To this I replied, the country is already disheartened over the lack of success on the part of our armies; the last election went against the vigorous prosecution of the war, voluntary enlistments had ceased throughout most of the North and conscription was already resorted to, and if we went back so far as Memphis it would discourage the people so much that bases of supplies would be of no use: neither men to hold them nor supplies to put in them would be furnished.

The problem for us was to move forward to a decisive victory, or our cause was lost.

No progress was being made in any other field, and we had to go on.
Sherman wrote to my adjutant general, Colonel J.A.Rawlins, embodying his views of the campaign that should be made, and asking him to advise me to at least get the views of my generals upon the subject.

Colonel Rawlins showed me the letter, but I did not see any reason for changing my plans.

The letter was not answered and the subject was not subsequently mentioned between Sherman and myself to the end of the war, that I remember of.