The way I propose to do this is to land the men north of Fort Fisher, and hold that point.  At the same time a large naval fleet will be assembled there, and the iron-clads will run the batteries as they did at Mobile.  This will give us the same control of the harbor of Wilmington that we now have of the harbor of Mobile.  What you are to do with the forces at your command, I do not see.  The difficulties of supplying your army, except when you are constantly moving, beyond where you are, I plainly see.  If it had not been for Price’s movements Canby would have sent twelve thousand more men to Mobile.  From your command on the Mississippi an equal number could have been taken.  With these forces my idea would have been to divide them, sending one half to Mobile and the other half to Savannah.  You could then move as proposed in your telegram, so as to threaten Macon and Augusta equally.  Whichever was abandoned by the enemy you could take and open up a new base of supplies.  My object now in sending a staff officer is not so much to suggest operations for you, as to get your views and have plans matured by the time everything can be got ready.  It will probably be the 5th of October before any of the plans herein indicated will be executed.

If you have any promotions to recommend, send the names forward and I will approve them. * * *

U. S. GRANT, Lieutenant-General.

This reached Sherman on September 20th.

On the 25th of September Sherman reported to Washington that Hood’s troops were in his rear.  He had provided against this by sending a division to Chattanooga and a division to Rome, Georgia, which was in the rear of Hood, supposing that Hood would fall back in the direction from which he had come to reach the railroad.  At the same time Sherman and Hood kept up a correspondence relative to the exchange of prisoners, the treatment of citizens, and other matters suitable to be arranged between hostile commanders in the field.  On the 27th of September I telegraphed Sherman as follows: 

CITY POINT, VA., September 27, 1864—­10.30 A.M.

MAJOR-GENERAL SHERMAN: 

I have directed all recruits and new troops from the Western States to be sent to Nashville, to receive their further orders from you. * * *

U. S. GRANT, Lieutenant-General.

On the 29th Sherman sent Thomas back to Chattanooga, and afterwards to Nashville, with another division (Morgan’s) of the advanced army.  Sherman then suggested that, when he was prepared, his movements should take place against Milledgeville and then to Savannah.  His expectation at that time was, to make this movement as soon as he could get up his supplies.  Hood was moving in his own country, and was moving light so that he could make two miles to Sherman’s one.  He depended upon the country to gather his supplies, and so was not affected by delays.