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 “Sanders,” where, on the Sunday previous, three brigades of the enemy had assaulted and met a bloody repulse.  Now, all was peaceful and quiet; but a few hours before, the deadly bullet sought its victim all round about that hilly barrier.

The general explained to me fully and frankly what he had done, and what he proposed to do.  He asked of me nothing but General Granger’s command; and suggested, in view of the large force I had brought from Chattanooga, that I should return with due expedition to the line of the Hiawasaee, lest Bragg, reenforced, might take advantage of our absence to resume the offensive.  I asked him to reduce this to writing, which he did, and I here introduce it as part of my report: 

Headquarters of the Ohio
Knoxville, December 7, 1863

Major-General W. T. Sherman, commanding, etc.

General:  I desire to express to you and your command my most hearty thanks and gratitude for your promptness in coming to our relief during the siege of Knoxville, and I am satisfied your approach served to raise the siege.  The emergency having passed, I do not deem, for the present, any other portion of your command but the corps of General Granger necessary for operations in this section; and, inasmuch