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and fifty-five wounded and missing. Johnston states his losses to have been two hundred and twenty-three killed, fourteen hundred and sixty--seven wounded, and six hundred and fifty-three missing; but Sherman captured sixteen hundred and twenty-one prisoners.1
Sherman admits that he committed an error in not overwhelming his enemy.
Few soldiers, however, are great enough to accuse themselves of an error, and fewer still but might accuse themselves of greater ones than can ever be laid at Sherman's door.
At daybreak on the 22nd, pursuit was made of the rebels for two miles beyond Mill creek, but it was checked by Sherman's order, and the road being clear, the army moved to Goldsboro, where Schofield had already arrived.
On the 25th, the road from Newbern was complete, and the first train of cars came up from the coast.
Sherman therefore was able to supply his command.
Thus was concluded one of the longest and most important marches ever made by an organized army in civilized war. The distance from Savannah to Goldsboro is four hundred and twenty-five miles.
1 General Johnston declares that his entire force of infantry and artillery in this battle was fourteen thousand one hundred. But the rebel returns of troops under his command at this time are as follows:
Effectives. | |
Army of Tennessee. March 81st | 16,014 |
Hardie, January 31st | 22,654 |
Bragg, February 10th | 11,200 |
—— | |
Total | 49,868 |
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