Butler may not see it in that light.
Ever since you started on the last campaign, and before, I have been attempting to get something done in the West, both to cooperate with you and to take advantage of the enemy's weakness there--to accomplish results favorable to us.

Knowing Thomas to be slow beyond excuse, I depleted his army to reinforce Canby, so that he might act from Mobile Bay on the interior.

With all I have said, he has not moved at last advices.

Canby was sending a cavalry force, of about seven thousand, from Vicksburg toward Selma.

I ordered Thomas to send Wilson from Eastport toward the same point, and to get him off as soon after the 20th of February as possible.