William Boynton, Sherman's Historical Raid

[190] for more than seventy miles down the river, and no attack yet made by Thomas. Please telegraph orders relieving him at once, and placing Schofield in command. Thomas should be ordered to turn over all orders and dispatches, received since the battle of Franklin, to Schofield.

U. S. Grant, Lieutenant-General.

In obedience to this dispatch, according to Halleck, the following order was drawn up in the War Department, but never issued, and no trace of it can now be found there:

War Department, Adjutant-General's office, Washington, December 9, 1864.

[General orders no. —.]

The following dispatch having been received from Lieutenant-General Grant, viz.: ‘Please telegraph orders relieving him (General Thomas) at once, and placing (General) Schofield in command,’ the President orders:

1. That Major-General J. M. Schofield relieve, at once, Major-General G. H. Thomas, in command of the Department and Army of the Cumberland.

2. General Thomas will turn over to General Schofield all orders and instructions received by him since the battle of Franklin.

E. D. Townsend, A. A. G.

Nashville, Tenn., December 9, 1864, 1 P. M.
Liutenant-General U. S. Grant, City Point.

Your dispatch of 8:30 P. M. of the 8th is just received. I have nearly completed my preparations to attack the enemy to-morrow morning, but a terrible storm of freezing rain has come on to-day, which will make it impossible for our men to fight to any advantage. I am, therefore, compelled to wait for the storm to break and make the attack immediately after. Admiral Lee is patrolling the river above and below the city, and I believe will be able to prevent the enemy from crossing. There is no doubt but Hood's forces are considerably scattered along the river, with the view of attempting a crossing, but it has been impossible for me to organize and equip the troops for an attack at an earlier time. Major-General Halleck informs me that you are very much dissatisfied with my delay in attacking. I can only say I have done all in my power to prepare, and if you should deem it necessary to relieve me, I shall submit without a murmur.

Geo. H. Thomas, Major-General U. S. Vols. commanding.

War Department, Washington, December 9, 1864, 4 P. M.
Liutenant-General Grant, City Point.

Orders relieving General Thomas had been made out when his telegram of this P. M. was received. If you still wish these orders telegraphed to Nashville they will be forwarded.

H. W. Halleck, Chief of Staff.