[The Memoirs of General W. T. Sherman Vol. II. by William T. Sherman]@TWC D-Link bookThe Memoirs of General W. T. Sherman Vol. II. CHAPTER XXIV 22/83
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.] 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.
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