The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1897-09-02
CHAPTER XIV.

manded respectively by Gems. j. NJ
Schofeld, A ii. Terry and myself
effected a junction in and about Colds
boro', n. c., during the 22d and 23d OF
March, 1865, but it required few days
for all the troops and trains of wagons
to reach their respective camps.
In person / reached Goldsboro' on the
23d, and met Gen. Schofeld, who de-
scribed fully his operations in North
Carolina up to that date; and / also
found Lieut.. Dunn, Aid-de-Camp to
Gen. Grant, with letter from him of
March Is, giving a general description
of the state of facts about City Point.
The next day | received another letter,
more full, dated the 22d, which / give
herewith.
/ Nevertheless, / deemed it of great i'm
portance that / should have a personal
interview with the General, and deter
mined to 20 in person to City Point as
soon as the repairs Of the railroad, then
in progress under the personal direction
of Col. ". w. Wright, would permit.
HEADQUARTERS ARMIES OF THE USITED1
STATES, CITY POINT, Va, March %,
1865.
Malice w T. SHERMAN, commanding
Military Division of the Mississippi
GENERAL: Although the Richmond papers
donot communicate the fact, yet saw enough
in them TO satisfy me that you occupied Colds
boro on the 10Th inst. j congratulate you
and the army on what may be regarded as
the successful termination of the third cam
paign since leaving the Tennessee River, less
than one year ago
Since Sheridan's very successful raid north
Of the James the enemy are left dependent
on the Soutilside and Danyille roads for all
their supplies. These ] hope 10 cut next
week. Sheridan is at 9 White House, - shoe
ing UP and resting his cavalry. j expect him
to finish by Friday night and to start the
following morning via Long Bridge New
market. Bermuda Hundred, and the extreme
left OF the army around Petersburg He viii
make no halt with the armies operating here,
but viii be joined By division of cavalry,
5, 800 strong, from the Army Of the Potomac,
and win proceed directly to the Southside
and Danville roads. His instructions viii be
TO strike the Southside road as near Peters
burg rs he can and destroy it so that it can
not be repaired for three or four davs and
push OF TO the Danville road, as near to the
Apponattox rs he can get. Then l want
him to destroy the road toward Burkesvilie
as far as he can; then push on to the South
side road, west of BuTkesville, and destroy it
effeculally
From that point / shall probably leave it
TO his discretion either to return TO this army
crossing the Danyille road south of Burkes-
vile, or 90 and join you, passing between
Danyille and Greensboro When this move
ment commences shall move ont by my left.
with all the force / can, holding present in
trenched lines. / shall start with no distinct
view, further than holding Lees forces from
following Sheridan. But / shall be along
myself, and VIII take advantage of anything
that turns up. If Lee detaches. / will at
tack; or if he comes out of his lines | will en-
deaver to repulse him, and follow it up to
the best advantage
1t is most difficult to understand what the
rebels intend to do; so far but few troops
have been detached from Lees army. Much
machinery has been removed, and material
has been sent to I4ynchburg, showing disposi-
tiOn TO go there. Points too, have been forti-
fed on the Danville road
Lees army is much demoraized and great
numbers are deserting. Probably, from re-
turned prisoners, and such c0nscripts as can
be picked up, his numbers may be kept up.
4 estimate his force now at about 65 900 men,
Wilson started on Monday, with $4,000
cavalry, from Eastport. Stoneman started on
the same day, from East Tennessee toward
lynchburg Thomas is moving the Fourth
Corps TO Bulls Gap. Candy is moving with
formidable force on Mobile and the interior
of Alabama.
ordered Gilmore, as soon as the fall Of
Charleston was known, TO hold all important
posts on the sea-coast and to send TO Whining
ton all surplus forces. Thomas was also
directed to forward TO Newbern all troops be-
longing 10 the corps with you. / understand
this viii give you about five thousand men,
besides those brought east by Meagher
] have been telegraphing Gen. Meigs TO
hasten up locomotives and cars for you Gen
McCallum, he informs me, is attending to it,
i fear they are not going forward Us fast as |
would like.
Let me know if you want more troops, or
anything else.
Very respectfully, your obedient servant,
u. 5. GRANT, Lieutenant-General.
SHERMAN VISITS GRANT.
lHe iahioau Was itpdifcu 10 COluS-
boro' by the evening of March %, when,
leaving Gen. Schofeld in chief COM
mand, with couple of staff officers |
started for City Point, Va, on loco
motive, in company with Col. Wright,
the constructing engineer. We reached
Newbern that evening, which was passed
in the company of Gen. Palmer and his
accomplished lady, and early the next
morning We continued on to Morehead
City, where Gen. Easton had provided
for us the small captured steamer Russia,
Capt. Smith.
We put to sea at once and steamed
up the coast, reaching Fortress Monroe
on the morning Of the 9th, where l
landed and telegraphed to my brother,
Senator Sherman, at Washington, in
viting him to come down and return
with me to Goldsboro'. We proceeded
on up James River TO City Point, which
We reached the same afternoon, I