Page:The Presidents of the United States, 1789-1914, v. III.djvu/71

 ULYSSES SIMPSON GRANT 45 sent to the relief of Knoxville. Grant, having con centrated his troops near Chattanooga, made an assault upon the enemy s lines on the 23d, which resulted in carrying important positions. The at tack was continued on the 24th and 25th, when the enemy s entire line was captured, and his army com pletely routed and driven out of Tennessee. Grant s forces consisted of 60,000 men; those of the Confederates, 45,000. The enemy s losses were reported at 361 killed and 2,180 wounded, but were undoubtedly greater. There were captured 6,442 men, 40 pieces of artillery, and 7,000 stands of small-arms. Grant s losses were 757 killed, 4,529 wounded, and 330 missing. On the 28th a force was despatched to Knoxville, the command of the expedition being given to Sherman. On the 29th Longstreet assaulted Knoxville before the arrival of the troops sent for its relief, but was repelled by Burnside, and re treated. Grant visited Knoxville the last week in December, and went from there to Nashville, where he established his headquarters, January 13, 1864. He now ordered Sherman to march a force from Vicksburg into the interior to destroy the enemy s communications and supplies. It moved on Feb ruary 3, went as far as Meridian, reaching there February 14, and, after destroying railroads and great quantities of supplies, returned to Vicksburg. The grade of lieutenant-general was revived by act