）topasstheRoanoke，andopencommunicationwiththeChowanandNorfolk。ThiswillbringmeindirectcommunicationwithGeneralGrant。
Thisisanadmirablepoint——countryopen，andthetworailroadsingoodorderbacktoWilmingtonandBeaufort。Wehavealreadybroughtupstoresenoughtofillourwagons，andonlyawaitsomefewarticles，andthearrivalofsomemenwhoaremarchingupfromthecoast，tobeoff。
GeneralGrantexplainedtomehisorderstoyou，which，ofcourse，areallright。YoucanmakereportsdirecttoWashingtonortoGeneralGrant，butkeepmeadvisedoccasionallyofthegeneralstateofaffairs，thatImayknowwhatishappening。Imustgivemyundividedattentiontomattershere。Youwillhearfromathousandsourcesprettyfairaccountsofournextmarch。Yourstruly，W。T。SHERMAN，Major—General。
[LETTERFROMADMIRALDAHLGREN]
SOUTHATLANTICSQUADRON
FLAG—SHIPPHILADELPHIA，CHARLESTON，April20，1865
Major—GeneralW。T。SHERMAN，commandingArmiesoftheTennessee，Georgia，andMississippi。
MrDEARGENERAL:Iwasmuchgratifiedbyasightofyourhandwriting，whichhasjustreachedmefromGoldsboro’;itwasverysuggestiveofapasttome，whentheseregionswerethesceneofyouroperations。
AsyouprogressedthroughSouthCarolina，therewasnomanifestationofweaknessorofanintentiontoabandonCharleston，untilwithinafewhoursofthefact。Onthe11thofFebruaryI
wasatStono，andaspiriteddemonstrationwasmadebyGeneralSchimmel—pfennigandthevessels。Hedrovetherebelsfromtheirrifle—pitsinfrontofthelines，extendingfromFortPringle，andpushedthemvigorously。ThenextdayIwasatBull’sBay，withadozensteamers，amongthemthefinestofthesquadron。GeneralPotterhadtwelvetofifteenhundredmen，theobjectbeingtocarryoutyourviews。Wemadeasmuchfussaspossible，andwithbettersuccessthanIanticipated，foritseemsthattherebsconceivedStonotobeafeint，andtherealobjectatBull’sBay，supposing，fromthenumberofsteamersandboats，thatwehadseveralthousandmen。NowcameanaidefromGeneralGillmore，atPortRoyal，withyourcipher—dispatchfromMidway，soIsteameddowntoPortRoyaltoseehim。Nextdaywasspentinvaineffortstodecipher—finallyitwasaccomplished。YouthoughtthatthestateoftheroadsmightforceyoutoturnuponCharleston;soIwentthereonthe15th，buttherewasnosignyetofflinching。ThenIwenttoBull’sBaynextday（16th），andfoundthatthetroopswerenotyetashore，owingtothedifficultiesofshoalwater。Oneofthegunboatshadcontrivedtogetuptowithinshellingrange，andbothsoldiersandsailorswereworkinghard。Ontheeveningofthe18thIsteameddowntoStonotoseehowmattersweregoingthere。PassingCharleston，I
noticedtwolargefires，wellinside——probablypreparingtoleave。
Onthe17th，inStono，rumorswereflyingaboutlooseofevacuation。Incourseofthemorning，GeneralSchimmelpfennigtelegraphedme，fromMorrisIsland，thatthereweresymptomsofleaving;thathewouldagainmakeapushatStono，andaskedformonitors。GeneralSchimmelpfennigcamedownintheafternoon，andwemetintheFollyBranch，nearSecessionville。Hewassorethattherebswouldbeoffthatnight，sohewastoassaulttheminfront，whileamonitorandgunboatsstungtheirflanksbothsides。
Ialsosentanaidetoordermybatteryoffiveeleven—inchguns，atCumming’sPoint，tofiresteadilyallnightonSullivan’sIsland，andtwomonitorstocloseuptotheislandforthesameobject。Nextmorning（18th）therascalswerefoundtobeoff，andwebrokeinfromalldirections，bylandandwater。Themainbodieshadleftateightornineintheevening，leavingdetachmentstokeepupafirefromthebatteries。Isteamedroundquickly，andsoongotintothecity，threadingthestreetswithalargegroupofnavalcaptainswhohadjoinedme。Allwassilentasthegrave。Noonetobeseenbutafewfiremen。
Noonecanquestiontheexcellenceofyourjudgmentintakingthetrackyoudid，andIneverhadanymisgivings，butitwasnaturaltodesiretogointotheplacewithastronghand，for，ifanyonespotinthelandwasforemostinthetrouble，itwasCharleston。
Yourcampaignwasthefinalblow，grandinconception，completeinexecution;andnowitisyourstosecurethelastarmywhichrebeldompossesses。Ihearofyourbeinginmotionbythe9th，andhopethattheresultmaybeallthatyouwish。
TidingsofthemurderofthePresidenthavejustcome，andshockedeverymind。CanitbethatsucharesortfindsrootinanystratumofAmericanopinion？Evidentlyithasnotbeentheactofoneman，norofamadman。Whohavepromptedhim？
Iamgratefulforyourremembranceofmyboy;thethoughtofhimisevernearesttomyheart。Generous，brave，andnoble，asIeverknewhimtobe，thatheshouldclosehisyounglifesoearly，evenundertheacceptedconditionsofasoldier’slife，asasonoftheUnion，wouldhavebeengriefsufficientformetobear;butthathispreciousremainsshouldhavebeensotreatedbythebrutesintowhosehandstheyfell，addseventothebitternessofdeath。IamnowawaitingthehourwhenIcanpaymylastdutiestohismemory。
Withmybeatandsincerewishes，mydeargeneral，foryoursuccessandhappiness，Iam，mosttruly，yourfriend，J。A。DAHLGREN。
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