HDQRS. MILITARY DIVISION OF THE MISSISSIPPI,
In the Field, near Atlanta, August 17, 1864.
General HOWARD:
Make preparations, but merely postpone. If the cavalry can do what we want, there is no need of moving the whole army.
W. T. SHERMAN,
Major-General, Commanding.

HDQRS. MILITARY DIVISION OF THE MISSISSIPPI,
In the Field, near Atlanta, Ga., August 17, 1864.
General HOWARD:
I now have positive intelligence that Wheeler is gone into East Tennessee with a large force of cavalry, and now is the time to strike the Macon road with cavalry. I will concentrate five brigades at Sandtown to-night under General Kilpatrick. To-morrow night he will move out to Fairburn, and then to Jonesborough, smashing the road badly. Therefore to-morrow keep up a steady pressure, and make demonstrations, as though looking for a place to assault, and next day keep up a lively activity along the whole line, so that infantry cannot be spared to go out to protect the railroad. I think Hood has made a mistake in sending his cavalry now, and propose to take advantage of it. If the cavalry cannot do the job, of necessity we must then go out in force.
W. T. SHERMAN,
Major-General, Commanding.