TheSecondandFourthDivisionswerestartedforVicksburgthemomentIwasnotifiedthatboatswereinreadiness，andonthe27thofSeptemberIembarkedinpersoninthesteamerAtlantic，forMemphis，followedbyafleetofboatsconveyingthesetwodivisions。Ourprogresswasslow，onaccountoftheunprecedentedlylowwaterintheMississippi，andthescarcityofcoalandwood。Wewerecompelledatplacestogatherfence—rails，andtolandwagonsandhaulwoodfromtheinteriortotheboats;
butIreachedMemphisduringthenightofthe2dofOctober，andtheotherboatscameinonthe3dand4th。
OnarrivalatMemphisIsawGeneralHurlbut，andreadallthedispatchesandlettersofinstructionofGeneralHalleck，andthereinderivedmyinstructions，whichIconstruedtobeasfollows:
ToconducttheFifteenthArmyCorps，andallothertroopswhichcouldbesparedfromthelineoftheMemphis&CharlestonRailroad，toAthens，Alabama，andthencereportbyletterfororderstoGeneralRosecrans，commandingtheArmyoftheCumberland，atChattanooga;tofollowsubstantiallytherailroadeastward，repairingitasImoved;tolooktomyownlineforsupplies;andinnoeventtodependonGeneralRosecransforsupplies，astheroadstohisrearwerealreadyovertaxedtosupplyhispresentarmy。
IlearnedfromGeneralHurlbutthatGeneralOsterhaus’sdivisionwasalreadyoutinfrontofCorinth，andthatGeneralJohnE。SmithwasstillatMemphis，movinghistroopsandmaterialbyrailroadasfastasitslimitedstockwouldcarrythem。GeneralJ。D。Websterwassuperintendentoftherailroad，andwasenjoinedtoworknightandday，andtoexpeditethemovementasrapidlyaspossible;butthecapacityoftheroadwassosmall，thatIsoonsawthatIcouldmovehorses，mules，andwagonsfasterbyland，andthereforeI
dispatchedtheartilleryandwagonsbytheroadunderescort，andfinallymovedtheentireFourthDivisionbyland。
Theenemyseemstohavehadearlynoticeofthismovement，andheendeavoredtothwartusfromthestart。AconsiderableforceassembledinathreateningattitudeatSalem，southofSalisburyStation;andGeneralCarr，whocommandedatCorinth，feltcompelledtoturnbackanduseapartofmytroops，thathadalreadyreachedCorinth，toresistthethreatenedattack。
OnSunday，October11th，havingputinmotionmywholeforce，I
startedmyselfforCorinth，inaspecialtrain，withthebattalionoftheThirteenthUnitedStatesRegularsasescort。WereachedColliervilleStationaboutnoon，justintimetotakepartinthedefensemadeofthatstationbyColonelD。C。Anthony，oftheSixty—sixthIndiana，againstanattackmadebyGeneralChalmerswithaforceofaboutthreethousandcavalry，witheightpiecesofartillery。Hewasbeatenoff，thedamagetotheroadrepaired，andweresumedourjourneythenextday，reachingCorinthatnight。
IimmediatelyorderedGeneralBlairforwardtoIuka，withtheFirstDivision，and，asfastasIgottroopsup，pushedthemforwardofBearCreek，thebridgeofwhichwascompletelydestroyed，andanengineerregiment，undercommandofColonelFlag，wasengagedinitsrepairs。
Quiteaconsiderableforceoftheenemywasassembledinourfront，nearTuscumbia，toresistouradvance。ItwascommandedbyGeneralStephenD。Lee，andcomposedofRoddy’sandFerguson’sbrigades，withirregularcavalry，amountingintheaggregatetoaboutfivethousand。
InpersonImovedfromCorinthtoBurnsvilleonthe18th，andtoIukaonthe19thofOctober。
Osterhaus’sdivisionwasintheadvance，constantlyskirmishingwiththeenemy;hewassupportedbyGeneralMorganL。Smith’s，bothdivisionsunderthegeneralcommandofMajor—GeneralBlair。
GeneralJohnE。Smith’sdivisioncoveredtheworking—partyengagedinrebuildingtherailroad。
ForeseeingdifficultyincrossingtheTennesseeRiver，IhadwrittentoAdmiralPorter，atCairo，askinghimtowatchtheTennesseeandsendupsomegunboatsthemomentthestageofwateradmitted;andhadalsorequestedGeneralAllen，quartermasteratSt。Louis，todispatchtoEastportasteamferry—boat。
Theadmiral，everpromptandreadytoassistus，hadtwofinegunboatsatEastport，underCaptainPhelps，theverydayaftermyarrivalatIuka;andCaptainPhelpshadacoal—bargedeckedover，withwhichtocrossourhorsesandwagonsbeforethearrivaloftheferry—boat。
StillfollowingliterallytheinstructionsofGeneralHalleck，I
pushedforwardtherepairsoftherailroad，andorderedGeneralBlair，withthetwoleadingdivisions，todrivetheenemybeyondTuscumbia。Thishedidsuccessfully，afteraprettyseverefightatCaneCreek，occupyingTuscumbiaonthe27thofOctober。
Inthemeantimemanyimportantchangesincommandhadoccurred，whichImustnotehere，toaproperunderstandingofthecase。
GeneralGranthadbeencalledfromVicksburg，andsenttoChattanoogatocommandthemilitarydivisionoftheMississippi，composedofthethreeDepartmentsoftheOhio，Cumberland，andTennessee;andtheDepartmentoftheTennesseehadbeendevolvedonme，withinstructions，however，toretaincommandofthearmyinthefield。AtIukaImadewhatappearedtomethebestdispositionofmattersrelatingtothedepartment，givingGeneralMcPhersonfullpowersinMississippiandGeneralHurlbutinWestTennessee，andassignedGeneralBlairtothecommandoftheFifteenthArmyCorps;andsummonedGeneralHurlbutfromMemphis，andGeneralDodgefromCorinth，andselectedoutoftheSixteenthCorpsaforceofabouteightthousandmen，whichIdirectedGeneralDodgetoorganizewithallexpedition，andwithittofollowmeeastward。
Onthe27thofOctober，whenGeneralBlair，withtwodivisions，wasatTuscumbia，IorderedGeneralEwing，withtheFourthDivision，tocrosstheTennessee（bymeansofthegunboatsandscow）asrapidlyaspossibleatEastport，andpushforwardtoFlorence，whichhedid;andthesamedayamessengerfromGeneralGrantfloateddowntheTennesseeoverMuscleShoals，landedatTnacumbia，andwassenttomeatIuka。Heboreashortmessagefromthegeneraltothiseffect:\"DropallworkontherailroadeastofBearCreek;pushyourcommandtowardBridgeporttillyoumeetorders;\"etc。
Instantlytheorderwasexecuted;theorderofmarchwasreversed，andallthecolumnsweredirectedtoEastport，theonlyplacewherewecouldcrosstheTennessee。Atfirstweonlyhadthegunboatsandcoal—barge;buttheferry—boatandtwotransportsarrivedonthe31stofOctober，andtheworkofcrossingwaspushedwithallthevigorpossible。InpersonIcrossed，andpassedtotheheadofthecolumnatFlorenceonthe1stofNovember，leavingthereardivisionstobeconductedbyGeneralBlair，andmarchedtoRogersvilleandElkRiver。Thiswasfoundimpassable。Toferrywouldhaveconsumedtomuchtime，andtobuildabridgestillmore;
sotherewasnoalternativebuttoturnupElkRiverbywayofGilbertsboro，Elkton，etc。，tothestonebridgeatFayetteville，wherewecrossedtheElk，andproceededtoWinchesterandDeckerd。
AtFayettevilleIreceivedordersfromGeneralGranttocometoBridgeportwiththeFifteenthArmyCorps，andtoleaveGeneralDodge’scommandatPulaski，andalongtherailroadfromColumbiatoDecatur。IinstructedGeneralBlairtofollowwiththeSecondandFirstDivisionsbywayofNewMarket，Larkinsville，andBellefonte，whileIconductedtheothertwodivisionsbywayofDeckerd;theFourthDivisioncrossingthemountaintoStevenson，andtheThirdbyUniversityPlaceandSweden’sCove。
InpersonIproceededbySweden’sCoveandBattleCreek，reachingBridgeportonthenightofNovember13th。Iimmediatelytelegraphedtothecommandinggeneralmyarrival，andthepositionsofmyseveraldivisions，andwassummonedtoChattanooga。Itookthefirststeamboatdaringthenightofthe14thforBelly’sFerry，androdeintoChattanoogaonthe16th。Ithenlearnedthepartassignedmeinthecomingdrama，wassuppliedwiththenecessarymapsandinformation，androde，duringthe18th，incompanywithGeneralsGrant，Thomas，W。F。Smith，Brannan，andothers，tothepositionsoccupiedonthewestbankoftheTennessee，fromwhichcouldbeseenthecampsoftheenemy，compassingChattanoogaandthelineofMissionaryHills，withitsterminusonChickamaugaCreek，thepointthatIwasexpectedtotake，hold，andfortify。
Pontoons，withafullsupplyofbalksandchesses，hadbeenpreparedforthebridgeovertheTennessee，andallthingshadbeenprearrangedwithaforesightthatelicitedmyadmiration。FromthehillswelookeddownontheamphitheatreofChattanoogaasonamap，andnothingremainedbutformetoputmytroopsinthedesiredposition。Theplancontemplatedthat，inadditiontocrossingtheTennesseeRiverandmakingalodgmentontheterminusofMissionaryRidge，IshoulddemonstrateagainstLookoutMountain，nearTrenton，withapartofmycommand。
AllinChattanoogawereimpatientforaction，renderedalmostacutebythenaturalapprehensionsfeltforthesafetyofGeneralBurnsideinEastTennessee。
MycommandhadmarchedfromMemphis，threehundredandthirtymiles，andIhadpushedthemasfastastheroadsanddistancewouldadmit，butIsawenoughoftheconditionofmenandanimalsinChattanoogatoinspiremewithrenewedenergy。Iimmediatelyorderedmyleadingdivision（GeneralEwing’s）tomarchviaShellmoundtoTrenton，demonstratingagainstLookoutRidge，buttobepreparedtoturnquicklyandfollowmetoChattanoogaandinpersonIreturnedtoBridgeport，rowingaboatdowntheTennesseefromBelly’sFerry，andimmediatelyonarrivalputinmotionmydivisionsintheorderinwhichtheyhadarrived。ThebridgeofboatsatBridgeportwasfrail，and，thoughuseddayandnight，ourpassagewasslow;andtheroadthencetoChattanoogawasdreadfullycutupandencumberedwiththewagonsoftheothertroopsstationedalongtheroad。IreachedGeneralHooker’sheadquartersduringarain，intheafternoonofthe20th，andmetGeneralGrant’sordersforthegeneralattackonthenextday。Itwassimplyimpossibleformetofulfillmypartintime;onlyonedivision（GeneralJohnE。Smith’s）wasinposition。GeneralEwingwasstillatTrenton，andtheothertwoweretoilingalongtheterribleroadfromShellmoundtoChattanooga。Notroopseverwereorcouldbeinbetterconditionthanmine，orwholaboredhardertofulfilltheirpart。Onaproperrepresentation，GeneralGrantpostponedtheattack。Onthe21stIgottheSecondDivisionoverBrown’s—FerryBridge，andGeneralEwinggotup;butthebridgebrokerepeatedly，anddelaysoccurredwhichnohumansagacitycouldprevent。Alllaborednightandday，andGeneralEwinggotoveronthe23d;butmyreardivisionwascutoffbythebrokenbridgeatBrown’sFerry，andcouldnotjoinme。Iofferedtogointoactionwithmythreedivisions，supportedbyGeneralJeff。C。Davis，leavingoneofmybestdivisions（Osterhaus’s）toactwithGeneralHookeragainstLookoutMountain。Thatdivisionhasnotjoinedmeyet，butIknowandfeelthatithasservedthecountrywell，andthatithasreflectedhonorontheFifteenthArmyCorpsandtheArmyoftheTennessee。IleavetherecordofitshistorytoGeneralHooker，orwhomsoeverhashaditsservicesduringthelatememorableevents，confidentthatallwilldoitmeritedhonor。
Atlast，onthe28dofNovember，mythreedivisionslaybehindthehillsoppositethemouthoftheChickamauga。IdispatchedthebrigadeoftheSecondDivision，commandedbyGeneralGilesA。
Smith，undercoverofthehills，toNorthChickamaugaCreek，tomantheboatsdesignedforthepontoon—bridge，withorders（atmidnight）todropdownsilentlytoapointabovethemouthoftheSouthChickamauga，therelandtworegiments，whoweretomovealongtheriver—bankquietly，andcapturetheenemy’sriver—pickets。
GeneralGilesA。SmiththenwastodroprapidlybelowthemonthoftheChickamauga，disembarktherestofhisbrigade，anddispatchtheboatsacrossforfreshloads。Theseorderswereskillfullyexecuted，andeveryrebelpicketbutonewascaptured。ThebalanceofGeneralMorganL。Smith’sdivisionwasthenrapidlyferriedacross;thatofGeneralJohnE。Smithfollowed，andbydaylightofNovember24thtwodivisionsofabouteightthousandmenwereontheeastbankoftheTennessee，andhadthrownupaveryrespectablerifle—trenchasatetedupont。Assoonasthedaydawned，someoftheboatsweretakenfromtheuseofferrying，andapontoon—bridgewasbegun，undertheimmediatedirectionofCaptainDresser，thewholeplannedandsupervisedbyGeneralWilliamF。Smithinperson。
Apontoon—bridgewasalsobuiltatthesametimeoverChickamangaCreek，nearitsmonth，givingcommunicationwiththetworegimentswhichhadbeenleftonthenorthside，andfulfillingamostimportantpurposeatalaterstageofthedrama。Iwillherebearmywillingtestimonytothecompletenessofthiswholebusiness。
Alltheofficerschargedwiththeworkwerepresent，andmanifestedaskillwhichIcannotpraisetoohighly。Ihaveneverbeheldanyworkdonesoquietly，sowell;andIdoubtifthehistoryofwarcanshowabridgeofthatextent（viz。，thirteenhundredandfiftyfeet）laidsonoiselesslyandwell，insoshortatime。I
attributeittothegeniusandintelligenceofGeneralWilliamF。
Smith。ThesteamerDunbararrivedupinthecourseofthemorning，andrelievedEwing’sdivisionofthelaborofrowingacross;butbynoonthepontoon—bridgewasdone，andmythreedivisionswereacross，withmen，horses，artillery，andeverything。
GeneralJeff。C。Davis’sdivisionwasreadytotakethebridge，andIorderedthecolumnstoforminordertocarrytheMissionaryHills。Themovementhadbeencarefullyexplainedtoalldivisioncommanders，andat1p。m。wemarchedfromtheriverinthreecolumnsinechelon:theleft，GeneralMorganL。Smith，thecolumnofdirection，followingsubstantiallyChickamaugaCreek;thecentre，General，JohnE。Smith，incolumns，doubledonthecentre，atonebrigadeintervaltotherightandrear;theright，GeneralEwing，incolumnatthesamedistancetotherightrear，preparedtodeploytotheright，onthesuppositionthatwewouldmeetanenemyinthatdirection。Eachheadofcolumnwascoveredbyagoodlineofskirmishers，withsupports。Alightdrizzlingrainprevailed，andthecloudshunglow，cloakingourmovementfromtheenemy’stowerofobservationonLookoutMountain。Wesoongainedthefoothills;ourskirmisherscreptupthefaceofthehills，followedbytheirsupports，andat3。30p。m。wehadgained，withnoloss，thedesiredpoint。Abrigadeofeachdivisionwaspushedrapidlytothetopofthehill，andtheenemyforthefirsttimeseemedtorealizethemovement，buttoolate，forwewereinpossession。Heopenedwithartillery，butGeneralEwingsoongotsomeofCaptainRichardson’sgunsupthatsteephillandgavebackartillery，andtheenemy’sskirmishersmadeoneortwoineffectualdashesatGenaralLightburn，whohadsweptroundandgotafartherhill，whichwastherealcontinuationoftheridge。Fromstudyingallthemaps，IhadinferredthatMissionaryRidgewasacontinuoushill;butwefoundourselvesontwohighpoints，withadeepdepressionbetweenusandtheoneimmediatelyoverthetunnel，whichwasmychiefobjectivepoint。Thegroundwehadgained，however，wassoimportant，thatIcouldleavenothingtochance，andorderedittobefortifiedduringthenight。Onebrigadeofeachdivisionwasleftonthehill，oneofGeneralMorganL。
Smith’sclosedthegaptoChickamaugaCreek，twoofGeneralJohnE。
Smith’sweredrawnbacktothebaseinreserve，andGeneralEwing’srightwasextendeddownintotheplain，thuscrossingtheridgeinageneralline，facingsoutheast。
Theenemyfeltourleftflankabout4p。m。，andaprettysmartengagementwithartilleryandmusketsensued，whenhedrewoff;butitcostusdear，forGeneralGilesA。Smithwasseverelywounded，andhadtogototherear;andthecommandofthebrigadedevolvedonColonelTopper（OneHundredandSixteenthIllinois），whomanageditwithskillduringtherestoftheoperations。Atthemomentofmycrossingthebridge，GeneralHowardappeared，havingcomewiththreeregimentsfromChattanooga，alongtheeastbankoftheTennessee，connectingmynewpositionwiththatofthemainarmyinChattanooga。HeleftthethreeregimentsattachedtemporarilytoGen。Ewing’sright，andreturnedtohisowncorpsatChattanooga。
Asnightclosedin，IorderedGeneralJeff。C。Davistokeeponeofhisbrigadesatthebridge，onecloseuptomyposition，andoneintermediate。Thuswepassedthenight，heavydetailsbeingkeptbusyatworkontheintrenchmentsonthehill。Duringthenighttheskyclearedawaybright，acoldfrostfilledtheair，andourcamp—firesrevealedtotheenemyandtoourfriendsinChattanoogaourpositiononMissionaryRidge。AboutmidnightIreceived，atthehandsofMajorRowley（ofGeneralGrant’sstaff），orderstoattacktheenemyat\"dawnofday，\"withnoticethatGeneralThomaswouldattackinforceearlyintheday。Accordingly，beforedayI
wasinthesaddle，attendedbyallmystaff;rodetotheextremeleftofourpositionnearChickamaugaCreek;thenceupthehill，heldbyGeneralLightburn;androundtotheextremerightofGeneralEwing。
Catchingasaccurateanideaofthegroundaspossiblebythedimlightofmorning，IsawthatourlineofattackwasinthedirectionofMissionaryRidge，withwingssupportingoneitherflank。Quiteavalleylaybetweenusandthenexthilloftheseries，andthishillpresentedsteepsides，theonetothewestpartiallycleared，buttheothercoveredwiththenativeforest。
Thecrestoftheridgewasnarrowandwooded。Thefartherpointofthishillwasheld—bytheenemywithabreastworkoflogsandfreshearth，filledwithmenandtwoguns。Theenemywasalsoseeningreatforceonastillhigherhillbeyondthetunnel，fromwhichhehadafineplungingfireonthehillindispute。Thegorgebetween，throughwhichseveralroadsandtherailroad—tunnelpass，couldnotbeseenfromourposition，butformedthenaturalplaced’armes，wheretheenemycoveredhismassestoresistourcontemplatedmovementofturninghisrightflankaridendangeringhiscommunicationswithhisdepotatChickamaugaStation。
Assoonaspossible，thefollowingdispositionsweremade:ThebrigadesofColonelsCockrellandAlexander，andGeneralLightburn，weretoholdourhillasthekey—point。GeneralCorse，withasmuchofhisbrigadeascouldoperatealongthenarrowridge，wastoattackfromourrightcentre。GeneralLightburnwastodispatchagoodregimentfromhispositiontocooperatewithGeneralCorse;
andGeneralMorganL。SmithwastomovealongtheeastbaseofMissionaryRidge，connectingwithGeneralCorse;andColonelLoomis，inlikemanner，tomovealongthewestbane，supportedbythetworeservebrigadesofGeneralJohnE。Smith。
ThesunhadhardlyrisenbeforeGeneralCorsehadcompletedhispreparationsandhisbuglesoundedthe\"forward！\"TheFortiethIllinois，supportedbytheForty—sixthOhio，onourrightcentre，withtheThirtiethOhio（ColonelJones），moveddownthefaceofourhill，andupthatheldbytheenemy。Thelineadvancedtowithinabouteightyyardsoftheintrenchedposition，whereGeneralCorsefoundasecondarycrest，whichhegainedandheld。Tothispointhecalledhisreserves，andaskedforreenforcements，whichweresent;butthespacewasnarrow，anditwasnotwelltocrowdthemen，astheenemy’sartilleryandmusketryfireswepttheapproachtohisposition，givinghimgreatadvantage。AssoonasGeneralCorsehadmadehispreparations，heassaulted，andaclose，severecontestensued，whichlastedmorethananhour，gainingandlosingground，butneverthepositionfirstobtained，fromwhichtheenemyinvainattemptedtodrivehim。GeneralMorganL。SmithkeptgaininggroundontheleftspursofMissionaryRidge，andColonelLoomisgotabreastofthetunnelandrailroadembankmentonhisaide，drawingtheenemy’sfire，andtothatextentrelievingtheassaultingpartyonthehill—crest。CaptainCallenderhadfourofhisgunsonGeneralEwing’shill，andCaptainWoodshisNapoleonbatteryonGeneralLightburn’s;also，twogunsofDillon’sbatterywerewithColonelAlexander’sbrigade。Alldirectedtheirfireascarefullyaspossible，toclearthehilltoourfront，withoutendangeringourownmen。Thefightragedfuriouslyabout10a。m。，whenGeneralCorsereceivedaseverewound，wasbroughtoffthefield，andthecommandofthebrigadeandoftheassaultatthatkey—pointdevolvedonthatfineyoung，gallantofficer，ColonelWalcutt，oftheForty—sixthOhio，whofulfilledhispartmanfully。
Hecontinuedthecontest，pressingforwardatallpoints。ColonelLoomishadmadegoodprogresstotheright，andabout2p。m。，GeneralJohnE。Smith，judgingthebattletobemostsevereonthehill，andbeingrequiredtosupportGeneralEwing，orderedupColonelRaum’sandGeneralMatthias’sbrigadesacrossthefieldtothesummitthatwasbeingfoughtfor。Theymovedupunderaheavyfireofcannonandmusketry，andjoinedColonelWalcutt;butthecrestwassonarrowthattheynecessarilyoccupiedthewestfaceofthehill。Theenemy，atthetimebeingmassedingreatstrengthinthetunnel—gorge，movedalargeforceundercoverofthegroundandthethickbushes，andsuddenlyappearedontherightrearofthiscommand。Thesuddennessoftheattackdisconcertedthemen，exposedastheywereintheopenfield;theyfellbackinsomedisordertotheloweredgeofthefield，andreformed。Thesetwobrigadeswereinthenatureofsupports，anddidnotconstituteapartoftherealattack。
Themovement，seenfromChattanooga（fivemilesoff）withspy—glasses，gaverisetothereport，whichevenGeneralMeigahasrepeated，thatwewererepulsedontheleft。Itwasnotso。TherealattackingcolumnsofGeneralCorse，ColonelLoomis，andGeneralSmith，werenotrepulsed。Theyengagedinaclosestrugglealldaypersistently，stubbornly，andwell。WhenthetworeservebrigadesofGeneralJohnE。Smithfellbackasdescribed，theenemymadeashowofpursuit，butwereintheirturncaughtinflankbythewell—directedfireofourbrigadeonthewoodedcrest，andhastilysoughtcoverbehindthehill。Thusmattersstoodabout3
p。m。Thedaywasbrightandclear，andtheamphitheatreofChattanoogasatinbeautyatourfeet。IhadwatchedfortheattackofGeneralThomas\"earlyintheday。\"Columnaftercolumnoftheenemywasstreamingtowardme;gunaftergunpoureditsconcentricshotonus，fromeveryhillandspurthatgaveaviewofanypartofthegroundheldbyus。AnoccasionalshotfromFortWoodandOrchardKnob，andsomemusketry—fireandartilleryoveraboutLookoutMountain，wasallthatIcoulddetectonourside;
butabout3p。m。Inoticedthewhitelineofmusketry—fireinfrontofOrchardKnollextendingfartherandfartherrightandleftandon。Wecouldonlyhearafaintechoofsound，butenoughwasseentosatisfymethatGeneralThomaswasatlastmovingonthecentre。Iknewthatourattackhaddrawnvastmassesoftheenemytoourflank，andfeltsureoftheresult。Somegunswhichhadbeenfiringonusalldayweresilent，orwereturnedinadifferentdirection。
Theadvancinglineofmusketry—firefromOrchardKnolldisappearedtousbehindasparofthehill，andcouldnolongerbeseen;anditwasnotuntilnightclosedinthatIknewthatthetroopsinChattanoogahadsweptacrossMissionaryRidgeandbrokentheenemy’scentre。Ofcourse，thevictorywaswon，andpursuitwasthenextstep。
IorderedGeneralMorganL。Smithtofeeltothetunnel，anditwasfoundvacant，savebythedeadandwoundedofourownandtheenemycommingled。ThereserveofGeneralJeff。C。Daviswasorderedtomarchatoncebythepontoon—bridgeacrossChickamaugaCreek，atitsmouth，andpushforwardforthedepot。
GeneralHowardhadreportedtomeintheearlypartoftheday，withtheremainderofhisarmycorps（theEleventh），andhadbeenpostedtoconnectmyleftwithChickamaugaCreek。HewasorderedtorepairanoldbrokenbridgeabouttwomilesuptheChickamauga，andtofollowGeneralDavisat4a。m。，andtheFifteenthArmyCorpswasorderedtofollowatdaylight。ButGeneralHowardfoundthattorepairthebridgewasmoreofataskthanwasatfirstsupposed，andwewereallcompelledtocrosstheChickamaugaonthenewpontoon—bridgeatitsmouth。Byabout11a。m。GeneralJeff。C。
Davis’sdivisionreachedthedepot，justintimetoseeeitinflames。Hefoundtheenemyoccupyingtwohills，partiallyintrenched，justbeyondthedepot。Thesehesoondroveaway。Thedepotpresentedasceneofdesolationthatwaraloneexhibits——
corn—mealandcorninhugeburningpiles，brokenwagons，abandonedcaissons，twothirty—two—pounderrifled—gunswithcarriagesburned，piecesofpontoons，balksandchesses，etc。，destineddoubtlessforthefamousinvasionofKentucky，andallmannerofthings，burningandbroken。Still，theenemykindlyleftusagoodsupplyofforageforourhorses，andmeal，beans，etc。，forourmen。
Pausingbutashortwhile，wepassedon，theroadfilledwithbrokenwagonsandabandonedcaissons，tillnight。Justastheheadofthecolumnemergedfromadark，miryswamp，weencounteredtherear—guardoftheretreatingenemy。Thefightwassharp，butthenightclosedinsodarkthatwecouldnotmove。GeneralGrantcameuptousthere。Atdaylightweresumedthemarch，andatGraysville，whereagoodbridgespannedtheChickamauga，wefoundthecorpsofGeneralPalmeronthesouthbank，whoinformedusthatGeneralHookerwasonaroadstillfarthersouth，andwecouldhearhisgunsnearRinggold。
Astheroadswerefilledwithallthetroopstheycouldpossiblyaccommodate，Iturnedtotheeast，tofulfillanotherpartofthegeneralplan，viz。，tobreakupallcommunicationbetweenBraggandLongstreet。
Wehadallsortsofrumorsastothelatter，butitwasmanifestthatweshouldinterposeaproperforcebetweenthesetwoarmies。
IthereforedirectedGeneralHowardtomovetoParker’sGap，andthencesendrapidlyacompetentforcetoRedClay，ortheCouncil—Ground，theretodestroyalargesectionoftherailroadwhichconnectsDaltonandCleveland。Thisworkwasmostsuccessfullyandfollyaccomplishedthatday。ThedivisionofGeneralJeff。C。DaviswasmovedcloseuptoRinggold，toassistGeneralHookerifneeded，andtheFifteenthCorpswasheldatGrayeville，foranythingthatmightturnup。AboutnoonIhadamessagefromGeneralHooker，sayinghehadhadaprettyhardfightatthemountain—passjustbeyondRinggold，andhewantedmetocomeforwardtoturntheposition。HewasnotawareatthetimethatHoward，bymovingthroughParker’sGaptowardRedClay，hadalreadyturnedit。SoIrodeforwardtoRinggoldinperson，andfoundtheenemyhadalreadyfallenbacktoTunnelHill。HewasalreadyoutofthevalleyoftheChickamauga，andongroundwhencethewatersflowtotheCoosa。HewasoutofTennessee。
IfoundGeneralGrantatRinggold，and，aftersomeexplanationsastobreakinguptherailroadfromRinggoldbacktotheStateline，assoonassomecarsloadedwithwoundedmencouldbepushedbacktoChickamaugadepot，IwasorderedtomoveslowlyandleisurelybacktoChattanooga。
OnthefollowingdaytheFifteenthCorpsdestroyedabsolutelyandeffectuallytherailroadfromapointhalf—waybetweenRinggoldandGraysville，backtotheStateline;andGeneralGrant，comingtoGraysville，consentedthat，insteadofreturningdirecttoChattanooga，Imightsendbackallmyartillery—wagonsandimpediments，andmakeacircuitbythenorthasfarastheHiawasaeeRiver。
Accordingly，onthemorningofNovember29th，GeneralHowardmovedfromParker’sGaptoCleveland，GeneralDavisbywayofMcDaniel’sGap，andGeneralBlairwithtwodivisionsoftheFifteenthCorpsbywayofJulien’sGap，allmeetingatClevelandthatnight。HereanothergoodbreakwasmadeintheDalton&Clevelandroad。Onthe30ththearmymovedtoCharleston，GeneralHowardapproachingsorapidlythattheenemyevacuatedwithhaste，leavingthebridgebutpartiallydamaged，andfivecar—loadsofflourandprovisionsonthenorthbankoftheHiawassee。
Thiswastohavebeenthelimitofouroperations。Officersandmenhadbroughtnobaggageorprovisions，andtheweatherwasbittercold。IhadalreadyreachedthetownofCharleston，whenGeneralWilsonarrivedwithaletterfromGeneralGrant，atChattanooga，informingmethatthelatestauthenticaccountsfromKnoxvilleweretothe27th，atwhichtimeGeneralBurnsidewascompletelyinvested，andhadprovisionsonlytoincludethe3dofDecember;thatGeneralGrangerhadleftChattanoogaforKnoxville，bytheriver—road，withasteamboatfollowinghimintheriver;buthefearedthatGeneralGrangercouldnotreachKnoxvilleintime，andorderedmetotakecommandofalltroopsmovingforthereliefofKnoxville，andhastentoGeneralBurnside。Sevendaysbefore，wehadleftourcampsontheothersideoftheTennesseewithtwodays’rations，withoutachangeofclothing——strippedforthefight，withbutasingleblanketorcoatperman，frommyselftotheprivateincluded。
Ofcourse，wethenhadnoprovisionssavewhatwegatheredbytheroad，andwereillsuppliedforsuchamarch。Butwelearnedthattwelvethousandofourfellow—soldierswerebeleagueredinthemountaintownofKnoxville，eighty—fourmilesdistant;thattheyneededrelief，andmusthaveitinthreedays。Thiswasenough——
andithadtobedone。GeneralHowardthatnightrepairedandplankedtherailroad—bridge，andatdaylightthearmypassedovertheHiawasseeandmarchedtoAthens，fifteenmiles。IhadsupposedrightlythatGeneralGrangerwasaboutthemouthoftheHiawassee，andhadsenthimnoticeofmyorders;thatGeneralGranthadsentmeacopyofhiswritteninstructions，whichwerefullandcomplete，andthathemustpushforKingston，nearwhichwewouldmakeajunction。ButbythetimeIreachedAthensIhadbetterstudiedthegeography，andsenthimorders，whichfoundhimatDecatur，thatKingstonwasoutofourway;thatheshouldsendhisboattoKingston，butwithhiscommandstrikeacrosstoPhiladelphia，andreporttomethere。Ihadbutasmallforceofcavalry，whichwas，atthetimeofmyreceiptofGeneralGrant’sorders，scoutingoveraboutBentonandColumbus。Ileftmyaide，MajorMcCoy，atCharleston，tocommunicatewiththiscavalryandhurryitforward。ItovertookmeinthenightatAthens。
Onthe2dofDecemberthearmymovedrapidlynorthtowardLoudon，twenty—sixmilesdistant。About11a。m。，thecavalrypassedtotheheadofthecolumn，wasorderedtopushtoLondon，and，ifpossible，tosaveapontoon—bridgeacrosstheTennessee，heldbyabrigadeoftheenemycommandedbyGeneralVaughn。Thecavalrymovedwithsuchrapidityastocaptureeverypicket;butthebrigadeofVaughnhadartilleryinposition，coveredbyearthworks，anddisplayedaforcetoorespectabletobecarriedbyacavalrydash，sothatdarknessclosedinbeforeGeneralHoward’sinfantrygotup。Theenemyabandonedtheplaceinthenight，destroyingthepontoons，runningthreelocomotivesandforty—eightcarsintotheTennesseeRiver，andabandonedmuchprovision，fourguns，andothermaterial，whichGeneralHowardtookatdaylight。Butthebridgewasgone，andwewereforcedtoturneastandtrusttoGeneralBurnside’sbridgeatKnoxville。Itwasall—importantthatGeneralBurnsideshouldhavenoticeofourcoming，andbutonedayofthetimeremained。
Accordingly，atPhiladelphia，duringthenightofthe2dofDecember，Isentmyaide（MajorAudenried）forwardtoColonelLong，commandingthebrigadeofcavalryatLondon，toexplaintohimhowall—importantitwasthatnoticeofourapproachshouldreachGeneralBurnsidewithintwenty—fourhours，orderinghimtoselectthebestmaterialsofhiscommand，tostartatonce，fordtheLittleTennessee，andpushintoKnoxvilleatwhatevercostoflifeandhorse—flesh。MajorAudenriedwasorderedtogoalong。Thedistancetobetraveledwasaboutfortymiles，andtheroadsvillainous。Beforedaytheywereoff，andatdaylighttheFifteenthCorpswasturnedfromPhiladelphiafortheLittleTennesseeatMorgantown，wheremymapsrepresentedtheriverasbeingveryshallow;butitwasfoundtoodeepforfording，andthewaterwasfreezingcold——widthtwohundredandfortyyards，depthfromtwotofivefeet;horsescouldford，butartilleryandmencouldnot。Abridgewasindispensable。GeneralWilson（whoaccompaniedme）undertooktosuperintendthebridge，andIamundermanyobligationstohim，asIwaswithoutanengineer，havingsentCaptainJennybackfromGraysvilletosurveyourfieldofbattle。
Wehadourpioneers，butonlysuchtoolsasaxes，picks，andspades。GeneralWilson，workingpartlywithcutwoodandpartlywithsquaretrestles（madeofthehousesofthelatetownofMorgantown），progressedapace，andbydarkofDecember4thtroopsandanimalspassedoverthebridge，andbydaybreakofthe5ththeFifteenthCorps（GeneralBlair’s）wasover，andGenerals—Granger’sandDavis’sdivisionswerereadytopass;butthediagonalbracingwasimperfectfor，wantofspikes，andthebridgebroke，causingdelay。IhadorderedGeneralBlairtomoveoutontheMarysvilleroadfivemiles，theretoawaitnoticethatGeneralGrangerwasonaparallelroadabreastofhim，andinpersonIwasatahousewheretheroadsparted，whenamessengerrodeup，bringingmeafewwordsfromGeneralBurnside，totheeffectthatColonelLonghadarrivedatKnoxvillewithhiscavalry，andthatallwaswellwithhimthere;Longstreetstilllaybeforetheplace，butthereweresymptomsofhisspeedydeparture。
IfeltthatIhadaccomplishedthefirstgreatstepintheproblemforthereliefofGeneralBurnside’sarmy，butstillurgedonthework。Assoonasthebridgewasmended，allthetroopsmovedforward。GeneralHowardhadmarchedfromLoudon，hadfoundaprettygoodfordforhishorsesandwagonsatDavis’s，sevenmilesbelowMorgantown，andhadmadeaningeniousbridgeofthewagonsleftbyGeneralVaughnatLondon，onwhichtopasshismen。HemarchedbyUnitiaandLouisville。Onthenightofthe5thalltheheadsofcolumnscommunicatedatMarysville，whereImetMajorVanBuren（ofGeneralBurnside’sstaff），whoannouncedthatLongstreethadthenightbeforeretreatedontheRutledge，Rogersville，andBristolroad，leadingtoVirginia;thatGeneralBurnside’scavalrywasonhisheels;andthatthegeneraldesiredtoseemeinpersonassoonasIcouldcometoKnoxville。Iorderedallthetroopstohaltandrest，exceptthetwodivisionsofGeneralGranger，whichwereorderedtomoveforwardtoLittleRiver，andGeneralGrangertoreportinpersontoGeneralBurnsidefororders。HiswastheforceoriginallydesignedtoreenforceGeneralBurnside，anditwaseminentlyproperthatitshouldjoininthestern—chaseafterLongstreet。
OnthemorningofDecember6thIrodefromMarysvilleintoKnoxville，andmetGeneralBurnside。GeneralGrangerarrivedlaterintheday。Weexaminedhislinesoffortifications，whichwereawonderfulproductionfortheshorttimeallowedintheirselectionofgroundandconstructionofwork。Itseemedtomethattheywerenearlyimpregnable。Weexaminedtheredoubtnamed\"Sanders，\"