Fremont journal. [volume] (Fremont, Sandusky County [Ohio]) 1853-1866, 1865-03-31
FROM sHERMAN,s ARMY.

The following dispatch from Gen. Schofeld,
reports his arrival and occupation of Colds
boro, on Tuesday March 2lst. with but slight
opposition.
E. M. STANTON, Secy Of War.
GoLDsBoRo. N. c.. March 81, !
Via FoRTREss MONROE March 25-7 p NJ
To Lieut.. Gen. Grant, City Point:
i have the honor to report that ] occupied
Goldsbora this afternoon, with hut slight oppo-
sitiOD. Gen. Terry s column from Wilmington,
was at Parsons Depot last night, and should he
near this place tonight. stff 20
Sberman's left was engaged with the enemy
near Bentonville on Sunday, The artillery FIR
ing was quite rapid during the day, and for a
short time on Monday Morning Sherman s
right the nth Corps, was near Mount Olive, on
Sunday night.
There has been some artillery firing to-day,
which indicates the approach of Sherman s ar
my towards this place, all this being strictly in
accordance with Sherman's programme have
no doubt all is well. ] hope to have definite
and later intelligence from Sherman very soon
and will forward it TO you without delay.
] find the bridges burned but otherwise the
road is not injured aud the depot facilities are
very fine. captured seven cars and General
Terry captured two locomotives and two cars,
which he is now using
J. NJ. SCH0FIELD. Major General
CRY PorS1 March 81, III A NJ.
Hon. E. u, Stanton Secretary Of jpdr:
anu III receipt ofShermrn report of hIs OPP
erstions from the time he left Fayetteville up to
the 22d inst. 1t shows hard fighting, resulting
in very heavy loss to the enemy in killed aud
wounded and over 2, 600 prisoners iu our hands.
His own loss, he says, will be covered by 500
men since he left Savannah Many oftbem are
but slightly wounded.
Q. S. GRANT, Lieutenant General
The following detail of Shermans operations
we copy from the Cincinnati Commercial:
GoLDsBoRo NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. OF SHERMAN AND
scHoFIELp.
left the rear of Sherman's army the field of
battle. on Wednesday, March 2Ist. Goldsboro
Is ours. Schufield occupied it on Tuesday aft
erDoon, at three o'clock. The next morning
General Terry was crossing at Cox's bridge, and
the same morning Sbermans pontoon bridge
was laid at the railroad bridge. General Sher-
man has formed junction with Generals SchO-
field and Terry
JoE JOHNSTON FALLS BACK TO sNITHFIFLp.
The enemy having in vain striven to arrest
Sherman retired to Smithfeld, their rendezvous
on Wednesday morning, leaving Sherman's
road to his base open and unopposed. The fol-
lowing is an outline of Sherman's march TO
GOldsboro:
THE FIGHT AT AvERYsBoRo-HARDEE FORCED 10
RETREAT.
Gen Sherman's left wing under Gen. Slocum
ianked by General Fitzpatrick cavarly owing
to the nature of the roads, was forced to move
from Fayetteville some distance from the right
wing. AT the same time the left wing was or
dered TO make a feint towards Raleigh On the
18th instant General Fitzpatrick being in advance
fho e.,
miles from Averysboro, at Moor's Crossroads,
and supported by infantry ofthe Doth Corps, his
cavalry found the enemy, and dismounted, fight
ing side by side, with the infantry, drove him,
and forced him to retire in the direction of Raj
eigh
THE FIGHT NEAR BENToNvILLE-THE l4TH CoRFs
ONLY ENGAGED-DEsPERAr REBEL CHARGES
AND REPULsEs.
On the 18th Sunday, the l4th Corps, in ad-
vance met the entire rebel force, under General
Johnston, three miles from BeDtonville, at Nor
ris farm. A single division, at first, having at
tempted an advance of half-mile in front of
the corps, We're overwhelmed, fianked and driv-
en- back, in some confusion upon line already
chosen by General Slocum, hanked
by a ravine on one side, the left and swamp
on the other. Here hasty works were thrown
up, and here the 18th, Corps, and particularly
the division that had suffered first, stood, and
hurled back charge after charge of the enemy,
made with desperation unsurpassed HpoI any
other battle field of the war.
The next morning, the Goth. the right wing
was broughtup, and Tuesday, the Dist was spent
in intrenching and skirmishing.
SHERMAN FLANKs THE ESEMY.
On Wednesday morning, %, Sherman order
ed an advance toward Goldsboro by the united
wings and johnson pruden1y retired to Smith
field with all his force, being defeated in his
purpose.
81. SPEECH FROM JOE JOHNSTON.
The prisoners reported that Johnston made
speech on the morning of the 18th, in which he
that he had forty thousand men
enough to whip half of Shermans army; that
now was the crisis and that Sherman must be
prevented from forming junction with Scho-
field at all hazards; that he would whip Sher-
man wing by wing.
THE ENEMY COMPLETELY FOOLED
Shermans army feels now more invncible
than ever A single corps of single wing re-
ssting the desperated purpose of the enemy for
defeating in detail Sherman's entire left.
GoLDsBoRo 10 BE BASE OF oPERATIoNs-THE
RAILROAD RESTORED.
Goldsboro is a pyramdal base, standing on
two railroads. one of which (that via Kinston)
must be fully in operation as write.
The Wilmington Road will also be ready for
use in few days. On the latter road General
Terry found six locomotives at Magnolia Station
A few days delay at Goldsboro will be neces-
sary to retit Sherman's army, who; though rag
ged, dirty and shoeless. are the most contented
army in the field to-day.
CASUALTIES.
Our casualties on the 18th have not been de-
termined, but our loss that day is estimated at
] 500 the enemys full double.
New York, March 28-A Newbern letter of
the 9th, says the enemy captured three guns
on the first day of the battle BentOnville but on
the arrival of the l4th and 18th Corps the enc
my were driven i'll all directions leaving these
three guns and seven Others, besides 700 priso-
ners and their dead and wounded Deserters
are coming in large numbers. Sherman, with
the junction of Terry and Schofeld, is now
strong enough to sweep everything before him
Sherman wagons have arrived at Kinston for
supplies. He will recruit and be ready To move
again aoon with Goldsboro as his base
Shermans wounded will be brought to New
bern.
The people along Sherman's and Schofeld's
route gave them hearty welcome.
FROM MoREHEAD CITY.
A letter from Morehead City, N c., says
Quartermaster- General Meigs, and staff, arrived
this morning. Vessels with supplies are rapid
ly arriving, which are being sent to the front
by Railroad.
Prisoners captured by Sherman are arriving
at Newbern. Five hundred arrived last night
and 1000 reached Kinston at the same time
Reinforcements for Sherman are arriving.
To WhOm il Nav COncern.