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o that fort； to reconnoitre the ground； and to prepare it so as to make a fortified camp large enough to accommodate the vast herd of mules and horses that would thus be left behind。 And as some time might be required to collect the necessary shipping； which I estimated at little less than a hundred steamers and sailing…vessels； I determined to push operations； in hopes to secure the city； of Savannah before the necessary fleet could be available。 All these ideas are given in my answer to General Grant's letters （dated December 16； 1864） herewith； which is a little more full than the one printed in the report of the Committee on the Conduct of the War； because in that copy I omitted the matter concerning General Thomas； which now need no longer be withheld：
HEADQUARTERS MILITARY DIVISION OE THE MISSISSIPPI； IN THE FIELD； NEAR SAVANNAH； December 16； 1864。
Lieutenant…General U。 S。 GRANT； Commander…in…Chief； City Point； Virginia。
GENERAL ： I received； day before yesterday； at the hands of Lieutenant Dunn； your letter of December 8d； and last night； at the hands of Colonel Babcock； that of December 6th。 I had previously made you a hasty scrawl from the tugboat Dandelion； in Ogeechee River； advising you that the army had reached the sea…coast； destroying all the railroads across the State of Georgia； investing closely the city of Savannah； and had made connection with the fleet。
Since writing that note； I have in person met and conferred with General Foster and Admiral Dahlgren； and made all the arrangements which were deemed essential for reducing the city of Savannah to our possession。 But； since the receipt of yours of the 6th； I have initiated measures looking principally to coming to you with fifty or Sixty thousand infantry； and incidentally to capture Savannah； if time will allow。
At the time we carried Fort McAllister by assault so handsomely； with its twenty…two guns and entire garrison； I was hardly aware。 of its importance； but； since passing down the river with General Foster and up with Admiral Dahlgren； I realize how admirably adapted are Ossabaw Sound and Ogeechee River to supply an army operating against Savannah。 Seagoing vessels can easily come to King's Bridge； a point on Ogeechee River； fourteen and a half miles due west of Savannah； from which point we have roads leading to all our camps。 The country is low and sandy； and cut up with marshes； which in wet weather will be very bad； but we have been so favored with weather that they are all now comparatively good； and heavy details are constantly employed in double…corduroying the marshes； so that I have no fears even of bad weather。 Fortunately； also； by liberal and judicious foraging； we reached the sea…coast abundantly supplied with forage and provisions； needing nothing on arrival except bread。 Of this we started from Atlanta； with from eight to twenty days' supply per corps and some of the troops only had one day's issue of bread during the trip of thirty days； yet they did not want； for sweet…potatoes were very abundant； as well as corn…meal； and our soldiers took to them naturally。 We started with about five thousand head of cattle； and arrived with over ten thousand； of course consuming mostly turkeys； chickens； sheep； hogs； and the cattle of the country。 As to our mules and horses； we left Atlanta with about twenty…five hundred wagons； many of which were drawn by mules which had not recovered from the Chattanooga starvation； all of which were replaced； the poor mules shot； and our transportation is now in superb condition。 I have no doubt the State of Georgia has lost； by our operations； fifteen thousand first…rate mules。 As to horses； Kilpatrick collected all his remounts； and it looks to me； in riding along our columns； as though every officer had three or four led horses； and each regiment seems to be followed by at least fifty negroes and foot…sore soldiers； riding on horses and mules。 The custom was for each brigade to send out daily a foraging…party of about fifty men； on foot； who invariably returned mounted； with several wagons loaded with poultry； potatoes； etc。； and as the army is composed of about forty brigades； you can estimate approximately the number of horses collected。 Great numbers of these were shot by my order； because of the disorganizing effect on our infantry of having too many idlers mounted。 General Euston is now engaged in collecting statistics on this subject； but I know the Government will never rceive fall accounts of our captures； although the result aimed at was fully attained； viz。； to deprive our enemy of them。 All these animals I will have sent to Port Royal； or collected behind Fort McAllister； to be used by General Saxton in his farming operations； or by the Quartermaster's Department； after they are systematically accounted for。 While General Easton is collecting transportation for my troops to James River； I will throw to Port Royal Island all our means of transportation I can； and collect the rest near Fort McAllister； covered by the Ogeeehee River and intrenchments to be erected； and for which Captain Poe； my chief…engineer； is now reconnoitring the ground； but in the mean time will act as I have begun； as though the city of Savannah were my objective： namely； the troops will continue to invest Savannah closely； making attacks and feints wherever we have fair ground to stand upon； and I will place some thirty…pound Parrotts； which I have got from General Foster； in position； near enough to reach the centre of the city； and then will demand its surrender。 If General Hardee is alarmed； or fears starvation； he may surrender； otherwise I will bombard the city； but not risk the lives of our men by assaults across the narrow causeways； by which alone I can now reach it。
If I had time； Savannah； with all its dependent fortifications； would surely fall into our possession； for we hold all its avenues of supply。
The enemy has made two desperate efforts to get boats from above to the city； in both of which he has been foiled…General Slocum （whose left flank rests on the river） capturing and burning the first boat； and in the second instance driving back two gunboats and capturing the steamer Resolute； with seven naval officers and a crew of twenty…five seamen。 General Slocum occupies Argyle Island and the upper end of Hutchinson Inland； and has a brigade on the South Carolina shore opposite； and is very urgent to pass one of his corps over to that shore。 But； in view of the change of plan made necessary by your order of the 6th； I will maintain things in statu quo till I have got all my transportation to the rear and out of the way； and until I have sea…transportation for the troops you require at James River； which I will accompany and command in person。 Of course； I will leave Kilpatrick； with his cavalry （say five thousand three hundred）； and； it may be； a division of the Fifteenth Corps； but； before determining on this； I must see General Foster； and may arrange to shift his force （now over above the Charleston Railroad； at the head of Broad River） to the Ogeeohee； where； in cooperation with Kilpatrick's cavalry； he can better threaten the State of Georgia than from the direction o