I now determined to go myself to see if there was any possible chance of using that route in the spring, and if not to abandon it.

Accordingly I left Nashville in the latter part of December by rail for Chattanooga.

From Chattanooga I took one of the little steamers previously spoken of as having been built there, and, putting my horses aboard, went up to the junction of the Clinch with the Tennessee.

From that point the railroad had been repaired up to Knoxville and out east to Strawberry Plains.

I went by rail therefore to Knoxville, where I remained for several days.