To William S. Rosecrans1Jump to section
Chattanooga, Tenn. Sep. 23 1863
Below is Bragg's despatch,2Jump to section as found [in] the Richmond papers. You see he does not claim so many prisoners or captured guns, as you were inclined to concede. He also confesses to heavy loss. An3Jump to section exchanged General of ours leaving Richmond yesterday says two of Longstreets Divisions, & his entire Artillery, and two of Picketts brigades, and Wies'4Jump to section legion, have gone to Tennessee. He mentions no other. A. LINCOLN
Annotation
[1] ALS, RPB.
[2] The autograph telegram does not preserve the text of General Bragg's despatch to Samuel Cooper, which is printed with the telegram in the Official Records (I, XXX, III, 791):
``(Via Ringgold, 21st)
``General Cooper, Adjutant-General: Chickamauga River, September 20.
``After two days' hard fighting we have driven the enemy, after a desperate resistance, from several positions, and now hold the field; but he still confronts us. The losses are heavy on both sides, especially in our officers. We have taken over twenty pieces of artillery and some 2,500 prisoners. BRAXTON BRAGG.''
[3] The remainder of the telegram is written in the margin, to the right of where the Bragg despatch must have been pasted.
[4] Henry A. Wise.