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the fairest opportunities ever presented of destroying one of the three armies of the enemy.
If destroyed he can never replace it Use the means at your command, and you can do this and cause a rejoicing from one end of the land to the other.
Your dispatch of 9 P. M. just received.
I want
General Thomas reminded of the importance of immediate action.
I sent him a dispatch this evening, which will probably urge him on. I would not say relieve him until I hear further from him.
Your dispatch of 7:30 P. M. is just received.
I can only say, in further extenuation why I have not attacked
Hood, that I could not concentrate my troops, and get their transportation in order, in shorter time than it has been done, and am satisfied I have made every effort that was possible to complete the task.
Lieutenant-General Grant expresses much dissatisfaction at your delay in attacking the enemy.
If you wait till
General Wilson mounts all his cavalry you will wait till doomsday, for the waste equals the supply.
Moreover, you will be in the same condition that
Rosecrans was last year—with so many animals that you can not feed them.
Reports already come in of a scarcity of forage.
Your dispatch of 10:30 A. M., this date, is received.
I regret that
General Grant should feel dissatisfaction at my delay in attacking the enemy.
I feel conscious that I have done everything in my power to prepare, and that the troops could not have been gotten ready before this.
And if he should order me to be relieved I will submit without a murmur.
A terrible Storm of freezing rain has come on since daylight, which will render an attack impossible till it breaks.
