[149]My only resource then was to retire slowly toward my reenforcemente, delaying the enemy's progress as much as possible to gain time for reenforcements to arrive and concentrate. * * * * Since the departure of General Sherman about seven thousand (7,000) men belonging to his column had collected at Chattanooga, comprising convalescents returning to their commands and men returning from furlough.
‘These men had been organized into brigades to be made available at such points as they might be needed. My command had also been reenforced by twenty (20) new one-year regiments, most of which, however, were absorbed in replacing old regiments whose term of service had expired.’
The very dispatch which General Sherman quotes as Grant's assent to the march, shows that he gave it upon the ground that Thomas, with the force Sherman said he had left him, could destroy Hood. This telegram was in reply to one of November 1st, given just above, mis-stating Thomas' available force. After saying he had telegraphed Sherman on the same day that Hood's army should be looked upon as the ‘object,’ the dispatch continued:
‘With the force, however, that you have left with General Thomas, he must be able to take care of Hood and destroy him. * * * * I say, then, go on as you propose.’
General Sherman interprets the last clause of this order as if it read: ‘Go on and execute the March to the Sea, which you have originated,’ when, in fact, he should have interpreted it: ‘You propose to march without first destroying Hood. As Thomas can now take care of him, I say go.’
There is an expression in the congratulatory order issued by General Sherman to his army, after reaching Savannah, which can not well be explained in accordance with his theory that he planned the March to the Sea. Speaking of Hood's movement to his rear as an attempt to decoy him out of Georgia, General Sherman in that order wrote:
‘But we were not thus to be led away by him, and preferred to lead and control events ourselves. Generals Thomas and Schofield, commanding the departments to our rear, returned to their posts and prepared to decoy General Hood into their meshes, while we came on to complete the original journey.’ * * * *
