memoirs of general william t. sherman-1-第113章
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d much provision； four guns； and other material； which General Howard took at daylight。 But the bridge was gone； and we were forced to turn east and trust to General Burnside's bridge at Knoxville。 It was all…important that General Burnside should have notice of our coming； and but one day of the time remained。
Accordingly； at Philadelphia； during the night of the 2d of December； I sent my aide （Major Audenried） forward to Colonel Long； commanding the brigade of cavalry at London； to explain to him how all…important it was that notice of our approach should reach General Burnside within twenty…four hours； ordering him to select the best materials of his command； to start at once； ford the Little Tennessee； and push into Knoxville at whatever cost of life and horse…flesh。 Major Audenried was ordered to go along。 The distance to be traveled was about forty miles； and the roads villainous。 Before day they were off； and at daylight the Fifteenth Corps was turned from Philadelphia for the Little Tennessee at Morgantown； where my maps represented the river as being very shallow； but it was found too deep for fording； and the water was freezing coldwidth two hundred and forty yards； depth from two to five feet； horses could ford； but artillery and men could not。 A bridge was indispensable。 General Wilson （who accompanied me） undertook to superintend the bridge； and I am under many obligations to him； as I was without an engineer； having sent Captain Jenny back from Graysville to survey our field of battle。 We had our pioneers； but only such tools as axes； picks； and spades。 General Wilson； working partly with cut wood and partly with square trestles （made of the houses of the late town of Morgantown）； progressed apace； and by dark of December 4th troops and animals passed over the bridge； and by daybreak of the 5th the Fifteenth Corps （General Blair's） was over； and Generals…Granger's and Davis's divisions were ready to pass； but the diagonal bracing was imperfect for； want of spikes； and the bridge broke； causing delay。 I had ordered General Blair to move out on the Marysville road five miles； there to await notice that General Granger was on a parallel road abreast of him； and in person I was at a house where the roads parted； when a messenger rode up； bringing me a few words from General Burnside； to the effect that Colonel Long had arrived at Knoxville with his cavalry； and that all was well with him there； Longstreet still lay before the place； but there were symptoms of his speedy departure。
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 as General Grant has weakened the forces immediately with him in order to relieve us （thereby rendering the position of General Thomas less secure）； I deem it advisable that all the troops now here； save those commanded by General Granger； should return at once to within supporting distance of the forces in front of Bragg's army。 In behalf of my command； I desire again to thank you and your command for the kindness you have done us。
I am； general； very respectfully； your obedient servant；
A。 E。 BURNSIDE； Major…General commanding。
Accordingly； having seen General Burnside's forces move out of Knoxville in pursuit of Longstreet； and General Granger's move in； I put in motion my own command to return。 General Howard was ordered to move； via Davis's Ford and Sweetwater； to Athena； with a guard forward at Charleston； to hold and repair the bridge which the enemy had retaken after our passage up。 General Jeff。 C。 Davis moved to Columbus； on the Hiawaesee； via Madisonville； and the two divisions of the Fifteenth Corps moved to Tellico Plains； to cover movement of cavalry across the mountains into Georgia； to overtake a wagon…train which had dodged us on our way up； and had escaped by way of Murphy。 Subsequently； on a report from General Howard that the enemy held Charleston； I diverted General Ewing's division to Athena； and went in person to Tellico with General Morgan L。 Smith's division。 By the 9th all our troops were in position； and we held the rich country between the Little Tennessee and the Hiawasaee。 The cavalry； under Colonel Long； passed the mountain at Tellico； and proceeded about seventeen miles beyond Murphy； when Colonel Long； deeming his farther pursuit of the wagon…train useless； returned on the 12th to Tellico。 I then ordered him and the division of General Morgan L。 Smith to move to Charleston； to which point I had previously ordered the corps of General Howard。
On the 14th of December all of my command in the field lay along the Hiawassee。 Having communicated to General Grant the actual state of affairs； I received orders to leave； on the line of the Hiawassee； all the cavalry； and come to Chattanooga with the rest of my command。 I left the brigade of cavalry commanded by Colonel Long； reenforced by the Fifth Ohio Cavalry （Lieutenant…Colonel Heath）the only cavalry properly belonging to the Fifteenth Army Corpsat Charleston； and with the remainder moved by easy marches； by Cleveland and Tyner's Depot； into Chattanooga； where I received in person from General Grant orders to transfer back to their appropriate commands the corps of General Howard and the division commanded by General Jeff。 C。 Davis； and to conduct the Fifteenth Army Corps to its new field of operations。
It will thus appear that we have been constantly in motion since our departure from the Big Black； in Mis
