CRAWFISH SPRING, September 17, 1863--5 p.m
...Reports that Longstreet has reached Atlanta began to come in from various sources. A rebel deserter reported this morning at Chattanooga that some of Burnside's cavalry were at Cleveland on 15th, but nothing positive reaches us from Burnside. His forces needed here.
WIDOW GLENN'S, September 19, 1863--4:30 p.m.
I do not yet dare to say our victory is complete, but it seems certain. Enemy silenced on nearly whole line. Longstreet is here. Governor Brown has taken part in battle.
CHATTANOOGA, September 21, 1863--1 p.m.
Deserters and captives both report that Ewell's corps is on its way to join Bragg. One of the latter, taken this morning by Thomas, says the corps has arrived, though not in season to fight yesterday. Is now moving on the Tennessee River above this. Longstreet, as we know, is here.
CHATTANOOGA, September 21, 1863.
Rosecrans has issued orders for all our troops to be concentrated here to-night. Thomas, with the forces at Rossville, will get in about 11 p.m. unless prevented by enemy who have been fighting him this afternoon. Mitchell also reports from our right flank, where he is watching with his cavalry, that two divisions of Longstreet are advancing on him. There is no time to wait for re-enforcements, and R[osecrans] is determined not to abandon Chattanooga and [Bridgeport] without another effort.
CHATTANOOGA, September 28, 1863--4 a.m.
...Our signal officers have deciphered signals from their signal stations showing that Longstreet is still here. We learn from prisoners and from a flag of truce Rosecrans sent out yesterday that two brigades of Longstreet's corps have come up since the battle.
Source: Official Records
Commentary
Beginning September 6, 1963, Federal Assistant Secretary of War Charles A. Dana began sending messages to Washington, many of them indicating a time, giving us a fairly complete report of the Chickamauga campaign from his, personal perspective. Dan had beent by Stanton to report on the army.
On September 17, he received the first reports that Longstreet's command is nearing the area. Immediately, his messages to Washington begin to take on an ominous tone, and his notations that Burnside is needed to reinforce the Army of the Cumberland become more urgent.
Over the next several days, he will mention Longstreet several times, as if to emphasize the point. "Longstreet is here."
The following exceperts from his messages are the sections in which he mentions Longstreet