It is hardly necessary to say they were not returned.

That department continued to absorb troops to no purpose to the end of the war.

This left McPherson so weak that the part of the plan above indicated had to be changed.

He was therefore brought up to Chattanooga and moved from there on a road to the right of Thomas--the two coming together about Dalton.

The three armies were abreast, all ready to start promptly on time.
Sherman soon found that Dalton was so strongly fortified that it was useless to make any attempt to carry it by assault; and even to carry it by regular approaches was impracticable.