After General John Bell Hood abandoned Atlanta, he moved
the Confederate Army of Tennessee outside the city to recuperate from
the previous campaign. In early October he began a raid toward
Chattanooga, Tennessee, in an effort to draw Sherman back over ground
the two sides had fought for since May. But instead of tempting Sherman
to battle, Hood turned his army west and marched into Alabama,
abandoning Georgia to Union forces. Apparently, Hood hoped that if he
invaded Tennessee, Sherman would be forced to follow. Sherman, however,
had anticipated this strategy and had sent Major General George H.
Thomas to Nashville to deal with Hood. With Georgia cleared of the
Confederate army, Sherman, facing only scattered cavalry, was free to
move south.
