The University of Michigan Library provides access to these materials for educational and research purposes, with permission from their copyright holder. If you decide to use any of these materials, you are responsible for making your own legal assessment and securing any necessary permission.
Go to Rosecrans with your force, without a moment delay.
A. LINCOLN
[1] ALS, RPB. See Lincoln to Rosecrans, infra. Burnside's reply from Carters Station, Tennessee, was received at 11:30 A.M. on September 23:
``Your despatch of the twenty first is recd & the order shall be obeyed at once Every available man shall be concentrated at the point you direct & with as little delay as possible We hold this road effectually to this point & have driven the enemy within a few miles of Virginia & probably into Virginia. I am now waiting for reports from the front so that I can definitely report to you the position of our advance. One of our cavalry Brigades had a sharp fight yesterday at Blountsville in which the enemy were beaten & dispersed. I will telegraph the particulars this evening or tomorrow. The main body of the troops are now moving in the direction your order indicates. The bridge at this place is burned & I suppose the one over the Holston at Union Station is also burned. That is the extreme point that I was ordered by Genl Halleck to hold. I leave for Knoxville very soon & will try to telegraph you from there early tomorrow morning. Nearly forty miles of the distance has to be made on horse back owing to the burning of some small bridge between Greenville & Jonesboro which I hope to have repaired very soon. I shall leave force enough in this neighborhood to, in all probability, hold the Section until the citizens can be armed. The entire country is Union up to the line of the Watauga River. Sylvan County is intensely rebellious. I hoped to have been able to have accomplished one very important piece of work within forty eight hours but the receipt of your order will delay it but I do not for a moment doubt the wisdom of the order You may be sure I will use all possible dispatch in carrying it out. The news from Rosecrans is rather discouraging but I sincerely hope and believe that he will be able to hold his position until such reinforcements as you have ordered to him can arrive. Our cavalry under Genl. Shackelford, has been continually in contact with the enemy driving them all the time. Col [James P. T.] Carter's Brigade has been moving along line of Rail Road and Col [John W.] Foster has been on the flank. He whipped the enemy very handsomely both at Blountsville & Bristol. We have thus far captured but four (4) pieces of Artillery and but few prisoners. I hope direct Telegraphic communication will be open with you tomorrow'' (DLC-RTL).