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

	Headquarters, Military Division of the Mississippi, In the Field, Savannah Ga. Dec. 25 1864
Maj. Genl. Geo. H. Thomas Comdg. Dept. of the Cumberland, Nashville, Tenn. Dear General:      I have heard of all your operations up to about the 17th, and I do not believe your own wife was more happy at the result than I was. Had any misfortune fallen you I should have reproached myself for taking away so large a proportion of the army and leaving you too weak to cope with Hood, But as events have turned out my judgment has been sustained: but I am none the less thankful to you, and to Schofield, and to all, for the very complete manner in which you have used up Hood. I only hope you will go on and pursue your advantage to the very uttermost. And if you can get far down into Alabama, don't hesitate to do so, for my own experience is that you can fine plenty of forage and provisions along down the valleys of The Tombigbee and Black Warrior.      Here I am now in a magnificent house, close by the old barracks around which cluster so many of our old memories of Rankin, and Ridgely, and Fraser and others. But the old families that we used to know are nearly all gone or dead. I will not stay here long however, but push Northwards as the season advances.      The old live oaks are as beautiful as ever, and whilst you are freezing to death in Tennessee we are basking in a warm sun, and I fear I did you personal injustice in leaving you behind whilst I made my winter excursion. But next time I will stay at home and let you go it.      Davis and Slocum are very well, and their troops are in fine condition. They will doubtless write you fully, and I will avail myself of the first leisure to tell you all matters of interest that I know you would like to hear. Truly your friend,
W. T. Sherman
Maj. Genl.