The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1915-03-14
SHERMAN'S FORCES CROSSED
CAPE FEAR RIVER.
March Is, 1865.

Fifty years ago today Gen. W. T Sher-
mans Federal Army. which had marched
north through the Caro!inas from Sa-
vannah. was crossing the cape Fear
River near Fayetteville. y. e.. and was
to move against GoldsborO. fifty miles
north. the next day.
The Federals had been in Fayetteville
since early on March II. Sherman had
called a temporary halt there So that
his men might get a much needed rest
after their fatiguing movements Of the
previous weeks. to allow for the destruc-
ton Of Confederate property found In
the town. and to await news from the
outside world.
\ few days before reaching the river
Sherman had sent n message to the
commanding officer at Wilmington.
eighty miles down stream from Fay
etteville asking that boat be sent up
the river to meet him and TO bring fresh
supplies or bread. sugar and coffee.
One copy of this dispatch was carried
by Corp. James Pike. one of Sher-
mans scouts who. in disguise. worked
his way ahead Of the army. reached the
Cape Fear River and seiZing a boat.
flOated down stream to Wilmington.
Another copy was intrusted to Sergt
Myron !. Amick. OF the Fifteenth Iii
nois cavalry and Private George W.
Quimby. OF the Thirty-second Wisconsin
Regiment. These two men-the same
who had accompanied Capt. William
Duncan In an expedition from Sherman's
army down the Ogeechee River to the
sea during the march across Georgia
took an overland route to Wilmington
and reached there about the same time
as Corp. Pike.
Sherman. being fully confident that
these men would get through the Con-
federate lines, believed that he might
expect news from Wilmington within
day or two after the occupation OF
Fayetteville. During the 18th the army
came up around the town, and two
pontoon bridges were thrown across the
river to the north bank.
Communication Opened.
Sunday. March u. was a day of Sab
bath stiffness in Fayetteville" wrote
Gen. Sherman in his Memoirs. The peo-
pie generally attended their churches, for
they were a very pious people, descend
ed in a large measure from the old
Scotch Covenanters, and our men. too.
Were resting from the tolls and Iabors
Of six weeks OF as hard marching as
ever fell to the lot of soldiers
shortly after noon was heard in the
distance the shrilI whistle OF a steam
soon a shout, long and continuous, was
raised down by the river. which spread
farther and farther, and We all felt that
ii meant n messenger from home.
The effect was electric, and no one
can realize the feeling unless. like US, he
has been for months cut off from all
communication with friends. and COM
PEELED TO listen to the croakings and
demonstrations of open enemies. But
the town to the arsenal on the plateau
behind group of officers. among whom
was large. florid seafaring man, named
Ainsworth. bearing small mailbag
from Gen. Alfred II. Terry. at Whining
ton. having left at > r. m. the day before
Our couriNrs had got through safe from
Laurel Hill. and this was the prompt
reply"
The vessel was the tug Davidson, Can't
Robert Stephenson She had on board
a guard of sevcnty-fivc of the Thirteenth
Indiana Regiment armed with seven
shooters. under command Of Capt. Theo-
dore Kettle and Lieuts. Thomas c. Cur
ley and Richard Jones.
Gen. Sherman notified tho CAPTAIN 10
be ready to start hack to Wilmington
at o'clock Sunday night. He then
wrote dispatches to Secretary of War
Stanton. Gen. Grant and Gen. Terry
To Stanton. Sherman wrote briefly re-
garding the objects and accomplishments
of the campaign. THE utter demolition
of the railroad system Of South Carolina.
and the utter destruction of the enemys
arsenals Of Columbia Cheraw and Fay
are the principals OF the move
ment." he noted. These points were
regarded as inaccessible to us. and now
no place in the Confederacy is safe
against the Army OF the West Let Lee
hold on to Richmond. and We will de-
stroy his country; and then OF what use
Is Richmond?"
Sugar and Coffee for Army.
The letter to Grant was longer and
of Confederate property dur
Ing the march. and touched briefly upon
subsequent plans. 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 |
Keep everybody busy" Sherman con-
Guided. land let Gen. George) Stone
man push toward Greensboro or Char
otte. n. c., from Knoxville with cav
alry); even a feint in that quarter will |
be most important. The railroad from
Charlotte to Danville. Va. is all that is
eft to the army. and II will not do for
me- to go there on account of the red J
LAY hills which are impossible to wheels
n wet weather" (The story Of Stone
mans Raid will be told In this series
IN March 90
Sherman called upon Gen. Terry for
I'll the shoes. stockings. Undertaking.
sugar. coffee and flour that could be
,pared from the supplies at Wilmington.
md ordered that the boats bearing them
,e run night and day. whatever the
isk might be- I'VE must not give time
'or Joseph Johnston to concentrate st