Seven days before, we had left our camps on the other side of the Tennessee with two days' rations, without a change of clothing--stripped for the fight, with but a single blanket or coat per man, from myself to the private included.
Of course, we then had no provisions save what we gathered by the road, and were ill supplied for such a march.

But we learned that twelve thousand of our fellow-soldiers were beleaguered in the mountain town of Knoxville, eighty-four miles distant; that they needed relief, and must have it in three days.

This was enough -- and it had to be done.

General Howard that night repaired and planked the railroad-bridge, and at daylight the army passed over the Hiawassee and marched to Athens, fifteen miles.

I had supposed rightly that General Granger was about the mouth of the Hiawassee, and had sent him notice of my orders; that General Grant had sent me a copy of his written instructions, which were full and complete, and that he must push for Kingston, near which we would make a junction.