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In the succeeding July,
General Grant in that portion of his final report which related to the campaign about
Nashville, made the following manly acknowledgment that the result had vindicated
General Thomas' judgment:
‘Before the battle of Nashville I grew very impatient over, as it appeared to me, the unnecessary delay.
This impatience was increased upon learning that the enemy had sent a force of cavalry across the Cumberland into Kentucky.
I feared Hood would cross his whole army and give us great trouble there.
After urging upon General Thomas the necessity of immediately assuming the offensive, I started West to superintend matters there in person.
Reaching Washington City, I received General Thomas' dispatch announcing his attack upon the enemy, and the result as far as the battle had progressed.
I was delighted.
All fears and apprehensions were dispelled.
I am not yet satisfied but that General Thomas, immediately upon the appearance of Hood before Nashville, and before he had time to fortify should have moved out with his whole force and given him battle, instead of waiting to remount his cavalry, which delayed him until the inclemency of the weather made it impracticable to attack earlier than he did. But his final defeat of Hood was so complete, that it will be accepted as a vindication of that distinguished officer's judgment.’
General Sherman himself, after introducing into his book several passages that he has for years suppressed, and which severely reflected upon
General Thomas' action before
Nashville, closes his consideration of the subject with these more generous words:
‘Meantime, on the 15th and 16th of December, were fought in front of Nashville, the great battles in which General Thomas so nobly fulfilled his promise to ruin Hood, the details of which are fully given in his own official reports, long since published.’
