With your veteran army I hope to get control of the only two through routes from east to west possessed by the enemy before the fall of Atlanta.

The condition will be filled by holding Savannah and Augusta, or by holding any other port to the east of Savannah and Branchville.

If Wilmington falls, a force from there can co-operate with you.
Thomas has got back into the defences of Nashville, with Hood close upon him.

Decatur has been abandoned, and so have all the roads except the main one leading to Chattanooga.

Part of this falling back was undoubtedly necessary and all of it may have been.