This brigade was very small, and as Hood’s investment extended only from the Oostenaula, below the town, to the Connesauga above, he left open the approach from the south, which enabled General Raum and the cavalry of Generals McCook and Watkins to reenforce from Kingston.  In fact, Hood, admonished by his losses at Allatoona, did not attempt an assault at all, but limited his attack to the above threat, and to some skirmishing, giving his attention chiefly to the destruction of the railroad, which he accomplished all the way up to Tunnel Hill, nearly twenty miles, capturing en route the regiment of black troops at Dalton (Johnson’s Forty-fourth United States colored).  On the 14th, I turned General Howard through Snake-Creek Gap, and sent General Stanley around by Tilton, with orders to cross the mountain to the west, so as to capture, if possible, the force left by the enemy in Snake-Creek Gap.  We found this gap very badly obstructed by fallen timber, but got through that night, and the next day the main army was at Villanow.  On the morning of the 16th, the leading division of General Howard’s column, commanded by General Charles R. Woods, carried Ship’s Gap, taking prisoners part of the Twenty-fourth South Carolina Regiment, which had been left there to hold us in check.

The best information there obtained located Hood’s army at Lafayette, near which place I hoped to catch him and force him to battle; but, by the time we had got enough troops across the mountain at Ship’s Gap, Hood had escaped down the valley of the Chattooga, and all we could do was to follow him as closely as possible.  From Ship’s Gap I dispatched couriers to Chattanooga, and received word back that General Schofield was there, endeavoring to cooperate with me, but Hood had broken up the telegraph, and thus had prevented quick communication.  General Schofield did not reach me till the army had got down to Gaylesville, about the 21st of October.

It was at Ship’s Gap that a courier brought me the cipher message from General Halleck which intimated that the authorities in Washington were willing I should undertake the march across Georgia to the sea.  The translated dispatch named “Horse-i-bar Sound” as the point where the fleet would await my arrival.  After much time I construed it to mean, “Ossabaw Sound,” below Savannah, which was correct.

On the 16th I telegraphed to General Thomas, at Nashville: 

Send me Morgan’s and Newton’s old divisions.  Reestablish the road, and I will follow Hood wherever he may go.  I think he will move to Blue Mountain.  We can maintain our men and animals on the country.

General Thomas’s reply was: 

NASHVILLE, October 17, 1864—­10.30 a.m.

Major-General SHERMAN: