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grounds in Kentucky to the scene of action in East Tennessee. On the morning of the 17th, he started in person to overtake the troops whom he had sent up the valley in obedience to General Halleck's first order, and to see that they returned at once to Knoxville and moved down " towards Chattanooga," in obedience to the second order. Though he had full confidence in his subordinates, he yet considered that the emergency demanded his personal supervision. On the 14th, General Halleck, now in great alarm, forwarded the following despatch: "There are several reasons why you should reënforce Rosecrans with all possible despatch. It is believed that the enemy will concentrate to give him battle. You must be there to help him." General Burnside received this despatch at Morristown, late on the 17th, and on the 18th ordered all his troops in that quarter back to Knoxville and Loudon. On the 19th General Rosecrans was attacked with great fury near Chickamauga Creek, and, after a very severe engagement of two days, in which the losses on both sides were exceedingly heavy, was obliged to withdraw his army within the defences of Chattanooga. The field of battle was at least one hundred and twenty miles distant from General Burnside's headquarters, and nearly two hundred from his outposts in the upper valley, and the lateness of the hour at which the orders from. General Halleck were received, rendered it impossible for General Burnside to reach the Chickamauga, or even Chattanooga in season to be of any service. The contradictory orders from Washington were somewhat embarrassing. To hold the line of the Holston, to occupy East Tennessee, to secure the gaps of the North Carolina mountains, and to reënforce General Rosecrans at the same time, was clearly beyond General Burnside's power. The Ninth Corps was moving, but no portion of it had yet made its appearance. Knoxville could not be left without defence, for that would be an abandonment of the campaign. Nevertheless, General Burnside made his dispositions to aid his brother officer, and put his troops in motion. All were moving down the valley, except a force of cavalry

and infantry, confronting the enemy at Carter's Station on the Watauga.

General Burnside hastened up to Henderson's Station by rail on the 20th, there took horse, and without slacking rein rode to Carter's, thirty-six miles distant. On the evening of the 21st, he received peremptory orders from the President to join General Rosecrans without delay. But the enemy was in front in his entrenchments, commanding a bridge that spanned the river at that point. Should General Burnside attempt the destruction of the bridge, his intention of withdrawal would at once be revealed. To retreat with the bridge intact would subject him to no little annoyance from the enemy's pursuit. But the order was to go, and General Burnside had no disposition to remain longer than was absolutely necessary. The question with him was important, as its answer involved the safety of his command and the assurance of his obedience. Should he attack, or retire without an engagement? His best course was evidently to attack. Preparations were immediately made for that purpose, and the order was given to force the enemy's lines at daylight on the next morning. The 22d dawned. It was discovered that the enemy had fled during the night, hastened by Colonel Foster's cavalry, that was demonstrating towards his rear; and, as he fled, he had set fire to the bridge. Additional combustibles were applied to ensure its destruction, the troops were immediately put on the march, and by noon, the column was well on its way towards Knoxville. The General and his staff rode back to Henderson's Station during that day and night, met the advance of the Ninth Corps at Morristown the next morning, and, late in the evening of the 24th, arrived at Knoxville. The troops were immediately concentrated and put in readiness to march to any point where their presence was demanded. Every exertion had been made to assist General Rosecrans, but meanwhile the battle had been fought, and the emergency had passed.

Immediately after its arrival from Mississippi, the Ninth Corps had been put into camp in central Kentucky, to give

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