The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1896-12-31
SHERMAN,S MEMOIRS.
Continued from first page.)

ceiving note from Gen. Hooker, ask
ing help, / rode forward to Ringgold to
explain the movement of Howard |;
where met Gen. Grant, and learned
that the rebels had again retreated to-
ward Dalton. He gave orders to dis
continue the pursuit, as hemeant to turn
his attention to Gen. Burnside, supposed
to be in great danger at Knoxville,
about one hundred and thirty miles
northeast. Gen. Grant returned and
spent part of the night with me at Grays-
vile. We talked over matters gener-
ally, and he explained that he had Or
dered Gen. Gordon Granger, with the
Fourth Corps, to move forward rapidly
to Burnside's help, and that he must re-
turn to Chattanooga to push him BY
reason of the scarcity of food, especially
of forage, he consented that, instead OF
going back, l might keep out in the
country; for in motion / could pick up
some forage and food, especially on the
Hiawassee River, whereas none re-
manned in Chattanooga.
ORDERED TO KNOXVILLE.
Accordingly, on the 29th of Novem-
Der, my several columns .marched to
Cleveland, and the next day we reached
the Hiawassee at Charleston, where the
Chattanooga & Knoxville Railroad
crosses it. The railroad bridge was
partially damaged by the enemy in re-
treating, but we found some abandoned
stores. There and thereabouts l ex-
pected some rest for my weary troops
and horses but, as 1 rode into town, l
met Col. J. FL. Wilson and G. A. Dana,
assistant Secretary of War;, who had
ridden from Chattanooga to find me,
with the following letter from Gen.
Grant, and copies of several dispatches
from Gen. Burnside, the last which had
been received from him by way of Cum
berland Gap:
HEADQUARTERS MILITARY DIVISION OF
THE MISSISSIPPI, CHATTANOOGA. Tenn, 7
Nov 90. 1863
MaJ..Ge0. w. j. SHERMAN.
News are received from Knoxville to the
morning of the 27th. At that time the place
was still invested, but the attack ON it was not
vigorous. Longstreet evidently determined to
starve the garrison out Granger is on the way
TO Rurnside's relief but have lost all faith in
his energy or capacity to manage an expedition
of the Importance Of this one. / am inclined
to think, therefore, shall have to send you.
Push as rapidly as you can to the Hiawassee,
= r. -, fcr, foty
with you from that point. Granger has his
corps with him, from which you will select in
conjunction with the force now with you. In
plain words, y0u will assume command Of all
the forces now moving up the Tennessee. in-
cluding the garrison at Kingston, and from that
force organize what you deem proper to relieve
Burnside. The balance send back to Chatta-
nooga. Granger has a boat loaded with pro.
visions, which you can issue, and return the
boat. will have another loaded, to follow you.
Use, of course, as sparingly as possible from the
rations taken with you, and subsist OF the
country all yen can.
1t is expected that Foster is moving, by this
time, from Cumberland Gap on Knoxville.
do not know what force he will have with him.
but presume it will range from $500 to 5000.
leave this matter to you, knowing that you
will do better acting upon your discretion than
you could trammeled with instructions. will
only add that the last advices from Burnside
himself indicated his ability to hold out with
rations only to about the Sd of December.
Very respectfully,
u. s. GRANT, Major. General commanding.
This showed that, on the 9th of No
yember, Gen. Burnside was in Knoxville,
closely besieged by the rebel Gen. Long.
street; that his provisions were short
and that, unless relieved by Dec. 8, he
might have to surrender. Gen. Grant
further wrote that Gen. Granger, instead
of moving with great rapidity as ordered
seemed to move "slowly and with re
luctance and, although he (Gen
Grant, hated to call ON me and on my
tired troops, there was no alternative
He wanted me to take command oi
everything within reach, and to hurry
forward to Knoxville.
ALI the details of our march to Knox.
vile are also given in my official report
By extraordinary efforts Longs small
brigade of cavalry reached Knoxville
during the night of the Sd purposely to
let Burnside know that / was rapidly
approaching with an adequate force te
raise the siege.