memoirs of general william t. sherman-2-第78章
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During the 11th。 the whole army closed down upon Fayetteville； and immediate preparations were made to lay two pontoon bridges； one near the burned bridge； and another about four miles lower down。
Sunday； March 12th； was a day of Sabbath stillness in Fayetteville。 The people generally attended their churches； for they were a very pious people； descended in a large measure from the old Scotch Covenanters； and our men too were resting from the toils and labors of six weeks of as hard marching as ever fell to the lot of soldiers。 Shortly after noon was heard in the distance the shrill whistle of a steamboat； which came nearer and nearer； and soon a shout； long and continuous； was raised down by the river； which spread farther and farther； and we all felt that it meant a 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 compelled to listen to the croakings and prognostications of open enemies。 But in a very few minutes came up through the town to the arsenal on the plateau behind a group of officers； among whom was a large； florid seafaring man； named Ainsworth； bearing a small mail…bag from General Terry； at Wilmington； having left at 2 p。m。 the day before。 Our couriers had got through safe from Laurel Hill； and this was the prompt reply。
As in the case of our former march from Atlanta； intense anxiety had been felt for our safety； and General Terry had been prompt to open communication。 After a few minutes' conference with Captain Ainsworth about the capacity of his boat； and the state of facts along the river； I instructed him to be ready to start back at 6 p。m。； and ordered Captain Byers to get ready to carry dispatches to Washington。 I also authorized General Howard to send back by this opportunity some of the fugitives who had traveled with his army all the way from Columbia； among whom were Mrs。 Feaster and her two beautiful daughters。
I immediately prepared letters for Secretary Stanton； Generals Halleck and Grant； and Generals Schofield； Foster； Easton； and Beckwith； all of which have been published； but I include here only those to the Secretary of War； and Generals Grant and Terry； as samples of the whole：
HEADQUARTERS MILITARY DIVISION OF THE MISSISSIPPI； IN THE FIELD； FAYETTVILLE； NORTH CAROLINA； Sunday； March。 12； 1885。
Hon。 E。 M。 STANTON； Secretary of War。
DEAR SIR： I know you will be pleased to hear that my army has reached this point； and has opened communication with Wilmington。 A tug…boat came up this morning； and will start back at 6 P。 M。
I have written a letter to General Grant； the substance of which he will doubtless communicate； and it must suffice for me to tell you what I know will give you pleasurethat I have done all that I proposed； and the fruits seem to me ample for the time employed。 Charleston； Georgetown； and Wilmington； are incidents； while the utter demolition of the railroad system of South Carolina； and the utter destruction of the enemy's arsenals of Columbia； Cheraw； and Fayetteville； are the principals of the movement。 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 destroy his country； and then of what use is Richmond。 He must come out and fight us on open ground； and for that we must ever be ready。 Let him stick behind his parapets； and he will perish。
I remember well what you asked me； and think I am on the right road； though a long one。 My army is as united and cheerful as ever； and as full of confidence in itself and its leaders。 It is utterly impossible for me to enumerate what we have done； but I inclose a slip just handed me； which is but partial。 At Columbia and Cheraw we destroyed nearly all the gunpowder and cartridges which the Confederacy had in this part of the country。 This arsenal is in fine order； and has been much enlarged。 I cannot leave a detachment to hold it； therefore shall burn it； blow it up with gunpowder； and then with rams knock down its walls。 I take it for granted the United States will never again trust North Corolina with an arsenal to appropriate at her pleasure。
Hoping that good fortune may still attend my army。 I remain your servant；
W。 T。 SHERMAN； Major…General。
HEADQUARTERS MILITARY DIVISION OF THE MISSISSIPPI； IN THE FIELD； FAYETTVILLE； NORTH CAROLINA； Sunday； March。 12； 1885。
Lieutenant…General U。 S。 GRANT； commanding United ；States Army； City Point； Virginia。
DEAR GENERAL： We reached this place yesterday at noon； Hardee； as usual； retreating across the Cape Fear； burning his bridges； but our pontoons will be up to…day； and； with as little delay as possible； I will be after him toward Goldsboro'。
A tug has just come up from Wilmington； and before I get off from here； I hope to get from Wilmington some shoes and stockings； sugar； coffee； and flour。 We are abundantly supplied with all else； having in a measure lived off the country。
The army is in splendid health； condition； and spirits； though we have had foul weather； and roads that world have stopped travel to almost any other body of men I ever heard of。
Our march； was substantially what I designedstraight on Columbia； feigning on Branchville and Augusta。 We destroyed； in passing； the railroad from the Edisto nearly up to Aiken； again； from Orangeburg to the Congaree； again； from Colombia down to Kingsville on the Wateree； and up toward Charlotte as far as the Chester line； thence we turned east on Cheraw and Fayetteville。 At Colombia we destroyed immense arsenals and railroad establishments； among which wore forty…three cannon。 At Cheraw we found also machinery and material of war sent from Charleston； among which were twenty…five guns and thirty…six hundred barrels of powder； and here we find about twenty guns and a magnificent United States' arsenal。
We cannot afford to leave detachments； and I shall therefore destroy this valuable arsenal； so the enemy shall not have its use； and the United； States should never again confide such valuable property to a people who have betrayed a trust。
I could leave here to…morrow； but want to clear my columns of the vast crowd of refugees and negroes that encumber us。 Some I will send down the river in boats； and the rest to Wilmington by land； under small escort； as soon as we are across Cape Fear River。
I hope you have not been uneasy about us； and that the fruits of this march will be appreciated。 It had to be made not only to destroy the valuable depots by the way； but for its incidents in the necessary fall of Charleston； Georgetown； and Wilmington。 If I can now add Goldsboro' without too much cost； I will be in a position to aid you materially in the spring campaign。
Jos。 Johnston may try to interpose between me here and Schofield about Newbern； but I think he will not try that； but concentrate his scattered armies at Raleigh； and I will go straight at him as soon as I get our men reclothed and our wagons reloaded。
Keep everybody busy； and let Stoneman push toward Greensboro' or Charlotte from Knoxville； even a feint in that quarter will be most important。
The railroad from Charlotte to Danville is all that is left to the enemy； and it will not do for me to go there； on account of the red…clay hills which are impassable to wheels in wet weather。
I expect to make a junction with General Schofield in ten days。
Yours truly；
W。 T。 SHERMAN； Major…General。
HEADQUARTERS MILITARY DIVISION OF THE MISSISSIPPI； IN THE FIELD； FAYETTVILLE； NORTH CAROLINA； Sunday； March。 12； 1885。
Major…General TERRY； commanding United States Forces； Wilmington； North Carolina。
GENERAL： I have just received your message by the tug which left Wilmington at 2 p。m。 yesterday； which arrived here without trouble。 The scout who brought me your cipher…message started back last night with my answers； which are superseded by the fact of your opening the river。
General Howard just reports that he has secured one of the enemy's steamboats below the city； General Slocum will try to secure two others known to be above； and we will load them with r
