memoirs of general william t. sherman-2-第89章
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As soon as possible； I arranged with General Grant for certain changes in the organization of my army； and the general also undertook to send to North Carolina some tug…boat and barges to carry stores from Newbern up as far as Kinston； whence they could be hauled in wagons to our camps； thus relieving our railroads to that extent。 I undertook to be ready to march north by April 10th； and then embarked on the steamer Bat； Captain Barnes； for North Carolina。 We steamed down James River； and at Old Point Comfort took on board my brother； Senator Sherman； and Mr。 Edwin Stanton； son of the Secretary of War； and proceeded at once to our destination。 On our way down the river； Captain Barnes expressed himself extremely obliged to me for taking his vessel； as it had relieved him of a most painful dilemma。 He explained that he had been detailed by Admiral Porter to escort the President's unarmed boat； the River Queen； in which capacity it became his special duty to look after Mrs。 Lincoln。 The day before my arrival at City Point； there had been a grand review of a part of the Army of the James； then commanded by General Ord。 The President rode out from City Point with General Grant on horseback； accompanied by a numerous staff； including Captain Barnes and Mrs。 Ord； but Mrs。 Lincoln and Mrs。 Grant had followed in a carriage。
The cavalcade reached the review…ground some five or six miles out from City Point； found the troops all ready； drawn up in line； and after the usual presentation of arms； the President and party； followed by Mrs。 Ord and Captain Barnes on horseback； rode the lines； and returned to the reviewing stand； which meantime had been reached by Mrs。 Lincoln and Mrs。 Grant in their carriage； which had been delayed by the driver taking a wrong road。 Mrs。 Lincoln； seeing Mrs。 Ord and Captain Barnes riding with the retinue； and supposing that Mrs。 Ord had personated her； turned on Captain Barnes and gave him a fearful scolding； and even indulged in some pretty sharp upbraidings to Mrs。 Ord。
This made Barne's position very unpleasant； so that he felt much relieved when he was sent with me to North Carolina。 The Bat was very fast； and on the morning of the 29th we were near Cape Hatteras； Captain Barnes； noticing a propeller coming out of Hatteras Inlet； made her turn back and pilot us in。 We entered safely； steamed up Pamlico Sound into Neuse River； and the next morning；by reason of some derangement of machinery； we anchored about seven miles below Newbern； whence we went up in Captain Barnes's barge。 As soon as we arrived at Newbern； I telegraphed up to General Schofield at Goldsboro' the fact of my return； and that I had arranged with General Grant for the changes made necessary in the reorganization of the army； and for the boats necessary to carry up the provisions and stores we needed； prior to the renewal of our march northward。
These changes amounted to constituting the left wing a distinct army； under the title of 〃the Army of Georgia；〃 under command of General Slocum； with his two corps commanded by General Jeff。 C。 Davis and General Joseph A。 Mower； the Tenth and Twenty…third Corps already constituted another army； 〃of the Ohio；〃 under the command of Major…General Schofield； and his two corps were commanded by Generals J。 D。 Cox and A。 H。 Terry。 These changes were necessary； because army commanders only could order courts…martial； grant discharges； and perform many other matters of discipline and administration which were indispensable； but my chief purpose was to prepare the whole army for what seemed among the probabilities of the timeto fight both Lee's and Johnston's armies combined； in case their junction could be formed before General Grant could possibly follow Lee to North Carolina。
General George H。 Thomas； who still remained at Nashville； was not pleased with these changes； for the two corps with General Slocum； viz。； the Fourteenth and Twentieth； up to that time； had remained technically a part of his 〃Army of the Cumberland； 〃 but he was so far away； that I had to act to the best advantage with the troops and general officers actually present。 I had specially asked for General Mower to command the Twentieth Corps； because I regarded him as one of the boldest and best fighting generals in the whole army。 His predecessor； General A。 S。 Williams； the senior division commander present； had commanded the corps well from Atlanta to Goldsboro'； and it may have seemed unjust to replace him at that precise moment； but I was resolved to be prepared for a most desperate and； as then expected； a final battle； should it fall on me。
I returned to Goldsboro' from Newbern by rail the evening of March 30th； and at once addressed myself to the task of reorganization and replenishment of stores； so as to be ready to march by April 10th； the day agreed on with General Grant。
The army was divided into the usual three parts； right and left wings； and centre。 The tabular statements herewith will give the exact composition of these separate armies； which by the 10th of April gave the following effective strength：
Infantry 。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。 80；968 Artillery 。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。 2；448 Cavalry 。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。 5；587
Aggregate 。。。。。。。。。。。。 88；948 Total number of guns； 91
The railroads to our rear had also been repaired； so that stores were arriving very fast； both from Morehead City and Wilmington。 The country was so level that a single locomotive could haul twenty…five and thirty cars to a train； instead of only ten； as was the case in Tennessee and Upper Georgia。
By the 5th of April such progress had been made； that I issued the following Special Field Orders； No。 48； prescribing the time and manner of the next march
＇Special Field Orders； No。 48。1
HEADQUARTERS MILITARY DIVISION OF THE MISSISSIPPI IN THE FIELD； GOLDSBORO'； NORTH CAROLINA； April 5； 1865。
Confidential to Army Commanders； Corps Commanders； and Chiefs of Staff Departments：
The next grand objective is to place this army （with its full equipment） north of Roanoke River； facing west； with a base for supplies at Norfolk； and at Winton or Murfreesboro' on the Chowan； and in full communication with the Army of the Potomac； about Petersburg； and also to do the enemy as much harm as possible en route：
1。 To accomplish this result the following general plan will be followed； or modified only by written orders from these headquarters； should events require a change：
（1。） On Monday； the 10th of April； all preparations are presumed to be complete； and the outlying detachments will be called in； or given directions to meet on the next march。 All preparations will also be complete to place the railroad…stock back of Kinston on the one road； and below the Northeast Branch on the other。
（2。） On Tuesday； the 11th； the columns will draw out on their lines of march； say； about seven miles； and close up。
（3。） On Wednesday the march will begin in earnest； and will be kept up at the rate； say； of about twelve miles a day； or according to the amount of resistance。 All the columns will dress to the left （which is the exposed flank）； and commanders will study always to find roads by which they can； if necessary； perform a general left wheel； the wagons to be escorted to some place of security on the direct route of march。 Foraging and other details may continue as heretofore； only more caution and prudence should be observed； and foragers should not go in advance of the advance…guard； but look more to our right rear for corn； bacon； and meal。
2。 The left wing （Major…General Slocum commanding） will aim straight for the railroad…bridge near Smithfield； thence along up the Neuse River to the railroad…bridge over Neuse River； northeast of Raleigh （Powell's）； thence to Warrenton； the general point of concentration。
The centre （Major…General Schofield commanding） will move to Whitley's Mill； ready to support the left until it is past Smithfield； when it will follow up （substantially） Little River to about Rolesville； ready at all times to move to the support of the left； after passing Tar River； to move to Warrenton。
The right wing （Major…General Howard commanding）；
