most probable that he passed through Lynchburg taking the road to Abingdon.
The following telegrams were sent by Mr. Lincoln to General Burnside:
Washington, D. C., September 21st., 2 A. M. To General Burnside, Knoxville:
Go to Rosecrans with your full force without a moment's delay. A. Lincoln.
September 21st.—If you are to do any good to Rosecrans, it will not do to waste time with Jonesboro.
It is already too late to do the most good that might have been done, but I hope it will still do some good.
Please do not wait a moment. A. Lincoln.
September 27. To Burnside, at Knoxville.
Your dispatch just received.
My orders to you meant simply that you should save Rosecrans from being crushed out, believinrform while it remains.
East Tennessee can be no more than temporarily lost so long as Chattanooga is firmly held. A. Lincoln.
It would be unjust to General Burnside to present these dispatches from the record without his excuses for neve