City point, Virginia; September 27, 1864-8.30 a.m.  Major-General Sherman:  It is evident, from the tone of the Richmond press and from other sources of information, that the enemy intend making a desperate effort to drive you from where you are.  I have directed all new troops from the West, and from the East too, if necessary, in case none are ready in the West, to be sent to you.  If General Burbridge is not too far on his way to Abingdon, I think he had better be recalled and his surplus troops sent into Tennessee.  U. S. Grant, Lieutenant-General.

City point, Virginia; September 27, 1864-10.30 a.m. 
Major-General Sherman: 
I have directed all recruits and new troops from all the Western
States to be sent to Nashville, to receive their further orders
from you.  I was mistaken about Jeff.  Davis being in Richmond on
Thursday last.  He was then on his way to Macon. 
U. S. Grant, Lieutenant-General.

Forrest having already made his appearance in Middle Tennessee, and Hood evidently edging off in that direction, satisfied me that the general movement against our roads had begun.  I therefore determined to send General Thomas back to Chattanooga, with another division (Morgan’s, of the Fourteenth Corps), to meet the danger in Tennessee.  General Thomas went up on the 29th, and Morgan’s division followed the same day, also by rail.  And I telegraphed to General Halleck

I take it for granted that Forrest will cut our road, but think we can prevent him from making a serious lodgment.  His cavalry will travel a hundred miles where ours will ten.  I have sent two divisions up to Chattanooga and one to Rome, and General Thomas started to-day to drive Forrest out of Tennessee.  Our roads should be watched from the rear, and I am glad that General Grant has ordered reserves to Nashville.  I prefer for the future to make the movement on Milledgeville, Millen, and Savannah.  Hood now rests twenty-four miles south, on the Chattahoochee, with his right on the West Point road.  He is removing the iron of the Macon road.  I can whip his infantry, but his cavalry is to be feared.

There was great difficulty in obtaining correct information about Hood’s movements from Palmetto Station.  I could not get spies to penetrate his camps, but on the 1st of October I was satisfied that the bulk of his infantry was at and across the Chattahoochee River, near Campbellton, and that his cavalry was on the west side, at Powder Springs.  On that day I telegraphed to General Grant: 

Hood is evidently across the Chattahoochee, below Sweetwater.  If he tries to get on our road, this side of the Etowah, I shall attack him; but if he goes to the Selma & Talladega road, why will it not do to leave Tennessee to the forces which Thomas has, and the reserves soon to come to Nashville, and for me to destroy Atlanta and march across Georgia to Savannah or Charleston, breaking roads and doing irreparable damage?  We cannot remain on the defensive.