Maj. Gen. George H. Thomas	Maj. Gen. William T. Sherman

	Hdqrs. Military Division of the Mississippi, In the Field, Ship's Gap, Ga., October 17,1864—12 m.
General Thomas, Nashville, Hood won't dare go into Tennessee. I hope he will. We now occupy Ship's Gap and La Fayette, and Hood is retreating toward Alpine and Gadsden. I am moving General Garrard to-day to Dirt Town, and will move General Corse out to Coosaville, and with the main army move on Summerville. If Hood wants to go into Tennessee west of Huntsville let him go, and then we can all turn on him and he cannot escape. The gun-boats can break any bridge he nay attempt above Decatur. If he attempts to cross let him do so in part, and hen let a gun-boat break through his bridge. I will follow him to Gadsden, and then want my whole army united for the grand move into Georgia.
W. T. Sherman
Major-General, Commanding.