The National tribune., 1897-08-12

ever aud as full of confluence in itself and It's
leaders. 1t is utterly impossible for me 10
enumerate what we have done. but inclose
slip just handed me, which is but partial. AT
Columbia and Cheraw we destroyed nearly all
the gunpowder and cartridges which the Con-
federacy had in this part Of the country. rms
arsenal is in fine order, and has been much
enlarged cannot leave n detachment to hoid
it, therefore shall burn it, blow 1T up with
gunpowder, and then with rams knock down
its walls. l take it for granted the United
States will never again trust North Carolina
with an arsenal to appropriate At her pleasure:
Hoping that good fortune may still attend
my army. ! remain your servant.
w. T. SHERMAN, Major General.
HEADQUARTERS MILITARY DIVISION OF
THE MISSISSIPPI IN THE FIELD, FAY
ETTEvILLE, N. G., March l2 1869
Lieut. Gen. U. S. GRANT, commanding United
States Army, City Point, Va.
DEAR GENERAL: We reached this place
yesterday ut noon; Hardee, as usual. retreat
ing across tho Cape Fear, burning his bridges;
but our pontoons will be up to-day, and, with
as little delay as possible, ! will be after him
toward Goldsboro.
A tug has just come up from Wilmington.
and before | get off from here. hope to get
from Wilmington some shoes and stockings.
sugar, coffee, and flour. We are abundantiy
supplied with all else, having in a measure
lived off the country.
The army is in splendid health condition,
and spirits, though we have had foul weather,
and roads that would have stopped travel to
almost any other body Of men ever heard of.
Our march was su ubstantially what designed
straight on Columbia. feigning on Branch
Vile and Augusta. We destroyed in passing
the railroad from the Edisto nearly up to Aiken;
again, from Orangeburg to the Congaree; again,
from Columbia down to Kingsville. on the
Wateree, and up toward Charlotte as far as the
Chester line; thence we turned east on Cheraw
and Fayetteville. AT Columbia we destroyed
immense arsenaIs and railroad establishments,
among which were 43 cannon. At Cheraw We
found also machinery and material of war sent
from Charleston, among which were % guns
aud $500 barrels of powder; and here we find
about 20 guns and o magnificent United States
Arsenal.
We cannot afford to leave detacbmcnts, and
/ shall therefore destroy this valuable arsenal,
so tho enemy shall not have its use, and the
United States should never again confde such
valuable property TO a people who have be-
trayed trust. -
/ could leave here tomorrow but want to
clear my columns of the vast crowd OF refugees
and negroes that encnmber us. Some 1 will
send down the river in boats, and the rest to
Wilmington by land, under small escort, as
soon as We are across Cape Fear River. ~
hope you have not been uneasy about Us,
and that the frnits of this march will be appre-
ciated. 1t had to he made not only to destroy
the valuable depots by the way, hat for its
incidents in the necessary fall of Charleston,
Georgetown and Wilmington II can now
add Goldsboro' without too much cost, / will
he in position to aid you materially ia the
Spring campaign.
JOS Johnston may try to interpose between
me here and SchoGeld about Newbern; but l
think he will not try that. hut concentrate his
scattered armies at Raleigh. and will go
straight at him as soon as get our men re-
clothed and our wagons reloaded.
Keep everybody busy, and let Stoneman
rush toward Greensboro Charlotte from
Knoxville; even feint in that quarter will
be most important.
The railroad from Charlotte to Danville is
all that is left to the enemy, and it will not
do for me to go there, account Of the red.
clay hills which are impassables to wheels in
vet weather.
| Iexpcct to make junction with Gen. Seho-
| field in 10 days.
Yours tsuly, W. 7. SHERMAN, Major-General.
GoLDsBORO NEXT.
| HEADQUARTERS MILITARY DIVISION or
THE MISSISSIPPI IN THE FIELD, FAYETTE.
VILE, N. G., March II. 1866.
| Maj. .-Gen. Terry, commanding United States
forces Wilmington, N. c.
GENERAL: have just received your message
| by the tug which left Wilmington at D. mi. yes
terday which arrived here without trouble.
The scout who brought me your cipher.messag
started back last night with my answers which
are superseded by the fact of yonr opening the
| river. .s.5 f.el
Gen Howard just reports that he has secured
one of the enemy's steamboats, below the city
Gen. Slocum will try to secure two others
| known to be above. and we will load them
with refugees (whitc and black, who have
clung to our skirts impeded our movements,
and consumed our food.
| We have swept the country well from Savan-
nah to here and the men and animals are
in fine condition. Had it not been for the
foul weather. would have caught Hardee at
Cheraw or here; but at Colnm ba, Cheraw and
here, We have captured immense stores, and
destroyed machinery. guns ammunition, and
property of inestimabe value to our enomy.
At all points he has fed ffom us, standing not
on the order of his going"
The people Of South Carolina. instead OF
feeding Lees army, will now call OH Leo to
feed them.
want you to send me all the shoes stock.
ings, drawers, sugar, coffee and -four you can
spare; finish the loads with oats or corn
Have the boats escorted. aud let them run n,
night al any risk. We must not give time for
Jos. Johnston TO concentrate at Goldsboro'
We cannot prevent his concentrating al
Raleigh, bnt he shall have no rest l wan,
Gen. Schofeld to go onawith his railroad from
| Newbern as far as he can, and you should dc
the same from Wilmington. If we can get the
roads to and secure Goldsboro' by April 10, il
! will be soon enough; but every day now j:
, worth million of dollars. / can whip Jos
, Johnston provided he does not catch one Of M
corps in flank, and will see that the army
marches hence to Godsboro' in compact form
] must rid our army of from twentyto thirt,
= thousand useless mouths; many TO go dow,
1 Cape Fear as possible, and the rest to 90 j,
e vehicles or on captured horses via Clinton t
| Wilmington.
/ thank you for the energetic action tha
=, has marked your course, and shall be mos
happy to meet you. am, truly. your friend
w. I. SHERMAN, Major-General
. ITO be cOatiaHed.l
L -
"a Big Thing"