the railroads in perfect order, to change the gauge to five feet, and to supply it with locomotives and cars. It will be necessary for you to have all your force ready to take the field immediately on General Schofield's arrival. I send fuller instructions for General Schofield, which I desire you will deliver as soon as you arrive at Beaufort.

Very respectfully, your obedient servant,

J. G. FOSTER,

Major-General, Commanding.

HEADQUARTERS DEPARTMENT OF THE SOUTH,
Savannah, Ga., January 30, 1865.

COMMANDING GENERAL U. S. FORCES,

Mouth of Cape Fear River, N. C.:

GENERAL: I have the honor to inform you that Major-General Schofield, with the whole of the Twenty-third Corps, has been ordered east from Tennessee, and is now on his way for Beaufort, N. C. He will operate in North Carolina. This is to inform you of this fact, and that Major-General Schofield is to have command of all the forces in North Carolina, operating in connection with General Sherman's movements, and in obedience to his orders. Until such times as you receive orders from General Schofield you will act upon your present orders, and in case any new circumstances arise to very them you will act according to your best judgment.

Very respectfully, your obedient servant,

J. G. FOSTER,

Major-General of Volunteers, Commanding Department of the South.

HEADQUARTERS DEPARTMENT OF THE SOUTH,
Savannah, Ga., January 30, 1865.

Major General JOHN M. SCHOFIELD,

Commanding Twenty-third Army Corps:

GENERAL: I have the honor to inclose to you a copy of a letter of instruction from Major-General Sherman to me. * By it you will see that you are to operate in North Carolina, in connection with the movements of General Sherman through South Carolina, and to be prepared to receive him at Goldsborough, N. C., having the railroad from Beaufort up in perfect order, so that his army may be quickly supplied while operating in North Carolina. You are to have command of all the troops in the State. These include General Palmer's forces, originally in the District of North Carolina, and General Terry's force, at the mouth of Cape Fear River. General Palmer has been ordered to prepare for the reception of your force, and to obtain all the necessary information respecting the enemy's force, the condition of the roads toward Goldsborough and the best way to get possession of the railroad there in December, 1863 [1862], my force consisted of 12,000 men, and I succeeded in accomplishing the object against superior forces by deceiving the enemy as to the route. I marched about half the way to Kinston upon the direct road, then throwing forward a cavalry force directly toward Kinston to conceal

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*See 29th, p. 163.

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