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successfully and folly accomplished that day。 The division of General Jeff。 C。 Davis was moved close up to Ringgold； to assist General Hooker if needed； and the Fifteenth Corps was held at Grayeville； for any thing that might turn up。 About noon I had a message from General Hooker； saying he had had a pretty hard fight at the mountain…pass just beyond Ringgold； and he wanted me to come forward to turn the position。 He was not aware at the time that Howard； by moving through Parker's Gap toward Red Clay； had already turned it。 So I rode forward to Ringgold in person； and found the enemy had already fallen back to Tunnel Hill。 He was already out of the valley of the Chickamauga； and on ground whence the waters flow to the Coosa。 He was out of Tennessee。
I found General Grant at Ringgold； and； after some explanations as to breaking up the railroad from Ringgold back to the State line； as soon as some cars loaded with wounded men could be pushed back to Chickamauga depot； I was ordered to move slowly and leisurely back to Chattanooga。
On the following day the Fifteenth Corps destroyed absolutely and effectually the railroad from a point half…way between Ringgold and Graysville； back to the State line； and General Grant； coming to Graysville； consented that； instead of returning direct to Chattanooga； I might send back all my artillery…wagons and impediments； and make a circuit by the north as far as the Hiawasaee River。
Accordingly； on the morning of November 29th； General Howard moved from Parker's Gap to Cleveland； General Davis by way of McDaniel's Gap； and General Blair with two divisions of the Fifteenth Corps by way of Julien's Gap； all meeting at Cleveland that night。 Here another good break was made in the Dalton & Cleveland road。 On the 30th the army moved to Charleston； General Howard approaching so rapidly that the enemy evacuated with haste； leaving the bridge but partially damaged； and five car…loads of flour and provisions on the north bank of the Hiawassee。
This was to have been the limit of our operations。 Officers and men had brought no baggage or provisions； and the weather was bitter cold。 I had already reached the town of Charleston； when General Wilson arrived with a letter from General Grant； at Chattanooga； informing me that the latest authentic accounts from Knoxville were to the 27th； at which time General Burnside was completely invested； and had provisions only to include the 3d of December； that General Granger had left Chattanooga for Knoxville； by the river…road； with a steamboat following him in the river； but he feared that General Granger could not reach Knoxville in time； and ordered me to take command of all troops moving for the relief of Knoxville； and hasten to General Burnside。 Seven days before； we had left our camps on the other side of the Tennessee with two days' rations； without a change of clothingstripped for the fight； with but a single blanket or coat per man； from myself to the private included。
Of course； we then had no provisions save what we gathered by the road； and were ill supplied for such a march。 But we learned that twelve thousand of our fellow…soldiers were beleaguered in the mountain town of Knoxville； eighty…four miles distant； that they needed relief； and must have it in three days。 This was enough and it had to be done。 General Howard that night repaired and planked the railroad…bridge； and at daylight the army passed over the Hiawassee and marched to Athens； fifteen miles。 I had supposed rightly that General Granger was about the mouth of the Hiawassee； and had sent him notice of my orders； that General Grant had sent me a copy of his written instructions； which were full and complete； and that he must push for Kingston； near which we would make a junction。 But by the time I reached Athens I had better studied the geography； and sent him orders； which found him at Decatur； that Kingston was out of our way； that he should send his boat to Kingston； but with his command strike across to Philadelphia； and report to me there。 I had but a small force of cavalry； which was； at the time of my receipt of General Grant's orders； scouting over about Benton and Columbus。 I left my aide； Major McCoy； at Charleston； to communicate with this cavalry and hurry it forward。 It overtook me in the night at Athens。
On the 2d of December the army moved rapidly north toward Loudon； twenty…six miles distant。 About 11 a。m。； the cavalry passed to the head of the column； was ordered to push to London； and； if possible； to save a pontoon…bridge across the Tennessee； held by a brigade of the enemy commanded by General Vaughn。 The cavalry moved with such rapidity as to capture every picket； but the brigade of Vaughn had artillery in position； covered by earthworks； and displayed a force too respectable to be carried by a cavalry dash； so that darkness closed in before General Howard's infantry got up。 The enemy abandoned the place in the night； destroying the pontoons； running three locomotives and forty…eight cars into the Tennessee River； and abandoned much provision； four guns； and other material； which General Howard took at daylight。 But the bridge was gone； and we were forced to turn east and trust to General Burnside's bridge at Knoxville。 It was all…important that General Burnside should have notice of our coming； and but one day of the time remained。
Accordingly； at Philadelphia； during the night of the 2d of December； I sent my aide （Major Audenried） forward to Colonel Long； commanding the brigade of cavalry at London； to explain to him how all…important it was that notice of our approach should reach General Burnside within twenty…four hours； ordering him to select the best materials of his command； to start at once； ford the Little Tennessee； and push into Knoxville at whatever cost of life and horse…flesh。 Major Audenried was ordered to go along。 The distance to be traveled was about forty miles； and the roads villainous。 Before day they were off； and at daylight the Fifteenth Corps was turned from Philadelphia for the Little Tennessee at Morgantown； where my maps represented the river as being very shallow； but it was found too deep for fording； and the water was freezing coldwidth two hundred and forty yards； depth from two to five feet； horses could ford； but artillery and men could not。 A bridge was indispensable。 General Wilson （who accompanied me） undertook to superintend the bridge； and I am under many obligations to him； as I was without an engineer； having sent Captain Jenny back from Graysville to survey our field of battle。 We had our pioneers； but only such tools as axes； picks； and spades。 General Wilson； working partly with cut wood and partly with square trestles （made of the houses of the late town of Morgantown）； progressed apace； and by dark of December 4th troops and animals passed over the bridge； and by daybreak of the 5th the Fifteenth Corps （General Blair's） was over； and Generals…Granger's and Davis's divisions were ready to pass； but the diagonal bracing was imperfect for； want of spikes； and the bridge broke； causing delay。 I had ordered General Blair to move out on the Marysville road five miles； there to await notice that General Granger was on a parallel road abreast of him； and in person I was at a house where the roads parted； when a messenger rode up； bringing me a few words from General Burnside； to the effect that Colonel Long had arrived at Knoxville with his cavalry； and that all was well with him there； Longstreet still lay before the place； but there were symptoms of his speedy departure。
I felt that I had accomplished the first great step in the problem for the relief of General Burnside's army； but still urged on the work。 As soon as the bridge was mended； all the troops moved forward。 General Howard had marched from Loudon； had found a pretty good ford for his horses and wagons at Davis's； seven miles below Morgantown； and had made an ingenious bridge of the wagons left by General Vaughn at London； on which to pass his men。 He marched by Unitia and Louisville。 On the night of the 5th all the heads of columns communicated at Marysville； where I met Major Van Buren （of General Burnside's staff）； who announced that Longstreet had the night before retreated on the Rutledge； Rogersville； and Bristol road； leading to Virginia； that General Burnside's cavalry was on his heels； and that the general desired to see me in person as soon as I could come to Knoxville。 I ordered all the troops to halt and rest； except the two divisions of General Granger； which were ordered to move forward to Little River； and General Granger to report in person to General Burnside for orders。 His was the force originally designed to reenforce General Burnside； and it was eminently proper that it should join in the stern…chase after Longstreet。
On the morning of December 6th I rode from Marysville into Knoxville； and met General Burnside。 General Granger arrived later in the day。 We examined his lines of fortifications； which were a wonderful production for the short time allowed in their selection of ground and construction of work。 It seemed to me that they were nearly impregnable。 We examined the redoubt named 〃Sa