I found General Burnside and staff domiciled in a large, fine mansion, looking very comfortable, and in, a few words he described to me the leading events, of the previous few days, and said he had already given orders looking to the pursuit of Longstreet.

I offered to join in the pursuit, though in fact my men were worn out, and suffering in that cold season and climate.
Indeed, on our way up I personally was almost frozen, and had to beg leave to sleep in the house of a family at Athens.
Burnside explained to me that, reenforced by Granger's two divisions of ten thousand men, he would be able to push Longstreet out of East Tennessee, and he hoped to capture much of his artillery and trains.

Granger was present at our conversation, and most unreasonably, I thought, remonstrated against being left; complaining bitterly of what he thought was hard treatment to his men and himself.

I know that his language and manner at that time produced on my mind a bad impression, and it was one of the causes which led me to relieve him as a corps commander in the campaign of the next spring.

I asked General Burnside to reduce his wishes to writing, which he did in the letter of December 7th, embodied in my official report.