Wednesday, February 14, 2018

Lieutenant-General Ulysses S. Grant to Edwin M. Stanton, October 13, 1864 – 3:30 p.m.

CITY POINT, VA., October 13, 1864 — 3.30 p.m. 
(Received 6 p.m.)
Hon. EDWIN M. STANTON,
Secretary of War:

On mature reflection, I believe Sherman's proposition is the best that can be adopted. With the long line of railroad in rear of Atlanta Sherman cannot maintain his position. If he cuts loose, destroying the road from Chattanooga forward, he leaves a wide and destitute country to pass over before reaching territory now held by us. Thomas could retain force enough to meet Hood by giving up the road from Nashville to Decatur and thence to Stevenson and leave Sherman still force enough to meet Hood's army if it took the other and most likely course. Such an army as Sherman has (and with such a commander) is hard to corner or capture.

U.S. GRANT,
Lieutenant-General.
(Copy sent from Washington to General Thomas October 14.)

SOURCE: 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. 239

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