Page entries: Sat. March 12th near Dalton [GA]
Now for a few remarks upon recent movements. We give the guesses & suggestions of others in the newspaper extracts on other pages. The Feds are not strong – have not been during winter – large number furloughed. I believe that the primary object they had in view in inaugurating recent movements was to distract & divide our forces – so as to present a concentration upon them. [General William Tecumseh] Sherman left Vicksburg with a column. [General Benjamin] Grierson & Smith came down from Memphis with a force of cavalry & mounted infantry. [General Quincy] Gilmore & [General Truman]Seymour advanced into Florida & [General George] Thomas left Chattanooga for a pleasure trip to Dalton while the little admiral [David] Farragut with much more pretension than brains pegged away at Fort Powell & the papers speak of the redoubtable Logan with a column to march from north Alabama to take part in this grand programe to crush the rebellion & smash up the world generally. I maintain that the primary object in all this was to keep us divided & to distract as much as possible – while they were recruiting & reorganizing their armies for the spring campaign.