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for any one else to take his troops and come east or go toward Rome； whichever may be necessary。 I do not believe either will。
When I hear that you and Schofield are together； with your back upon the coast； I shall feel that you are entirely safe against any thing the enemy can do。 Lee may evacuate Richmond； but he cannot get there with force enough to touch you。 His army is now demoralized and deserting very fast； both to us and to their homes。 A retrograde movement would cost him thousands of men； even if we did not follow。
Five thousand men； belonging to the corps with you； are now on their way to join you。 If more reenforoements are necessary； I will send them。 My notion is； that you should get Raleigh as soon as possible； and hold the railroad from there back。 This may take more force than you now have。
》From that point all North Carolina roads can be made useless to the enemy； without keeping up communications with the rear。
Hoping to hear soon of your junction with the forces from Wilmington and Newborn； I remain； very respectfully； your obedient servant；
U。 S。 GRANT； Lieutenant…General。
HEADQUARTERS MILITARY DIVISION OF THE MISSISSIPPI IN THE FIELD； COX'S BRIGADE； NEUSE RIVER； NORTH CAROLINA； March 22； 1865
Lieutenant…General U。 S。 GRANT； Commander…in…Chief； City Point； Virginia。
GENERAL： I wrote you from Fayetteville； North Carolina； on Tuesday； the 14th instant； that I was all ready to start for Goldsboro'； to which point I had also ordered General Schofield； from Newborn； and General Terry； from Wilmington。 I knew that General Jos。 Johnston was supreme in command against me； and that he world have time to concentrate a respectable army to oppose the last stage of this march。 Accordingly； General Slocum was ordered to send his main supply…train； under escort of two divisions； straight for Bentonsville； while he； with his other four divisions； disencumbered of all unnecessary wagons； should march toward Raleigh； by way of threat； as far as Averysboro'。 General Howard； 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。
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