If there had been any idea of repairing railroads, it could have been done much better from the North, where we already had the troops.

I expected your movements to be co-operative with Sherman's last.

This has now entirely failed.

I wrote to you long ago, urging you to push promptly and to live upon the country, and destroy railroads, machine shops, etc., not to build them.
Take Mobile and hold it, and push your forces to the interior--to Montgomery and to Selma.

Destroy railroads, rolling stock, and everything useful for carrying on war, and, when you have done this, take such positions as can be supplied by water.