Waitingthereonlylongenoughtofillourwagons，weagainbeganamarchwhich，forperil，labor，andresults，willcomparewithanyevermadebyanorganizedarmy。ThefloodsoftheSavannah，theswampsoftheCombaheeandEdisto，the\"highhills\"androcksoftheSantee，theflatquagmiresofthePedeeandCapeFearRivers，wereallpassedinmidwinter，withitsfloodsandrains，inthefaceofanaccumulatingenemy;and，afterthebattlesofAverysboro’andBentonsville，weoncemorecameoutofthewilderness，tomeetourfriendsatGoldsboro’。Eventhenwepausedonlylongenoughtogetnewclothing，toreloadourwagons，againpushedontoRaleighandbeyond，untilwemetourenemysuingforpeace，insteadofwar，andofferingtosubmittotheinjuredlawsofhisandourcountry。Aslongasthatenemywasdefiant，normountainsnorrivers，norswamps，norhunger，norcold，hadcheckedus;butwhenhe，whohadfoughtushardandpersistently，offeredsubmission，yourgeneralthoughtitwrongtopursuehimfarther，andnegotiationsfollowed，whichresulted，asyouallknow，inhissurrender。
HowfartheoperationsofthisarmycontributedtothefinaloverthrowoftheConfederacyandthepeacewhichnowdawnsuponus，mustbejudgedbyothers，notbyus;butthatyouhavedoneallthatmencoulddohasbeenadmittedbythoseinauthority，andwehavearighttojoinintheuniversaljoythatfillsourlandbecausethewarisover，andourGovernmentstandsvindicatedbeforetheworldbythejointactionofthevolunteerarmiesandnavyoftheUnitedStates。
Tosuchasremainintheservice，yourgeneralneedonlyremindyouthatsuccessinthepastwasduetohardworkanddiscipline，andthatthesameworkanddisciplineareequallyimportantinthefuture。Tosuchasgohome，hewillonlysaythatourfavoredcountryissogrand，soextensive，sodiversifiedinclimate，soil，andproductions，thateverymanmayfindahomeandoccupationsuitedtohistaste;noneshouldyieldtothenaturalimpatiencesuretoresultfromourpastlifeofexcitementandadventure。Youwillbeinvitedtoseeknewadventuresabroad;donotyieldtothetemptation，foritwillleadonlytodeathanddisappointment。
Yourgeneralnowbidsyoufarewell，withthefullbeliefthat，asinwaryouhavebeengoodsoldiers，soinpeaceyouwillmakegoodcitizens;andif，unfortunately，newwarshouldariseinourcountry，\"Sherman’sarmy\"willbethefirsttobuckleonitsoldarmor，andcomeforthtodefendandmaintaintheGovernmentofourinheritance。
ByorderofMajor—GeneralW。T。Sherman，L。M。DAYTON，AssistantAdjutant—General。