Accordingly, on the 29th of November, 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 retreating, but we found some abandoned stores.  There and thereabouts I expected some rest for my weary troops and horses; but, as I rode into town, I met Colonel J. H. Wilson and C. A. Dana (Assistant Secretary of War), who had ridden out from Chattanooga to find me, with the following letter from General Grant, and copies of several dispatches from General Burnside, the last which had been received from him by way of Cumberland Gap: 

Headquarters military division of the Mississippi, Chattanooga, Tennessee, Nov. 29, 1863

Major-General W. T. 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 Burnside’s relief, but I have lost all faith in his energy or capacity to manage an expedition of the importance of this one.  I am inclined to think, therefore, I shall have to send you.  Push as rapidly as you can to the Hiawassee, and determine for yourself what force to take 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, you will assume command of all the forces now moving up the Tennessee, including the garrison at Kingston, and from that force, organize what you deem proper to relieve Burnside.  The balance send back to Chattanooga.  Granger has a boat loaded with provisions, which you can issue, and return the boat.  I will have another loaded, to follow you.  Use, of course, as sparingly as possible from the rations taken with you, and subsist off the country all you can.

It is expected that Foster is moving, by this time, from Cumberland Gap on Knoxville.  I do not know what force he will have with him, but presume it will range from three thousand five hundred to five thousand I leave this matter to you, knowing that you will do better acting upon your discretion than you could trammeled with instructions.  I will only add, that the last advices from Burnside himself indicated his ability to hold out with rations only to about the 3d of December.  Very respectfully,

U. S. Grant, Major-General commanding,

This showed that, on the 27th of November, General Burnside was in Knoxville, closely besieged by the rebel General Longstreet; that his provisions were short, and that, unless relieved by December 3d, he might have to surrender.  General Grant further wrote that General Granger, instead of moving with great rapidity as ordered, seemed to move “slowly, and with reluctance;” and, although he (General Grant) hated to call on me and on my tired troops, there was no alternative.  He wanted me to take command of every thing within reach, and to hurry forward to Knoxville.