25, 1863 Major-General SHERMAN.
GENERAL: No doubt you witnessed the handsome manner in which Thomas's troops carried Missionary Ridge this afternoon, and can feel a just pride, too, in the part taken by the forces under your command in taking first so much of the same range of hills, and then in attracting the attention of so many of the enemy as to make Thomas's part certain of success.

The neat thing now will be to relieve Burnside.

I have heard from him to the evening of the 23d.
At that time he had from ten to twelve days' supplies, and spoke hopefully of being able to hold out that length of time.
My plan is to move your forces out gradually until they reach the railroad between Cleveland and Dalton.

Granger will move up the south side of the Tennessee with a column of twenty thousand men, taking no wagons, or but few, with him.

His men will carry four days' rations, and the steamer Chattanooga, loaded with rations, will accompany the expedition.
I take it for granted that Bragg's entire force has left.