Adam Badeau, Military history of Ulysses S. Grant from April 1861 to April 1865. Volume 2

[364] quite unprecedented. When Sherman was ordered to move into the Carolinas and destroy, not only the resources of those states, but all the remaining railroads between the Atlantic and the rebel armies, Thomas was at the same time instructed to send Schofield from West Tennessee, with his entire corps, to the Potomac. This was with the intention of transporting Schofield to North Carolina, so that he might move into the interior with supplies, and be ready to meet Sherman on his northward march. On the 7th of January, Grant said to Halleck: ‘Order General Thomas, if he is assured of the departure south of Hood from Corinth, to send Schofield here with his corps, with as little delay as possible.’

Schofield was at Clifton, on the Tennessee, when, on the 14th of January, he received his orders, and the movement was begun on the following day. The troops were sent with their artillery and horses, but without wagons, by steam transports, along the Tennessee and Ohio rivers to Cincinnati, and thence by rail to Washington and Alexandria. It was midwinter, and the weather unusually severe. The movement was delayed by snow and ice and violent storms; the Baltimore and Ohio railroad had to be especially guarded against guerrillas during the passage; but the troops moved night and day, through fogs and sleet on the Ohio and snows in the mountains, and on the 31st of January, the whole command had arrived at Washington and Alexandria. Here, however, another unavoidable delay was caused by the freezing of the Potomac, which rendered navigation impossible for several weeks.

Grant early notified Sherman of this co-operation, and announced: ‘If Wilmington is captured, Schofield ’