To Ambrose E. Burnside2Open page
Knoxville, Tenn. Sep. 27 1863
It was suggested to you, not ordered, that you should move to Rosecrans on the North side of the river, because it was believed the enemy would not permit you to join him if you should move on the South side. Hold your present positions, and send Rosecrans what you can spare, in the quickest and safest way. In the mean time, hold the remainder as nearly in readiness to go to him as you can consistently with the duty it is to perform while it remains. East Tennesse can be no more than temporarily lost, so long as Chattanooga is firmly held. A LINCOLN
Annotation
[1] ALS, RPB. Lincoln's error in addressing Rosecrans was corrected in the War Department and endorsed: ``Intended for Maj Gen Burnside and was sent to him.'' Halleck telegraphed Burnside at 8:30 P.M.: ``Your orders before leaving Kentucky and frequently repeated since, were to connect your right with General Rosecrans' left, so that, if the enemy concentrated on one, the other would be able to assist. . . . Telegram after telegram has been sent to you to go to his [Rosecrans'] assistance with all your available force, you being the judge of what troops it was necessary . . . to leave in East Tennessee. . . . The substance of all telegrams from the President and from me is, you must go to General Rosecrans' assistance, with all your available force, by such route as . . . you may deem most practicable. The orders are very plain, and you cannot mistake their purport. It only remains for you to execute them. . . . The President has just shown me his telegram, which is added, and in which I fully concur.'' (OR, I, XXX, III, 906).