Thomas reported that he could not go any farther, because it was impossible with his poor teams, nearly starved, to keep up supplies until the railroads were repaired.

He soon fell back.
Schofield also had to return for the same reason.

He could not carry supplies with him, and Longstreet was between him and the supplies still left in the country.

Longstreet, in his retreat, would be moving towards his supplies, while our forces, following, would be receding from theirs.

On the 2d of March, however, I learned of Sherman's success, which eased my mind very much.