Arkansas true Democrat., 1862-05-08
Letter of Gen. 4. s. Johnston on the
 Evacuation of Nashville.


 MURFREEsBoRo, Tenn, February p, 1862. Hon. J. F. Benjamin, Secretary of War; Rich mond Va.,
 SIR: The fall of For Donelson compelled me to withdraw the remaining forces under my command from the north bank of the Cumber- land. and to abandon the defense of Nashville, which but for that disaster, 1t was my intention to protect to the utmost. Not more than H. O00 effective men were left under my command to oppose a column ot Gen. Bues of not less than 10000 troops, moving by Bowling Green, while another superior force, under Gen. Ihom- as. outfanked ne on the east, and the army from Fort Donelson, with the gunboats and transports, had it in their power to ascend the Cumberland now swollen by recent flood, so as to intercept all communication with the South. The situation Jeff me no alternative but to evac- uate Nashville or sacrifice the army. By re- maining. the place would have been unnecessa- rily subjected to destruction, as it is indefensi ble. and no adeouate force would have been left | to keep the enemy in check in Tennessee.
 Under these circumstances l moved the main body of my command to this place on the l7th and 18th instant and left brigade under Gen. | Floyd to bring on such stores and property as were at Nashville, with instructions to remain until the approach of the enemy, and then to re- 1 ioin me. This has been in a great measure et- fected. and nea4ly all the stores would have been saved but for the leavy and unusual rains, which have washed away the bridges swept away portions of the ailroad, and rendered transportation almost Impossible. Gen. Floyd has arrived here. The ear guard left Nashville on the night of the 1}d. Edgcfcld, on the north bank of the Cumberland, opposite the city, was occupied yesterday by the advanced picket of the enemy.
 have remained here for the purpose of aug | mentng my forces and ecurng the transp0rta- ton of the public stores. By the junction oi the command of GeneralCrlttendep and the fu~ gitives from Fort DonesOn, which have been reorganized as far as practicable, the force now under my command willamount to about l7,- GOO men, General Fhyd, with about 2500 troops. has been ordered to Chattanooga to de- fend the approaches towards northern Alabama and Georgia, and the communication between the Mississippi and the Atlantic, and with the view to increase his tJrcesby such troops IS may be sent forward by tie naghboring States.
 The Quartermasters, commissary's and ord nance stores. which are 1Dt required for imme 1 diate use, have been ordefed to Chattanooga, and those which will he necessary on the march have been forwarded 70 Huntsville and Decatur. l have ordered Q efpot to be established at Atlanta for the manubtcture of supplies for the Quartermaster's depdilmeit and also labora- tory for the manufacture q. percussion caps and ordnance stores. and at Chattanooga depots for distribution of these supplies. The machinery will be immediately >ent forward.
 Considering the peculiar topography of this State, and the great power which the enemy s means of transportation afford upon the Ten- nessee and Cumberland, 1t will be seen that ! the force under my command cannot success fully cover the whole inc against the advance | of the enemy. l am Gomfeed to elect whether he shall be permitted to occupy Middle Ten nessee, or turn Columbu, take Memphis, and open the valley of the Mississippi. To me the defense of the Valley appears of paramount importance, and consequn1y l will move this corps of the army, of whth have assumed the immediate command, toWirds the left bank ot the Tennessee, crossing te river near Decatur, in order to enable me t cooperate or unite with General Beauregaii for the defense ot Memphis and the Mississippi
 The department has se eight regiments to Knoxville for the defense of East Tennessee, and the protection of that region will be con fded to them and such additional forces as may be hereafter sent from te adjacent States Gen. Buckner was orderd by the department to take command of tn troops at Knoxville, but as he was at that tine in presence of the enemy, the order was notulilled. As it would be almost impossible forfne, under present cir cumstances, to superintpd the operations at Knoxville and Chattanooga, would respectful | ly suggest that the local commanders at those posts should receive ordes from the department directly, or be allowed to exercise their discre> ton.
 With great respect,
 Your obelient servant,
 i c InTTNrcTpN