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 would 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'.