122 



ARMY OPERATION'S. 



force is moving toward Athens to connect with you. 

 After holding the mountain passes, on the west of Dai- 

 ton, or some other point on the railroad, to prevent the 

 return of Bragg's army, it will be decided whether 

 your army shall move further south into Georgia and 

 Alabama. 



It is reported here by deserters that a part of Bragg's 

 army is reinforcing Lee. It is important that the truth 

 of this should be ascertained as early as possible. 



H. W. HALLECK, General-in-Chief. 



On the same day the following despatch was 

 seat to Gen. Burnside : 



HEADQUARTERS or THE AEMY, WASHINGTON, D. C., ) 

 September llfh, 1863. f 

 My. -Gen. Hurnside, Cumberland Gap: 



f congratulate you on your success. Hold the gap 

 of the North Carolina mountains, the line of the Hol- 

 ston river, or some point, if there be one, to prevent 

 access from Virginia, and connect with Gen. Rosecrans, 

 at least with your cavalry. Gen. Rosecrans will occupy 

 Dalton, or some point on the railroad, to close all access 

 from Atlanta, and also the mountain passes in the 

 west. This being done, it will be determined whether 

 the movable force shall advance into Georgia and 

 Alabama or into the valley of Virginia and North 

 Carolina. . H. W. HALLECK, General-in-Chief. 



On the next day, Gen. Rosecrans replied 

 that he was sufficiently strong for the enemy 

 then in his front, and that there were indica- 

 tions that the enemy intended to turn his 

 flanks, and cut _off his communications ; he 

 therefore decided that Gen. Burnside should 

 move down his infantry toward Chattanooga, 

 on his left, and that Gen. Grant should cover 

 the Tennessee river toward Whitesburg to pre- 

 vent any raid on Nashville. He was of the 

 opinion that no troops had been sent from Gen. 

 Bragg's army; but that Gen. Bragg was re- 

 ceiving re'enfor cements from Gen. Loring in 

 Mississippi. 



On the 13th, Gen. Foster, in command at 

 Fortress Monroe, sent a despatch to "Washing- 

 ton, stating that trains of cars had been heard 

 running all the time, day and night, for the 

 previous thirty-six hours, on the Petersburg 

 and Richmond railroad, evidently indicating a 

 movement of troops in some direction. On the 

 morning of the 14th, he further stated that Gen. 

 Longstreet's corps was reported to be going 

 south, through North Carolina. 



At this time Gen. Meade had been directed 

 to ascertain by giving battle, if necessary 

 whether any of Gen. Lee's troops had left. On 

 the 14th he reported to Gen. Halleck as fol- 

 lows: "My judgment, formed on a variety of 

 meagre and conflicting testimony, is, that Gen. 

 Lee's army has been reduced by Gen. Long- 

 street's corps, and perhaps by some regiments 

 from Gens. Ewell and Hill." 



Upon receiving the despatches of the 13th, 

 Gen. Halleck sent the following telegrams to 

 Gens. Burnside, Rosecrans, Hurlbut, Grant, and 

 Sherman : 



HEADQUARTERS OF rax ABUT, WASHINGTON, D. 0., ) 

 September ISth, 1S68. f 

 My. -Gen. Burnside, KnoxvilU: 



It is important that all the available forces of your 

 command be pushed forward into East Tennessee. All 

 your scattered forces should be concentrated there. So 

 long as we hold Tennessee, Kentucky is perfectly safe. 

 Move down your infantry as rapidly as possible toward 



Chattanooga, to connect with Rosecrans. Bragg may 

 merely hold the passes of the mountains to cover At- 

 lanta, and move his main army through Northern 

 Alabama, to reach the Tennessee river and turn Ro- 

 secrans's right, and cut off his supplies. In this case 

 he will turn Chattanooga over to you, and move to in- 

 tercept Bragg. 



H. W. HALLECK, General-in-Chief. 



HEADQUARTERS OP THE ARMY, "WASHINGTON, D. C., | 

 September 13*A, 1363. f 

 Maj.-Gen. JSosecrans, Chattanooga: 



There is no intention of sending Gen. Burnside into 

 North Carolina. He is ordered to move down and 

 connect with you. Should the enemy attempt to turn 

 your right flank through Alabama, Chattanooga should 

 be turned over to Burnside, and your army, or such 

 part of it as may not be required there, should move to 

 prevent Bragg from reentering Middle Tennessee. 

 Hurlbut will aid you all he can, but most of Grant's 

 available force is west of the Mississippi. 



H. W. HALLECK, General-in-Chief. 



HEAQUARTEBS OF THE ABMY, WASHINGTON, D. C., \ 

 September IStA, 1863. } 

 Maj.-Gen. Hurlbut, Memphis: 



I think, from all accounts, that Steele is sufficiently 

 strong. All your available force should be sent to 

 Corinth and Tuscumbia, to operate against Bragg. 

 Should he attempt to turn Rosecrans's right and re- 

 cross the river into Tennessee, send to Gen. Sherman, 

 at Vicksburg, for reenforcements for this purpose. 

 Gen. Grant, it is understood, is sick in New Orleans. 

 H. W. HALLECK, General-in-Chief. 



HEADQUAETEES OF THE ABMY, WASHINGTON, D. (X, > 

 September 13tA, 1863. j 



Maj.- Gen. Grant or Maj.- Gen. Sherman, Vicksburg : 



It is quite possible that Bragg and Johnston wilt 

 move through Northern Alabama to the Tennessee 

 river, to turn Gen. Rosecrans's right and cut off his com- 

 munications. All of Gen. Grant's available forces should 

 be sent to Memphis, thence to Corinth and Tuscumbia, 

 to cooperate with Rosecraus, should the rebels attempt 

 that movement. 



H. W. HALLECK, General-in-Chief. 



On the 14th, the following telegrams were 

 sent to Gens. Foster, Burnside, and Hurlbut : 



HEADQUARTERS OF THE ABMY, WASHINGTON, D. C., I 

 September 14<A, 1863. J 



Maj.-Gen. Foster, Fortress Monroe: 



Information received here indicates that part of Lee's 

 forces have gone to Petersburg. There are various 

 suppositions for this. Some think it is intended to put 

 down Union feeling in North Carolina, others to make 

 an attempt to capture Norfolk ; others again to threaten 

 Norfolk, so as to compel us to land reenforcements 

 there from the Army of the Potomac, and then to move 

 rapidly against Meade. Such was the plan last spring, 

 when Longstreet invested Suffolk. It will be well to 

 strengthen Norfolk as much as possible, and to closely 

 watch the enemy's movements. I think he will soon 

 strike a blow somewhere. 



H. W. HALLECK, General-in-Chief. 



HEADQUARTERS OF THE ARMY, WASHINGTON, D. C., I 

 September 144A, 1863. f 

 Maj.- Gen. Hurlbut, Memphis : 



There are good reasons why troops should be sent to 

 assist Gen. Rosecrans's right with all possible despatch. 

 Communicate with Sherman to assist you, ami In- 

 forward reenforcements as previously directed. 



H. W. HALLECK, General-in-Chief. 



HEADQUARTERS OF THE ARMY, WASHINGTON, I). C., I 

 September 14th, 1863. ) 



Maj.-Gen. Burnside, Knoxville: 



There are several reasons why you should reC-nforce 

 Rosecrans with all possible despatch. It is believed 

 that the enemy will concentrate to give him battle. You 

 must be there to help him. 



H. W. HALLECK, General-in-Chief. 



lurry 



