Johnston. A good passenger car bore us to Durham Station. Thence we rode on horseback, escorted by General Kilpatrick and his body guard. April 18, I went to the second interview. Returned to Raleigh by 7 p. m., and at 11 p. m. dispatched a special train, carrying Major Hitchocock with dispatches for Washington. An agent having been sent by Colonel Wright to take charge of the railroad, I turned over all pertainign to it to him. Captain H. B. Whetsel, asssitant quartermaster, was placed by me in charge of raition. Captain F. C. Butze, in charge of houses and buildings. Captain A. M. Garoutee, assistant quartermaster, in charge of corrals and workshops. A quantity of light-house property being found in the capitol, I directed Captain Edinstein, assistant quartermaster, to take charge of it, have it carefully packed and shipped to care of Captain J. D. Tredway at Morehead City. At your request I sent alist of fourteen questions (calling for information in regard to transportation) to the corps quartermasters. From only one did I receive any reply. I found it very difficult to get reports on this campaign, the excuse being that under orders they had left all their desks and clerks behind at Savannah, and could not make them. One exception to this was Lieutenant Colonel G. L. Fort, chief quartermaster Fifteenth Army Corps, whom I ever found an earnest, faithful, and zealous officer, ready and willing to obey every order as far as possible. His reply to these questions I append to this report.*

On the 20th of April trains loaded with provisions and oats commenced arriving from Morehead City. The stopping of all foraging on the country rendered this a matter of great interest. I being detailed to march through to the North, you directed me to purchase forage of the citizens on the route, and as the armies would travel on different roads, I was assigned to the duty of purchasing for the Army of the Tennssee. It was your wish that no claims should be left unsettled. In order move fully to carry out your wish I appointed Captain A. S. Flagg, assistant quartermaster, to disburse for the Seventeenth Corps, and Captain H. B. Whetsel for the Fifteenth. Blank receipts were printed. These, signed by the disbursing officers, were distributed to the officer in charge of foraging parties, who, on taking forage, filled in the quantities, coutersigned them, and gave them to the citizens with instructions to follow the army to the camp at night and present them to the disbursing officer for payment. On presentation vouchers were made and paid. The division quartermaster took up these receipts and accounted for the forage. This plan worked well. Very few receipts were left unpaid through the neglect of the holders to present them for payment. The disbursing officers frequently waited at camp three or four hours after the headquarters moved to afford time for the parties to come up. I cannot leave this subject without speaking a word in praise of those two officers, Captains Flagg and Whetsel, whom I ever found industrious, diligent, and faithful in the discharge of every duty. April 30, commenced the homeward march, General Sherman and staff having gone home by sea. I found my camp with the headquarters Military Division train and escort, under care of Lieutenant E. C. Howard, acting assistant quartermaster, and camped each night near General Blair's headquarters. This day we marched thirteen miles. Camped at the house of Mr. Drum, superintendent of the Raleigh and Gaston Railroad.

May 1, marched twenty-one miles. Crossing Tar River, camped one mile beyond. May 2, marched twenty-four miles; camped at Ridgeway

---------------

*Omitted.

---------------