memoirs of general william t. sherman-2-第77节
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trenched lines。 I shall start with no distinct view； further than holding Lee's forces from following Sheridan。 But I shall be along myself； and will take advantage of any thing that turns up。 If Lee detaches； I will attack； or if he comes out of his lines I will endeavor to repulse him； and follow it up to the best advantage。
It is most difficult to understand what the rebels intend to do； so far but few troops have been detached from Lee's army。 Much machinery has been removed； and material has been sent to Lynchburg； showing s disposition to go there。 Points； too； have been fortified on the Danville road。
Lee's army is much demoralized； and great numbers are deserting。 Probably； from returned prisoners； and such conscripts as can be picked up； his numbers may be kept up。 I estimate his force now at about sixty…five thousand men。
Wilson started on Monday； with twelve thousand cavalry； from Eastport。 Stoneman started on the same day； from East Tennessee； toward Lynchburg。 Thomas is moving the Fourth Corps to Bull's Gap。 Canby is moving with a formidable force on Mobile and the interior of Alabama。
I ordered Gilmore； as soon as the fall of Charleston was known； to hold all important posts on the sea…coast； and to send to Wilmington all surplus forces。 Thomas was also directed to forward to Newbern all troops belonging to the corps with you。 I understand this will give you about five thousand men； besides those brought east by Meagher。
I have been telegraphing General Meigs to hasten up locomotives and cars for you。 General McCallum； he informs me； is attending to it。 I fear they are not going forward as fast as I world like。
Let me know if you want more troops； or any thing else。
Very respectfully； your obedient servant；
U。 S。 GRANT； Lieutenant…General。
The railroad was repaired to Goldsboro' by the evening of March 25th； when； leaving General Schofield in chief command； with a couple of staff…officers I started for City Point； Virginia； in a locomotive； in company with Colonel Wright； the constructing engineer。 We reached Newbern that evening； which was passed in the company of General Palmer and his accomplished lady； and early the next morning we continued on to Morehead City； where General Easton had provided for us the small captured steamer Russia； Captain Smith。 We put to sea at once and steamed up the coast； reaching Fortress Monroe on the morning of the 27th； where I landed and telegraphed to my brother； Senator Sherman； at Washington； inviting him to come down and return with me to Goldsboro。 We proceeded on up James River to City Point； which we reached the same afternoon。 I found General Grant； with his family and staff； occupying a pretty group of huts on the bank of James River； overlooking the harbor； which was full of vessels of all classes； both war and merchant； with wharves and warehouses on an extensive scale。 The general received me most heartily； and we talked over matters very fully。 After I had been with him an hour or so； he remarked that the President； Mr。 Lincoln； was then on board the steamer River Queen； lying at the wharf； and he proposed that we should call and see him。 We walked down to the wharf； went on board； and found Mr。 Lincoln alone； in the after…cabin。 He remembered me perfectly； and at once engaged in a most interesting conversation。 He was full of curiosity about the many incidents of our great march； which had reached him officially and through the newspapers； and seemed to enjoy very much the more ludicrous parts…about the 〃bummers；〃 and their devices to collect food and forage when the outside world supposed us to be starving； but at the same time he expressed a good deal of anxiety lest some accident might happen to the army in North Carolina during my absence。 I explained to him that that army was snug and comfortable； in good camps； at Goldsboro'； that it would require some days to collect forage and food for another march； and that General Schofield was fully competent to command it in my absence。 Having made a good； long； social visit； we took our leave and returned to General Grant's quarters； where Mrs； Grant had provided tea。 While at the table； Mrs。 Grant inquired if we had seen Mrs。 Lincoln。 〃No；〃 said the general； 〃I did not ask for her；〃 and I added that I did not even know that she was on board。 Mrs。 Grant then exclaimed； 〃Well； you are a pretty pair！〃 and added that our neglect was unpardonable； when the general said we would call again the next day； and make amends for the unintended slight。
Early the next day； March 28th； all the principal officers of the army and navy called to see me； Generals Meade； Ord； Ingalls； etc。； and Admiral Porter。 At this time the River Queen was at anchor out in the river； abreast of the wharf； and we again started to visit Mr。 and Mrs。 Lincoln。 Admiral Porter accompanied us。 We took a small； tug at the wharf； which conveyed us on board； where we were again received most courteously by the President； who conducted us to the after…cabin。 After the general compliments； General Grant inquired after Mrs。 Lincoln； when the President went to her state… room； returned； and begged us to excuse her； as she was not well。 We then again entered upon a general conversation； during which General Grant explained to the President that at that very instant of time General Sheridan was crossing James River from the north； by a pontoon…bridge below City Point； that he had a large； wellappointed force of cavalry； with which he proposed to strike the Southside and Danville Railroads； by which alone General Lee； in Richmond； supplied his army； and that； in his judgment； matters were drawing to a crisis； his only apprehension being that General Lee would not wait long enough。 I also explained that my army at Goldsboro' was strong enough to fight Lee's army and Johnston's combined； provided that General Grant could come up within a day or so； that if Lee would only remain in Richmond another fortnight； I could march up to Burkesville； when Lee would have to starve inside of his lines； or come out from his intrenchments and fight us on equal terms。
Both General Grant and myself supposed that one or the other of us would have to fight one more bloody battle； and that it would be the last。 Mr。 Lincoln exclaimed； more than once； that there had been blood enough shed； and asked us if another battle could not be avoided。 I remember well to have said that we could not control that event； that this necessarily rested with our enemy； and I inferred that both Jeff。 Davis and General Lee would be forced to fight one more desperate and bloody battle。 I rather supposed it would fall on me； somewhere near Raleigh； and General Grant added that； if Lee would only wait a few more days； he would have his army so disposed that if the enemy should abandon Richmond； and attempt to make junction with General Jos。 Johnston in North Carolina； he （General Grant） would be on his heels。 Mr。 Lincoln more than once expressed uneasiness that I was not with my army at Goldsboro'； when I again assured him that General Schofield was fully competent to command in my absence； that I was going to start back that very day； and that Admiral Porter had kindly provided for me the steamer Bat； which he said was much swifter than my own vessel； the Russia。 During this interview I inquired of the President if he was all ready for the end of the war。 What was to be done with the rebel armies when defeated？ And what should be done with the political leaders； such as Jeff。 Davis； etc。？ Should we allow them to escape； etc。？ He said he was all ready； all he wanted of us was to defeat the opposing armies； and to get the men composing the Confederate armies back to their homes； at work on their farms and in their shops。 As to Jeff。 Davis； he was hardly at liberty to speak his mind fully； but intimated that he ought to clear out； 〃escape the country；〃 only it would not do for him to say so openly。 As usual； he illustrated his meaning by a story：
A man once had taken the total…abstinence pledge。 When visiting a friend； he was invited to take a drink； but declined； on the score of his pledge； when his friend suggested lemonade； which was accepted。 In preparing the lemonade； the friend pointed to the brandy…bottle； and said the lemonade would be more palatable if he were to pour in a little brandy； when his guest said； if he could do so I unbeknown' to him； he would not object。〃 From which illustration I inferred that Mr。 Lincoln wanted Davis to escape； 〃unbeknown〃 to him。
I made no notes of this conversation at the time； but Admiral Porter； who was present； did； and in 1866 he furnished me an account thereof； which I insert below； but the admiral describes the first visit； of the 27th； whereas my memory puts Admiral Porter's presence on the following day。 Still he may be right； and he may have been with us the day before； as I write this chiefly from memory。 There were two distinct interviews； the first was late in the afternoon of March 27th； and the other about noon of the 28th； both in the after…cabin of the steamer River Queen； on both occasions Mr。 Lincoln was full and frank in his conversation； assuring me that in his mind he was all rea
