Lastspring，whenyourmovementsontheMississippiRiverhaddrawnoutofTennesseealargeforceoftheenemy，IagainurgedGeneralRosecranstotakeadvantageofthatopportunitytocarryouthisprojectedplanofcampaign，GeneralBurnsidebeingreadytocooperate，withadiminishedbutstillefficientforce。Buthecouldnotbepersuadedtoactintime，preferringtoliestilltillyourcampaignshouldbeterminated。Irepresentedtohim，butwithoutavail，thatbythisdelayJohnstonmightbeabletoreenforceBraggwiththetroopsthenoperatingagainstyou。
WhenGeneralRosecransfinallydeterminedtoadvance，hewasallowedtoselecthisownlinesandplansforcarryingouttheobjectsoftheexpedition。Hewasdirected，however，toreporthismovementsdaily，tillhecrossedtheTennessee，andtoconnecthisleft，sofaraspossible，withGeneralBurnside’sright。GeneralBurnsidewasdirectedtomovesimultaneously，connectinghisright，asfaraspossible，withGeneralRoaecrans’sleftsothat，iftheenemyconcentrateduponeitherarmy，theothercouldmovetoitsassistance。WhenGeneralBurnsidereachedKingstonandKnoxville，andfoundnoconsiderablenumberoftheenemyinEastTennessee，hewasinstructedtomovedowntheriverandcooperatewithGeneralRosecrans。
Theseinstructionswererepeatedsomefifteentimes，butwerenotcarriedout，GeneralBurnsideallegingasanexcusethathebelievedthatBraggwasinretreat，andthatGeneralRosecransneedednoreenforcements。WhenthelatterhadgainedpossessionofChattanoogahewasdirectednottomoveonRomeasheproposed，butsimplytoholdthemountain—passes，soastopreventtheingressoftherebelsintoEastTennessee。Thatobjectaccomplished，I
consideredthecampaignasended，atleastforthepresent。Futureoperationswoulddependupontheascertainedstrengthand;
movementsoftheenemy。Inotherwords，themainobjectsofthecampaignweretherestorationofEastTennesseetotheUnion，andbyholdingthetwoextremitiesofthevalleytosecureitfromrebelinvasion。
ThemomentIreceivedreliableinformationofthedepartureofLongstreet’scorpsfromtheArmyofthePotomac，IorderedforwardtoGeneralRosecranseveryavailablemanintheDepartmentoftheOhio，andagainurgedGeneralBurnsidetomovetohisassistance。
IalsotelegraphedtoGeneralsHurlbut，Sherman，andyourself，tosendforwardallavailabletroopsinyourdepartment。IftheseforceshadbeensenttoGeneralRoseeransbyNashville，theycouldnothavebeensupplied;IthereforedirectedthemtomovebyCorinthandtheTennesseeRiver。ThenecessityofthishasbeenprovedbythefactthatthereinforcementssenttohimfromtheArmyofthePotomachavenotbeenable，forthewantofrailroadtransportation，toreachGeneralRosecrans’sarmyinthefield。
Inregardtotherelativestrengthoftheopposingarmies，itisbelievedthatGeneralRosecranswhenhefirstmovedagainstBragghaddouble，ifnottreble，hisforce。GeneralBurnside，also，hadmorethandoubletheforceofBuckner;and，evenwhenBraggandBucknerunited，Rosecrans’sarmywasverygreatlysuperiorinnumber。EventheeighteenthousandmensentfromVirginia，underLongstreet，wouldnothavegiventheenemythesuperiority。ItisnowascertainedthatthegreaterpartoftheprisonersparolledbyyouatVicksburg，andGeneralBanksatPortHudson，wereillegallyandimproperlydeclaredexchanged，andforcedintotherankstoswelltherebelnumbersatChickamauga。Thisoutrageousact，inviolationofthelawsofwar，ofthecartelenteredintobytherebelauthorities，andofallsenseofhonor，givesusausefullessoninregardtothecharacteroftheenemywithwhomwearecontending。Heneitherregardstherulesofcivilizedwarfare，norevenhismostsolemnengagements。Youmay，therefore，expecttomeetinarmsthousandsofunexchangedprisonersreleasedbyyouandothersonparole，nottoserveagaintilldulyexchanged。
AlthoughtheenemybythisdisgracefulmeanshasbeenabletoconcentrateinGeorgiaandAlabamaamuchlargerforcethanweanticipated，yourarmieswillbeabundantlyabletodefeathim。
Yourdifficultywillnotbeinthewantofmen，butinthemeansofsupplyingthematthisseasonoftheyear。Asingle—trackrailroadcansupplyanarmyofsixtyorseventythousandmen，withtheusualnumberofcavalryandartillery;butbeyondthatnumber，orwithalargemountedforce，thedifficultyofsupplyisverygreat。
IdonotknowthepresentconditionoftheroadfromNashvilletoDecatur，but，ifpracticabletorepairit，theuseofthattrianglewillbeofgreatassistancetoyou。Ihope，also，thattherecentriseofwaterintheCumberlandandTennesseeRiverswillenableyoutoemploywatertransportationtoNashville，Eastport，orFlorence。
IfyoureoccupythepassesofLookoutMountain，whichshouldneverhavebeengivenup，youwillbeabletousetherailroadandriverfromBridgeporttoChattanooga。Thisseemstomeamatterofvitalimportance，andshouldreceiveyourearlyattention。
Isubmitthissummaryinthehopethatitwillassistyouinfullyunderstandingtheobjectsofthecampaign，andthemeansofattainingtheseobjects。ProbablytheSecretaryofWar，inhisinterviewswithyouatLouisville，hasgoneoverthesameground。
Whatevermeasuresyoumaydeempropertoadoptunderexistingcir—cumstances，youwillreceiveallpossibleassistancefromtheauthoritiesatWashington。Youhavenever，heretofore，complainedthatsuchassistancehasnotbeenaffordedyouinyouroperations，andIthinkyouwillhavenocauseofcomplaintinyourpresentcampaign。Veryrespectfully，yourobedientservant，H。W。HALLECK，General—in—ChiefGeneralFrankP。Blair，whowasthenaheadwiththetwodivisionsofOsterhausandJohnE。Smith，wastemporarilyassignedtothecommandoftheFifteenthCorps。GeneralHurlbutremainedatMemphisincommandoftheSixteenthCorps，andGeneralMcPhersonatVicksburg。withtheSeventeenth。ThesethreecorpsmadeuptheArmyoftheTennessee。IwasstillbusyinpushingforwardtherepairstotherailroadbridgeatBearCreek，andinpatchingupthemanybreaksbetweenitandTuscumbia，whenonthe27thofOctober，asI
satontheporchofahouse，Iwasapproachedbyadirty，black—
hairedindividualwithmixeddressandstrangedemeanor，whoinquiredforme，and，onbeingassuredthatIwasinfacttheman，hehandedmealetterfromGeneralBlairatTuscumbia，andanothershortone，whichwasatelegraph—messagefromGeneralGrantatChattanooga，addressedtomethroughGeneralGeorgeCrook，commandingatHuntsville，Alabama，tothiseffect:
DropallworkonMemphis&CharlestonRailroad，crosstheTennesseeandhurryeastwardwithallpossibledispatchtowardBridgeport，tillyoumeetfurtherordersfromme。
U。S。GRANT。
ThebearerofthismessagewasCorporalPike，whodescribedtome，inhispeculiarway，thatGeneralCrookhadsenthiminacanoe;
thathehadpaddleddowntheTennesseeRiver，overMuscleShoals，wasfiredatallthewaybyguerrillas，butonreachingTuscumbiahehadprovidentiallyfounditinpossessionofourtroops。HehadreportedtoGeneralBlair，whosenthimontomeatIuka。ThisPikeprovedtobeasingularcharacter;hismannerattractedmynoticeatonce，andIgothimahorse，andhadhimtravelwithuseastwardtoaboutElkton，whenceIsenthimbacktoGeneralCrookatHuntsville;buttoldhim，ifIcouldeverdohimapersonalservice，hemightapplytome。ThenextspringwhenIwasinChattanooga，preparingfortheAtlantacampaign，CorporalPikemadehisappearanceandaskedafulfillmentofmypromise。Iinquiredwhathewanted，andhesaidhewantedtodosomethingbold，somethingthatwouldmakehimahero。Iexplainedtohim，thatweweregettingreadytogoforJoeJohnstonatDalton，thatI
expectedtobeintheneighborhoodofAtlantaaboutthe4thofJuly，andwantedthebridgeacrosstheSavannahRiveratAugusta，Georgia，tobeburntaboutthattime，toproducealarmandconfusionbehindtherebelarmy。IexplainedtoPikethatthechanceswerethreetoonethathewouldbecaughtandhanged;butthegreaterthedangerthegreaterseemedtobehisdesiretoattemptit。Itoldhimtoselectacompanion，todisguisehimselfasanEastTennesseerefugee，workhiswayoverthemountainsintoNorthCarolina，andatthetimeappointedtofloatdowntheSavannahRiverandburnthatbridge。Inafewdayshehadmadehispreparationsandtookhisdeparture。Thebridgewasnotburnt，andIsupposedthatPikehadbeencaughtandhanged。
WhenwereachedColumbia，SouthCarolina，inFebruary，1865，justaswewereleavingthetown，inpassingneartheasylum，Iheardmynamecalled，andsawaverydirtyfellowfollowedbyafileofmenrunningtowardme，andastheygotnearIrecognizedPike。Hecalledtometoidentifyhimasoneofmymen;hewasthenaprisonerunderguard，andIinstructedtheguardtobringhimthatnighttomycampsomefifteenmilesuptheroad，whichwasdone。
Pikegavemeagraphicnarrativeofhisadventures，whichwouldhavefilledavolume;toldmehowhehadmadetwoattemptstoburnthebridge，andfailed;andsaidthatatthetimeofourenteringColumbiahewasaprisonerinthehandsoftherebels，undertrialforhislife，butintheconfusionoftheirretreathemadehisescapeandgotintoourlines，wherehewasagainmadeaprisonerbyourtroopsbecauseofhislooks。Pikegotsomeclothes，cleanedup，andIusedhimafterwardtocommunicatewithWilmington，NorthCarolina。Sometimeafterthewar，hewasappointedalieutenantoftheRegular，Cavalry，andwaskilledinOregon，bytheaccidentaldischargeofapistol。Justbeforehisdeathhewroteme，sayingthathewastiredofthemonotonyofgarrison—life，andwantedtoturnIndian，jointheCheyennesonthePlains，whowerethengivingusgreattrouble，and，afterhehadgainedtheirconfidence，hewouldbetraythemintoourhands。OfcourseIwrotehimthathemusttryandsettledownandbecomeagentlemanaswellasanofficer，applyhimselftohisduties，andforgetthewilddesiresofhisnature，whichwerewellenoughintimeofwar，butnotsuitedtohisnewconditionasanofficer;but，poorfellowI
hewaskilledbyanaccident，whichprobablysavedhimfromaslowerbutharderfate。
AtIukaIissuedalltheorderstoMcPhersonandHurlbutnecessaryfortheDepartmentoftheTennesseeduringmyabsence，and，further，orderedthecollectionofaforceoutoftheSixteenthCorps，ofabouteightthousandmen，tobecommandedbyGeneralG。
M。Dodge，withorderstofollowasfareastasAthens，Tennessee，theretoawaitinstructions。WeinstantlydiscontinuedallattemptstorepairtheCharlestonRailroad;andtheremainingthreedivisionsoftheFifteenthCorpsmarchedtoEastport，crossedtheTennesseeRiverbytheaidofthegunboats，aferry—boat，andacoupleoftransportswhichhadcomeup，andhurriedeastward。
InpersonIcrossedonthe1stofNovember，androdeforwardtoFlorence，whereIovertookEwing’sdivision。Theotherdivisionsfollowedrapidly。OntheroadtoFlorenceIwasaccompaniedbymystaff，someclerks，andmountedorderlies。MajorEzraTaylorwaschiefofartillery，andoneofhissonswasaclerkathead—
quarters。Thelatterseemstohavedroppedoutofthecolumn，andgonetoafarmhouseneartheroad。TherewasnoorganizedforceoftherebelarmynorthoftheTennesseeRiver，butthecountrywasfullofguerrillas。Apartyofthesepounceddownonthefarm，caughtyoungTaylorandanotheroftheclerks，andafterreachingFlorence，MajorTaylorheardofthecaptureofhisson，andlearnedthatwhenlastseenhewasstrippedofhishatandcoat，wastiedtothetail—boardofawagon，anddrivenrapidlytothenorthoftheroadwehadtraveled。Themajorappealedtometodosomethingforhisrescue。Ihadnocavalrytosendinpursuit，butknowingthattherewasalwaysanunderstandingbetweentheseguerrillasandtheirfriendswhostaidathome，IsentforthreeorfouroftheprincipalmenofFlorence（amongthemaMr。Foster，whohadoncebeenaSenatorinCongress），explainedtothemthecaptureofyoungTaylorandhiscomrade，anddemandedtheirimmediaterestoration。
They，ofcourse，remonstrated，deniedallknowledgeoftheactsoftheseguerrillas，andclaimedtobepeacefulcitizensofAlabama，residingathome。Iinsistedthattheseguerrillasweretheirownsonsandneighbors;thattheyknewtheirhaunts，andcouldreachthemiftheywanted，andtheycouldeffecttherestorationtousofthesemen;andIsaid，moreover，theymustdoitwithintwenty—fourhours，orIwouldtakethem，stripthemoftheirhatsandcoats，andtiethemtothetail—boardsofourwagonstilltheywereproduced。Theysentoffmessengersatonce，andyoungTaylorandhiscomradewerebroughtbackthenextday。
Resumingourmarcheastwardbythelargeroad，wesoonreachedElkRiver，whichwaswideanddeep，andcouldonlybecrossedbyaferry，aprocessentirelytooslowfortheoccasion;soIchangedtheroutemorebythenorth，toElkton，Winchester，andDeckerd。
AtthispointwecameincommunicationwiththeArmyoftheCumberland，andbytelegraphwithGeneralGrant，whowasatChattanooga。Hereiteratedhisordersformeandmycommandtohurryforwardwithallpossibledispatch，andinpersonIreachedBridgeportduringthenightofNovember13th，mytroopsfollowingbehindbyseveralroads。AtBridgeportIfoundagarrisonguardingtherailroad—bridgeandpontoonbridgethere，andstaidwiththequartermaster，ColonelWilliamG。LeDue（whowasmyschool—mateatHow’sSchoolin1836）。ThereIreceivedadispatchfromGeneralGrant，atChattanooga，tocomeupinperson，leavingmytroopstofollowasfastaspossible。Atthattimethereweretwoorthreesmallsteamboatsontheriver，engagedincarryingstoresupasfarasKelly’sFerry。InoneoftheseItookpassage，andonreachingKelly’sFerryfoundorderlies，withoneofGeneralGrant’sprivatehorses，waitingforme，onwhichIrodeintoChattanooga，November14th。Ofcourse，IwasheartilywelcomedbyGeneralsGrant，Thomas，andall，whorealizedtheextraordinaryeffortswehadmadetocometotheirrelief。ThenextmorningwewalkedouttoFortWood，aprominentsalientofthedefensesoftheplace，andfromitsparapetwehadamagnificentviewofthepanorama。LookoutMountain，withitsrebelflagsandbatteries，stoodoutboldly，andanoccasionalshotfiredtowardWauhatcheeorMoccasinPointgavelifetothescene。TheseshotscouldbarelyreachChattanooga，andIwastoldthatoneormoreshothadstruckahospitalinsidethelines。AllalongMissionaryRidgewerethetentsoftherebelbeleagueringforce;thelinesoftrenchfromLookoutuptowardtheChickamaugawereplainlyvisible;andrebelsentinels，inacontinuouschain，werewalkingtheirpostsinplainview，notathousandyardsoff。\"Why，\"saidI，\"GeneralGrant，youarebesieged;\"andhesaid，\"Itistootrue。\"UptothatmomentIhadnoideathatthingsweresobad。Therebellinesactuallyextendedfromtheriver，belowthetown，totheriverabove，andtheArmyoftheCumberlandwascloselyheldtothetownanditsimmediatedefenses。GeneralGrantpointedouttomeahouseonMissionaryRidge，whereGeneralBragg’sheadquarterswereknowntobe。Healsoexplainedthesituationofaffairsgenerally;thatthemulesandhorsesofThomas’sarmyweresostarvedthattheycouldnothaulhisguns;thatforage，corn，andprovisions，weresoscarcethatthemeninhungerstolethefewgrainsofcornthatweregiventofavoritehorses;thatthemenofThomas’sarmyhadbeensodemoralizedbythebattleofChickamaugathathefearedtheycouldnotbegotoutoftheirtrenchestoassumetheoffensive;thatBragghaddetachedLongstreetwithaconsiderableforceupintoEastTennessee，todefeatandcaptureBurnside;thatBurnsidewasindanger，etc。;andthathe（Grant）wasextremelyanxioustoattackBragginposition，todefeathim，oratleasttoforcehimtorecallLongstreet。TheArmyoftheCumberlandhadsolongbeeninthetrenchesthathewantedmytroopstohurryup，totaketheoffensivefirst;afterwhich，hehadnodoubttheCumberlandarmywouldfightwell。MeantimetheEleventhandTwelfthCorps，underGeneralHooker，hadbeenadvancedfromBridgeportalongtherailroadtoWauhatchee，butcouldnotasyetpassLookoutMountain。
Apontoon—bridgehadbeenthrownacrosstheTennesseeRiveratBrown’sFerry，bywhichsupplieswerehauledintoChattanoogafromKelly’sandWauhatchee……
AnotherbridgewasincourseofconstructionatChattanooga，undertheimmediatedirectionofQuartermaster—GeneralMeigs，butatthetimeallwagons，etc。，hadtobeferriedacrossbyaflying—bridge。
Menwerebusyandhardatworkeverywhereinsideourlines，andboatsforanotherpontoon—bridgewerebeingrapidlyconstructedunderBrigadier—GeneralW。F。Smith，familiarlyknownas\"BaldySmith，\"andthisbridgewasdestinedtobeusedbymytroops，atapointoftheriveraboutfourmilesaboveChattanooga，justbelowthemouthoftheChickamaugaRiver。GeneralGrantexplainedtomethathehadreconnoitredtherebellinefromLookoutMountainuptoChickamauga，andhebelievedthatthenorthernportionofMissionaryRidgewasnotfortifiedatall;andhewantedme，assoonasmytroopsgotup，tolaythenewpontoon—bridgebynight，crossover，andattackBragg’srightflankonthatpartoftheridgeabuttingonChickamaugaCreek，nearthetunnel;andheproposedthatweshouldgoatoncetolookattheground。IncompanywithGeneralsThomas，W。F。Smith，Brannan，andothers，wecrossedbytheflying—bridge，rodebackofthehillssomefourmiles，leftourhorses，andgotonahilloverlookingthewholegroundaboutthemouthoftheChickamaugaRiver，andacrosstotheMissionaryHillsnearthetunnel。SmithandIcreptdownbehindafringeoftreesthatlinedtheriver—bank，totheverypointselectedforthenewbridge，wherewesatforsometime，seeingtherebelpicketsontheoppositebank，andalmosthearingtheirwords。
Havingseenenough，wereturnedtoChattanooga;andinordertohurryupmycommand，onwhichsomuchdepended，IstartedbacktoKelly’sinhopestocatchthesteamboatthatsameevening;butonmyarrivaltheboathadgone。Iappliedtothecommandingofficer，gotaroughboatmannedbyfoursoldiers，andstarteddowntheriverbynight。Ioccasionallytookaturnattheoarstorelievesometiredman，andaboutmidnightwereachedShellMound，whereGeneralWhittaker，ofKentucky，furnishedusanewandgoodcrew，withwhichwereachedBridgeportbydaylight。IstartedEwingsdivisioninadvance，withorderstoturnasidetowardTrenton，tomaketheenemybelieveweweregoingtoturnBraggsleftbyprettymuchthesameroadRosecranshadfollowed;butwiththeotherthreedivisionsIfollowedthemainroad，viatheBigTrestleatWhitesides，andreachedGeneralHooker’sheadquarters，justaboveWauhatchee，onthe20th;mytroopsstrungallthewaybacktoBridgeport。ItwasonthisoccasionthattheFifteenthCorpsgaineditspeculiarbadge:asthemenweretrudgingalongthedeeply—cut，muddyroad，ofacold，drizzlyday，oneofourWesternsoldierslefthisranksandjoinedapartyoftheTwelfthCorpsattheircamp—fire。Theygotintoconversation，theTwelfth—Corpsmenaskingwhattroopswewere，etc。，etc。Inturn，ourfellow（whohadneverseenacorps—badge，andnoticedthateverythingwasmarkedwithastar）askediftheywereallbrigadier—generals。Ofcoursetheywerenot，butthestarwastheircorps—badge，andeverywagon，tent，hat，etc。，haditsstar。ThentheTwelfth—Corpsmeninquiredwhatcorpshebelongedto，andheanswered，\"TheFifteenthCorps。\"\"Whatisyourbadge？\"\"Why，\"saidhe（andhewasanIrishman），suitingtheactiontotheword，\"fortyroundsinthecartridge—box，andtwentyinthepocket。\"AtthattimeBlaircommandedthecorps;butLogansucceededsoonafter，and，hearingthestory，adoptedthecartridge—boxandfortyroundsasthecorps—
badge。
Theconditionoftheroadswassuch，andthebridgeatBrown’ssofrail，thatitwasnotuntilthe23dthatwegotthreeofmydivisionsbehindthehillsnearthepointindicatedaboveChattanoogaforcrossingtheriver。Itwasdeterminedtobeginthebattlewiththesethreedivisions，aidedbyadivisionofThomas’sarmy，commandedbyGeneralJeff。C。Davis，thatwasalreadynearthatpoint。AllthedetailsofthebattleofChattanooga，sofarasIwasawitness，aresofullygiveninmyofficialreportherewith，thatIneedaddnothingtoit。Itwasamagnificentbattleinitsconception，initsexecution，andinitsgloriousresults;hastenedsomewhatbythesupposeddangerofBurnside，atKnoxville，yetsocompletelysuccessful，thatnothingisleftforcavilorfault—finding。Thefirstdaywasloweringandovercast，favoringusgreatly，becausewewantedtobeconcealedfromBragg，whosepositiononthemountain—topscompletelyoverlookedusandourmovements。Theseconddaywasbeautifullyclear，andmanyatime，inthemidstofitscarnageandnoise，Icouldnothelpstoppingtolookacrossthatvastfieldofbattle，toadmireitssublimity。
TheobjectofGeneralHooker’sandmyattacksontheextremeflanksofBragg’spositionwas，todisturbhimtosuchanextent，，thathewouldnaturallydetachfromhiscentreasagainstus，sothatThomas’sarmycouldbreakthroughhiscentre。Thewholeplansucceededadmirably;butitwasnotuntilafterdarkthatIlearnedthecompletesuccessatthecentre，andreceivedGeneralGrant’sorderstopursueonthenorthsideofChickamaugaCreek:
HEADQUARTERSMILITARYDIVISIONOFTHEMISSISSIPPI，CHATTAGOOGA，TENNESSEE，Nov。25，1863
Major—GeneralSHERMAN。
GENERAL:NodoubtyouwitnessedthehandsomemannerinwhichThomas’stroopscarriedMissionaryRidgethisafternoon，andcanfeelajustpride，too，intheparttakenbytheforcesunderyourcommandintakingfirstsomuchofthesamerangeofhills，andtheninattractingtheattentionofsomanyoftheenemyastomakeThomas’spartcertainofsuccess。TheneatthingnowwillbetorelieveBurnside。Ihaveheardfromhimtotheeveningofthe23d。
Atthattimehehadfromtentotwelvedays’supplies，andspokehopefullyofbeingabletoholdoutthatlengthoftime。
MyplanistomoveyourforcesoutgraduallyuntiltheyreachtherailroadbetweenClevelandandDalton。GrangerwillmoveupthesouthsideoftheTennesseewithacolumnoftwentythousandmen，takingnowagons，orbutfew，withhim。Hismenwillcarryfourdays’rations，andthesteamerChattanooga，loadedwithrations，willaccompanytheexpedition。
ItakeitforgrantedthatBragg’sentireforcehasleft。Ifnot，ofcourse，thefirstthingistodisposeofhim。Ifhehasgone，theonlythingnecessarytodoto—morrowwillbetosendoutareeonnoissaneetoascertainthewhereaboutsoftheenemy。Yourstruly，U。S。GRANT，Major—General。
P。S。—Onreflection，IthinkwewillpushBraggwithallourstrengthto—morrow，andtryifwecannotoutoffagoodportionofhisreartroopsandtrains。Hismenhavemanifestedastrongdispositiontodesertforsometimepast，andwewillnowgivethemachance。IwillinstructThomasaccordingly。Movetheadvanceforceearly，onthemosteasterlyroadtakenbytheenemy。
U。S。G。
Thiscompelledmetoreverseourcolumn，soastousethebridgeacrosstheChickamaugaatitsmonth。ThenextdaywestrucktherebelrearatChickamaugaStation，andagainnearGraysville。
TherewecameincontactwithHooker’sandPalmer’stroops，whohadreachedRinggold。ThereIdetachedHowardtocrossTaylor’sRidge，andstriketherailroadwhichcomesfromthenorthbyClevelandtoDalton。Hooker’stroopswereroughlyhandledatRinggold，andthepursuitwaschecked。ReceivinganotefromGeneralHooker，askinghelp，IrodeforwardtoRinggoldtoexplainthemovementofHoward;
whereImetGeneralGrant，andlearnedthattherebelshadagainretreatedtowardDalton。Hegaveorderstodiscontinuethepursuit，ashemeanttoturnhisattentiontoGeneralBurnside，supposedtobeingreatdangeratKnoxville，aboutonehundredandthirtymilesnortheast。GeneralGrantreturnedandspentpartofthenightwithme，atGraysville。Wetalkedovermattersgenerally，andheexplainedthathehadorderedGeneralGordonGranger，withtheFourthCorps，tomoveforwardrapidlytoBurnsideshelp，andthathemustreturntoChattanoogatopushhim。
Byreasonofthescarcityoffood，especiallyofforage，heconsentedthat，insteadofgoingback，Imightkeepoutinthecountry;forinmotionIcouldpickupsomeforageandfood，especiallyontheHiawasseeRiver，whereasnoneremainedinChattanooga。
Accordingly，onthe29thofNovember，myseveralcolumnsmarchedtoCleveland，andthenextdaywereachedtheHiawasseeatCharleston，wheretheChattanooga&KnoxvilleRailroadcrossesit。Therailroad—bridgewaspartiallydamagedbytheenemyinretreating，butwefoundsomeabandonedstores。ThereandthereaboutsI
expectedsomerestformywearytroopsandhorses;but，asIrodeintotown，ImetColonelJ。H。WilsonandC。A。Dana（AssistantSecretaryofWar），whohadriddenoutfromChattanoogatofindme，withthefollowingletterfromGeneralGrant，andcopiesofseveraldispatchesfromGeneralBurnside，thelastwhichhadbeenreceivedfromhimbywayofCumberlandGap:
HEADQUARTERSMILITARYDIVISIONOFTHEMISSISSIPPI，CHATTANOOGA，TENNESSEE，Nov。29，1863
Major—GeneralW。T。SHERMAN
NewsarereceivedfromKnoxvilletothemorningofthe27th。Atthattimetheplacewasstillinvested，buttheattackonitwasnotvigorous。Longstreetevidentlydeterminedtostarvethegarrisonout。GrangerisonthewaytoBurnside’srelief，butI
havelostallfaithinhisenergyorcapacitytomanageanexpeditionoftheimportanceofthisone。Iaminclinedtothink，therefore，Ishallhavetosendyou。PushasrapidlyasyoucantotheHiawassee，anddetermineforyourselfwhatforcetotakewithyoufromthatpoint。Grangerhashiscorpswithhim，fromwhichyouwillselectinconjunctionwiththeforcenowwithyou。Inplainwords，youwillassumecommandofalltheforcesnowmovinguptheTennessee，includingthegarrisonatKingston，andfromthatforce，organizewhatyoudeempropertorelieveBurnside。ThebalancesendbacktoChattanooga。Grangerhasaboatloadedwithprovisions，whichyoucanissue，andreturntheboat。Iwillhaveanotherloaded，tofollowyou。Use，ofcourse，assparinglyaspossiblefromtherationstakenwithyou，andsubsistoffthecountryallyoucan。
ItisexpectedthatFosterismoving，bythistime，fromCumberlandGaponKnoxville。Idonotknowwhatforcehewillhavewithhim，butpresumeitwillrangefromthreethousandfivehundredtofivethousandIleavethismattertoyou，knowingthatyouwilldobetteractinguponyourdiscretionthanyoucouldtrammeledwithinstructions。Iwillonlyadd，thatthelastadvicesfromBurnsidehimselfindicatedhisabilitytoholdoutwithrationsonlytoaboutthe3dofDecember。Veryrespectfully，U。S。GRANT，Major—Generalcommanding，Thisshowedthat，onthe27thofNovember，GeneralBurnsidewasinKnoxville，closelybesiegedbytherebelGeneralLongstreet;thathisprovisionswereshort，andthat，unlessrelievedbyDecember3d，hemighthavetosurrender。GeneralGrantfurtherwrotethatGeneralGranger，insteadofmovingwithgreatrapidityasordered，seemedtomove\"slowly，andwithreluctance;\"and，althoughhe（GeneralGrant）hatedtocallonmeandonmytiredtroops，therewasnoalternative。Hewantedmetotakecommandofeverythingwithinreach，andtohurryforwardtoKnoxville。
AllthedetailsofourmarchtoKnoxvillearealsogiveninmyofficialreport。ByextraordinaryeffortsLong’ssmallbrigadeofcavalryreachedKnoxvilleduringthenightofthe3d，purposelytoletBurnsideknowthatIwasrapidlyapproachingwithanadequateforcetoraisethesiege。
WiththeheadofmyinfantrycolumnIreachedMarysville，aboutfifteenmilesshortofKnoxville，onthe5thofDecember;whenI
receivedofficialnoticefromBurnsidethatLongstreethadraisedthesiege，andhadstartedinretreatupthevalleytowardVirginia。Haltingallthearmy，exceptGranger’stwodivisions，onthemorningofthe6th，withGeneralGrangerandsomeofmystaffI
rodeintoKnoxville。Approachingfromthesouthandwest，wecrossedtheHolstononapontoonbridge，andinalargepenontheKnoxvilleaideIsawafinelotofcattle，whichdidnotlookmuchlikestarvation。IfoundGeneralBurnsideandstaffdomiciledinalarge，finemansion，lookingverycomfortable，andin，afewwordshedescribedtometheleadingevents，ofthepreviousfewdays，andsaidhehadalreadygivenorderslookingtothepursuitofLongstreet。Iofferedtojoininthepursuit，thoughinfactmymenwerewornout，andsufferinginthatcoldseasonandclimate。
Indeed，onourwayupIpersonallywasalmostfrozen，andhadtobegleavetosleepinthehouseofafamilyatAthens。
Burnsideexplainedtomethat，reenforcedbyGranger’stwodivisionsoftenthousandmen，hewouldbeabletopushLongstreetoutofEastTennessee，andhehopedtocapturemuchofhisartilleryandtrains。Grangerwaspresentatourconversation，andmostunreasonably，Ithought，remonstratedagainstbeingleft;
complainingbitterlyofwhathethoughtwashardtreatmenttohismenandhimself。Iknowthathislanguageandmanneratthattimeproducedonmymindabadimpression，anditwasoneofthecauseswhichledmetorelievehimasacorpscommanderinthecampaignofthenextspring。IaskedGeneralBurnsidetoreducehiswishestowriting，whichhedidintheletterofDecember7th，embodiedinmyofficialreport。GeneralBurnsideandIthenwalkedalonghislinesandexaminedthesalient，knownasFortSanders，where，somedaysbefore，Longstreethadmadehisassault，andhadsustained，abloodyrepulse。
ReturningtoBurnside’squarters，weallsatdowntoagooddinner，embracingroast—turkey。Therewasaregulardiningtable，withcleantablecloth，dishes，knives，forks，spoons，etc。，etc。Ihadseennothingofthiskindinmyfieldexperience，andcouldnothelpexclaimingthatIthought\"theywerestarving，\"etc。;butBurnsideexplainedthatLongstreethadatnotimecompletelyinvestedtheplace，andthathehadkeptopencommunicationwiththecountryonthesouthsideoftheriverHolston，moreespeciallywiththeFrenchBroadsettlements，fromwhoseUnioninhabitantshehadreceivedagoodsupplyofbeef，bacon，andcornmeal。HadI
knownofthis，Ishouldnothavehurriedmymensofast;butuntilIreachedKnoxvilleIthoughthistroopstherewereactuallyindangerofstarvation。HavingsuppliedGeneralBurnsideallthehelphewanted，webeganourleisurelyreturntoChattanooga，whichwereachedonthe16th;whenGeneralGrantinpersonorderedmetorestoretoGeneralThomasthedivisionsofHowardandDavis，whichbelongedtohisarmy，andtoconductmyowncorps（theFifteenth）
toNorthAlabamaforwinter—quarters。
HEADQUARTERSDEPARTMENTOFTHEARMYOFTENNESSEE，BRIDGEPORT，ALABAMADecember19，1863
Brigadier—GeneralJohnA。RAWLINS，ChiefofStafftoGeneralGRANT，Chattanooga。
GENERAL:Forthefirsttime，Iamnowatleisuretomakeanofficialrecordofeventswithwhichthetroopsundermycommandhavebeenconnecteddaringtheeventfulcampaignwhichhasjustclosed。DatingthemonthofSeptemberlast，theFifteenthArmyCorps，whichIhadthehonortocommand，layincampsalongtheBigBlack，abouttwentymileseastofVicksburg，Mississippi。Itconsistedoffourdivisions:
TheFirst，commandedbyBrigadier—GeneralP。J。Osterhaus，wascomposedoftwobrigades，ledbyBrigadier—GeneralC。R。WoodsandColonelJ。A。Williamson（oftheFourthIowa）。
TheSecond，commandedbyBrigadier—GeneralMorganL。Smith，wascomposedoftwobrigades，ledbyBrigadier—GeneralsGilesA。SmithandJ。A。J。Lightburn。
TheThird，commandedbyBrigadier—GeneralJ。M。Tuttle，wascomposedofthreebrigades，ledbyBrigadier—GeneralsJ。A。MowerandR。P。Buckland，andColonelJ。J。Wood（oftheTwelfthIowa）。
TheFourth，commandedbyBrigadier—GeneralHughEwing，wascomposedofthreebrigades，ledbyBrigadier—GeneralJ。M。Corse，ColonelLoomis（Twenty—sixthIllinois），andColonelJ。R。Cockerill（oftheSeventiethOhio）。
Onthe22ddayofSeptemberIreceivedatelegraphicdispatchfromGeneralGrant，thenatVicksburg，commandingtheDepartmentoftheTennessee，requiringmetodetachoneofmydivisionstomarchtoVicksburg，theretoembarkforMemphis，whereitwastoformapartofanarmytobesenttoChattanooga，toresnforceGeneralRosecrans。IdesignatedtheFirstDivision，andat4r。as。thesamedayitmarchedforVicksburg，andembarkedtheneatday。
Onthe23dofSeptemberIwassummonedtoVicksburgbythegeneralcommanding，whoshowedmeseveraldispatchesfromthegeneral—in—
chief，whichledhimtosupposehewouldhavetosendmeandmywholecorpstoMemphisandeastward，andIwasinstructedtoprepareforsuchorders。Itwasexplainedtomethat，inconsequenceofthelowstageofwaterintheMississippi，boatshadarrivedirregularly，andhadbroughtdispatchesthatseemedtoconflictintheirmeaning，andthatGeneralJohnE。Smith’sdivision（ofGeneralMcPherson’scorps）hadbeenordereduptoMemphis，andthatIshouldtakethatdivisionandleaveoneofmyowninitsstead，toholdthelineoftheBigBlack。Idetailedmythirddivision（GeneralTuttle）toremainandreporttoMajor—
GeneralMcPherson，commandingtheSeventeenthCorps，atVicksburg;
andthatofGeneralJohnE。Smith，alreadystartedforMemphis，wasstyledtheThirdDivision，FifteenthCorps，thoughitstillbelongstotheSeventeenthArmyCorps。Thisdivisionisalsocomposedofthreebrigades，commandedbyGeneralMatthias，ColonelJ。B。Raum（oftheFifty—sixthIllinois），andColonelJ。I。
Alexander（oftheFifty—ninthIndiana）。