Philadelphia, Tennessee
The enemy abandoned the bridge at Loudon in the night, destroying the pontoons, running three locomotives and forty-eight cars into the Tennessee River, and abandoned much provision, four guns, and other material, which General Howard took at daylight. But the bridge is gone, and we are forced to turn east and trust to General Burnside’s bridge at Knoxville. It is all-important that General Burnside should have notice of our coming, and but one day of the time remains.
Before daylight the Fifteenth Corps at Philadelphia were off, and at daylight turned from Philadelphia for the Little Tennessee at Morganton, where my maps represented the river as being very shallow. I received a message that it is too deep for fording, and the water is freezing cold— width two hundred and forty yards, depth from two to five feet; horses could ford, but artillery and men could not. A bridge is indispensable.
MORGANTON, Tennessee, December 3, 1863- 12 m.
Major General W. T. SHERMAN, Commanding Army of the Tennessee:GENERAL: I have just forded the river at this place; found it deep, uneven, and rapid; in fact impracticable for anything except cavalry.
There is one boat here 25 feet long-needs repairs; and very little material for bridges. The stream is at least 200 yards wide We’ll do the best we can; but with the materials at hand, can promise but very poor speed.
If you have saved any boats at Loudon, you had better try and cross at that place.
Very respectfully, your obedient servant,J. H. WILSON, Brigadier-General
I heard from General Granger:
HEADQUARTERS FOURTH ARMY CORPS, Fork Creek, 6 1/2 Miles from Philadelphia, December 3, 1863- 6 p. m.
Major General W. T. SHERMAN, Commanding:
GENERAL: I will move my troops to Loudon in the morning to meet the Paint Rock and obtain rations, as the command is entirely out, and also to obtain an additional supply of ammunition, as we have but 40 rounds per man on hand. In the mean time I will do all in my power to gather in wheat and corn, and have it ground for the ese of the troops, as rapidly as possible.
In case the Paint Rock and Dunbar arrive promptly with a sufficiency of flats, I would suggest that the whole command proceed to Loudon and cross the river there, as it will give us the advantage of a double base at Kingston and Loudon.
It is clearly evident to me that Longstreet does not intend to cross to the south side of the river, either to fight or escape. His only route is by the Lynchburg railroad or the French Broad River.
Captain W. E. Merrill, U. S. Engineers, of my staff, is ordered to report to you to render any assistance in building the bridge, and report to me on its completion.Whatever we do should be done with the greatest promptitude. In case our troops are caught in a cold rain in these mountains at this inclement season of the year, many of them must perish and many more become disabled, without the means of sheltering, feeding, or otherwise providing for their comfort.
Very respectfully, your obedient servant,G. GRANGER, Major-General, Commanding
I sent the following reply:
December 3, 1863 General GRANGER:
DEAR GENERAL: Yours is received. The river is a more formidable obstacle than I had supposed. Halt your column where you please and keep a staff officer here to advise you of the time when bridge will be complete. If the boats Paint Rock and Dunbar come up, we can both cross there, then here. I will push the work on the bridge. The rebels have a train of thirty wagons between here and Tellico Plains, escaping for Murphy, but I have sent all my cavalry to Knoxville. Halt your Second Division at Philadelphia, and make the mills grind flour. You can collect any quantity of shorts and rye up the valley.
Yours,
W.T. SHERMAN, Major-General
We are frustrated here. I have inquired of General Howard to learn what he can do.
LITTLE TENNESSEE,
December 3, 1863- 3 p. m.General HOWARD:
The river here is more of an obstacle than we calculated. It will take some time to bridge. Has the cavalry gone to Burnside?
Don’t move your command till you hear one bridge is done. Can you do anything in the way of crossing? Any boats saved? We expect the boats Paint Rock and Dunbar up with provisions, and they may serve to pass our troops, but in the mean time we must advise Burnside that we are near.
Yours,
W. T. SHERMAN, Major-GeneralHoward sent the following reply that General Davis is now up and they will build a bridge.
HEADQUARTERS ELEVENTH CORPS,
Loudon, Tennessee, December 3, 1863-1.15 p. m.Lieutenant-Colonel SAWYER,
Assistant Adjutant-General:
COLONEL: From information that I deem reliable I think the enemy is trying to retreat through New Market, Warm Springs, Asheville, &c., into North Carolina. His original plan was through Murphy, into Georgia. A large train of wagons left here yesterday via Knoxville loaded. About 60 loaded wagons, 75 cars, 3 locomotives were burned after having run over the river bank. I have found four, rice, a few crackers, and corn enough certainly for three days for my command.
Longstreet ordered up ammunition, but Vaughn had already destroyed it.
Very respectfully,
O. O. HOWARD, Major-General, Commanding.
P. S.-Can I not march direct on Maryville without going to Madisonville?
Respectfully,
O. O. HOWARD, Major-General, Commanding
HEADQUARTERS ELEVENTH CORPS,
Loudon, Tennessee, December 3, 1863-5.40 p. m.Lieutenant-Colonel SAWYER, Assistant Adjutant-General:
COLONEL: I have the following information from a man, formerly a rebel officer, who left Longstreet’s army last Saturday: Two divisions (McLaws’ and Jenkins’), 15,000; two brigades of Buckner’s division, commanded by Bushrod Johnson, 3,500; cavalry commanded by Martin, 6,000; two brigades of cavalry under Ransom, 3,000; ditto infantry, 3,500. Longstreet has sixty pieces of artillery; horses of McLaws’ division in poor condition; 1,500 the estimated loss in Sunday’s battle.
Inclosed I send a rough sketch of Longstreet’s and Burnside’s position.
Very respectfully,
O. O. HOWARD, Major-General, Commanding.
P. S. Your dispatch has just been received. General Davis and myself can make a bridge across Davis’ Ford with wagons, if you say so.
No pontoons left here. General Davis is here. His division encamped near by. Water at Davis’ Ford about 2 1/2 feet, and 6 miles from this point.
Respectfully,
O. O. HOWARD, Major-General
The enemy has left Loudon tonight. I have a report from Howard:
HEADQUARTERS ELEVENTH CORPS,
Loudon, December 3, 1863- 7.15 p. m.Lieutenant-Colonel SAWYER,
Assistant Adjutant-General:
COLONEL: Left camp at 4 o’clock. Entered the town just at dawn. Found a few rebels sick, not exceeding 50. Cars all destroyed. Forty-eight cars were run into the river, and three engines. The enemy destroyed considerable flour and crackers. Two car-loads of coffee were run into the river.
The rebels were just crossing as our cavalry came in sight. All were crossed by dark, and the pontoon bridge destroyed half an hour after dark.
Very respectfully,
O. O. HOWARD
DECEMBER 3, 1863
General HOWARD:
Just as I expected. See if any of the locomotives could be fished out. One would be of great service to us. You may spend the day, refresh, and follow by the Morganton road in the morning.
SHERMAN, Major-General.
See that the cavalry is sent off at once for Knoxville via Morganton.
The steamboat Chattanooga has arrived and I have ordered infantry to accompany and protect it:
SPECIAL ORDERS,
HDQRS. DEPT. AND ARMY OF THE Tennessee,
Numbers 17 Philadelphia, Tennessee, December 3, 1863.The senior commanding officer at Kingston will, after leaving a small force to garrison the place, collect all the troops, infantry, cavalry, and artillery, and push around to Knoxville, with the right flank resting on the Holston, feeling their way cautiously, and covering the steam-boat Chattanooga.
By order of Major General W. T. Sherman:
R. M. SAWYER, Assistant Adjutant-General
General Sherman's Blog 