William Boynton, Sherman's Historical Raid

‘General Rosecrans was so confident of success that he somewhat scattered his command,’ say the Memoirs. There was another thing of which General Rosecrans was confident, and which a just or accurate writer should have mentioned when dealing out severe criticism. He had been notified from Washington, early in August, that Burnside would move through East Tennessee with an effective force of twelve thousand men upon his left, and was informed almost daily, before and after the battle of Chickamauga, that he would be on the ground for cooperative movements. The record history of this failure on the part of Burnside, is necessary to any fair review of Rosecrans' campaign against Chattanooga, and enough to show its real bearing will now be presented.

The dispatches which follow are from General Halleck at Washington, to Burnside on the march and in East Tennessee:

August 5th.—You will immediately move with a column of twelve thousand men by the most practicable route on East Tennessee, making Knoxville or its vicinity your objective point. * * * * You will report by telegraph all the movements of your troops. As soon as you reach East Tennessee you will endeavor to connect with the forces of General Rosecrans, who has peremptory orders to move forward. The Secretary of War repeats his orders, that you move your headquarters from Cincinnati to the field, and take command of the troops in person.

September 5th.—Nothing from you since August 31st. Keep General Rosecrans advised of your movements, and arrange with him for cooperation.

September 11th.—Connect with General Rosecrans at least with your cavalry. * * * * General Rosecrans will occupy Dalton or some point upon the railroad, to close all access from Atlanta, also the mountain passes on the west. This being done it will be determined whether the moveable forces shall move into Georgia and Alabama, or into the Valley of Virginia and North Carolina.

September 13th.—It is important that all the available forces of your command be pushed forward into East Tennessee. All your scattered forces should be centered there. As long as we hold Tennessee, Kentucky is perfectly safe. Move down as rapidly as possible toward Chattanooga to connect with Rosecrans. Bragg may hold the passes in the mountain to cover Atlanta, and move his main army through Northern Alabama to reach the Tennessee River, and turn Rosecrans' right and cut off his supplies. In that case he will turn Chattanooga over to you, and move to intercept Bragg.