NEW BERNE, March 9, 1865.

General TERRY:

I send a dispatch in cipher for General Sherman. * Please forward it to him as early as possible. I shall probably need a division of your command here. Please have it ready to move by land or water upon short notice.

J. M. SCHOFIELD,

Major-General.

HEADQUARTERS DISTRICT OF WILMINGTON,
Wilmington, N. C., March 9, 1865.

Major PRINCE,

Commanding Post, Fort Fisher:

Your whole battalion will go down to-morrow. If you have opportunity, notify garrisons of Caswell and Smithville that they will be relieved. Captain Beach will go to Caswell and Captain Sheppard to Smithville. Make your arrangements to give them what companies you choose.

J. R. HAWLEY,

Brigadier-General, Commanding.

HDQRS. NORTHERN DIST., DEPARTMENT OF THE SOUTH,
Charleston, S. C., March 9, 1865.

Brigadier General E. E. POTTER,

Commanding Forces:

GENERAL: The brigadier-general commanding directs that the One hundred and seventh Ohio Volunteers be ready to embark on a man of war at the Atlantic dock, this city, at 7 a. m. to-morrow, for Georgetown.

I am, general, very respectfully, your obedient servant,

LEONARD B. PERRY,

First Lieutenant, Fifty-fifth Mass. Vols., and Actg. Asst. Adjt. General

WASHINGTON, D. C., March 10, 1865-4 p. m.

Lieutenant-General GRANT,

City Point:

Two telegraph operators who were in the rebel service at Wilmington up to its capture and who have arrived here, having left Wilmington on the 2nd instant, state that it was officially reported at Wilmington on the night of February 21 that Sherman's advance had reached Chesterfield, S. C., on that day and that a body of his cavalry were at Camden. When these men left Schofield had not moved from Wilmington.

C. A. DANA,

Assistant Secretary of War.

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*See p. 744.

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