Adam Badeau, Military history of Ulysses S. Grant from April 1861 to April 1865. Volume 3

[231] ‘No telegraph communication south,’ said the operator there, on the 3rd, to his fellow at Grant's Headquarters; ‘No telegraph communication south, from Nashville, of course, but we can communicate with Chattanooga via Cumberland Gap and Knoxville. Nothing heard from Forrest, but General Wilson is looking after him, and no apprehension is felt.’ And this was the mortifying sequence to the great campaigns of Grant and Sherman for Chattanooga and Atlanta. The national troops were held in Nashville, and communication with Chattanooga was by the North. Comfort was even taken by the besieged that no apprehension was felt in regard to Forrest; although even this comfort the general of the Western army did not share; for he telegraphed, on this day, to Halleck: ‘As soon as I can get the remaining brigade of General McCook's division of cavalry here, I will move against the enemy, although my cavalry force will not be more than half that of the enemy. I have labored under many disadvantages since assuming direction of affairs here; not the least of which was reorganizing, remounting, and equipping of a cavalry force sufficient to contend with Forrest.’ On the same day, he reported: ‘The enemy made no demonstration to-day except to advance his pickets on Nolensville, Franklin, and Hillsboroa pikes. I have a good entrenched line on the hills around Nashville, and hope to be able to report ten thousand cavalry mounted and equipped, in less than a week, when I shall feel able to march against Hood.’

Forrest, meanwhile, was operating on the blockhouse and telegraph lines, between Nashville and Murfreesboroa, and on the 3rd and 4th of December,