Kingston, Georgia, November 2, 1884.  Lieutenant-General U. S. Grant, City Point, Virginia:  If I turn back, the whole effect of my campaign will be lost.  By my movements I have thrown Beauregard (Hood) well to the west, and Thomas will have ample time and sufficient troops to hold him until the reenforcements from Missouri reach him.  We have now ample supplies at Chattanooga and Atlanta, and can stand a month’s interruption to our communications.  I do not believe the Confederate army can reach our railroad-lines except by cavalry-raids, and Wilson will have cavalry enough to checkmate them.  I am clearly of opinion that the best results will follow my contemplated movement through Georgia.  W. T. Sherman, Major-General.

That same day I received, in answer to the Rome dispatch, the following: 

City point, Virginia, November 2,1864—­11.30 a.m.

Major-General Sherman: 

Your dispatch of 9 A.M. yesterday is just received.  I dispatched you the same date, advising that Hood’s army, now that it had worked so far north, ought to be looked upon now as the “object.”  With the force, however, that you have left with General Thomas, he must be able to take care of Hood and destroy him.

I do not see that you can withdraw from where you are to follow Hood, without giving up all we have gained in territory.  I say, then, go on as you propose.

U. S. Grant, Lieutenant-General,

This was the first time that General Grant ordered the “march to the sea,” and, although many of his warm friends and admirers insist that he was the author and projector of that march, and that I simply executed his plans, General Grant has never, in my opinion, thought so or said so.  The truth is fully given in an original letter of President Lincoln, which I received at Savannah, Georgia, and have at this instant before me, every word of which is in his own familiar handwriting.  It is dated—­

Washington, December 26, 1864.

When you were about leaving Atlanta for the Atlantic coast, I was anxious, if not fearful; but, feeling that you were the better judge, and remembering “nothing risked, nothing gained,” I did not interfere.  Now, the undertaking being a success, the honor is all yours; for I believe none of us went further than to acquiesce; and, taking the work of General Thomas into account, as it should be taken, it is indeed a great success.  Not only does it afford the obvious and immediate military advantages, but, in showing to the world that your army could be divided, putting the stronger part to an important new service, and yet leaving enough to vanquish the old opposing force of the whole, Hood’s army, it brings those who sat in darkness to see a great light.  But what next?  I suppose it will be safer if I leave General Grant and yourself to decide.

A. LINCOLN