With assurance to withdraw if proven wrong as I am recalling from memory. Grant and Sherman corresponded via regular dispatch and in person. Hood had moved his army off to the west. Grant and Sherman discussed which should be the next objective. Originally Grant wanted Hood followed up on. Sherman convinced him that enough troops were on hand that Thomas/Schofield could contain Hood. This freed enough troops for Sherman to go after the heart of Georgia. Canby was supposed to finish reducing Moble and move east to join Sherman. The navy and army were to reduce Fort Fisher and close Wilmington. Sherman was told Savannah would have to be reduced by himself. The navy could not cooperate. The 10,000 CSA troops under Hardee(?) moved away and abandoned Savannah. Otherwise Sherman had no specific target except the Atlantic. It was all approved by Grant and with his explicit instructions to lay waste to the Confederate ability to wage war. John