New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1864-03-23

aide OF the Tennessee with two days rations without
change OF clothing stripped for the light. WIN put
inclndedof course we then had no provisions
save what gathered by the road aud were Ill supplied
for such march.
But we learned that 900 OF our fllowsodiers were
belcagured in the mountain town OF knoxville "a miles
distant that they needed relief and must nave u In
three days This enough. and II had to be done.
Gen. Howard thai night repaired and planked tne
railroad bridge and at daylight the army passed thr
Hiawasse and marched to Athens Is miles, hnd
supposed rightiuy that Gen. Granger vas ab0nt the
mouth of tho Hinwussc Gnd ecut him notice OF my
orders that the General had sent ms cory oil his
written instructions which f and complete and
that he must push for Kingston. near which we would
make a junction. By the timo reached Athens had
time to study the geography and sent him orders which
found him at Decatur-that Kingston was out OF our
way that be should send his boat To Kingston, but win
his command strike 30 Philadelphia and report 70
me there I had but small forco oil cavalry when
was at the time Of my receipt OF Gen Grants orders
scouting over and about Benton and Columbus icit
NV aid. Major Mccoy at Charleston. 10 communicate
with the cavalry and hurry Il forward hovertooA ne
in the night at Athens.
On the I'd December the army moved rapidly norta
toward Loudon. 20 miles distant
About IL IN. the cavalry passed 10 the head OF ,ns
column and was ordered 10 push 70 Ioudon ana
possible save the fontoon bridge aero's te ienesseo
held By brigade Of the enemy, commanded by ecu
Vaughn The cavalry moved With such rapidity a. To
capture every picket but the brigade OF Vaughn had
artillery in position covered WIN anu
dash. and darkness closed III before Gen HowMds III
fantry got in. -. =,
stroying the pontoons running three locomotives ana
Is cars ia the Tennessee and abandoning Large guam
ii,y Of provisions four guns and other material wien
Gen Howard took at daylight,
east aud trust tien Burnside'r bridge AT hnoAtiHe
IL was oil important that Gen. Burnside should have
notice OF coming and bat one dny OF The time lie
Accordingly, a. Philadelphia during the night Of Dec.
9, sen. my Aid. Capt. Andcnreid. forward TO c9i.
Io1g commanding tho brigade of cavalry. 10 explain
TO him how slimportant il was that Gen Burnside
should have notice within 81 hours OF our approach, gnd
ordering him 10 select the beat material OF his command
10 start at once ford the Little Tennessee and push
into Knox lie at Whatever cost Of life and horseilesh
Capt. Audenred was ordered 10 70 along. The az
lance 70 be travelled about 10 miles, and the roads
vlainous. Before day they were on and at dayhgnt
che 18th Corps was turned from Philadelphia 70 the Lit
lie Tennessee at Mcrgani0wn, where my maps repre-
sened the river as very shallow bot IT was found too
deep fol- fordng and the water reezlDgcod-Wdth2 ~
yagls depth from two to i've feet Horses could ford.
but aItlerymen could not. bridge was indispense'
ble. Gen. Wilson. who accompanied NE. under
TOOK TO superiniend the bridge. and L sm under
nany, obligations to him. a. was without an engineer.
having sent Capt. Jenny hack to GreySAe 10 survey
the field u! battle We had our pioneers but only such
tools us axes picks ani spades but Gen Wilson, work
Ing part with crib work and part with treste', made
Of tie bouscs OF tie late town OF Morsuntown pro
gressed apacs md by dark Of Dec troops and AMI.
mails passed the bridge. and By daylight OF the On
the 18th Corps. Gen Rsir was over. and Gen. Gran.
pass, bat the diagonal brncngs were imperfect, Tor
want OF proper spikes and tho bridge broke causing
deluy.
/ had ordered Cen blair TO march out m The Mays
Wills road five miles, there 90 avail notice that telL
Granger was on parallel road abreast OF hin ana IN
person was al house where the roads parted WHEN
me ssonyer rode up bringing mo lew words ron ncD
Burnside dated Dec. T.. -
Col Long had arrived at Knoxville with his cavalry
and all well there Longstreet stl lay before the
place but there were symptoms OF speedy Departure
I feif had
this problem for this relief of Gen. burn5des Army,
but sill urged on the work.
Az sOOn n the bridge was msnded oil tho troops
moved forward. Gen. howard had marched from Lou
don and had formed pretty good ford Tor his wagons
and horses at Davis, seven miles nom Morganiown.
and lad made ingenious bridge Of the wagons leis
by Vaughn at loudon. which TO pass his men. He
marched by Unltia and Louisville. On the night OF
The 9TH 81; the heads Of columns communicated at
Marysyille where met Major Van Buren, OF Gen.
DuInsidss staff. announcing that LongstIeei bad the
night before retreated on tie Rutledge. RodgersVls
and Brs,o Road leading TO Virginia that Gen bum.
aides cavalry his heels that the General desired
! TO in person l coad come 10 knoI
ve ordered ell ths troops TO halt and rest except
I'd, two divisions OF Cen Granger which were ordered
10 aovo forward Little River and Gen Granger 20
report In person to Gen. Burnside for orders.
His force Was originally designed TO reinforce Cor.
Blrugido ard II wn tInlEenty protcr tiaf " shepp
Ing III Dec. g. rode from harysylo into Knoxville
and Gen Burnside. Gen Granger arrived later In
The dag. We examined his lines VI foftlhca.lonS
hich we're wonderful production for tho abort time
work. 1t seemed TO me they were nearly lnpregnsbe.
We examined the rcdoubi named Saunders, WHORE on
assaulted and met q bloody rePulse Now all Wa
peaceful and quiet who're bat fow hours before tho
dcOdy bullet sought lie victim, al rOsnd about that
hly barron.
Ths General explained fully ard frankly VIVA. be hid
done and what be had proposed TO do He aAked Of mo
nothing but Gen GrangoTs command. and suggested
In view OF TIA large force had brOashs from Chaiia
line Of the HiavHsse, lest Bragg. reinforced might
take advantage OF our abaonce to assume The offensive
asked him 10 reduce Il 70 writing which lie did, and
here introduce II az part Of my report.
HEADQUARTERS AEsr " THa ONO,
kNoxULLA Dee. !, 1871 :
HJj5r GessraI w. T.isnrusAs, Con rsas5sg &c.
GEssRAL desire TO EXPIRE" 10 you and your command
my hearty thanks aud gratitude fof your Pronrsaess in
The erorgeney having pz.sed DO deem cr tho present
ishTs for in this section sna n..nach
Gen Grant ha, weakened the force Immediately with him
order 10 resve hereby rendering tie position Of Cen
Thomas s secure deem {, tha, al thu troops
here, those Commanded BY Ge ORANGE should fv1asa
In behalf q my command ds.Ir. .in thank ySa and
yoTr command FOR Tho kindns's you have done uL
Your oh@disni Hrv,nf, ..
A. L. BusyJDI. AsJ Gen. Commanding
Accordingly, having recn the forces Of Gen. Burn.
side more out 81 Knoxville in pursuit Of LoDgstrcrt |
and Gen. Changers move in, put Ia motion my Own
command 10 return.
and Sweetwatsr. TO Athens. with o guard formed al
Charleston TO hold and repair tho bridge which tie
enemy had taken amer our passage mp. ten. Jem T..
Davis moved TO Columbus on the Hiswasser via Madi-
sonyie and the two divisions Of the 18th Corps moved
10 1elre Plains to q movement OF cavalry acrOss
the mountain into GeOrga ~ OTertakc wagon trnln
which had lodged IN on our way NJ. ard Lad escaped
by way oi Murphy. Subsequently, on u report from
Gen. Howard that the enemy still hsld Charleston. I
directed Gen. Kwingr division 70 Athens, and went In
pensOn 10 Tcre with Gen. Morgan L. Smiths iii is0n
y the 9Th all our troops wcro In position and we held