“To insure success your cavalry should go with as little wagon-train as possible, relying upon the country for supplies.  I would also reduce the number of guns to a battery, or the number of batteries, and put the extra teams to the guns taken.  No guns or caissons should be taken with less than eight horses.

“Please inform me by telegraph, on receipt of this, what force you think you will be able to send under these directions.

“U.  S. GRANT, Lieutenant-General. 
“MAJOR-GENERAL G. H. THOMAS.”

On the 15th, he was directed to start the expedition as soon after the 20th as he could get it off.

I deemed it of the utmost importance, before a general movement of the armies operating against Richmond, that all communications with the city, north of James River, should be cut off.  The enemy having withdrawn the bulk of his force from the Shenandoah Valley and sent it south, or replaced troops sent from Richmond, and desiring to reinforce Sherman, if practicable, whose cavalry was greatly inferior in numbers to that of the enemy, I determined to make a move from the Shenandoah, which, if successful, would accomplish the first at least, and possibly the latter of the objects.  I therefore telegraphed General Sheridan as follows: 

“CITY POINT, VA., February 20, 1865—­1 P.M.

“GENERAL:—­As soon as it is possible to travel, I think you will have no difficulty about reaching Lynchburg with a cavalry force alone.  From there you could destroy the railroad and canal in every direction, so as to be of no further use to the rebellion.  Sufficient cavalry should be left behind to look after Mosby’s gang.  From Lynchburg, if information you might get there would justify it, you will strike south, heading the streams in Virgina to the westward of Danville, and push on and join General Sherman.  This additional raid, with one now about starting from East Tennessee under Stoneman, numbering four or give thousand cavalry, one from Vicksburg, numbering seven or eight thousand cavalry, one from Eastport, Mississippi, then thousand cavalry, Canby from Mobile Bay, with about thirty-eight thousand mixed troops, these three latter pushing for Tuscaloosa, Selma, and Montgomery, and Sherman with a large army eating out the vitals of South Carolina, is all that will be wanted to leave nothing for the rebellion to stand upon.  I would advise you to overcome great obstacles to accomplish this.  Charleston was evacuated on Tuesday 1st.

“U.  S. GRANT, Lieutenant-General. 
“MAJOR-GENERAL P. H. SHERIDAN.”

On the 25th I received a dispatch from General Sheridan, inquiring where Sherman was aiming for, and if I could give him definite information as to the points he might be expected to move on, this side of Charlotte, North Carolina.  In answer, the following telegram was sent him: 

“CITY POINT, VA., February 25, 1865.