334 The Mississippi Valley in the Civil War

broken in places, so that Hood was compelled towait three weeks at Tuscumbia; and that delayworked his ruin.

By this time Sherman had made up his mindwhat to do. He would reinforce Thomas and leavehim in Tennessee to deal with Hood, while he him-self would return to Atlanta , and thence move inforce upon Virginia . But as the distance fromAtlanta to Petersburg is 500 miles as the crowflies, and the whole intervening space was a difficultcountry possessed by the enemy, it was desirablefirst to march to the sea-coast, and there establishSherman a secure base for the northward marchleaves Hood to Virginia . On the 2d of November

and marches . . .

to the sea- Sherman received brant s permissioncoast. to undertake this great movement at

once, on the understanding that Thomas was tobe left strong enough to keep Hood from doingmischief. On the 15th Sherman started, takingwith him four infantry corps, numbering 68,000men, besides Kilpatrick’s cavalry, 5000 in number.The march through Georgia met with little seriousopposition. It ended on December 23 with thecapture of Savannah , including 150 heavy gunsand 25,000 bales of cotton, as a Christinas presentfor Uncle Sam . From this point the far morearduous northward march through the Carolinaswas to begin.