Aot - 1865

[larry_cockerham]

May 25, 1865

The 10th TN Cavalry relieved of duty at Natchez, Mississippi and ordered to Nashville. Farrier James Patterson was about to head for his beloved Wilkes County, North Carolina to be reunited with his wife Amelia and children Mary Elizabeth, Letty Ann, Marcus Lafayette and James Elbert.

May 26, 1865 The Department of Mississippi forces who had been under the command of Gen. Smith were surrendered in New Orleans, Louisiana

June 13, 1865 The 10th TN Cavalry were ordered to Johnsonville, TN along with Private James Patterson Cockerham.

June 23, 1865 Gen. Stand Watie CSA, a Cherokee Chief, surrendered the last of the Native American forces.

August 1, 1865 The 10th TN Cavalry mustered out of service. The war for James Patterson Cockerham was finally over.

While the remnants of the once potent Army of Tennessee were fighting to the end in North Carolina, Generals Wilson and Forrest were still mounted over in Alabama and fought to the last Confederate horse.

This is the current 'end' of my tale, that of the men of the 10th Tennessee US Cavalry and the 63rd Virginia Confederate Infantry. The survival of two men of those respective regiments made possible my arrival on this earth. No more could be asked by me. If any of you can supply further details of these events between Chickamauga and Bentonville, I'd certainly be pleased to receive them. My thanks for your patience and the opportunity to share the history of these proud men.

[larry_cockerham]

Folks, I merely wanted to bump this one up where I/we could review it to determine if I need to make additional posts. I will compare this to the current version of the "book" to see if significant additions have occurred. As this is done, we are now almost at January 1, 2010 in sinc with the calender at the time these events occurred in 1865, a mere 145 years ago.

[PINCKNEYUSMCRET]

Look forward to anything you care to add

Pinckney

[larry_cockerham]

Taking a look at the earlier posts in this thread, I've concluded that there have been considerable additions made in this past year, hopefully for the better. Since all posts for the most part are identified by date (month and day) it is easy enough to compare. From here I will simply post for a while the current version.

TWO ARMIES ON THE SAME ROAD
CHAPTER III
As you have seen earlier in this document, much has been written concerning the travels and travails of the Army of Tennessee leading up to and including the retreat from the Battle of Nashville into North Alabama. In most references, the story stops at the Tennessee River on December 28, 1864. This broken, bloody, but still viable Confederate army was not completely beaten, just against the ropes. There was more war to be fought; they were not down for the count. There were still two armies, Blue and Gray, still traveling the same roads, often with fatal results. I believe that Whitfield Monroe Parker remained with the 63rd Virginia until the time of the battle at Bentonville before making his way on some mighty sore legs back to the green South Holston River Valley in the Wyndale community, a few miles south of Abingdon, Virginia. James Patterson Cockerham was to remain in service with the 10th Tennessee Cavalry until August 1865 when he returned to his family in the foothills of the Blue Ridge near Elkin in Wilkes County, North Carolina. It would have perhaps been better if these two and the half dozen or so other southern soldiers responsible for my presence on this earth had never left their homes in the Appalachian mountains. Duty did not allow that option.

[larry_cockerham]

Following is a series of chronological references taken from many sources, mostly official records or regimental histories.

The ITINERARY OF CHEATHAM’S CORPS was condensed from a journal kept by Major Henry Hampton. This outline of the movement of Cheatam’s Corps and other units gives a good idea of the movement of the 63rd and 54th Virginia regiments between January and May 1865. Reorganized as the 54th Virginia, the men of the 63rd remained in LEE’S CORPS of the re-organized Army of Tennessee. The various Divisions and Corps of the Army of Tennessee moved generally on the same path through Mississippi, Alabama, Georgia, South Carolina and on to the end of the war in North Carolina. Many of the following notes are from that journal. The Journal of the Army of Tennessee, previously presented, stops with the crossing of the Tennessee River at Bainbridge, Alabama. Here is the rest of the story.

[larry_cockerham]

December 28, 1864

The Army of Tennessee completed their crossing of the Tennessee River at Bainbridge, Alabama and loaded their pontoons on wagons before heading off toward haven in Mississippi.

[Insert- General George H. Thomas Jan 20 1865 report: “General Wood's corps kept well closed up on the cavalry, camping on the night of December 25 six miles out from Pulaski, on the Lamb's Ferry road, and pursuing the same route as the cavalry, reached Lexington, Ala., thirty miles from Pulaski, on the 28th, on which date, having definitely ascertained that the enemy had made good his escape across the Tennessee at Bainbridge, I directed ****her pursuit to cease.”]

[The enemy's cavalry, under Roddey, was met at Leighton, with whom Colonel Palmer skirmished and pressed back in small squads toward the mountains. Here it was ascertained that Hood's trains passed through Leighton on the 28th of December and moved off toward Columbus, Miss. Avoiding the enemy's cavalry, Colonel Palmer left Leighton on the 31st of December, moved rapidly via La Grange and Russellville and by the Cotton-gin road, and overtook the enemy's pontoon train, consisting of 200 wagons and 78 pontoon-boats, when ten miles out from Russellville. This he destroyed. Having learned of a large supply train on its way to Tuscaloosa, Colonel Palmer started on the 1st of January toward Aberdeen, Miss., with a view of cutting it off, and succeeded in surprising it about 10 p.m. on the same evening, just over the line in Mississippi. The train consisted of 110 wagons and 500 mules, the former of which were burned, and the latter sabered or shot]

[larry_cockerham]

[Insert – General Grant writing to General Sherman from City Point, Virginia December 27, 1864: “I have though that Hood being so completely wiped out for present harm, I might bring A.J. Smith here, with fourteen to fifteen thousand men. With this increase I could hold my lines and move out with a greater force than Lee has. It would compel Lee to retain all his present force in the defenses of Richmond or abandon them entirely…. Without waiting for further directions, then, you may make your preparations to start on your northern expedition without delay. Break up the railroads in South and North Carolina, and join the armies operating against Richmond as soon as you can.”]

From the History of the 33rd Mississippi:

The next day the 33rd Mississippi marched to the Tennessee River at Bainbridge, Alabama. On the 28th the regiment crossed the river and marched on for the next two days to Tuscumbia, Alabama. From there they followed the rail line to Iuka, Mississippi, and arrived on New Year s Eve.

Federals camped at Lexington, Alabama Dec 28.

[larry_cockerham]

On September 13, 2007 I returned with my wife from a trip to Cullman, Alabama through Florence when I missed a turn and found myself on highway 72 going west from Tuscumbia. Much has changed in 142 years, to say the least. The city of Tuscumbia is still a blue-collar working man’s town with lots of railroad and storage facilities in evidence. The river is still there, although much wider than in 1865, thanks to the Pickwick dam just a few miles downstream. One would never suspect the severity of the Muscle Shoals on civil war era traffic from viewing the calm, broad river today. The railroad has been re-constructed several times though it remains essentially in the same right-of-way as when Gen. John Bell Hood became one of it’s most famous passengers. From a frozen and very muddy path along the railroad, US 72 has evolved into a very pleasant divided highway with folks flying along well in excess of the posted speed limit. Such was not the case when the survivors of the Bainbridge crossing trod along in wagons, on foot, or on the couple of trains that hastily transported the higher-ranked members of the AOT to temporary safety in northern Mississippi. A meal, a little warmth and some much overdue rest were the goals for the day. I had the same general goals, but could only imagine the suffering endured by that little army in 1865.

[larry_cockerham]

The 5th Division, 1st Brigade under Edward Hatch [US] camped at Taylor’s Springs (now Killen, AL).

Likely James Patterson Cockerham was in attendance with his farrier’s tools. He was about to leave the pursuit of the AOT and return to middle Tennessee to serve out the remainder of the war as a guard at various facilities, mostly New Johnsonville and other federal supply depots. This cavalry division was exhausted and their supply of horses was essentially depleted. It would take a few months before James Harrison Wilson could re-build his cavalry in Waterloo and Gravelly Springs, Alabama before starting his invasion of Alabama and Georgia on March 22, 1865. James and the 10th Tennessee had done their part to defeat the AOT in the Tennessee Campaign, it was time for better equipped, fresher troops, and a little rest for a thirty-two year old soldier.

The physically and mentally wasted Army of Tennessee, strong Confederate soldiers that they were, kept their heads high and what was left of their bodies as vertical as possible as they headed west along the railroad from Tuscumbia, Alabama in the direction of Iuka and Corinth, Mississippi. That railroad remains in much the same location today, though considerable maintenance has occurred in the last 150 years. It is followed closely by US Highway 72. I suspect because of safety and for a better change at foraging for food, the three Corps of this command quickly split up with Cheatham heading to Corinth, Lee stopping at Burnsville briefly before moving on to Reinzi and Stewart stopping at Burnsville. Forrest and his three cavalry divisions made it to Corinth with the central command.

Shortly all supplies and the train cars were being readied for transport at Columbus, Georgia, a short distance away. Reinzi was also on the rail line that connected Corinth to Columbus and points south.

[larry_cockerham]

December 31, 1864

Stephen D. Lee’s Corps was in camp in Burnsville, Mississippi. The various corps of the Army of Tennessee sought much needed rest in Burnsville, Rienzi and Corinth before re-assembling at Tupelo. Below is a photo of the closed post office in the very sleepy town of Reinzi, Mississippi. There's a photo of the street in a later post. The railroad still runs through this little community on the way south to Mobile.

The 5th Division, 1st Brigade US (Hatch) moved to east side of Elk River and camped. Other Federals returned north from Lexington, AL marching 18 miles to camp at Sugar Creek.

[larry_cockerham]

January 1, 1865

From the History of the 33rd Mississippi:

On New Year's Day, 1865 the regiment had a holiday and rested in camp. The next day the regiment was on the march again and went to Burnsville, Mississippi. From there they went to Tupelo, Mississippi, where they camped 3 miles west of town.

This day the 5th Division, 1st Brigade [US] camped on the east side of the Elk River under orders to march to Huntsville, AL. They marched 19 miles, the order was revoked and they moved back to the Elk River and camped 2 days. From there they marched for Eastport and camped three days at Waterloo on the 10th of January.

[Waterloo, Alabama and Eastport, Mississippi are on opposite sides of the Tennessee river just a few miles west of Florence. Not much sign of the huge occupying army of 1865 there today. Because of the Pickwick dam, the two places are separated by perhaps half a mile of water. Must have been a far different look in 1865.]

Oops! This is a duplicate of post #10. I'll try to be more careful about this and only replace the ones with additional information. I have learned quite a bit more about the travels of the AOT since this thread was completed in the first round, though there is still much more to uncover. I can use some help any time you get the urge.

[larry_cockerham]

This is a photo taken earlier this year. Not much excitement in Rienzi. I suspect the excitement level went downhill in a hurry when the AOT left town in January 1865. They caught the train for Tupelo. The tracks are still there. You are looking north. The railroad is just to the right of the photo, half a block away.

[M E Wolf]

Dear Larry_Cockerham;

When are you going to write it up, publish and copyright for public consumption?

Its a wonderful read sir -- please do continue on sir.

Respectfully submitted for consideration,
M. E. Wolf

[PINCKNEYUSMCRET]

Just let me know the cost.

Pinckney

[larry_cockerham]

Folks, I doubt this will ever be published in hardback (or soft either). I still have a bit of work to do in the period after January 1865 to war's end. Also some photography is greatly lacking. If anything, after a little more proofing and massaging, I'll probably committ this thing to a large pdf file and self-publish to cds. We can use the money for long term maintenance of Winstead Hill in Franklin, TN which our SCV camp happens to own, or at least about 11 acres of it. The CBF flies there proudly 24/7 just as a reminder of those who have gone before. I often tell my folks that Gen. Scovill was there on November 28, 1864, but no one seems to care. Franklin is doing their best to get in stride with battlefield preservation. There is much more that can be accomplished. I greatly appreciate the kinds words and the views that this stuff has generated. Most of this is public record. I'm just trying to focus on a rather challenging time for some frostbitten soldiers.

[ole]

Larry's manuscript is getting really close to finishing. I got a copy about four years ago and a lot of water has passed under the bridge since then.

His tome will be one of those "it's not a masterpiece until it's ripped from my dead hands."

"Two roads travelled" is a subject that really hasn't been given much attention. It will be a worthy book when Larry gets off the crapper and gives it over to an editor, preferably at LSUP or UNCP. It's raw and scattered and filled to the overflowing with little known facts and factoids.

It has "important" written all over it. What makes it personal is that two ggfathers travelled those roads. One, a Union farrier; another, a Confederate artillerist. Fortunately neither were killed or we wouldn't have a Larry to kvetch at.

At the risk of embarrassing our Confederate cousin, James Patterson Cockerham was the Union ancestor.

Just a thought.

Ole

[larry_cockerham]

Larry's manuscript is getting really close to finishing. I got a copy about four years ago and a lot of water has passed under the bridge since then.

His tome will be one of those "it's not a masterpiece until it's ripped from my dead hands."

"Two roads travelled" is a subject that really hasn't been given much attention. It will be a worthy book when Larry gets off the crapper and gives it over to an editor, preferably at LSUP or UNCP. It's raw and scattered and filled to the overflowing with little known facts and factoids.

It has "important" written all over it. What makes it personal is that two ggfathers travelled those roads. One, a Union farrier; another, a Confederate artillerist. Fortunately neither were killed or we wouldn't have a Larry to kvetch at.

At the risk of embarrassing our Confederate cousin, James Patterson Cockerham was the Union ancestor.

Just a thought.

Ole

Great great Grandpa Whit Parker was an "artillerist" only in the sense that he was hit in the butt by an exploding shell in Atlanta Aug 9, 1864. Little James Patterson Cockerham got me into the SUVCW as well as this world.

[larry_cockerham]

Lee’s Corps moved to Reinzi, Mississippi, probably including the 63rd Virginia Infantry Regiment. On this day Gen. P.G.T. Beauregard left his perch in Charleston, South Carolina for *******n, Mississippi. [The little censor loves the word M e r i d i a n. Seems harmless enough to me?]

Today, the little town is located east of US Highway 45 on Mississippi highway 356 maybe 15 minutes south from Corinth by car. This would have been a full day's march in 1865, unless rail cars were available. The place looks and feels much like a ghost town in 2008, though folks have been mowing the grass.. No Confederate are flags flying or much of anything else, though one lady had her laundry flying from a rope across the front porch of her mobile home. Bombed-out or mostly abandoned former storefronts populate 'downtown'. The town hall, a small modern structure, proudly sported a sign "CLOSED". That seemed to pretty much sum up the place. January 1865 may well have been it's most active month in history. The ever-present railroad is still there, linking Corinth to Mobile and the Gulf coast. Highway 356 runs east from Rienzi over to highway 365, which, in turn, leads to Burnsville at the intersection with US 72, the main highway from Memphis to Huntsville. As far as the AOT at Reinzi, they apparently left no trace and did no noticeable harm.

[larry_cockerham]

Burnsville, Mississippi is on the map, though there is not too much more evidence. Today it's a Corinth 'suburb' along the very busy US 72. A couple of bombed out former stores are evident facing the railroad about a half mile off the highway. Obviously urban planning and the new road doomed the former business district. There is a local power plant on the nearby Tennessee River that doubtless supplies several jobs, but no other signs of life aside from scattered shops and small businesses along the highway. As in Rienzi, no Confederate flags fly and only a couple of US flags, small ones at that. Three small churches occupy the center of the populated area, just as in most small southern towns. There is no apparent sign the AOT ever graced this town and I rather suspect I was one of the few folks there this Saturday who cared. By the way, no restaurants or other food are available, except for small markets. Closest motels are near Corinth. I do suspect one could find a restroom with a diligent search. Reinzi would have had to offer a shared pine.

[larry_cockerham]

The following should be "inserted" back about post #40. Prior to that from post #10 forward to this point hasn't changed much. A few new facts and documents have been discovered. For instance:

January 17,1865 (Tuesday)

General Beauregard arrives in Tupelo with instructions, from Secretary Seddon, to grant General Hood's request to be relieved of command and to send as many troops "as may be spared" to Augusta, Georgia. Beauregard immediately approved a "judicious system of furloughs" for the men in Hood's army "to prevent disorder and desertion in [the] Army of Tennessee." John Bell Hood sends two dispatches to President Davis, one offering "to command a corps or division," and the second requesting that he be assigned "west of the Mississippi River." According to Hood, "I think I can be of more service there than east of the river."

Although Beauregard is satisfied that the army "requires immediate reorganization and consolidation" and believes that "to divide this small army at this juncture to re-enforce General Hardee would expose to capture Mobile, Demopolis, Selma, Montgomery, and all the rich valley of the Alabama River," he organizes the "first shipment of about 8,000 troops" for the long and arduous train ride to Georgia.

[larry_cockerham]

General Beauregard then wrote the following response: TUPELO, January 17, 1865. (Received 3 o'clock 24th.) - Hon. J. A. SEDDON, Secretary of War: Telegram of the 15th instant received. I will leave for Georgia and South Carolina soon as practicable after having placed General Taylor in command of the Army of Tennessee, and take, after conference with him, as many troops as can be spared from here.

G. T. BEAUREGARD.

Where were the 63rd and 54th Virginia in this logistical nightmare attempting to move 18,000 soldiers east at short notice? Calvin Livesay’s diary describes a train ride south. Apparently he and his immediate comrades had been separated from the main body of the regiment. If Whitfield Parker were an ineffective at that time, he would have stayed with the main wagon train and would have perhaps have required assistance in moving about. Placing these men on trains would have been the logical move. I suspect the 54th and 63rd Regiments went with the main body. More study will hopefully reveal the order the Corps were transported.

Meanwhile the Union Army is on the move in Georgia:

"Cump" Sherman gives instructions to General Howard regarding the next phase of their campaign. "As soon as possible we will cast off, and then for another cruise that will, in my judgment, do more to bring matters to a crisis than the last. Choose the best points you can find to land stores for Pocotaligo. Don't cross the Salkehatchie [River], but hold all the ground up to it, as though we intended to break across. The next movement I want the enemy to feel is from the left flank."

General Hardee informs President Davis of the latest movements of Sherman's army. "Enemy seems to be concentrating at Pocotaligo. A force reported to be moving up the Coosawhatchie." Hardee continues, "Deserters from the enemy concur in stating that the force which crossed at Port Royal Ferry, and which is now [in] vicinity of Pocotaligo, consists of Fifteenth and Seventeenth Army Corps; also that their destination is Charleston."

[larry_cockerham]

HEADQUARTERS CAVALRY CORPS, Near Steep Bottom Church, January 17, 1865--9.15 a.m. - General L. McLAWS, Commanding, near Salkehatchie Station: - GENERAL: There were captured..., near Station No. O, three Yankee prisoners who belong to the Eighteenth Missouri Regiment, Sheldon's brigade, Mower's [division], Seventeenth Corps. They state that the Seventeenth Corps was near Station No. 6, and that the Fifteenth...is at Beaufort....They do not know the amount of artillery or number of wagons with them, but say their wagon train is small; say the talk in camp is that Charleston is their destination....They say the Fourth [Fourteenth] and Twentieth Corps were to march from Savannah to Charleston by the line of the railroad. A scouting party of about fifty men came up a short distance this side of Gillisonville yesterday, and was driven back toward Grahamville....Respectfully, general, your obedient servant, J. WHEELER, Major-General.

After finding Joe Wheeler, we'll rest until nearer to January 18 to continue. For now, my wishes for the best of the new year to you all.

[larry_cockerham]

January 18, 1865

On this day Gen. Sherman turned over the city of Savannah to Gen. John G. Foster who had been in command on the coast and issued orders for the movement of his whole army, at this time numbering about 65,000 men. The right wing was at Pocotaglio about 45 miles north of Savannah and the left wing at Robertsville, twenty miles west of Pocotaglio. The weather and the complexity of the move caused some delay.

The last quote in Sherman’s memoirs that were published as Marching Through Georgia is as follows: [He is writing about his exit from Savannah.]

"On January 19 [1865], I made the first general orders for the move. It was to me manifest that the soldiers and people of the South entertained an undue fear of our Western men, and, like children, they had invented such ghostlike stories of our prowess in Georgia, that they were scared by their own inventions. Still, this was a power, and I intended to utilize it. Having accomplished all that seemed necessary, on the 21st of January, with my entire headquarters, officers, clerks, orderlies, etc., with wagons and horses, I embarked in a steamer for Beaufort, South Carolina."

[larry_cockerham]

After the apointment of Johnston to regain command of the AOT, the re-organized army looked like this. At this time Taylor and Forrest have been assigned to defend Mississippi and Alabama while the remainder of the army moves toward Sherman and South Carolina.

This should be read (inserted) about post #43:

ORGANIZATION OF THE CONFEDERATE FORCES,
The Campaign of the Carolinas
Jan –Apr 1865


Commander / LTG P. G. T. Beauregard/ LTG Joseph E. Johnston

HARDEE'S CORPS Lieut. Gen. William J. Hardee

Bown’s Division / Maj. Gen. John C. Brown
Smith's Brigade / Brig. Gen. James A. Smith
Govan's Brigade/.Brig. Gen. Daniel C. Govan
Hoke’s Division / Maj. Gen. Robert F. Hoke
Clingman's Brigade / Brig. Gen. Thomas L. Clingman
Colquitt's Brigade / Brig. Gen. Alfred H. Colquitt.
Hagood' s Brigade / Brig. Gen. Johnson Hagood
Kirkland' s Brigade / Brig. Gen. William W. Kirkland
First Brigade Junior Reserves / Brig. Gen. Lawrence S. Baker.
Cheatham’s Division / Maj. Gen. Benjamin F. Cheatham
Palmer's Brigade. / Brig. Gen. Joseph B. Palmer
Gist' s Brigade / Col. William G. Foster
Artillery Battalion / Maj. Basil C. Manly

STEWART'S CORPS / Lieut. Gen. Alexander P. Stewart
Loring’s Division / Maj. Gen. William W. Loring
Featherston's Brigade / Brig. Gen. Winfield S. Featherston
Lowry's Brigade / Brig. Gen. Robert Lowry
Shelley's Brigade. / Brig. Gen. Charles M. Shelley
Anderson's Division / Maj. Gen. Patton Anderson
Elliott's Brigade / Brig. Gen. Stephen Elliott, Jr.
Rhett's Brigade / Col. William Butler
Walthall's Division / Maj. Gen. Edward C. Walthall.
Harrison's Brigade /Ccol. George P. Harrison, Jr.
Conner' s Brigade / Brig. Gen. John D. Kennedy
Artillery / Maj. A. Burnet Rhett

LEE'S CORPS / Lieut. Gen. Stephen D. Lee
Hill's Division / Maj. Gen. Daniel H. Hill
Sharp's Brigade./Brig. Gen. Jacob H. Sharp
Brantly's Brigade / Brig. Gen. William F. Brantly
Stevenson's Division / Maj. Gen. Carter L. Stevenson
Henderson's Brigade/ Brig. Gen. Robert J. Henderson
Pettus' Brigade / Brig. Gen. Edmund W. Pettus
Artillery / South Carolina Battery, Capt. J. T. Kanapaux

CAVALRY CORPS / Lieut. Gen. Wade Hampton
Cavalry Corps/ Maj. Gen. Joseph Wheeler's Corps
Cavalry Division / Maj. Gen. M. C. Butler

[larry_cockerham]

Note in the following that Grant continues to bash Thomas even after his smashing victory at Nashville.

January 21, 1865 (Saturday) More Union communication:

General Grant informs "Cump" Sherman that, instead of having General Thomas "make a campaign into the heart of Alabama," as Sherman has suggested, he has transferred Schofield's corps to Virginia. "The advance, 6,000, will reach seaboard by the 23d, the remainder following as rapidly as railroad transportation can be procured from Cincinnati. The corps numbers over 21,000 men." Grant explains he reasons; "I was induced to do this because I did not believe Thomas could possibly be got off before spring. His pursuit of Hood indicated a sluggishness that satisfied me that he would never do to conduct one of your campaigns."

WASHINGTON, D. C., January 21, 1865. (Received 29th.) - Maj. Gen. W. T. SHERMAN, Commanding Military Division of the Mississippi: When Hood had crossed the Tennessee, and those in pursuit had reached it, Thomas had not much more than half crossed the State, from whence he returned to Nashville to take steamer for Eastport. He is possessed of excellent judgment, great coolness, and honesty, but he is not good on a pursuit. He also reported his troops fagged, and that it was necessary to equip up....Canby has been ordered to act offensively from the sea coast to the interior toward Montgomery and Selma....In the meantime should you be brought to a halt anywhere, I can send two corps of 30,000 effective men to your support from the troops about Richmond. To résumé: Canby is ordered to operate to the interior from the gulf. A. J. Smith may go from the north, but I think it doubtful. A force of 28,000 or 30,000 men will co-operate with you from New Berne or Wilmington, or both. You can call for re-enforcements. This will be handed to you by Captain Hudson of my staff, who will return with any message you may have for me. If there is anything I can do for you in the way of having supplies on shipboard at any point on the sea coast ready for you let me know it. U.S. GRANT, Lieutenant-General.

The recent rainy weather in South Carolina and Georgia has slowed Sherman's preparations for embarking on his new campaign. He writes to Admiral Porter, "The weather has been villainous, and all the country is under water, and retards me much. It may be some days yet before I can cast off, as the roads are under water, and my men are not exactly amphibious yet, nor the mules either." However, Sherman remains optimistic. "I shall spare no efforts to be off, and the foul weather of January may be a guarantee for better in February and March." Sherman also gives Porter his opinion of Benjamin Butler. "The best part of the taking of Fort Fisher was the killing of Butler. He has no blood on his skirts, and, judging from the past, it will be long before his blood stains anything. His solicitude for the blood of his men is a moonshine." In addition, Sherman sends a letter to General Grant promising to meet him in Virginia in "April or May." Sherman writes, "I have turned over everything to General Foster, so that nothing now hinders me but water....When I am at Goldsborough and move against Raleigh, Lee will be forced to divide his command or give up Richmond."