Ambrose E. Burnside to George L. Hartsuff, August 20, 1863

General HARTSUFF, Commanding Twenty-third Army Corps:

You will please order General Hascall’s division to move at an early hour to-morrow morning through Somerset, and, if possible, make Smith’s Ford, on the Cumberland, in two days. It will probably occupy most of the third day in crossing the river and getting the trains up on to the ridge, from which place he will probably be able to reach Chitwood’s in two days—that is, on the night of the 25th.

The supply train under Captain Boyd will be turned over to Colonel Goulding and Colonel Ellis, and will accompany General Hascall’s division. The ordnance train will also accompany that division. You will make the necessary arrangements for the protection of these trains. At Chitwood’s I will probably communicate with you, as I shall go in that direction with General Carter’s column. Should I not, you will move your command down in the direction of Montgomery to the crossing of New River, some 3 to 5 miles west of Huntsville, where you will communicate with the division moving to Jamestown by way of the Huntsville and Jamestown road.

The cavalry brigade under Colonel Wolford at Somerset you will use in your discretion to protect the rear and right flanks of the train and to scout in advance.

The division at Columbia you will also order to move at an early hour to-morrow morning in the direction of Jamestown, Tenn., by way of Creelsborough, Albany, and Pall Mall. It will be able to reach Creelsborough to-morrow evening, and will occupy most of Saturday in making arrangements for crossing the command, by which time the remainder of the division, with the forage and supply trains, should be at Creelsborough, after which he can move to Albany in one day, and from thence to Jamestown ina day. This last march may require more than a day ; at all events, his advance ought to reach Jamestown by the night of the 25th. A portion of Wolford’s cavalry should be sent out from Monticello, to communicate with General White’s division at or near Albany, and proceed in advance of him to Jamestown, with orders to communicate with your advance on the Huntsville road, and to scout in the direction of Montgomery.

You will order Colonel Graham to get up all his trains to-night to Ray’s Cross-Roads, and move from there at an early hour to-morrow morning to Livingston, via Tompkinsville and the most practicable crossing of the Cumberland for thecavalry. It may be well for him to send only some 2,500 of his men and a battery by this route, with nothing but the necessary forage and subsistence, and send the bulk of his train, with the Terrier of his command to Burkesville, reaching Albany in advance of General White.

He ought to be able to siete tae his crossing with his main body by Saturday night, and reach Livingston on the night of the 23d, and Jamestown on the 24th, sending back on the 25th in the direction of Albany to communicate with General White, and in the direction of Huntsville to communicate with you. It would be well if he could make his main body up to 3,000; but his train by way of Burkesville will need some protection, unless you should conclude to throw forward a considerable force of Wolford’s force to Albany.

The command under General Carter will be directed in its movements by me, and will also move at an early hour to-morrow morn ing. My intention is that its advance will reach Williamsburg Saturday night, and, if possible, reach Chitwood’s on Sunday night or early on Monday morning, from which point we will endeavor to communicate with you by couriers, and make demonstrations which will result in the evacuation of Big Creek and Cumberland Gaps.

At Chitwood’s I hope to let a considerable portion of this command report to you directly and move in advance of your column in directionof Montgomery. There will thus be formed two columns to move on that place, one from Jamestown and the other from the crossing of New River.

In this movement, which is necessarily left to your discretion, I rely fully upon your good judgment.

The ordnance train, as you are aware, is of great value to us, and I desire to call your special attention to its protection.

Should you deem further instructions necessary, I shall be glad to give them to you verbally, and will be glad to see you at my headquarters at any rate this evening.

very respectfully, yours,