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reconnoissance.
On the night of the 21st we withdrew from Rossville, took firm possession of the objective point of our campaign—Chattanooga—and prepared to hold it.’
Coming down to the time when
Rosecrans had been relieved, and
General Thomas was in command in
Chattanooga,
General Sherman, in writing of his own arrival there on November 14th, and a conversation with
General Grant the next day, represents the latter as informing him that forage and provisions were then extremely scarce, and that he feared
Thomas' troops could not be drawn out of the trenches for a fight.
That
General Grant could not have made such a statement about supplies is evident from the following dispatches sent more than two weeks before
Sherman's arrival:
* * * *
General Thomas had also set on foot, before my arrival, a plan for getting possession of the river from a point below
Lookout Mountain to
Bridgeport.
If successful, and I think it will be, the question of supplies will be fully settled. * * * *
General Thomas' plan for securing the river and Southside road hence to
Bridgeport has proved eminently successful.
The question of supplies may now be regarded as settled.
If the rebels give us one week more time I think all danger of losing territory now held by us will have passed away, and preparations may commence for offensive operations.
That
General Grant had no doubt of the capacity of
General Thomas' troops to fight, is proved by the following telegram dated a week before
Sherman arrived in person, and a fortnight before his troops came up:
* * * * I have ordered
Thomas to attack the enemy at the north end of
Missionary Ridge, and when that is carried, to threaten or attack the
