| Goldsboro, No Ca. |
| February 5th 1864 |
| |
| Maj. F. W. Sims |
| Rail Road Bureau |
| Richmond |
| |
| Major, |
| Herewith I send you a report as
directed by Adjt & Inspt General Cooper on General Orders No. 105.
I did not receive the circular until yesterday, having been absent
with the army taking trains for several days. If I have not reported
correctly as to form &c please advise and what to do some time
since I found on my table a circular left by someone, with note at
bottom directing me to report to Cap Johns ???, Field Transport, Goldsboro. This circular
called for input from Qt Masters in reference to wagons ??? vessels &c employed ???, than I ??? ones to the Post
Qt Master & ??? Cap Johns to inform him that I was acting under
you as Supt Rail Road Transportation in this State & never had had
the control of anything the circular or orders called for, & to
ascertain whether it was necessary for me to report that fact, but he
was absent & never has returned, unless without my knowledge, to
this place. What should I do? It I would do better for these
circulars, or orders, seems to me to come through you. I telegraphed
you this morning to come down this way at your earliest convenience, I
have several matters that could be much better arranged here than in
Richmond. If you can possibly leave Richmond I must beg you to meet
us. The people are much disappointed & crest fallen about the
failure of our army to attack ???{New Bern, N.
C.}. The capture of that town was
confidently expected by everyone after it was publicly known that one of
our very best armies, in proportion to numbers, was moving upon
it. I deeply regret the failure however ??? I believe would honor ???
the state of soldiers both southern & northern -- at any rate in a
potential point of view, it would have had a beneficial effect, &
in a military point of view it would have resulted in great good to
our troops everywhere. But one must load up pull our floats & try it
again. The troops new all ??? in the expedition safety & the movement was a
complete surprise to the enemy. Col. {Commander
John T.} Wood is entitled to great credit
for his daring & gallant feat in blowing up the gunboat {USS
Underwriter} under a heavy
fire from the shore as well as from the ship & particularly is he
entitled to credit for bringing off the prisoners. He is now at
Kinston with his boats & men I ????? a train to-day to take them
back to Richmond. I have also orders to furnish transportation for
3000 men to Weldon to Petersburg which I cannot do before tomorrow as
I had no orders to hold trains, & put them to hauling Govt. corn
& other freight or haul the troops now landed at Kinston. I
obtained new orders in reference to Rail Road transportation issued
this morning as the engines ??? Come to visit without fail. |
| Very Truly |
| John Whitford |
|