To Ambrose E. Burnside1Jump to section
Major General Burnside Washington, D.C.
Cumberland Gap: Sep. 11. 1863
Yours received. A thousand thanks for the late sucesses you have given us.
We can not allow you to resign until things shall be a little more settled in East-Tennessee. If then, purely on your own account, you wish to resign, we will not further refuse you
A. LINCOLN
Annotation
[1] ALS, RPB. Burnside telegraphed Lincoln on September 10: ``You will remember that I some time ago told you that I wished to retire to private life. The rebellion now seems pretty well checked & the work I am doing can no doubt be as well or better performed by some one else so that I can now conscientiously ask to be allowed to resign if you think the good of service will permit. I shall be here tomorrow & will be glad to get an answer I look upon East Tennessee as one of the most loyal sections of the U.S.'' (DLC-RTL).
He replied to Lincoln's despatch on September 17: ``Thank you for your dispatch & I desire to stay as long as you think necessary but am very anxious to look after my private affairs as soon as the public service will allow.'' (Ibid).