The Hunt for the Ring: The Journey of the Black Riders According to the Account that Gandalf Gave to Frodo Summary

Though Sauron captured Gollum in 3017, he eventually let the creature go. He had learned all that he could from Gollum yet felt that he still had a part to play. Sauron hopes to follow Gollum back to the ring, his primary source of obsession, but Gollum is captured almost immediately by Sauron's enemies. This event leads Sauron to believe that only the Ring-wraiths will serve to search for the One Ring. However, he does not want to send them out too soon for fear that his enemies will ascertain his true purpose. For this reason, Sauron sends out the Nazgul into battle against Gondor. He...