"Lieutenant General James Longstreet's deployment to East Tennessee promised a chance to shine. Reassigned to the Western Theater because of sliding fortunes there, the Old Warhorse hoped to run free with-finally-an independent command of his own. Unexpectedly, Longstreet and Burnside from the Eastern Theater now found themselves transplanted in the Western-familiar adversaries on unfamiliar ground. The fate of East Tennessee hung in the balance, and the reputations of the commanders would be won or lost"-- Provided by publisher.