the left to repel the assault. I also order a brigade from Palmer, feeling sure that the rebels intend to make their decisive effort on my left. The troops move at double-quick, and I also put three batteries in position on that flank. We had not a minute to spare. The enemy move on rapidly and a very lively battle begins. The artillery fire was very rapid, and the enemy did not reply to it, showing that they could not bring their guns through the woods and swamp, and that they rely on infantry alone. In about an hour they are beaten with severe loss. I check our men in pursuit, fearing an attack elsewhere. Sure enough, it comes in a very few minutes. Our men raised a shout at their success, and the enemy, thinking apparently that it was a signal for their having beaten us, rushed in on Ruger's center with a will and a yell. We soon find from prisoners that both Stewart's and Lee's corps are here, and that we are fighting the bulk of Hood's old army, which we met at Franklin, with Hoke's division besides. The fight in the center is more obstinate than on the left. The troops I had sent to the left I now double-quick back again, moving one battery on the Dover road and one on Ruger's right. In about two hours it is evident that the enemy are beaten, though they give back but slowly, and after getting out of the heat of the fire they form again and wait for us to attack. I do not feel strong enough to do so, and am satisfied with repulsing them, as it is clear that their force is very heavy. I push out my skirmish line, and a warm skirmish fight is kept up till night. General Schofield comes on the field just as I have repulsed the second and last attack. Just at dark we hear that General Couch is at the crossing of Trent River with the rest of the Twenty-third Corps. Schofield sends him orders to come through by forced marches.

Saturday, March 11.-The enemy evacuated last night, retreating north of the Neuse River. Reconnaissances in that direction show that there are none of them on this side of the river. My losses are found to be about 50 killed and 250 wounded in yesterday's fight. Information from citizens and negroes shows that Hoke's division was in complete confusion when it retreated from our left. Had Couch only been nearer we could have made an end of the whole of the enemy's force. Hoke's division is reported to have lost 600. The losses of the rest of the enemy's forces must have been much larger. They left less than 100 dead and wounded on the field, having carried most of them off before they broke. Couch gets within four miles of us to-day.

Sunday, March 12.-Hoke sends in a flag of truce from Kinston, asking to exchange prisoners. I forward the request to General Schofield, who has gone back to New Berne, and he refuses. Scouts inform us that the bridges at Kinston are destroyed, and Major Dow, of my staff, whom I send with an answer to the flag, finds that their picket is on the other side of the river, at the town. We are kept waiting for supplies and wagons, as we cannot move for the lack of commissary stores and transportation. Couch moves up within a mile of us. Our prisoners in the battle of Friday are nearly 400, and would have been much larger could we have had force enough to hold the center without bringing back the troops from the left.

Monday, March 13.-Quiet in camp. Getting up supplies and preparing to move forward to-morrow to Kinston. The rebels seemed to have had an abundance of generals here in the fight of the 10th. Bragg was in command of the whole on the field; A. P. Hill was in command of a corps, besides having the regular commanders of Hood's army here.

Tuesday, March 14.-Move at 6 o'clock in the morning for Kinston. Meet no opposition until we reach the bridge, where we find a cavalry picket, which soon retires, and the small force of cavalry which was in town retreats. The bridge is found to be burned, and we encamp on the south side of the river, waiting for the pontoon train. The town is about half a mile back from the river, and its three spires look very pretty, rising among the evergreen trees.

Wednesday, March 15.-The pontoon bridge is not laid until about 5 o'clock this afternoon, when my command marches over first. I ride out, with the escort, on the Snow Hill road about a mile and a half. Find a bench or upper bottom with plateau above, which is about thirty feet higher than the level of the valley in which the town is, and which would be an admirable military position, facing this way; but it is so far away from the landing and has so little advantage against an enemy coming toward us that we concluded to encamp the troops just around the village, facing outward. A very heavy thunder-storm comes up as I am putting the troops into position, and I get damp before I can get to shelter. Carter's division is on the left, Ruger's in the center, and Palmer's on the right. The town is rather a pleasant one, and had originally about 1,000 inhabitants.

Thursday, March 16.-General Schofield heard from Sherman that he is at Fayetteville and will be at Goldsborough on the 20th or thereabouts. Rebel deserters coming in say that the enemy has fallen back from Goldsborough to Smithfield, on the Raleigh road, and that nothing but a little cavalry is now at Goldsborough. We are pushing for ward the railroad as fast as possible, having 2,000 men from the command cutting and hauling ties, &c. With our few wagons it is almost impossible to keep our men in food. The country here is a better one than that which we have seen in coming from New Berne, and foraging parties get some provisions.

Saturday, March 18.-The steam-boats which were ordered up from New Berne four days ago arrived to-day about noon, bringing us 100,000 rations. Under these circumstances it is probable that we shall move soon for Goldsborough. Orders are issued to be ready to move in the morning.

Sunday, March 19.-No move to-day; waiting for more supplies and to hear something from Sherman. Nearly all the afternoon we hear a rapid firing of cannon in the distance, and have no doubt he is fighting a battle with Johnston near Smithfield, toward Raleigh.

Monday, March 20.-March at 6 o'clock in the morning, reaching Rockford, on the Neuse, about 4 o'clock in the afternoon, encamping there for the night. Report from rebel citizens that dispatches were received at Goldsborough last night saying that Sherman was whipped in the fight yesterday. We suspect that his advance guard may have received a rap, but know the strength of his army too well to believe that Johnston can whip him. The battle is said to have been near Bentonville. Nothing but cavalry is said to be in Goldsborough. Order of march to-day: Ruger in front, Carter in the center, and Greene (who temporarily takes Palmer's place) in the rear. General Greene is on his way to report to General Slocum, in Sherman's army, and has been with me since we reached Gum Swamp. Had his horse shot under him as he sat beside me on the 10th and acted as volunteer aide. He is an old West Point officer, having graduated in 1828* (the year I was born), and having been out of service for a long time until the

* Greene was graduated in 1823.

beginning of the war. He was engineer of Croton Water-works, in New York. Palmer has been quite ill since the 10th, and was yesterday assigned to the district command, and all the troops were reorganized; all the provisional troops, or those returning to Sherman's army, being put into one division under Greene, Carter taking all the old troops which belonged to the district. Palmer remains behind.

Tuesday, March 21.-Continue the march, meeting a few cavalry, who run at our approach till they get quite near the town of Goldsborough, when we have a brisk little skirmish. Enter the town in a rain-storm about 4 p. m., Carter's division in advance, Ruger in the rear, and Greene in the center. I put them in position on the north side of the town, covering the Smithfield road: Greene on left, Carter in center, Ruger on the right. The town is much scattered, and is, therefore, a difficult one to cover properly. It has been a place of about 3,000 people, but has no mark of being particularly attractive. Hear fighting in the direction of Smithfield most of the day, and feel some anxiety till we get dispatches from Sherman in the evening saying he has beaten Johnston.

Wednesday, March 22.-Colonel Twining, of General Schofield's staff, returns from General Sherman with full particulars from him of the battle of Bentonville. Johnston attacked Slocum, who commands the two corps of the Army of the Cumberland (called Army of Georgia), and hit the head of the column with all his force, doubling up the leading division (Morgan's, of the Fourteenth Corps) and causing it to retire about half a mile. By this time the rest of Slocum's army was in position and checked the rebels easily. The next morning the Army of the Tennessee (Howard's) came up and struck Johnston's left flank, driving that wing back till his line was nearly in the form of a horseshoe. Yesterday Sherman followed up the movement, partly turning Johnston's position, and last night the enemy retreated in haste, leaving his dead, of whom Slocum reports that he has buried more than his own entire loss in killed, wounded, and missing. Nearly 1,000 prisoners are also taken.

Thursday, March 23.-General Sherman arrived in person this morning. He is full of health and spirits, and is confident that his army is now able to meet the combined forces of Lee and Johnston if necessary. I have spent most of the day and evening with him, and have been much interested in his account of the march from Savannah and his anecdotes of the campaign. The Army of the Cumberland has been moving into town all day and going into camp just beyond my lines.

Friday, March 24.-The First and Second Divisions (Twenty-third Corps) are ordered down the railroad about half-way to Kinston, and the Third Division (my own) is ordered to report to me in place of the First. The Provisional Division of convalescents and recruits for the Armies of the Cumberland (Georgia) and Tennessee, commanded by General Greene, is dissolved and ordered to report to the several commands to which the men belong. This leaves two divisions, my own and Carter's, under my command. The Army of the Tennessee is coming into town to-day and encamping near the Army of the Cumberland (Georgia). General Schofield informs me that General Sherman sent a dispatch yesterday to the War Department urging immediate action in regard to putting me in permanent command of the Twenty-third Corps. Saturday, March 25.-General Sherman goes north to have a consultation with General Grant at Fortress Monroe, leaving General Schofield in command of all the forces here as senior army commander.

Tuesday, March 28.-No change in position. There is a rumor that the enemy is making a demonstration in some force at Kinston, but I put little confidence in the report.

Friday, March 31.-Receive my appointment as permanent commander of the Twenty-third Corps. The application which General Schofield made on this subject from Wilmington did not reach Washington, hence the delay, the matter not having been acted upon till General Sherman went up to see General Grant.

Thursday, April 6.-Receive news of the fall of Richmond and of a complete victory won by General Grant. This seems almost too good to be true, but comes in a way that looks authentic. We are nearly ready to move, and the army is pretty well rested, so that we can undertake our part of a new campaign at any time with good confidence of

success.

Monday, April 10.-The last few days have been full of news. The rout of Lee's army after the fall of Richmond is confirmed, and everything indicates that the final scene of the drama of the Confederacy is at hand. On Saturday night our camp was all alive with an extempore jubilee, and the blaze of rockets, the music of the brass bands, and the firing of guns filled the air. To-day we move out for Raleigh. The Army of Georgia, under Slocum, moves on Smithfield in two columns, the Army of the Tennessee moves by roads to the right of Slocum, and I follow on the left of Slocum's two columns on the old Neuse road. Terry, with the Tenth Corps (now part of the Army of the Ohio), goes up on the other side of the Neuse. General Carter has been assigned to the Third Division, Twenty-third Corps. Reilly has resigned. Couch continues with the Second and Ruger with the First. The divisions move to-day in the order of their numbers. Marched at

1 o'clock and made eight miles, reaching the cross-road which leads to Cox's Bridge; the Twentieth Corps, ahead of us, having some skir mishing with the enemy's cavalry. A drizzling rain all the p. m. making the roads very bad and marching unpleasant.

Tuesday, April 11.-Marched at daylight, but the pontoon and other trains ahead of us delayed us so that we did not make over three miles before noon and not over ten miles in the whole day. The stragglers of the army have become much worse than they were in the Atlanta campaign. Two of the best residences along our road were burned to-day. One, the house of a Mr. Atkinson, where I stopped at noon to take lunch, was in flames half an hour after we left it; the soldiers suspect him of being a conscription agent for the rebel government, and this may account for his house being burned. Camp to-night at Mr. Whitley's, eight miles from Smithfield. The roads are in a horrible condition. The soil is of such a consistency that it cuts through even when it is dry, and the rain we have had makes it, of course, no better. The news from Grant continues to be cheering. Lee is said to be not far from Danville, and his army fast going to ruin.

Wednesday, April 12.-Marched at 7 o'clock and made eighteen miles, reaching the junction of the Wilmington and Raleigh road with the road from Turner's Bridge. On the way we received the news of the surrender of Lee, and the army went nearly crazy with joy. Johnston has retreated to Raleigh, leaving Smithfield yesterday morning. We are full of hope that the last battle of the war has been fought. The surrender of Lee leaves Davis where further resistance is worse than useless, and it will be impossible for him to get the army of Johnston to fight under such circumstances. The country begins to be a little

more rolling as we get up from the seashore. Instead of being in the center of the whole army, where we belong, we are on the left, and Slocum in the center. He is moving on the direct road from Smithfield to Raleigh. Howard keeps on the east side of the Neuse. We crossed at Turner's Bridge upon a pontoon, which we laid, the bridge having been burned by the rebels.

Thursday, April 13.-Marched at 6.30 o'clock and made nineteen miles, encamping two miles from Raleigh. Our troops took quiet possession of the town this morning, Johnston retreating toward Hillsborough. Governor Vance met General Sherman under a flag of truce and surrendered the town. He made some propositions looking toward peace, the particulars of which we have not yet learned. It is clear that Johnston dare not risk a battle.

Friday, April 14.—In camp just east of Raleigh. The town is the most attractive I have seen in the South. It is simply a large village, 'with wide streets, each house having a good-sized dooryard, and fine forest trees embowering the place in the most beautiful foliage. Under General Sherman's orders no mischief has been done the town, and perfect protection has been given to all. Governor Vance left the city with the rebel troops, but it is said that he is determined at once to take steps to return the State to the Union if Davis does not do so with the whole Confederacy.

Saturday, April 15.-Started to march this morning at 8 o'clock, but the order was countermanded just as we got out of camp on account of overtures received from Johnston looking toward surrender. The final disposition of the matter will be made within twenty-four hours, and we shall either have an end of the war at once, or we shall push on after Johnston's army. The rain was falling in torrents when we pulled out this morning, and it has been raining all day.

Sunday, April 16.-A lovely spring day. The bright sunshine and brisk breeze are fast disposing of the mud made by yesterday's rain. * * * Sherman has sent a reply to Johnston and expects his answer this evening.

Monday, April 17.-Another beautiful day. No conclusion yet in the negotiations with Johnston. He requested an interview and Sherman has gone up to see him. Terrible news received of the assassination of the President.

Tuesday, April 18.-Sherman has gone back this morning to see Johnston again. In the interview yesterday Johnston professed himself satisfied that the rebellion is a failure and practically ended, but desired time to consult with Davis and Breckinridge as to the surrender of the whole rebel army at once (i. c., in other parts of the country as well as here). He professed himself concerned as much as any of us at the murder of Mr. Lincoln, and said it would be condemned by the mass of the Southern people. The effect of the news of the assassination is very great in the army, and if active operations were to commence again it would be impossible to restrain the troops from great outrages. The fact that the plan seems to have been to kill also members of the Cabinet and General Grant adds much to the exasperation, and indicates a plot going further than the tools who were to execute it, and involves the South in the responsibility for such systematic barbarism.

Wednesday, April 19.-Sherman and Johnston have settled upon preliminaries of peace, which have been forwarded to Washington for the action of the President. It is understood that the terms are practi