direct on Raleigh.  The game is then up with Lee, unless he comes out of Richmond, avoids you and fights me; in which case I should reckon on your being on his heels.  Now that Hood is used up by Thomas, I feel disposed to bring the matter to an issue as quick as possible.  I feel confident that I can break up the whole railroad system of South Carolina and North Carolina, and be on the Roanoke, either at Raleigh or Weldon, by the time spring fairly opens; and, if you feel confident that you can whip Lee outside of his intrenchments, I feel equally confident that I can handle him in the open country.

One reason why I would ignore Charleston is this:  that I believe Hardee will reduce the garrison to a small force, with plenty of provisions; I know that the neck back of Charleston can be made impregnable to assault, and we will hardly have time for siege operations.

I will have to leave in Savannah a garrison, and, if Thomas can spare them, I would like to have all detachments, convalescents, etc., belonging to these four corps, sent forward at once.  I do not want to cripple Thomas, because I regard his operations as all-important, and I have ordered him to pursue Hood down into Alabama, trusting to the country for supplies.

I reviewed one of my corps to-day, and shall continue to review the whole army.  I do not like to boast, but believe this army has a confidence in itself that makes it almost invincible.  I wish you could run down and see us; it would have a good effect, and show to both armies that they are acting on a common plan.  The weather is now cool and pleasant, and the general health very good.  Your true friend,

W. T. Sherman Major-General.

Headquarters military division of the Mississippi
in the field, Savannah, Georgia, December 24, 1864.

Major-General H. W. Halleck, Chief-of-Staff; Washington, D. C.

General:  I had the pleasure of receiving your two letters of the 16th and 18th instant to-day, and feel more than usually flattered by the high encomiums you have passed on our recent campaign, which is now complete by the occupation of Savannah.

I am also very glad that General Grant has changed his mind about embarking my troops for James River, leaving me free to make the broad swath you describe through South and North Carolina; and still more gratified at the news from Thomas, in Tennessee, because it fulfills my plans, which contemplated his being able to dispose of Hood, in case he ventured north of the Tennessee River.  So, I think, on the whole, I can chuckle over Jeff.  Davis’s disappointment in not turning my Atlanta campaign into a “Moscow disaster.”