its masterly defence of Knoxville and repeated repulses of Longstreet's assaults upon that place, are deserving of the gratitude of their country." That gratitude they received. Thanks to Grant and his officers and men were voted by Congress, and a gold medal was struck, to be presented by the President to General Grant "in the name of the people of the United States of America." It was also voted that "The thanks of Congress be, and they hereby are, presented to Major-General Ambrose E. Burnside, and through him to the officers and men who have fought under his command, for their gallantry, good conduct, and soldier-like endurance." On the 7th of December President Lincoln issued a proclamation referring to the raising of the siege of Knoxville, "under circumstances rendering it probable that the Union forces cannot hereafter be dislodged from that important position," and recommending that "all loyal people do, on receipt of this information, assemble at their places of worship, and render special homage and gratitude to Almighty God for this great advancement of the national cause."

The noble bearing of General Burnside throughout the siege won the admiration of all his troops. December 11th he transferred the command of the Department of the Ohio to General Foster, the announcement of which was made in the following order:

HEAD-QUARTERS ARMY OF THE OHIO,

KNOXVILLE, TENN., Dec. 11, 1863.

GENERAL FIELD ORDERS No. 38.

In obedience to orders from the War Department, the Commanding General this day resigns to Major-General John G. Foster the command of the Army of the Ohio.

On severing the tie which has united him to this gallant army he cannot express his deep personal feeling in parting from men brought near to him by their mutual experiences in the eventful scenes of the past campaign, and who have always, regardless of every privation and of every danger, cheerfully and faithfully performed their duty. Associated with many of their number

from the earliest days of the war, he takes leave of the army not only as soldiers, to whose heroism many a victorious battle-field bears witness, but as well-tried friends, who in the darkest hours have never failed him. With the sincerest regret he leaves the department without the opportunity of personally bidding them farewell.

To the citizen soldiers of East Tennessee, who proved their loyalty in the trenches of Knoxville, he tenders his warmest thanks.

With the highest confidence in the patriotism and skill of the distinguished officer who succeeds him, with whom he has been long and intimately connected in the field, and who will be welcome as their leader by those who served with him in the memorable campaign in North Carolina, and by all as one identified with some of the most brilliant events of the war, he transfers to him the command, assured that under his guidance the bright record of the Army of the Ohio will never grow dim.

By command of Major-General BURNSIDE,

LEWIS RICHMOND, A.A.G.

In a speech at Cincinnati, a few days after, with that modesty which characterizes the true soldier, Burnside said that the honors bestowed on him belonged to his under-officers and the men in the ranks. Those kindly words his officers and men will ever cherish; and in all their added years, as they recall the widely separated battle-fields, made forever sacred by the blood of their fallen comrades, and forever glorious by the victories there won, it will be their pride to say, "We fought with Burnside at Campbell's Station and in the trenches at Knoxville."

The following general orders are inserted as a fitting conclusion to this chapter:

HEAD-QUARTERS FIRST DIVISION, NINTH ARMY CORPS,

GENERAL ORDERS No. 82.

KNOXVILLE, TENN., Dec. 4, 1863.

The General Commanding has again the proud pleasure of congratulating the officers and men of this division upon their splendid

behavior. During the campaign of the last three weeks they have endured privations and fatigue that soldiers are seldom called upon to experience.

Leaving their comfortable quarters at Lenoir's at a moment's notice and seeking the enemy in his own camp; the return to Lenoir's, and checking him at that place; the rapid march to Campbell's Station, at which place they repulsed with heavy loss a superior force; the wearying night march, after a hard day's march and fight, to this place, where, hemmed in for nearly three weeks by a large army full of determination to drive us from East Tennessee or capture us, — they have borne the brunt of nearly all the fighting, and endured days and nights of labor and watching, on a scanty allowance of provisions, without complaint.

The conduct of those who were fortunate enough to be of the small number that repulsed the determined assault on Fort Sanders, on the 29th, ult. cannot be too highly praised. They drove back two brigades of the enemy with terrible slaughter, captured three stands of colors, and maintained the high reputation of their division. Fortunate is the country that can produce such soldiers, and proud of his position is the general commanding them.

Our work is not yet done. We will be called on to fight more battles and probably to endure more hardships. Let us go forward with strong hearts and willing hands, and we cannot fail. By command of Brigadier-General FERRERO,

GEO. A. HICKS, Captain and A.A.G.

HEAD-QUARTERS ARMY OF THE OHIO,

KNOXVILLE, TENN., Dec. 6, 1863.

GENERAL FIELD ORDERS No. 36.

The Army of the Ohio will commemorate the series of victories, all culminating in the redemption of a loyal district, by inscribing on their colors and guidons the comprehensive words, expressive of the grand result,

"EAST TENNESSEE."

By command of Major-General BURNSIDE,

LEWIS RICHMOND, A.A.G.

enemy.

CHAPTER XI.

SUBSEQUENT MOVEMENTS IN EAST TENNESSEE.

THERE was some delay in following up the retreating On the morning of December 7th, however, we were called early, and notified that orders had been received to march at seven o'clock. At that hour we were in motion, marched through the town, and advanced twelve miles on the Newmarket road, the whole of the Ninth Corps with us. About two o'clock we went into camp, found plenty of forage, and built good fires. The march was continued on the 8th; and on the 9th, shortly after noon, we went into camp about a mile south of Rutledge.

December 11th, while we were still near Rutledge, Lieutenant Hodgkins, who had been home on leave of absence and detached service at Cumberland Gap, rejoined the regiment, and brought not a little cheer to all hearts by the announcement that a large mail and supplies were at Tazewell. The supply-train arrived on the 13th, and once again we had a taste of bread, coffee, and sugar. The mail reached us on the following day.

We had orders during the night to be ready to march at early dawn; yet the 14th passed and we still remained at Rutledge. But there was trouble ahead. Longstreet had attacked our cavalry at Bean's Station, and had compelled it to fall back, leaving a wagon-train in his hands. At the close of the day we had orders to march at a moment's notice. About midnight a part of the Twenty-third Corps passed our camp, moving to the front.

December 15th tents were struck soon after breakfast, and

about eleven o'clock we moved back a few hundred rods and formed in line of battle. There we remained during the day, ready for the enemy if he should appear, and about nine o'clock in the evening we took the road to Knoxville. On account of the bad state of the roads we were nearly six hours marching six miles. It was a bitter cold night, and the men built fires of fence-rails at our numerous halts. At length we bivouacked in a field at the roadside, where we managed to get about an hour's sleep in front of our fires.

About half-past nine, December 15th, we renewed our march, and halted at noon at Blain's Cross Roads. The enemy followed, and there was some skirmishing at the outposts. About three o'clock in the afternoon we formed a line of battle, and constructed a breastwork of rails. Companies A and B, of the Thirty-sixth, were sent out on picket. But the enemy did not attempt to advance. Indeed, as we soon learned, Longstreet withdrew his forces to the other side of the Holston, and, marching to Morristown, ordered his men to make themselves comfortable for the winter.

We, too, at Blain's Cross Roads, which has well been called the Valley Forge of the Rebellion, endeavored to make ourselves comfortable; but it was not an easy matter. Very few of our men had overcoats; indeed, they were poorly clothed in every respect. For the lack of shoes many were obliged to protect their feet with moccasins made of rawhide. Rations, too, were short. A few spoonfuls of flour were served out as the daily allowance, and, had it not been for the corn picked up here and there, sometimes where the mules were corralled, the men would have suffered severely. Foraging parties were sent out on every hand, but the natives generally "were plumb out"; there was "not a dust of meal" in the house, they said.

December 27th we moved our camp a short distance, and built as comfortable houses as the means at hand would allow. The days that followed were uneventful, for the most part. January 8th the Eighth Michigan started home, the men hav