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ubt； and I was so strongly convinced of the wisdom of my proposition to change the whole tactics of the campaign； to leave Hood to General Thomas； and to march across Georgia for Savannah or Charleston； that I again telegraphed to General Grant：
We cannot now remain on the defensive。 With twenty…five thousand infantry and the bold cavalry he has； Hood can constantly break my road。 I would infinitely prefer to make a wreck of the road and of the country from Chattanooga to Atlanta； including the latter city； send back all my wounded and unserviceable men； and with my effective army move through Georgia； smashing things to the sea。 Hood may turn into Tennessee and Kentucky； but I believe he will be forced to follow me。 Instead of being on the defensive； I will be on the offensive。 Instead of my guessing at what he means to do； he will have to guess at my plans。 The difference in war would be fully twenty…five per pent。 I can make Savannah； Charleston； or the month of the Chattahoochee （Appalachicola）。 Answer quick； as I know we will not have the telegraph long。
I received no answer to this at the time； and the next day went on to Rome； where the news came that Hood had made his appearance at Resaca； and had demanded the surrender of the place； which was commanded by Colonel Weaver； reenforced by Brevet Brigadier…General Raum。 General Hood had evidently marched with rapidity up the Chattooga Valley； by Summerville； Lafayette； Ship's Gap； and Snake…Creek Gap； and had with him his whole army； except a small force left behind to watch Rome。 I ordered Resaca to be further reenforced by rail from Kingston； and ordered General Cox to make a bold reconnoissance down the Coosa Valley； which captured and brought into Rome some cavalrymen and a couple of field…guns； with their horses and men。 At first I thought of interposing my whole army in the Chattooga Valley； so as to prevent Hood's escape south； but I saw at a glance that he did not mean to fight； and in that event； after damaging the road all he could； he would be likely to retreat eastward by Spring Place； which I did not want him to do； and； hearing from General Raum that he still held Resaca safe； and that General Edward McCook had also got there with some cavalry reenforcements； I turned all the heads of columns for Resaca； viz。； General Cox's； from Rome； General Stanley's； from McGuire's； and General Howard's； from Kingston。 We all reached Resaca during that night； and the next morning （13th） learned that Hood's whole army had passed up the valley toward Dalton； burning the railroad and doing all the damage possible。
On the 12th he had demanded the surrender of Resaca in the following letter
HEADQUARTERS ARMY OF TENNESSEE IN THE FIELD； October 12；1861。
To the officer commanding the United Stales Forces at Resaca； Georgia。
SIR： I demand the immediate and unconditional surrender of the post and garrison under your command； and； should this be acceded to； all white officers and soldiers will be parolled in a few days。 If the place is carried by assault； no prisoners will be taken。 Most respectfully； your obedient servant；
J。 B。 HOOD； General。
To this Colonel Weaver； then in command； replied：
HEADQUARTERS SECOND BRIGADE； THIRD DIVISION； FIFTEENTH CORPS RESACA； GEORGIA； October 12； 1884。
To General J。 B。 HOOD
Your communication of this date just received。 In reply； I have to state that I am somewhat surprised at the concluding paragraph； to the effect that； if the place is carried by assault； no prisoners will be taken。 In my opinion I can hold this poSt。 If you want it； come and take it。
I am； general； very respectfully； your most obedient servant；
CLARK R。 WEAVER； Commanding Officer。
This brigade was very small； and as Hood's investment extended only from the Oostenaula； below the town； to the Connesauga above； he left open the approach from the south； which enabled General Raum and the cavalry of Generals McCook and Watkins to reenforce from Kingston。 In fact； Hood； admonished by his losses at Allatoona； did not attempt an assault at all； but limited his attack to the above threat； and to solve skirmishing； giving his attention chiefly to the destruction of the railroad； which he accomplished all the way up to Tunnel Hill； nearly twenty miles； capturing en route the regiment of black troops at Dalton （Johnson's Forty…fourth United States colored）。 On the 14th； I turned General Howard through Snake…Creek Gap； and sent General Stanley around by Tilton； with orders to cross the mountain to the west； so as to capture； if possible； the force left by the enemy in Snake…Creek Gap。 We found this gap very badly obstructed by fallen timber； but got through that night； and the next day the main army was at Villanow。 On the morning of the 16th； the leading division of General Howard's column； commanded by General Charles R。 Woods； carried Ship's Gap； taking prisoners part of the Twenty…fourth South Carolina Regiment； which had been left there to hold us in check。
The best information there obtained located Hood's army at Lafayette； near which place I hoped to catch him and force him to battle； but； by the time we had got enough troops across the mountain at Ship's Gap； Hood had escaped down the valley of the Chattooga； and all we could do was to follow him as closely as possible。 From Ship's Gap I dispatched couriers to Chattanooga； and received word back that General Schofield was there； endeavoring to cooperate with me； but Hood had broken up the telegraph； and thus had prevented quick communication。 General Schofield did not reach me till the army had got down to Gaylesville； about the 21st of October。
It was at Ship's Gap that a courier brought me the cipher message from General Halleck which intimated that the authorities in Washington were willing I should undertake the march across Georgia to the sea。 The translated dispatch named 〃Horse…i…bar Sound〃 as the point where the fleet would await my arrival。 After much time I construed it to mean； 〃Ossabaw Sound；〃 below Savannah； which was correct。
On the 16th I telegraphed to General Thomas； at Nashville：
Send me Morgan's and Newton's old divisions。 Reestablish the road； and I will follow Hood wherever he may go。 I think he will move to Blue Mountain。 We can maintain our men and animals on the country。
General Thomas's reply was：
NASHVILLE； October 17； 186410。30 a。m。
Major…General SHERMAN：
Your dispatch from Ship's Gap； 5 p。m。 of the 16th； just received。 Schofield； whom I placed in command of the two divisions （Wagner's and Morgan's）； was to move up Lookout Valley this A。M。； to intercept Hood； should he be marching for Bridgeport。 I will order him to join you with the two divisions； and will reconstruct the road as soon as possible。 Will also reorganize the guards for posts and block…houses 。。。。 Mower and Wilson have arrived； and are on their way to join you。 I hope you will adopt Grant's idea of turning Wilson loose； rather than undertake the plan of a march with the whole force through Georgia to the sea； inasmuch as General Grant cannot cooperate with you as at first arranged。
GEORGE H。 THOMAS； Major…General。
So it is clear