As Barrier writes, he and his forces are on the move to meet Sherman's army: "I trust we shall be able to hurl him back to the coast of North Carolina in a very short time." He received official news the previous day that Sherman had been given a "pretty good whipping" by Hardee's army, and that Grant's forces had withdrawn from Richmond and Petersburg. Barrier feels that the last grand struggle will take place in North Carolina, and remains confident in the cause.