Of course, General Thomas saw that on him would likely fall the real blow, and was naturally anxious.

He still kept Granger's division at Decatur, Rousseau's at Murfreesboro', and Steedman's at Chattanooga, with strong railroad guards at all the essential points intermediate, confident that by means of this very railroad he could make his concentration sooner than Hood could possibly march up from Florence.
Meantime, General F.P.Blair had rejoined his corps (Seventeenth), and we were receiving at Kingston recruits and returned furlough-men, distributing them to their proper companies.
Paymasters had come down to pay off our men before their departure to a new sphere of action, and commissioners were also on hand from the several States to take the vote of our men in the presidential election then agitating the country.
On the 6th of November, at Kingston, I wrote and telegraphed to General Grant, reviewing the whole situation, gave him my full plan of action, stated that I was ready to march as soon as the election was over, and appointed November 10th as the day for starting.

On the 8th I received this dispatch: CITY POINT, VIRGINIA, November 7, 1864-10.30 P.M.
Major-General SHERMAN: Your dispatch of this evening received.

I see no present reason for changing your plan.

Should any arise, you will see it, or if I do I will inform you.