The expedition sailed from Fort Monroe on the morning of the 6th, arriving at the rendezvous, off Beaufort, on the 8th, where, owing to the difficulties of the weather, it lay until the morning of the 12th, when it got under way and reached its destination that evening.  Under cover of the fleet, the disembarkation of the troops commenced on the morning of the 13th, and by three o’clock P.M. was completed without loss.  On the 14th a reconnoissance was pushed to within five hundred yards of Fort Fisher, and a small advance work taken possession of and turned into a defensive line against any attempt that might be made from the fort.  This reconnoissance disclosed the fact that the front of the work had been seriously injured by the navy fire.  In the afternoon of the 15th the fort was assaulted, and after most desperate fighting was captured, with its entire garrison and armament.  Thus was secured, by the combined efforts of the navy and army, one of the most important successes of the war.  Our loss was:  killed, one hundred and ten; wounded, five hundred and thirty-six.  On the 16th and the 17th the enemy abandoned and blew up Fort Caswell and the works on Smith’s Island, which were immediately occupied by us.  This gave us entire control of the mouth of the Cape Fear River.

At my request, Mayor-General B. F. Butler was relieved, and Major-General E. O. C. Ord assigned to the Department of Virginia and North Carolina.

The defence of the line of the Tennessee no longer requiring the force which had beaten and nearly destroyed the only army now threatening it, I determined to find other fields of operation for General Thomas’s surplus troops—­fields from which they would co-operate with other movements.  General Thomas was therefore directed to collect all troops, not essential to hold his communications at Eastport, in readiness for orders.  On the 7th of January, General Thomas was directed, if he was assured of the departure of Hood south from Corinth, to send General Schofield with his corps east with as little delay as possible.  This direction was promptly complied with, and the advance of the corps reached Washington on the 23d of the same month, whence it was sent to Fort Fisher and New Bern.  On the 26th he was directed to send General A. J. Smith’s command and a division of cavalry to report to General Canby.  By the 7th of February the whole force was en route for its destination.

The State of North Carolina was constituted into a military department, and General Schofield assigned to command, and placed under the orders of Major-General Sherman.  The following instructions were given him: 

“CITY POINT, VA., January 31, 1865.