Let me know if you want more troops, or any thing else.

Very respectfully, your obedient servant,

U. S. Grant, Lieutenant-General.

The railroad was repaired to Goldsboro’ by the evening of March 25th, when, leaving General Schofield in chief command, with a couple of staff-officers I started for City Point, Virginia, in a locomotive, in company with Colonel Wright, the constructing engineer.  We reached Newbern that evening, which was passed in the company of General Palmer and his accomplished lady, and early the next morning we continued on to Morehead City, where General Easton had provided for us the small captured steamer Russia, Captain Smith.  We put to sea at once and steamed up the coast, reaching Fortress Monroe on the morning of the 27th, where I landed and telegraphed to my brother, Senator Sherman, at Washington, inviting him to come down and return with me to Goldsboro.  We proceeded on up James River to City Point, which we reached the same afternoon.  I found General Grant, with his family and staff, occupying a pretty group of huts on the bank of James River, overlooking the harbor, which was full of vessels of all classes, both war and merchant, with wharves and warehouses on an extensive scale.  The general received me most heartily, and we talked over matters very fully.  After I had been with him an hour or so, he remarked that the President, Mr. Lincoln, was then on board the steamer River Queen, lying at the wharf, and he proposed that we should call and see him.  We walked down to the wharf, went on board, and found Mr. Lincoln alone, in the after-cabin.  He remembered me perfectly, and at once engaged in a most interesting conversation.  He was full of curiosity about the many incidents of our great march, which had reached him officially and through the newspapers, and seemed to enjoy very much the more ludicrous parts-about the “bummers,” and their devices to collect food and forage when the outside world supposed us to be starving; but at the same time he expressed a good deal of anxiety lest some accident might happen to the army in North Carolina during my absence.  I explained to him that that army was snug and comfortable, in good camps, at Goldsboro’; that it would require some days to collect forage and food for another march; and that General Schofield was fully competent to command it in my absence.  Having made a good, long, social visit, we took our leave and returned to General Grant’s quarters, where Mrs, Grant had provided tea.  While at the table, Mrs. Grant inquired if we had seen Mrs. Lincoln.  “No,” said the general, “I did not ask for her;” and I added that I did not even know that she was on board.  Mrs. Grant then exclaimed, “Well, you are a pretty pair!” and added that our neglect was unpardonable; when the general said we would call again the next day, and make amends for the unintended slight.