A heavy force under the Confederate General Jones, was then holding points in the upper part of East Tennessee Valley, which, by the above order, Gen. Burnside was to occupy. Col. Foster’s brigade had been doing excellent service in keeping that force in check. Gen. Hartsuff was directed to send at once all his infantry (except Gilbert’s brigade), and also Woolford’s cavalry up the valley. Col. Carter’s cavalry brigade was already well advanced in that direction. On the 16th, at night, Gen. Burnside received another dispatch from Gen. Halleck, sent on the 13th. It read: It is important that all the available forces at your command be pushed forward into East Tennessee; all your scattered forces should be concentrated there; move down your infantry as rapidly as possible towards Chattanooga to connect with Rosecrans. Early on the morning of the 17th, Burnside sent orders by telegraph for the Ninth corps and all other available troops then in Kentucky, to join him at once. He also gave instructions for all the troops then in upper East Tennessee and not in presence of the enemy, to retrace their steps down the valley towards Rosecrans. The same day he received another telegram from Halleck, dated the 14th, as follows: There are several reasons why you should reinforce Rosecrans with all possible dispatch. It is believed the enemy will concentrate to give him battle; you must be there to help him. Burnside then repeated his order concerning the troops up the valley. Having already started to take command of them in person, and efficiently to promote the purpose of their movement, he proceeded beyond Jonesboro to near the Watauga River. When arrived at the extreme advance of his command, he saw no way of extricating it from its situation, except by attacking the enemy’s position at Watauga bridge. A cavalry brigade under Col. Foster was sent around on the morning of the 23rd, to threaten the enemy’s rear, who on that night burnt the bridge and evacuated the position. Immediately Burnside set in motion all the United States troops, except a small portion of cavalry, on the way to aid and relieve Rosecrans. The following day he returned to Knoxville. His movements were watched from Richmond. On the day when he received Halleck’s telegram of the 14th, a close observer at that city wrote: “It is said the enemy is evacuating East Tennessee, concentrating, I suspect, for battle with Bragg.”[32]