| White Oak, S. C. February 19, 1865 -- 10 p. m. |
| (Received 8:30 p. m. 20th) |
| |
| General R. E. Lee |
| |
| After close examination, and exerting
every means in my power, I find it impossible for the troops now in
Charleston to form a junction with me this side of Greensborough.
Believing it best, from information just received from Governor
Vance and General Bragg, to transport the troops by rail to that
point, I have directed General McLaws to move them by rail as
rapidly as possible. I am also of the opinion that Cheatham, at
Newberry {on Greenville & Columbia RR} this
morning with 2,000 men, and Stewart, eighteen hours behind him, with
1,200 men, cannot form a junction with me except by moving across
via Statesburg and Manchester, and thence by rail to Greensborough. This movement will require
some days, owing to difficulties of crossing the Broad and Wateree
Rivers. |
| The enemy has advanced to-day to near
Winnsborough in force, and is still moving along the {Charlotte
& South Carolina} railroad, keeping between this place
and Broad River, thus cutting off Cheatham and Stewart. |
| G. T. Beauregard |
|