To Prepare for Sherman’s Coming

On January 29, 1865, Lt. Gen. Ulysses S. Grant, general-in-chief of the Union army, arrived at the Morehead City Harbor. Grant’s purpose in visiting the coast centered on a broadening military strategy for North Carolina, which in the coming weeks would transform the state into a major operational theater of the war. Grant selected his trusted lieutenant, Maj. Gen. William T. Sherman to spearhead this final campaign in the Old North State. But first, Sherman and 60,000 of his men had to march north from Savannah, Georgia.
To feed and supply a force as large as Sherman’s upon its arrival required a herculean effort that Sherman later described as “to prepare for my coming.” Join the New Bern Historical Society for its annual Civil War presentation on Sunday March 6 at 2pm at Orringer Auditorium as noted Civil War author and retired U.S. Army colonel, Wade Sokolosky discusses the logistics buildup on the North Carolina coast in preparation for General Sherman’s arrival.

Cost for this program is a $10 donation with all proceeds directly supporting maintenance and preservation of New Bern Battlefield Park. Prepaid reservations are strongly recommended. Go to www.NewBernHistorical.org/tickets or call the office at 252-638-8558