The Burlington weekly hawk-eye. [volume] (Burlington [Iowa]) 1860-1876, 1862-11-29
Gov. Johnsonss Opinion OF General
Buellss Course. 5'-+--,-,
G Correspondence PhilsdeIphia Press
NAsHylLlE,. Tenn. New 8,

rass,sr NAsHyILIE,. Tenn. ), Ney4 9, 1862,
herewith transmit to younsxtrscts from
Gov. Andrew Johnson's letter to aPresiden,
Lincoln, criticising the course pursued;'b Gen
Buell. while in command Of the army of the
Ohio This letter would have been sent to
the President Immediately after it was written
had not the guerrilla Morgan cut of all com
munication with the North But here it is.
"NAsHv1LE, Tenn. Sept. 1, 1865
To his Ezeelleacy Adrahom Lincoln, Washington
On tive occasions have stated to the Presi.
dent that Gen. Buell. would never enter and
redeem the eastern portion of this State, do
not believe he ever intended to, notvithstand-
ing his fair promises to the President and 9th.
ers that he would. aau zlsag
A portion ofthe Rebel troops, it is stated,
under the command Of Bragg have crossed the
Tennessee River, above Chattanooga. and are
marching in the direction Of Nashville. His
force is variously estimated At from &C, 600 to
$4,000 My own opinion is that it cannot ex-
coed 10000. - 80 aa .a-' . sea ~ q
Gen Buell. and his forces are in his front;
ranging from Decherd, on the railroad, to Nc
Minnville and Sparta, and, in my opinion with
such generals as he has under his command,
could meet Bragg and whip him with the great
est ease, entering lower Tennessee, and turn
the rear Of the force said to be now before
Gen., Morgan ct Cumberland Gap, leaving
Morgan to march into East Tennessee, and
take possession of the railroad, at once segre.
eating and destroying the unity Of their terri
tory. and that too, in the midst ofs population
that is loyal and will stand BY the Govern
meut.2 $50 ,}sl0 s8Sys&s &. ,ssgys,,,.
The forces which have passed Canbsrland
Gap on Morgan's right under command Of
Kirby Smith, entering Kentucky in Morean's
rear, can and will be met by forces coming in
the direction Of Lexington and Nicholasyille,
and whipped and driven back.
am now compelled TO state, though with
regret, what know and believe Gen. Buelps
policy to be. Instead Of meeting and whip.
ping Bragg where he 10, it is his intention to
occupy defensive position, and is now sccor
ding to tie best evidence can obtain, con-
eentrstipg oil forces upon Nashville giving up
Ill the country which We have had possession
Of south and east of this place, leaving the
Union sentiment and Union men who took
stand for the Government to be crushed out
and utterly ruined by the Rebels, who will
all be in arms upon the retreat Of our army.
It seems to nue. that Gen. Buell. fears his own
personal safety, and has concluded to gather
the whole army at this point as kind of
body-guard to protect and defend him, without
reference to the Union men who have been in
duced to speak out, believing that the Govern
ment would defend them.
Gen. Buell. is very popular Nth the Rebels,
and the impression Is that he is more partial to
them than to Union men, and that he japors the
establishment of q Southern Confederaey.
will not assume that Gen. Buell. desires
the establishment of Southern Confederacy
and a surrender of Tennessee to the Rebels,
but will give it as my opinion that if he had
designed to do so. he could not have laid down
or pursued q policy that would have been more
successful in the accomplishment of both these
objects.
Notwithstanding the untoward events which
have trauspired since came to Nashville,
feel and believe that much good has been done
in preparing the public mind in being recon-
ciled to the Government; but if the policy
which have indicated is carried out by Gen
Buell. oil viii be thrown sNay,Nishsps the most