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[385] the cavalry division, under General Kilpatrick, with an effective strength of 5659 men; making a grand aggregate of 91,391 men.1 This estimate does not include General Stoneman's force of cavalry, amounting to 4000, then operating around Greensboroa and Salisbury, and which, though not originally belonging to General Sherman's army, was then under his command.2

For about fifteen days after its junction with General Schofield this army remained quiet near Goldsboroa, preparatory, as it appears, to the effort General Sherman was about to make to place it ‘north of Roanoke River, and in full communication with the Army of the Potomac.’3

The small Confederate army, under General Johnston, stood between the two roads leading to Raleigh on the one hand, and to Weldon, on the other, so as to be ahead of the enemy on whichever line of march he might adopt, and in order, also, to be able to unite with the Army of Northern Virginia, in case General Lee should favor such a movement, although it was now, probably, too late to carry it out successfully. The position was wisely selected. Wheeler's cavalry was stationed north, and Butler's south, of the enemy's camps surrounding Goldsboroa.

On the 1st of April, owing to a despatch just received from General Lee, empowering him ‘to assume command of all troops from Western Virginia and Western North Carolina within his reach,’ General Beauregard left Greensboroa for Salisbury. His purpose was, if possible, to confer with Generals Lee and Johnston relative to the actual condition of affairs, and the best disposition to be made of all available troops, from Salisbury to Greensboroa. As Salisbury appeared to be less threatened than Greensboroa by the enemy's cavalry—Stoneman's—reported to be advancing from Mount Airy and Wytheville, in West VirginiaGeneral Beauregard ordered three brigades, under Featherstone, Shelly, and Gowan, with two light batteries, to move, without delay, in the direction of Greensboroa, whither he returned the same evening. Soon afterwards, Stoneman appearing more

1 General Sherman's ‘Memoirs,’ vol. II., p. 334. Our addition differs from that of General Sherman, though made up from aggregates furnished by him. He finds 88,943—a difference of 2258. It is easy to perceive that the error is not ours.

2 General Sherman's ‘Memoirs.’ See his answer to General Johnston, vol. II., p. 347

3 Ibid., vol. II., p. 341.

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