Audenried，aide—de—camp;Brigadier—GeneralJ。D。Webster，chiefofstaff;MajorR。M。Sawyer，assistantadjutant—general;CaptainMontgomeryRochester，assistantadjutant—general。TheselastthreewereleftatNashvilleinchargeoftheoffice，andwereempoweredtogiveordersinmyname，communicationbeinggenerallykeptupbytelegraph。
Subsequentlywereaddedtomystaff，andaccompaniedmeinthefield，Brigadier—GeneralW。F。Barry，chiefofartillery;ColonelO。M。Poe，chiefofengineers;ColonelL。C。Easton，chiefquartermaster;ColonelAmosBeckwith，chiefcommissary;CaptainThos。G。Baylor，chiefofordnance;SurgeonE。D。Kittoe，medicaldirector;Brigadier—GeneralJ。M。Corse，inspector—general;
Lieutenant—ColonelC。Ewing，inspector—general;andLieutenant—
ColonelWillardWarner，inspector—general。
Theseofficersconstitutedmystaffproperatthebeginningofthecampaign，whichremainedsubstantiallythesametillthecloseofthewar，withveryfewexceptions;viz。:SurgeonJohnMoore，UnitedStatesArmy，relievedSurgeonKittoeofthevolunteers（aboutAtlanta）asmedicaldirector;MajorHenryHitchcockjoinedasjudge—advocate，andCaptainG。WardNicholsreportedasanextraaide—de—camp（afterthefallofAtlanta）atGaylesville，justbeforewestartedforSavannah。
DuringthewholemonthofAprilthepreparationsforactivewarweregoingonwithextremevigor，andmyletter—bookshowsanactivecorrespondencewithGeneralsGrant，Halleck，Thomas，McPherson，andSchofieldonthousandsofmattersofdetailandarrangement，mostofwhichareembracedinmytestimonybeforetheCommitteeontheConductoftheWar，vol。i。，Appendix。
Whenthetimeforactionapproached，viz。，May1，1864，theactualarmiespreparedtomoveintoGeorgiaresultedasfollows，presentforbattle:
Men。
ArmyoftheCumberland，Major—GeneralTHOMAS。
Infantry……54，568
Artillery……2，377
Cavalry……3，828
Aggregate……60，773
Numberoffield—guns，130。
ArmyoftheTennessee，Major—GeneralMcPHERSON。
Infantry……22，437
Artillery……1，404
Cavalry……624
Aggregate……24，465
Guns，96
ArmyoftheOhio，Major—GeneralSCHOFIELD。
Infantry……11，183
Artillery……679
Cavalry……1，697
Aggregate……13，559
Guns，28。
Grandaggregate，98，797menand254gunsThesefiguresdonotembracethecavalrydivisionswhichwerestillincomplete，viz。，ofGeneralStoneman，atLexington，Kentucky，andofGeneralGarrard，atColumbia，Tennessee，whowerethenrapidlycollectinghorses，andjoinedusintheearlystageofthecampaign。GeneralStoneman，havingadivisionofaboutfourthousandmenandhorses，wasattachedtoSchofield’sArmyoftheOhio。GeneralGarrard’sdivision，ofaboutfourthousandfivehundredmenandhorses，wasattachedtoGeneralThomas’scommand;
andhehadanotherirregulardivisionofcavalry，commandedbyBrigadier—GeneralE。McCook。Therewasalsoasmallbrigadeofcavalry，belongingtotheArmyoftheCumberland，attachedtemporarilytotheArmyoftheTennessee，whichwascommandedbyBrigadier—GeneralJudsonKilpatrick。Thesecavalrycommandschangedconstantlyinstrengthandnumbers，andweregenerallyusedontheextremeflanks，orforsomespecialdetachedservice，aswillbeherein—afterrelated。TheArmyoftheTennesseewasstillshortbythetwodivisionsdetachedwithGeneralBanks，upRedRiver，andtwootherdivisionsonfurloughinIllinois，Indiana，andOhio，butwhichwererendezvousingatCairo，underGeneralsLeggettandCrocker，toformapartoftheSeventeenthCorps，whichcorpswastobecommandedbyMajor—GeneralFrankP。Blair，thenamemberofCongress，inWashington。Onthe2dofAprilInotifiedhimbyletterthatIwantedhimtojoinandtocommandthesetwodivisions，whichoughttobereadybythe1stofMay。GeneralBlair，withthesetwodivisions，constitutingtheSeventeenthArmyCorps，didnotactuallyovertakeusuntilviereachedAcworthandBigShanty，inGeorgia，aboutthe9thofJune，1864。
InmyletterofApril4thtoGeneralJohnA。Rawains，chiefofstafftoGeneralGrantatWashington，Idescribedatlengthallthepreparationsthatwereinprogressfortheactivecampaignthuscontemplated，andthereinestimatedSchofieldattwelvethousand，Thomasatforty—fivethousand，andMePhersonatthirtythousand。
AtfirstIintendedtoopenthecampaignaboutMay1st，bymovingSchofieldonDaltonfromCleveland，ThomasonthesameobjectivefromChattanooga，andMcPhersononRomeandKingstonfromGunter’sLanding。MyintentionwasmerelytothreatenDaltoninfront，andtodirectMcPhersontoactvigorouslyagainsttherailroadbelowResaca，fartotherearoftheenemy。Butbyreasonofhisbeingshortofhisestimatedstrengthbythefourdivisionsbeforereferredto，andthusbeingreducedtoabouttwenty—fourthousandmen，Ididnotfeeljustifiedinplacinghimsofarawayfromthesupportofthemainbodyofthearmy，andthereforesubsequentlychangedtheplanofcampaign，sofarastobringthatarmyuptoChattanooga，andtodirectitthencethroughShip’sGapagainsttherailroadtoJohnston’srear，atornearResaca，distantfromDaltononlyeighteenmiles，andinfullcommunicationwiththeotherarmiesbyroadsbehindRockyfaceRidge，ofaboutthesamelength。
Onthe10thofAprilIreceivedGeneralGrant’sletterofApril4thfromWashington，whichformedthebasisofallthecampaignsoftheyear1864，andsubsequentlyreceivedanotherofApril19th，writtenfromCulpepper，Virginia，bothofwhicharenowinmypossession，inhisownhandwriting，andareheregivenentire。Theselettersembracesubstantiallyalltheordersheevermadeonthisparticularsubject，andthese，itwillbeseen，devolvedonmethedetailsbothastotheplanandexecutionofthecampaignbythearmiesundermyimmediatecommand。ThesearmiesweretobedirectedagainsttherebelarmycommandedbyGeneralJosephE。
Johnston，thenlyingonthedefensive，stronglyintrenchedatDalton，Georgia;andIwasrequiredtofollowitupcloselyandpersistently，sothatinnoeventcouldanypartbedetachedtoassistGeneralLeeinVirginia;GeneralGrantundertakinginlikemannertokeepLeesobusythathecouldnotrespondtoanycallsofhelpbyJohnston。NeitherAtlanta，norAugusta，norSavannah，wastheobjective，butthe\"armyofJos。Johnston，\"gowhereitmight。
[PRIVATEANDCONFIDENTIAL。]
HEADQUARTERSARMIESOFTHEUNITEDSTATES
WASHINGTOND。C。，April4，1864。
Major—GeneralW。T。SHERMAN，commandingMilitaryDivisionoftheMississippi。
GENERAL:Itismydesign，iftheenemykeepquietandallowmetotaketheinitiativeinthespringcampaign，toworkallpartsofthearmytogether，andsomewhattowardacommoncentre。ForyourinformationInowwriteyoumyprogramme，asatpresentdeterminedupon。
IhavesentorderstoBanks，byprivatemessenger，tofinishuphispresentexpeditionagainstShreveportwithalldispatch;toturnoverthedefenseofRedRivertoGeneralSteelsandthenavy，andtoreturnyourtroopstoyou，andhisowntoNewOrleans;toabandonallofTexas，excepttheRioGrande，andtoholdthatwithnottoexceedfourthousandmen;toreducethenumberoftroopsontheMississippitothelowestnumbernecessarytoholdit，andtocollectfromhiscommandnotlessthantwenty—fivethousandmen。
TothisIwilladdfivethousandfromMissouri。WiththisforceheistocommenceoperationsagainstMobileassoonashecan。Itwillbeimpossibleforhimtocommencetooearly。
GillmorejoinsButlerwithtenthousandmen，andthetwooperateagainstRichmondfromthesouthaideofJamesRiver。ThiswillgiveButlerthirty—threethousandmentooperatewith，W。F。Smithcommandingtherightwingofhisforces，andGillmoretheleftwing。IwillstaywiththeArmyofthePotomac，increasedbyBurnside’scorpsofnotlessthantwenty—fivethousandeffectivemen，andoperatedirectlyagainstLee’sarmy，whereveritmaybefound。
Sigelcollectsallhisavailableforceintwocolumns，one，underOrdandAverill，tostartfromBeverly，Virginia，andtheother，underCrook，tostartfromCharleston，ontheKanawha，tomoveagainsttheVirginia&TennesseeRailroad。
Crookwillhaveallcavalry，andwillendeavortogetinaboutSaltville，andmoveeastfromtheretojoinOrd。Hisforcewillbeallcavalry，whileOrdwillhavefromtentotwelvethousandmenofallarms。
YouIproposetomoveagainstJohnston’sarmy，tobreakitup，andtogetintotheinterioroftheenemy’scountryasfarasyoucan，inflictingallthedamageyoncanagainsttheirwarresources。
Idonotproposetolaydownforyouaplanofcampaign，butsimplytolaydowntheworkitisdesirabletohavedone，andleaveyoufreetoexecuteitinyourownway。Submittome，however，asearlyasyoucan，yourplanofoperations。
Asstated，Banksisorderedtocommenceoperationsassoonashecan。GillmoreisorderedtoreportatFortressMonroebythe18thinst。，orassoonthereafteraspracticable。Sigelisconcentratingnow。NonewillmovefromtheirplacesofrendezvousuntilIdirect，exceptBanks。Iwanttobereadytomovebythe25thinst。，ifpossible;butallIcannowdirectisthatyougetreadyassoonaspossible。Iknowyouwillhavedifficultiestoencounteringettingthroughthemountainstowheresuppliesareabundant，butIbelieveyouwillaccomplishit。
>FromtheexpeditionfromtheDepartmentofWestVirginiaIdonotcalculateonverygreatresults;butitistheonlywayIcantaketroopsfromthere。WiththelonglineofrailroadSigelhastoprotect，hecansparenotroops，excepttomovedirectlytohisfront。Inthiswayhemustgetthroughtoinflictgreatdamageontheenemy，ortheenemymustdetachfromoneofhisarmiesalargeforcetopreventit。Inotherwords，ifSigelcan’tskinhimself，hecanholdalegwhilesomeoneelseskins。
Iam，general，veryrespectfully，yourobedientservant，U。S。GRANT，Lieutenant—General。
HEADQUARTERSMILITARYDIVISIONOFTHEMISSISSIPPI
NASHVILLE，TENNESSEE，April10，1864
Lieutenant—GeneralU。S。GRANT，Commander—in—Chief，Washington，D。
DEARGENERAL:YourtwolettersofApril4tharenowbeforeme，andaffordmeinfinitesatisfaction。Thatwearenowalltoactonacommonplan，convergingonacommoncentre，lookslikeenlightenedwar。
Likeyourself，youtakethebiggestload，andfrommeyoushallhavethoroughandheartycooperation。IwillnotletsideissuesdrawmeofffromyourmainplansinwhichIamtoknockJos。
Johnston，andtodoasmuchdamagetotheresourcesoftheenemyaspossible。IhaveheretoforewrittentoGeneralRawlinsandtoColonelComstock（ofyourstaff）somewhatofthemethodinwhichI
proposetoact。Ihaveseenallmyarmy，corps，anddivisioncommanders，andhavesignifiedonlytotheformer，viz。，Schofield，Thomas，andMcPherson，ourgeneralplans，whichIinferredfromthepurportofourconversationhereandatCincinnati。
First，Iampushingstorestothefrontwithallpossibledispatch，andamcompletingthearmyorganizationaccordingtotheordersfromWashington，whichareampleandperfectlysatisfactory。
ItwilltakeusallofApriltogetinourfurloughedveterans，tobringupA。J。Smith’scommand，andtocollectprovisionsandcattleonthelineoftheTennessee。Eachofthearmieswillguard，bydetachmentsofitsown，itsrearcommunications。
Atthesignaltobegivenbyyou，Schofield，leavingaselectgarrisonatKnoxvilleandLondon，withtwelvethousandmenwilldropdowntotheHiawassee，andmarchagainstJohnston’srightbytheoldFederalroad。Stoneman，nowinKentucky，organizingthecavalryforcesoftheArmyoftheOhio，willoperatewithSchofieldonhisleftfront——itmaybe，pushingaselectbodyofabouttwothousandcavalrybyDucktownorElijahtowardAthena，Georgia。
Thomaswillaimtohaveforty—fivethousandmenofallarms，andmovestraightagainstJohnston，whereverhemaybe，fightinghimcautiously，persistently，andtothebestadvantage。Hewillhavetwodivisionsofcavalry，totakeadvantageofanyoffering。
McPhersonwillhaveninedivisionsoftheArmyoftheTennessee，ifA。J。Smithgetshere，inwhichcasehewillhavefullthirtythousandofthebestmeninAmerica。HewillcrosstheTennesseeatDecaturandWhitesburg，marchtowardRome，andfeelforThomas。
IfJohnstonfallsbehindtheCoosa，thenMcPhersonwillpushforRome;andifJohnstonfallsbehindtheChattahoochee，asIbelievehewill，thenMcPhersonwillcrossoverandjoinThomas。
McPhersonhasnocavalry，butIhavetakenoneofThomas’sdivisions，viz。，Garrard’s，sixthousandstrong，whichisnowatColombia，mounting，equipping，andpreparing。IdesignthisdivisiontooperateonMcPheraon’sright，rear，orfront，accordingastheenemyappears。ButthemomentIdetectJohnstonfallingbehindtheChattahoochee，Iproposetocastofftheeffectivepartofthiscavalrydivision，aftercrossingtheCoosa，straightforOpelika，WestPoint，Columbus，orWetumpka，tobreakuptheroadbetweenMontgomeryandGeorgia。IfGarrardcandothisworkwell，hecanreturntotheUnionarmy;butshouldasuperiorforceinterpose，thenhewillseeksafetyatPensacolaandjoinBanks，or，afterrest，willactagainstanyforcethathecanfindeastofMobile，tillsuchtimeashecanreachme。
ShouldJohnstonfallbehindtheChattahoochee，Iwillfeigntotheright，butpasstotheleftandactagainstAtlantaoritseasterncommunications，accordingtodevelopedfacts。
ThisisaboutasfaraheadasIfeeldisposed，tolook，butIwilleverbearinmindthatJohnstonisatalltimestobekeptsobusythathecannotinanyeventsendanypartofhiscommandagainstyouorBanks。
IfBankscanatthesametimecarryMobileandopenuptheAlabamaRiver，hewillinameasuresolvethemoatdifficultpartofmyproblem，viz。，\"provisions。\"ButinthatImustventure。Georgiahasamillionofinhabitants。Iftheycanlive，weshouldnotstarve。Iftheenemyinterruptourcommunications，Iwillbeabsolvedfromallobligationstosubsistonourownresources，andwillfeelperfectlyjustifiedintakingwhateverandwhereverweoarfind。Iwillinspiremycommand，ifsuccessful，withthefeelingthatbeefandsaltareallthatisabsolutelynecessarytolife，andthatparchedcornoncefedGeneralJackson’sarmyonthatveryground。
Asever，yourfriendandservant，W。T。SHERMAN，Major—General。
HEADQUARTERSARMIESOFTHEUNITEDSTATES
CULPEPPERCOURTHOUSE，VIRGINIA，April19，1864。
Major—GeneralW。T。SHERMAN，commandingMilitaryDivisionoftheMississippi。
GENERAL:SincemylettertoyouofApril4thIhaveseennoreasontochangeanyportionofthegeneralplanofcampaign，iftheenemyremainstillandallowustotaketheinitiative。Rainhascontinuedsouninterruptedlyuntilthelastdayortwothatitwillbeimpossibletomove，however，beforethe27th，evenifnomoreshouldfallinthemeantime。IthinkSaturday，the30th，willprobablybethedayforourgeneralmove。
ColonelComstock，whowilltakethis，canspendadaywithyou，andfillupmanylittlegapsofinformationnotgiveninanyofmyletters。
WhatInowwantmoreparticularlytosayis，thatifthetwomainattacks，yoursandtheonefromhere，shouldpromisegreatsuccess，theenemymay，inafitofdesperation，abandononepartoftheirlineofdefense，andthrowtheirwholestrengthupontheother，believingasingledefeatwithoutanyvictorytosustainthembetterthanadefeatallalongtheirline，andhopingtoo，atthesametime，thatthearmy，meetingwithnoresistance，willrestperfectlysatisfiedwiththeirlaurels，havingpenetratedtoagivenpointsouth，therebyenablingthemtothrowtheirforcefirstupononeandthenontheother。
Withthemajorityofmilitarycommanderstheymightdothis。
Butyouhavehadtoomuchexperienceintravelinglight，andsubsistinguponthecountry，tobecaughtbyanysuchruse。Ihopemyexperiencehasnotbeenthrownaway。Mydirections，then，wouldbe，iftheenemyinyourfrontshowsignsofjoiningLee，followhimuptothefullextentofyourability。IwillpreventtheconcentrationofLeeuponyourfront，ifitisinthepowerofthisarmytodoit。
TheArmyofthePotomaclookswell，and，sofarasIcanjudge，officersandmenfeelwell。Yourstruly，U。S。GRANT，Lieutenant—General。
HEADQUARTERSMILITARYDIVISIONOFTHEMISSISSIPPI
NASHVILLE，TENNESSEE，April24，1864
Lieutenant—GeneralU。S。GRANT，Commander—in—Chief，Culpepper，VirginiaGENERAL:Inowhave，atthehandsofColonelComstock，ofyourstaff，theletterofApril19th，andamasfarpreparedtoassumetheoffensiveaspossible。Ionlyaskasmuchtimeasyouthinkproper，toenablemetogetupMcPherson’stwodivisionsfromCairo。Theirfurloughswillexpireaboutthistime，andsomeofthemshouldnowbeinmotionforClifton，whencetheywillmarchtoDecatur，tojoinGeneralDodge。
McPhersonisorderedtoassembletheFifteenthCorpsnearLarkin’s，andtogettheSixteenthandSeventeenthCorps（DodgeandBlair）atDecaturattheearliestpossiblemoment。FromthesetwopointshewilldirecthisforcesonLebanon，Summerville，andLafayette，wherehewillactagainstJohnston，ifheacceptbattleatDalton;
ormoveinthedirectionofRome，iftheenemygiveupDalton，andfallbehindtheOostenaulaorEtowah。Iseethatthereissomeriskindividingourforces，butThomasandSchofieldwillhavestrengthenoughtocoverallthevalleysasfarasDalton;and，shouldJohnstonturnhiswholeforceagainstMcPherson，thelatterwillhavehisbridgeatLarkin’s，andtheroutetoChattanoogaviaWilla’sValleyandtheChattanoogaCreek，openforretreat;andifJohnstonattempttoleaveDalton，ThomaswillhaveforceenoughtopushonthroughDaltontoKingston，whichwillcheckmatehim。MyownopinionisthatJohnstonwillbecompelledtohangtohisrailroad，theonlypossibleavenueofsupplytohisarmy，estimatedatfromforty—fivetosixtythousandmen。
AtLafayetteallourarmieswillbetogether，andifJohnstonstandsatDaltonwemustattackhiminposition。Thomasfeelscertainthathehasnomaterialincreaseofforce，andthathehasnotsentawayHardee，oranypartofhisarmy。Suppliesarethegreatquestion。Ihavemateriallyincreasedthenumberofcarsdaily。WhenIgothere，theaveragewasfromsixty—fivetoeightyperday。Yesterdaythereportwasonehundredandninety—three;
to—day，onehundredandthirty—four;andmyestimateisthatonehundredandforty—fivecarsperdaywillgiveusaday’ssupplyandaday’saccumulation。
McPhersonisorderedtocarryinwagonstwentyday’srations，andtorelyonthedepotatRinggoldfortherenewalofhisbread。
Beevesarenowbeingdrivenonthehooftothefront;andthecommissary，ColonelBeckwith，seemsfullyalivetotheimportanceofthewholematter。
OurweakestpointwillbefromthedirectionofDecatur，andIwillbeforcedtorisksomethingfromthatquarter，dependingonthefactthattheenemyhasnoforceavailablewithwhichtothreatenourcommunicationsfromthatdirection。
ColonelComstockwillexplaintoyoupersonallymuchthatIcannotcommittopaper。Iam，withgreatrespect，W。T。SHERMAN，Major—General。
Onthe28thofAprilIremovedmyheadquarterstoChattanooga，andpreparedfortakingthefieldinperson。GeneralGranthadfirstindicatedthe30thofAprilasthedayforthesimultaneousadvance，butsubsequentlychangedthedaytoMay5th。McPhersonstroopswerebroughtforwardrapidlytoChattanooga，partlybyrailandpartlybymarching。Thomas’stroopswerealreadyinposition（hisadvancebeingoutasfarasRinggold—eighteenmiles），andSchofieldwasmarchingdownbyClevelandtoRedClayandCatoosaSprings。Onthe4thofMay，ThomaswasinpersonatRinggold，hisleftatCatoosa，andhisrightatLeet’sTan—yard。SchofieldwasatRedClay，closinguponThomas’sleft;andMcPhersonwasmovingrapidlyintoChattanooga，andouttowardGordon’sMill。
Onthe5thIrodeouttoRinggold，andontheverydayappointedbyGeneralGrantfromhisheadquartersinVirginiathegreatcampaignwasbegun。Togivealltheminutedetailswillinvolvemorethaniscontemplated，andIwillendeavoronlytotracetheprincipalevents，orrathertorecordsuchasweighedheaviestonmyownmindatthetime，andwhichnowremainbestfixedinmymemory。
MygeneralheadquartersandofficialrecordsremainedbackatNashville，andIhadnearmeonlymypersonalstaffandinspectors—general，withabouthalfadozenwagons，andasinglecompanyofOhiosharp—shooters（commandedbyLieutenantMcCrory）asheadquartersorcampguard。IalsohadasmallcompanyofirregularAlabamacavalry（commandedbyLieutenantSnelling），usedmostlyasorderliesandcouriers。Nowall—tentswereallowed，onlytheflies。Ourmessestablishmentwaslessinbulkthanthatofanyofthebrigadecommanders;norwasthisfromanindifferencetotheordinarycomfortsoflife，butbecauseIwantedtosettheexample，andgraduallytoconvertallpartsofthatarmyintoamobilemachine，willingandabletostartataminute’snotice，andtosubsistonthescantiestfood。Toreapabsolutesucceesmightinvolvethenecessityevenofdroppingallwagons，andtosubsistonthechancefoodwhichthecountrywasknowntocontain。IhadobtainednotonlytheUnitedStatescensus—tablesof1860，butacompilationmadebytheControlleroftheStateofGeorgiaforthepurposeoftaxation，containinginconsiderabledetailthe\"populationandstatistics\"ofeverycountyinGeorgia。Oneofmyaides（CaptainDayton）actedasassistantadjutantgeneral，withanorder—book，letter—book，andwriting—paper，thatfilledasmallchestnotmuchlargerthananordinarycandle—boa。Theonlyreportsandreturnscalledforweretheordinarytri—monthlyreturnsof\"effectivestrength。\"AstheseaccumulatedtheyweresentbacktoNashville，andafterwardwereembracedinthearchivesoftheMilitaryDivisionoftheMississippi，changedin1865totheMilitaryDivisionoftheMissouri，andIsupposetheywereburnedintheChicagofireof1870。Still，duplicatesremainofallessentialpapersinthearchivesoftheWarDepartment。
The6thofMaywasgiventoSchofieldandMcPhersontogetintoposition，andonthe7thGeneralThomasmovedinforceagainstTunnelHill，drivingoffamerepicket—guardoftheenemy，andI
wasagreeablysurprisedtofindthatnodamagehadbeendonetothetunnelortherailroad。FromTunnelHillIcouldlookintothegorgebywhichtherailroadpassedthroughastraightandwell—definedrangeofmountains，presentingsharppalisadefaces，andknownas\"RockyFace。\"Thegorgeitselfwascalledthe\"BuzzardRoost。\"Wecouldplainlyseetheenemyinthisgorgeandbehindit，andMillCreekwhichformedthegorge，flowingtowardDalton，hadbeendammedup，makingasortofirregularlake，fillingtheroad，therebyobstructingit，andtheenemy’sbatteriescrownedthecliffsoneitherside。Thepositionwasverystrong，andIknewthatsuchageneralaswasmyantagonist（Jos。
Johnston），whohadbeentheresixmonths，hadfortifiedittothemaximum。ThereforeIhadnointentiontoattackthepositionseriouslyinfront，butdependedonMcPhersontocaptureandholdtherailroadtoitsrear，whichwouldforceJohnstontodetachlargelyagainsthim，orrather，asIexpected，toevacuatehispositionatDaltonaltogether。MyorderstoGeneralsThomasandSchofieldweremerelytopressstronglyatallpointsinfront，readytorushinonthefirstappearanceof\"letgo，\"and，ifpossible，tocatchourenemyintheconfusionofretreat。
Allthemovementsofthe7thand8thweremadeexactlyasordered，andtheenemyseemedquiescent，actingpurelyonthedefensive。
Ihadconstantcommunicationwithallpartsofthearmy，andonthe9thMcPherson’sheadofcolumnenteredandpassedthroughSnakeCreek，perfectlyundefended，andaccomplishedacompletesurprisetotheenemy。Atitsfartherdebouchehemetacavalrybrigade，easilydriven，whichretreatedhastilynorthtowardDalton，anddoubtlesscarriedtoJohnstonthefirstseriousintimationthataheavyforceofinfantryandartillerywastohisrearandwithinafewmilesofhisrailroad。IgotashortnotefromMcPhersonthatday（writtenat2p。m。，whenhewaswithinamileandahalfoftherailroad，aboveandnearResaca），andweallfeltjubilant。I
renewedorderstoThomasandSchofieldtobereadyfortheinstantpursuitofwhatIexpectedtobeabrokenanddisorderedarmy，forcedtoretreatbyroadstotheeastofResaca，whichwereknowntobeveryroughandimpracticable。
ThatnightIreceivedfurthernoticefromMcPhersonthathehadfoundResacatoostrongforasurprise;thatinconsequencehehadfallenbackthreemilestothemonthofSnakeCreekGap，andwastherefortified。Iwrotehimthenextdaythefollowingletters，copiesofwhichareinmyletter—book;buthistomeweremerenotesinpencil，notretainedHEADQUARTERSMILITARYDIVISIONOFTHEMISSISSIPPI
INTHEFIELD，TUNNELHILL，GEORGIA，May11，1864
Major—GeneralMcPHERSON，commandingarmyoftheTennessee，SugarValley，Georgia。
GENERAL:Ireceivedbycourier（inthenight）yoursof5and8。30
P。M。ofyesterday。
Younowhaveyourtwenty—threethousandmen，andGeneralHookerisinclosesupport，sothatyoucanholdallofJos。Johnston’sarmyincheckshouldheabandonDalton。HecannotaffordtoabandonDalton，forhehasfixedituponpurposetoreceiveus，andheobservesthatwearecloseathand，waitingforhimtoquit。Hecannotaffordadetachmentstrongenoughtofightyou，ashisarmywillnotadmitofit。
Strengthenyourposition;fightanythingthatcomes;andthreatenthesafetyoftherailroadallthetime。But，totellthetruth，I
wouldrathertheenemywouldstayinDaltontwomoredays，whenhemayfindinhisrearalargerpartythanheexpectsinanopenfield。Atallevents，wecanthenchooseourownground，andhewillbeforcedtomoveoutofhisworks。IdonotintendtoputacolumnintoBuzzard—RoostGapatpresent。
Seethatyouareineasycommunicationwithmeandwithallhead—
quarters。Afterto—daythesupplieswillbeatRinggold。
Yours，W。T。SHERMAN，Major—Generalcommanding。
HEADQUARTERSMILITARYDIVISIONOFTHEMISSISSIPPI
INTHEFIELD，TUNNELHILL，GEORGIA，May11，1864—EveningMajor—GeneralMcPHERSON，commandingarmyoftheTennessee，SugarValley，GeorgiaGENERAL:TheindicationsarethatJohnstonisevacuatingDalton。
Inthatevent，Howard’scorpsandthecavalrywillpursue;alltherestwillfollowyourroute。Iwillbedownearlyinthemorning。
Trytostrikehimifpossibleabouttheforksoftheroad。
Hookermustbewithyounow，andyoumaysendGeneralGarrardbySummervilletothreatenRomeandthatflank。Iwillcauseallthelinestobefeltatonce。
W。T。SHERMAN，major—generalcommanding。
McPhersonhadstartledJohnstoninhisfanciedsecurity，buthadnotdonethefullmeasureofhiswork。Hehadinhandtwenty—threethousandofthebestmenofthearmy，andcouldhavewalkedintoResaca（thenheldonlybyasmallbrigade），orhecouldhaveplacedhiswholeforceastridetherailroadaboveResaca，andtherehaveeasilywithstoodtheattackofallofJohnston’sarmy，withtheknowledgethatThomasandSchofieldwereonhisheels。Hadhedoneso，IamcertainthatJohnstonwouldnothaveventuredtoattackhiminposition，butwouldhaveretreatedeastwardbySpringPlace，andweshouldhavecapturedhalfhisarmyandallhisartilleryandwagonsattheverybeginningofthecampaign。
Suchanopportunitydoesnotoccurtwiceinasinglelife，butatthecriticalmomentMcPhersonseemstohavebeenalittlecautious。
Still，hewasperfectlyjustifiedbyhisorders，andfellbackandassumedanunassailabledefensivepositioninSugarValley，ontheResacasideofSnake—CreekGap。Assoonasinformedofthis，I
determinedtopassthewholearmythroughSnake—CreekGap，andtomoveonResacawiththemainarmy。
Butduringthe10th，theenemyshowednosignsofevacuatingDalton，andIwaswaitingforthearrivalofGarrard’sandStoneman’scavalry，knowntobenearathand，eoastosecurethefulladvantagesofvictory，ofwhichIfeltcertain。Hooker’sTwentiethCorpswasatoncemoveddowntowithineasysupportingdistanceofMcPherson;andonthe11th，perceivingsignsofevacuationofDalton，Igavealltheordersforthegeneralmovement，leavingtheFourthCorps（Howard）andStoneman’scavalryinobservationinfrontofBuzzard—RoostGap，anddirectingalltherestofthearmytomarchthroughSnake—CreekGap，straightonResaca。Theroadswereonlysuchasthecountryafforded，mereroughwagon—ways，andtheseconvergedtothesinglenarrowtrackthroughSnake—CreekGap;butduringthe12thand13ththebulkofThomas’sandSchofield’sarmiesweregotthrough，anddeployedagainstResaca，McPhersonontheright，Thomasinthecentre，andSchofieldontheleft。Johnston，asIanticipated，hadabandonedallhiswell—prepareddefensesatDalton，andwasfoundinsideofResacawiththebulkofhisarmy，holdinghisdivisionswellinhand，actingpurelyonthedefensive，andfightingwellatallpointsofconflict。Acompletelineofintrenchmentswasfoundcoveringtheplace，andthiswasstronglymannedatallpoints。Onthe14thweclosedin，envelopingthetownonitsnorthandwest，andduringthe15thwehadadayofcontinualbattleandskirmish。