The page that you cite here shows that Hood reported what had happened by telegraph on December 17 from Spring Hill. There was no month long delay.
You'll have to cite that page number, because all I see in his reports states stuff like this...
"I hoped to have crossed at or near Gunter's Landing; but not having a sufficient force of cavalry with me, and learning that Major-General Forrest was not then in Middle Tennessee, our march was continued to Tuscumbia, Ala., that the supplies necessary to subsist the army till it should reach the rich portion of Tennessee might be obtained, and also to effect a junction with the cavalry under Major General Forrest." Vol. 45, Pt. 1, page 660.
Then there is also the exact copy of Hood's entire report at the end of Advance and Retreat. In it he states...
"I determined to cross the Tennessee River at Gunter's Landing, and strike the enemy's communications again near Bridgeport, force him to cross the river, also to obtain supplies and thus we should at least recover our lost territory. Orders had been sent by General Beauregard to General Forrest to move with his cavalry into Tennessee. Unfortunately, however, these orders did not reach him in time. As I had not sufficient cavalry force without his to protect my trains in Tennessee, I was compelled to delay the crossing and move further down the river to meet him."
I don't think anyone is arguing that Hood did not lie. There are numerous questionable statements by Hood. But this thing about Gunter's being heavily defended... I've never seen that other than by Wiley Sword and other historians who suggested it, but gave no hard source to check.