November 29, 1863 (Sunday): Saving Burnside

General Henry Halleck

WASHINGTON, November 29, 1863-11.40 a.m.
Major-General GRANT,
Chattanooga, Tennessee:
      Governor Bramlette, of Kentucky, has sent to the President a protest against your taking rails from the Paducah road, and suggests that they be taken from some Mississippi, Louisiana, or Arkansas road. I communicate the Governor's suggestion, but do not ask you to adopt it.


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


WASHINGTON, November 29, 1863-1.30 p.m.
Major-General GRANT,
Chattanooga, Tennessee:
      Advices from Knoxville on Wednesday last are that Burnside is still hard pressed. Re-enforcements should be pushed forward as rapidly as possible, till it is positively known that Longstreet has fallen back.


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

CHATTANOOGA, November 29, 1863-8 p.m. (Received 10.30 p.m.)
Maj. General H. W. HALLECK,
General-in-Chief:
     The Fourth Corps started yesterday for relief of Burnside. Sherman was sent to the Hiwasee, and I have sent orders to him to take command of the whole, and organize a sufficient force for the object to be a accomplished, and send the remainder of the troops here. I made this change, knowing Sherman's promptness and ability. If Burnside holds out a short time he will be relieved. Should Longstreet succeed in capturing Knoxville, he himself will be captured, I think.


      U. S. GRANT,
      Major-General, Commanding.

Official Records, Series I., Vol. 31, Part 3, Page 270.

Having neutralized Bragg's threat to Chattanooga Grant turned to relieving Burnside in Knoxville.  The urgency felt by the administration was not shared to that great an extent in the field.  Grant knew Longstreet was likely to have to fall back with Grant now on his line of communication and, in any case, if Longstreet took Knoxville he would not be holding it for long without support, which could not come from Bragg after the latter's retreat south to Dalton.  These memos are good examples of the role Halleck played as an administrator in Washington.  His authority was limited but his judgment was usually sound.  Although not a great admirer of Grant, he worked well with him.