I believe General Innis N. Palmer has received some instructions directly from General Sherman, on the subject of securing supplies for his army.  You can learn what steps he has taken, and be governed in your requisitions accordingly.  A supply of ordnance-stores will also be necessary.

Make all your requisitions upon the chiefs of their respective departments, in the field, with me at City Point.  Communicate with me by every opportunity, and, should you deem it necessary at any time, send a special boat to Fortress Monroe, from which point you can communicate by telegraph.

The supplies referred to in these instructions are exclusive of those required by your own command.

The movements of the enemy may justify you, or even make it your imperative duty, to cut loose from your base and strike for the interior, to aid Sherman.  In such case you will act on your own judgment, without waiting for instructions.  You will report, however, what you propose doing.  The details for carrying out these instructions are necessarily left to you.  I would urge, however, if I did not know that you are already fully alive to the importance of it, prompt action.  Sherman may be looked for in the neighborhood of Goldsboro’ any time from the 22d to the 28th of February.  This limits your time very materially.

If rolling-stock is not secured in the capture of Wilmington, it can be supplied from Washington:  A large force of railroad-men has already been sent to Beaufort, and other mechanics will go to Fort Fisher in a day or two.  On this point I have informed you by telegraph.

Very respectfully, your obedient servant,

U. S. Grant, Lieutenant-General.

Headquarters of the armies of the united states
city point, Virginia, March 16, 1865.

Major-General W. T. Sherman, commanding military Division of the
Mississippi.

General:  Your interesting letter of the 12th inst. is just received.  I have never felt any uneasiness for your safety, but I have felt great anxiety to know just how you were progressing.  I knew, or thought I did, that, with the magnificent army with you, you would come out safely somewhere.

To secure certain success, I deemed the capture of Wilmington of the greatest importance.  Butler came near losing that prize to us.  But Terry and Schofield have since retrieved his blunders, and I do not know but the first failure has been as valuable a success for the country as the capture of Fort Fisher.  Butler may not see it in that light.