Sherman was obliged to push on with his force and go himself with portions of it hither and thither, until it was clearly demonstrated to him that with the army he then had it would be impossible to hold the line from Atlanta back and leave him any force whatever with which to take the offensive.

Had that plan been adhered to, very large reinforcements would have been necessary; and Mr.Davis's prediction of the destruction of the army would have been realized, or else Sherman would have been obliged to make a successful retreat, which Mr.Davis said in his speeches would prove more disastrous than Napoleon's retreat from Moscow.
These speeches of Mr.Davis were not long in reaching Sherman.

He took advantage of the information they gave, and made all the preparation possible for him to make to meet what now became expected, attempts to break his communications.

Something else had to be done: and to Sherman's sensible and soldierly mind the idea was not long in dawning upon him, not only that something else had to be done, but what that something else should be.
On September 10th I telegraphed Sherman as follows: CITY POINT, VA., Sept.

10, 1864.
MAJOR-GENERAL SHERMAN, Atlanta, Georgia.
So soon as your men are sufficiently rested, and preparations can be made, it is desirable that another campaign should be commenced.