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.