memoirs of general william t. sherman-2-第61章
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in like manner； sent his trains with the Seventeenth Corps； well to the right； and； with the four divisions of the Fifteenth Corps； took roads which would enable him to come promptly to the exposed left flank。 We started on the 16th； but again the rains set in； and the roads； already bad enough； became horrible。
On Tuesday； the 16th； General Slocum found Hardee's army； from Charleston； which had retreated before us from Cheraw； in position across the narrow； swampy neck between Cape Fear and North Rivers； where the road branches off to Goldsboro'。 There a pretty severe fight occurred； in which General Slocum's troops carried handsomely the advanced line； held by a South Carolina brigade； commanded by a Colonel Butler。 Its Commander； Colonel Rhett； of Fort Sumter notoriety； with one of his staff； had the night before been captured； by Kilpatrick's scouts； from his very skirmish…line。 The next morning Hardee was found gone； and was pursued through and beyoud Averysboro'。 General Slocum buried one hundred and eight dead rebels； and captured and destroyed three guns。 Some eighty wounded rebels were left in our hands； and； after dressing their wounds； we left them in a house； attended by a Confederate officer and four privates； detailed out of our prisoners and paroled for the purpose。
We resumed the march toward Goldsboro'。 I was with the left wing until I supposed all danger had passed； but； when General Slocum's head of column was within four miles of Bentonsville； after skirmishing as usual with cavalry； he became aware that there was infantry in his front。 He deployed a couple of brigades； which； on advancing； sustained a partial repulse； but soon rallied； when he formed a line of the two leading divisions （Morgan's and Carlin's） of Jeff。 C。 Davis's corps。 The enemy attacked these with violence； but was repulsed。 This was in the forenoon of Sunday； the 19th。 General Slocum brought forward the two divisions of the Twentieth Corps； hastily disposed of them for defense； and General Kilpatrick massed his cavalry on the left。
General Jos。 Johnston had； the night before； marched his whole army （Bragg； Cheatham； S。 D。 Lee； Hardee； and all the troops he had drawn from every quarter）； determined； as he told his men； to crash one of our corps； and then defeat us in detail。 He attacked General Slocum in position from 3 P。 M。 on the 19th till dark； but was everywhere repulsed； and lost heavily。 At the time； I was with the Fifteenth Corps； marching on a road more to the right； but； on hearing of General Slocum's danger； directed that corps toward Cox's Bridge； in the night brought Blair's corps over； and on the 20th marched rapidly on Johnston's flank and rear。 We struck him about noon； forced him to assume the defensive； and to fortify。 Yesterday we pushed him hard； and came very near crushing him； the right division of the Seventeenth Corps （Mower's） having broken in to within a hundred yards of where Johnston himself was； at the bridge across Mill Creek。 Last night he retreated； leaving us in possession of the field； dead； and wounded。 We have over two thousand prisoners from this affair and the one at Averysboro'； and I am satisfied that Johnston's army was so roughly handled yesterday that we could march right on to Raleigh； but we have now been out six weeks； living precariously upon the collections of our foragers； our men dirty； ragged； and saucy； and we must rest and fix up a little。 Our entire losses thus far （killed； wounded； and prisoners） will be covered by twenty…five hundred； a great part of which are； as usual； slight wounds。 The enemy has lost more than double as many； and we have in prisoners alone full two thousand。
I limited the pursuit； this morning； to Mill Creek； and will forthwith march the army to Goldsboro'； there to rest； reclothe； and get some rations。
Our combinations were such that General Schofield entered Goldsboro' from Newborn； General Terry got Cox's Bridge； with pontoons laid； and a brigade across Neuse River intrenched； and we whipped Jos。 Johnstonall on the same day。
After riding over the field of battle to…day； near Bentonsville； and making the necessary orders； I have ridden down to this place （Cox's Bridge） to see General Terry； and to…morrow shall ride into Goldsboro。
I propose to collect there my army proper； shall post General Terry about Faison's Depot； and General Schofield about Kinston； partly to protect the road； but more to collect such food and forage as the country affords； until the railroads are repaired leading into Goldsboro'。
I fear these have not been pushed with the vigor I had expected； but I will soon have them both going。 I shall proceed at once to organize three armies of twenty…five thousand men each； and will try and be all ready to march to Raleigh or Weldon； as we may determine； by or before April 10th。
I inclose you a copy of my orders of to…day。 I would like to be more specific； but have not the data。 We have lost no general officers nor any organization。 General Slocum took three guns at Averysboro'； and lost three others at the first dash on him at Bentonsville。 We have all our wagons and trains in good order。
Yours truly；
W。 T。 SHERMAN； Major…General。
HEADQUARTERS MILITARY DIVISION OF THE MISSISSIPPI IN THE FIELD； COX'S BRIGADE； GOLDSBORO'； NORTH CAROLINA； March 23； 1865。
Lieutenant…General U。 S。 GRANT； commanding the Armies of the United States； City Point； Virginia。
GENERAL： On reaching Goldsboro' this morning； I found Lieutenant Dunn awaiting me with your letter of March 18th and dispatch of the 17th。 I wrote you fully from Cox's Bridge yesterday； and since reaching Goldsboro' have learned that my letter was sent punctually to Newborn； whence it will be dispatched to you。
I am very glad to hear that General Sheridan did such good service between Richmond and Lynchburg； and hope he will keep the ball moving； I know that these raids and dashes disconcert our enemy and discourage him much。
General Slocum's two corps （Fourteenth and Twentieth） are now coming in。 I will dispose of them north of Goldsboro'； between the Weldon road and Little River。 General Howard to…day is marching south of the Nenae； and to…morrow will come in and occupy ground north of Goldsboro'； extending from the Weldon Railroad to that leading to Kinston。
I have ordered all the provisional divisions； made up of troops belonging to the regular corps； to be broken up； and the men to join their proper regiments and organizations； and have ordered General Schofield to guard the railroads back to Newborn and Wilmington； and to make up a movable column equal to twenty…five thousand men； with which to take the field。 His army will be the centre； as on the Atlanta campaign。 I do not think I want any more troops （other than absentees and recruits） to fill up the present regiments； and I can make up an army of eighty thousand men by April 10th。 I will post General Kilpatrick at Mount Olive Station on the Wilmington road； and then allow the army some rest。
We have sent all our empty wagons； under escort； with the proper staff…officers； to bring up from Kinston clothing and provisions。 As long as we move we can gather food and forage； but； the moment we stop； trouble begins。
I feel sadly disappointed that our railroads are not done。 I do not like to say there has been any neglect until I make inquiries； but it does seem to me the repairs should have been made ere this； and the road properly stocked。 I can only hear of one locomotive （besides the four old ones） on the Newbern road； and two damaged locomotives （found by General Terry） on the Wilmington road。 I left Generals Easton and Beckwith purposely to make arrangements in anticipation of my arrival； and have heard from neither； though I suppose them both to be at Morehead City。
At all events； we have now made a junction of all the armies； and if we can maintain them； will； in a short time； be in a position to march against Raleigh； Gaston； Weldon； or even Richmond； as you may determine。
If I get the troops all well planed； and the supplies working well； I may run up to see you for a day or two before diving again into the bowels of the country。
I will make； in a very short time； accurate reports of our operations for the past two months。 Yours truly；
W。 T。 SHERMAN； Major…General commanding。
HEADQUARTERS MILITARY DIVISION OF THE MISSISSIPPI IN THE FIELD； COX'S BRIGADE； GOLDSBORO'； NORTH CAROLINA； March 24； 1865。
Lieutenant…General U。 S。 GRANT； City Point； Virginia。
GENERAL： I have kept Lieutenant Dunn over to…day that I might report farther。 All the army is now in； save the cavalry （which I have posted at Mount Olive Station； south of the Nenae） and General Terry's command （whichto…morrow will move from Cog's Ferry to Faison's Depot； also on the Wilmington road）。 I send you a copy of my orders of this morning； the operation of which will； I think； soon complete our roads。 The telegraph is now done to Morehead City； and by it I learn that stores have been sent to Kinston in boats； and that our wagons are loading with rations and clothing。 By using the Neuse as high up as Kinston； hauling from there twenty…six miles； and by equipping the two roads to Morehead City and Wilmington； I feel certain we can not only feed and equip the army； but in a short time fill our wagons for another start。 I feel certain； from the character of the fighting； that we have got Johnston's army afraid of us。 He himself acts with timidity and caution。 His cavalry alone manifests spirit； but limits its operations to our stragglers and foraging…parties。 My marching columns of infantry do not pay the cavalry any attention； but walk right through it
I think I see pretty clearly how； in one more move； we can check… mate Lee； forcing him to unite Johnston with him in the defense of Richmond； or to abandon the cause。 I feel certain； if he leaves Richmond； Virginia leaves the Confederacy。 I will study my maps a little more before giving my positive views。 I want all possible information of the Roanoke as to navigability； how far up； and with what draught。
We find the country sandy； dry； with good roads； and more corn and forage than I had expected。 The families remain； but I will gradually push them all out to Raleigh or Wilmington。 We will need every house in the town。 Lieutenant Dunn can tell you of many things of which I need not write。 Yours truly；
W。 T。 SHERMAN； Major…General。
HEADQUARTERS MILITARY DIVISION OF THE MISSISSIPPI IN THE FIELD； COX'S BRIGADE； GOLDSBORO'； NORTH CAROLINA； April 5；1865
Major…General George H。 Thomas； commanding Department of the Cumberland。
DEAR GENERAL： I can hardly help smiling when I contemplate my commandit is decidedly mixed。 I believe； but am not certain； that you are in my jurisdiction； but I certainly cannot help you in the way of orders or men； nor do I think you need either。 General Cruft has just arrived with his provisional division； which will at once be broken up and the men sent to their proper regiments； as that of Meagher was on my arrival here。
You may have some feeling about my asking that General Slocum should have command of the two corps that properly belong to you； viz。； the Fourteenth and Twentieth
