The possession of the Savannah River is more than fatal to the possibility of Southern independence.

They may stand the fall of Richmond, but not of all Georgia.
I will have a long talk with Colonel Porter, and tell him every thing that may occur to me of interest to you.
In the mean time, know that I admire your dogged perseverance and pluck more than ever.

If you can whip Lee and I can march to the Atlantic, I think Uncle Abe will give us a twenty days' leave of absence to see the young folks.
Yours as ever, W.T.SHERMAN, Major-General.
HEADQUARTERS OF THE ARMY, WASHINGTON, September 16, 1864.
General W.T.SHERMAN, Atlanta, Georgia.
My DEAR GENERAL: Your very interesting letter of the 4th is just received.

Its perusal has given me the greatest pleasure.

I have not written before to congratulate you on the capture of Atlanta, the objective point of your brilliant campaign, for the reason that I have been suffering from my annual attack of "coryza," or hay-cold.