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from Fayetteville。
These are all given here to explain the full reasons for the events of the war then in progress； with two or three letters from myself； to fill out the picture。
HEADQUARTERS OF THE ARMIES OF THE UNITED STATES CITY POINT； VIRGINIA； February 7； 1865
Major…General W。 T。 SHERMAN； commanding Military Division of the Mississippi
GENERAL： Without much expectation of it reaching you in time to be of any service； I have mailed to you copies of instructions to Schofield and Thomas。 I had informed Schofield by telegraph of the departure of Mahone's division； south from the Petersburg front。 These troops marched down the Weldon road； and； as they apparently went without baggage； it is doubtful whether they have not returned。 I was absent from here when they left。 Just returned yesterday morning from Cape Fear River。 I went there to determine where Schofield's corps had better go to operate against Wilmington and Goldsboro'。 The instructions with this will inform you of the conclusion arrived at。
Schofield was with me； and the plan of the movement against Wilmington fully determined before we started back； hence the absence of more detailed instructions to him。 He will land one division at Smithville； and move rapidly up the south side of the river； and secure the Wilmington & Charlotte Railroad； and with his pontoon train cross over to the island south of the city； if he can。 With the aid of the gunboats； there is no doubt but this move will drive the enemy from their position eight miles east of the city； either back to their line or away altogether。 There will be a large force on the north bank of Cape Fear River； ready to follow up and invest the garrison； if they should go inside。
The railroads of North Carolina are four feet eight and one…half inches。 gauge。 I have sent large parties of railroad…men there to build them up； and have ordered stock to run them。 We have abundance of it idle from the non…use of the Virginia roads。 I have taken every precaution to have supplies ready for you wherever you may tern up。 I did this before when you left Atlanta； and regret that they did not reach you promptly when you reached salt…water。。。。
Alexander Stephens； R。 M。 T。 Hunter； and Judge Campbell； are now at my headquarters； very desirous of going to Washington to see Mr。 Lincoln； informally； on the subject of peace。 The peace feeling within the rebel lines is gaining ground rapidly。 This； however； should not relax our energies in the least； but should stimulate us to greater activity。
I have received your very kind letters； in which you say you would decline； or are opposed to； promotion。 No one world be more pleased at your advancement than I； and if you should be placed in my position； and I put subordinate； it would not change our personal relations in the least。 I would make the same exertions to support you that you have ever done to support me； and would do all in my power to make our cause win。
Yours truly；
U。 S。 GRANT； Lieutenant…General。
HEADQUARTERS OF THE ARMIES OF THE UNITED STATES CITY POINT； VIRGINIA； January 81； 1865。
Major…General G。 H。 THOMAS； commanding Army of the Cumberland。
GENERAL： With this I send you a letter from General Sherman。 At the time of writing it； General Sherman was not informed of the depletion of your command by my orders。 It will； be impossible at present for you to move south as he contemplated； with the force of infantry indicated。 General Slocum is advised before this of the changes made； and that for the winter you will be on the defensive。 I think； however； an expedition from East Tennessee； under General Stoneman might penetrate South Carolina； well down toward Columbia； destroying the railroad and military resources of the country； thus visiting a portion of the State which will not be reached by Sherman's forces。 He might also be able to return to East Tennessee by way of Salisbury； North Carolina； thus releasing home of our prisoners of war in rebel hands。
Of the practicability of doing this； General Stoneman will have to be the judge； making up his mind from information obtained while executing the first part of his instructions。 Sherman's movements will attract the attention of all the force the enemy can collect； thus facilitating the execution of this。
Three thousand cavalry would be a sufficient force to take。 This probably can be raised in the old Department of the Ohio； without taking any now under General Wilson。 It would require； though； the reorganization of the two regiments of Kentucky Cavalry； which Stoneman had in his very successful raid into Southwestern Virginia。
It will be necessary； probably； for you to send； in addition to the force now in East Tennessee； a small division of infantry； to enable General Gillem to hold the upper end of Holston Valley； and the mountain…passes in rear of Stevenson。
You may order such an expedition。 To save time； I will send a copy of this to General Stoneman； so that he can begin his preparations without loss of time； and can commence his correspondence with you as to these preparations。
As this expedition goes to destroy and not to fight battles； but to avoid them when practicable； particularly against any thing like equal forces； or where a great object is to be gained； it should go as light as possible。 Stoneman's experience； in raiding will teach him in this matter better than he can be directed。
Let there be no delay in the preparations for this expedition； and keep me advised of its progress。 Very respectfully； your obedient servant；
U。 S。 GRANT； Lieutenant…General。
HEADQUARTERS OF THE ARMIES OF THE UNITED STATES CITY POINT； VIRGINIA； January 81； 1865。
Major…General J。 M。 SCHOFIELD； commanding army of the Ohio。
GENERAL： I have requested by telegraph that； for present purposes； North Carolina be erected into a department； and that you be placed in command of it； subject to Major…General Sherman's orders。 Of course； you will receive orders from me direct until such time as General Sherman gets within communicating distance of you。 This obviates the necessity of my publishing the order which I informed you would meet you at Fortress Monroe。 If the order referred to should not be published from the Adjutant…General's office； you will read these instructions as your authority to assume command of all the troops in North Carolina； dating all official communications； 〃Headquarters Army of the Ohio。〃 Your headquarters will be in the field； and with the portion of the army where you feel yourself most needed。 In the first move you will go to Cape Fear River。
Your movements are intended as cooperative with Sherman's movement through the States of South and North Carolina。 The first point to be obtained is to secure Wilmington。 Goldsboro' will then be your objective point； moving either from Wilmington or Newbern； or both； as you may deem best。 Should you not be able to reach Goldsboro'； you will advance on the line or lines of railway connecting that place with the sea…coast； as near to it as you can； building the road behind you。 The enterprise under you has two objects： the first is； to give General Sherman material aid；