RICHMOND, November 7, 1864.
(Via Meridian 11th.)
General J. B. HOOD:
No troops can have
been sent by Grant or Sheridan to Nashville. The latter has attempted to
re-enforce the former, but Earl's movements prevented it. That fact may assure
you as to their condition and purposes. The policy of taking advantage of the
separated divisions of Sherman's forces, by attacking him where he cannot
reunite his army, is too obvious to have been overlooked by you. I therefore
take it for granted that you have not been able to avail yourself of that
advantage during his march northward from Atlanta, and hope the opportunity
will be offered before he is extensively recruited. If you keep his
communications broken he will most probably seek to concentrate for an attack
on you. But if, as reported to you, he has sent a large part of his force
southward, you may first beat him in detail, and subsequently without serious
obstruction or danger to the country in your rear, advance to the Ohio River.
JEFFN. DAVIS.
SOURCES: The War of the Rebellion: A Compilation of
the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies, Series I, Volume
39, Part 3 (Serial No. 79), p. 896; John Bell Hood, Advance and
Retreat, p. 273
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