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March 19, 1865: U. S. Grant Letter to His Father

Transcript:

Head-Quarters Armies of the United States,

City Point, Va, March 19^th 1865

Dear Father,

I received your two letters announcing the death of Clara. Although I had known for some time that she was in a decline yet I was not expecting to hear of her death at this time. I have had no heart to write earlier. Your last letter made me feel very badly. I will not state the reason and hope I may be wrong in my judgement of its meaning.

We are now having fine weather and I think will be able to wind up matters about Richmond soon. I am anxious to have Lee hold on where he is a short time longer so that I can get him in a po-sition where he must lose a great portion of his Army. The rebellion has lost its vitality and if I am not much mistaken there will be no rebel Army of any great dimen-tions a few weeks hence. Any great catastrophy to any one of our Armies would of course revive the enemy for a short time. But I expect no such thing to happen.

I do not know what I can do either for Will Griffith’s son or for Belville Simpson. I sent orders last Fall for John Simpson to come to these Hd Qrs. to run between here and Washington as a Mail Messenger. But he has not come. I hope this service to end now soon.

I am in excellent health but would enjoy a little respite from duty wonderfully. I hope it will come soon.

My kindest regards to all at home. I shall expect to make you a visit the coming summer.

Yours Truly

Ulysses.

Citation: Ulysses S. Grant (1822-1885), autograph letter signed to Jesse Root Grant. City Point, Va., 19 March 1865. AMs 358/15

March 17, 1865: Joseph E. Johnston to P. G. T. Beauregard

Pierre Gustave Toutant Beauregard was a Louisiana-born general of the Confederate States Army. He had graduated second in his class from West Point in 1838 and was an admirer of Napoleon. He achieved fame early in the Civil War for commanding the Fort Sumter bombardment and as the victor of the first battle of Manassas. He later served in the Western Theater (including Shiloh and Corinth), Charleston, and the defense of Richmond, but his career was hampered by friction with Jefferson Davis and other generals.

This telegram is from The Telegraphic History of the Civil War; a compiled album of telegrams to Beauregard from Davis, Lee, Johnston and others.

Transcript:

Dispatched by Telegraph from Smithfield March 17 1865

To Gen GT Beauregard

Please let no artillery without horses come on. Let it stop at Greensboro, order on all artillery horses

J.E. Johnston

15/Col WD

Citation:Joseph E. Johnston (1807-1891), telegram to G.T. Beauregard. Raleigh, 17 March 1865. In The telegraphic history of the Civil War, 1861-1865. AMs 434/16

March 16, 1865: New York Tribune

Transcript (excerpt):

Page 1, Upper Half

Newbern, N.C., March 12, 1865.

Yesterday the enemy fell back across the Neuse River, after burning the bridge over that stream.

It is reported that they also burned the Rebel ram at the same time, which was guarding the bridge.

Timber is now going forward to rebuild the bridge.

The railroad is completed to within a short distance of the river, opposite Kinston.

The enemy will not be able to remain in Kinston long, even if the decide to make another stand, of which there is much doubt.

Deserters and refugees continue to come into our lines.

The enemy suffered the most, owing to their repeated charges on out works, in which they were repulsed each time with severe loss.

Our troops stand their ground manfully, and are in high spirits over the prospect of meeting Sherman soon.

Citation: New York Daily Tribune. 16 March 1865. Gift of Steven and Susan Raab.

March 15, 1865: Robert E. Lee to Joseph E. Johnston

Transcript:

Confidential

Hdqrs: Petersburg 15 Mar ‘65

Genl J E Johnston

Commd Dept: N, S C. Georgia &c

Genl

I rec’d today by Major Lauridus your letter of the 11 inst: you will probably have rec’d by this time my Communication of the same date in which I endeavored to describe to you my Condition. You are right in supposing that the Course you may be able to pursue will materially affect mine. If you are forced back from Raleigh & we be deprived of the supplies from E. North Carolina, I do not know how this Army can be supported. Yet a disaster to your army will not improve my condition, & while I would urge upon you to neglect no opportunity of delivering the enemy a successful blow, I would not recommend you to engage in a general battle without a reasonable prospect of success. I think it more probable that Sherman will unite Schofield with him at Raleigh, than that he will unite with Schofield near Kinston, but in either event an opportunity may occur for you & Bragg to unite upon one of their Columns & crush it. I do not think I could maintain my position were I further to reduce my force. That you may understand my situation I will state that the supplies in Virga. are exhausted. The enemy has succeeded in cutting me off from the Weldon R.R. & my only reliance is the Communication by Danville. Genl Grant has entrenched himself on both sides of James river, stretching through the Swamps of the Chickahominy on the north bank, & to Hutchins river on the South. On this long line with far inferior numbers I Confront him, & his numerical superiority has been increased since detaching Hoke, Corner & Hampton. His present preponderance in [illeg.]l & his ability [unpursued?]to mass his troops while holding his entrenchments, on either side of the river, enables him to constantly threaten our flanks, & causes legitimate apprehension for the Safety of the Danville road. You will perceive therefore that if I contract my lines as you propose, with the view of holding Richmond, our only resource for obtaining subsistence will be cut off & the city must be abandoned. Whereas if I take a position to maintain the road, Richmond will be lost—I think you can now understand the condition of affairs & correctly estimate the importance of resisting the further advance of Sherman. But should that not be possible, you will also see that I cannot remain here, but must draw out & seek a favourable opportunity for battle. I shall retain my position as long as it appears admissible, both from the moral & material advantages of holding Richmond, Virginia. If obliged to abandon it, so far as I can now see, I shall be compelled to fall back to the Danville road for subsistence, & unless that subsistence can be supplied from the state of N.C. I do not know whence it can be obtained. If Richmond is given up then some one can then strike one of the Columns of the enemy the better, but on which side of the Roanoke must defend on circumstances—Should Gaston be your best point to reach the Roanoke as stated by Genls Homes & Gatlin, you would have the advantage of the bridge at that place on which to cross the river, but unless you could bring supplies with you, I think your Army would suffer. I have sent an Inf. officer to examine the crossings, roads &c from Danville to Fieldsburg below Clarksville, & I recommend you do the same. Information as to what provisions & forage can be relied on I think also desirable. In any opinion the farther East we can confine Sherman the better & the more room it will allow for maneuvering the Armies. I have endeavoured to give you all information necessary for determining your operations. If there is any point on which you wish further please advise me. I have not intended to lay down fixed rules which at this distance, at this time cannot safely be done. But rely upon your good judgment & skill to accomplish everything that is possible to attain our Common end, the greatest success, unity of purpose & harmony of action between the two armies, with the blessing of God, I trust will relieve us from the difficulties that now beset us.

Most truly & resp’y yours

R. E. Lee

Genl

Citation:Robert E. Lee (1807-1870), autograph letter signed to Joseph E. Johnston. Petersburg, Va.; 15 March [18]65. AMs 360/2

March 13, 1865: New York Tribune

Tribune (excerpt):

Page 1, Lower Half

From our Special Correspondent

Wilmington, N.C., March 7, 1865

Advices deemed trustworthy have been received here from Gen. Sherman confirming reports which reached us several days since, to the effect that his main army passed into North Carolina at least four days ago. His route lay through Cheraw, S.C. The Rebel forces of Gen. Hardee are reported to be lying on the two sides of the Pedee, which river Gen. Sherman had successfully crossed, placing himself between Hardee and Beauregard. The direction taken by the Union army since entering North Carolina it would be contraband to mention. What may have occurred during the last day or two, or whether there has been any meeting of the two armies, it is not positively known here, though it is not expected that any general battle can occur for some time to come.

Citation: New York Daily Tribune. 13 March 1865. Gift of Steven and Susan Raab.

March 12, 1865: E. Willis telegram to P. G. T Beauregard

This is one of approximately 1000 military telegrams in P.G.T. Beauregard’s papers at the Rosenbach.

Transcript:

Dispatched by telegram from Salisbury 12 March 1865

To Genl G. T. Beauregard

Today rec’d four (4) trains and returned them with eight hundred (800) men. One (1) train artillery. Eighty four (84) horses.

E. Willis

Citation: E. Willis, telegram to P. G. T Beauregard.Salisbury, 12 March 1865. AMs 1168/11

March 11, 1865: New York Tribune

Transcript (excerpt):

Page 1, Upper Half

Wilmington, Feb. 25, 1865.

Blockade-Running.

From small beginnings, when only two of three vessels were employed in contraband trade blockade-running grew to an immense commerce. Ships averaging from a capacity of from 500 to 1,500 and even 1,900 bales were employed. They were mostly English built vessels, and manned by English crews. Each vessel was obliged by law to bring and carry away one-third of their cargoes on account of the Confederacy. This rule was adopted within the last 12 months. Their inward cargoes were assorted, and consisted of every article which would sell most rapidly and at the highest rates. The Jews were the principal capitalists, and reaped the chief benefits of the trade. Many made large fortunes. Israelites swarmed everywhere, and astonished everybody by their numbers and activity in the business.

Citation: New York Daily Tribune. 11 March 1865. Gift of Steven and Susan Raab.

March 10, 1865: Robert E. Lee to P. G. T. Beauregard

This telegram is from The Telegraphic History of the Civil War; a compiled album of telegrams to Beauregard from Davis, Lee, Johnston and others.

Transcript:

Dispatched by Telegraph from Hd Quarters March 10 1865

To Gen GT Beauregard

Where is Gen Wyatt & what force has he – from what point was fourth corps said to be moving towards Chattanooga what force is there in Georgia which could be used to oppose enemy

R. E. Lee

34/1360 pd

Citation:Robert E. Lee (1807-1870), telegram to G.T. Beauregard. 10 March 1865. In The telegraphic history of the Civil War, 1861-1865. AMs 434/16

March 9, 1865: L. Mollon telegram to George W. Brent

This is one of approximately 1000 military telegrams in P.G.T. Beauregard’s papers at the Rosenbach.

Transcript:

Received at Augusta March 9 1865 at 11 o’clock 40 minutes

By telegraph from Macon 6 to Col G.W. Brent

Maj. Dameron chief P.S. Miss reports two million one hundred thousand rations of pork sent to mobile by order of Lt Genl. Taylor to aid the chief C.S. of Alabama in subsisting Garrison at Mobile no supplies on hand Please forward copy to Commissary Genl.

L. Mollon

Citation:L. Mollon, telegram to George W. Brent. Macon, Ga.; 9 March 1865. AMs 1168/11

March 8, 1865: New York Tribune

Excerpt (transcript):

Page 1, Upper Half

Wilmington, Feb. 25, 1865.

Blockade-Running.

Citation: New York Daily Tribune. 8 March 1865. Gift of Steven and Susan Raab.