Theenemyhasmadetwodesperateeffortstogetboatsfromabovetothecity，inbothofwhichhehasbeenfoiled—GeneralSlocum（whoseleftflankrestsontheriver）capturingandburningthefirstboat，andinthesecondinstancedrivingbacktwogunboatsandcapturingthesteamerResolute，withsevennavalofficersandacrewoftwenty—fiveseamen。GeneralSlocumoccupiesArgyleIslandandtheupperendofHutchinsonInland，andhasabrigadeontheSouthCarolinashoreopposite，andisveryurgenttopassoneofhiscorpsovertothatshore。But，inviewofthechangeofplanmadenecessarybyyourorderofthe6th，IwillmaintainthingsinstatuquotillIhavegotallmytransportationtotherearandoutoftheway，anduntilIhavesea—transportationforthetroopsyourequireatJamesRiver，whichIwillaccompanyandcommandinperson。Ofcourse，IwillleaveKilpatrick，withhiscavalry（sayfivethousandthreehundred），and，itmaybe，adivisionoftheFifteenthCorps;but，beforedeterminingonthis，ImustseeGeneralFoster，andmayarrangetoshifthisforce（nowoverabovetheCharlestonRailroad，attheheadofBroadRiver）totheOgeeohee，where，incooperationwithKilpatrick’scavalry，hecanbetterthreatentheStateofGeorgiathanfromthedirectionofPortRoyal。Besides，Iwouldmuchprefernottodetachfrommyregularcorpsanyofitsveterandivisions，andwouldevenpreferthatotherlessvaluabletroopsshouldbesenttoreenforceFosterfromsomeotherquarter。Myfourcorps，fullofexperienceandfullofardor，comingtoyouenmasse，equaltosixtythousandfightingmen，willbeareenforcementthatLeecannotdisregard。
Indeed，withmypresentcommand，Ihadexpected，afterreducingSavannah，instantlytomarchtoColumbia，SouthCarolina;thencetoRaleigh，andthencetoreporttoyou。Butthiswouldconsume，itmaybe，sixweeks’timeafterthefallofSavannah;whereas，bysea，IcanprobablyreachyouwithmymenandarmsbeforethemiddleofJanuary。
ImyselfamsomewhatastonishedattheattitudeofthingsinTennessee。IpurposelydelayedatKingstonuntilGeneralThomasassuredmethathewasallready，andmylastdispatchfromhimofthe12thofNovemberwasfullofconfidence，inwhichhepromisedmethathewouldruinHoodifhedaredtoadvancefromFlorence，urgingmetogoahead，andgivemyselfnoconcernaboutHood’sarmyinTennessee。
WhyhedidnotturnonhimatFranklin，aftercheckinganddiscomfitinghim，surpassesmyunderstanding。Indeed，IdonotapproveofhisevacuatingDecatur，butthinkheshouldhaveassumedtheoffensiveagainstHoodfromPulaski，inthedirectionofWaynesburg。
IknowfullwellthatGeneralThomasisslowinmindandinaction;