I have written you less than I had designed; but I have had visits from many, including General Barnard and Mr. Stanton, who will tell you all matters of interest. General Barnard stayed over one steamer, at my request, to study the relation of the parts of this coast, and will explain things clearly. I don't want to assume the control of matters here further than to give uniformity of action through it was well to place the Department of the South subject to my command. This (Monday) is the day for Howard to put his Right Wing at Pocotaligo and fortify. He was across Port Royal with the Seventeenth Corps and out some four miles when I last heard. The Fifteenth Corps is now passing from Thunderbolt to Port Royal. The Twentieth Corps is across the Union Causeway, and Davis and Kilpatrick will move up to Sister's Ferry, and I will get all my army in hand on a line from Sister's Ferry to Pocotaligo. I have not heard from you since Colonel Ewing went up, but suppose the route indicated will be the best. I now take it. Some, if not all, of Hood's army will be worked over this way, and Thomas should be pressed down to Selma. If Thomas would prefer to watch Tennessee, order him to send a small force from Chattanooga down toward Rome, and detach Schofield, with 35,000 men, including Wilson, to Selma, via Tuscaloosa, and to return via Talladega and Rome. That circuit would be easy to make, and would tear out the heart of Alabama and prevent the farmers planting corn, because all rails would be burned, horses and mules taken, and corn eaten up. I would risk that march with just enough wagons to carry the command across Sand Mountain. I think the farmers of Georgia are organizing against Jeff. Davis, but don't build any castles on that hope.