Daily Nashville union. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1862-1862, 1862-04-23
AIbert sidney Johnston 10 JeR. Davis
on his Operations In Kentucky and

ALBERT SIDNEY JOHNSTON being an
nounced in the Rebel Congress, Mr..
BARKsDALE OF Miss, read letter which
had been handed him by JEFF. DAVIS,
giving an explanation of JoHNsToN's con-
duct of the war in Kentucky. We'quote
from the letter: ~. ...r, b
DECATUR, ALA, March 18Th, 1862
Mg Dear General. ..
I received the dispatches from Richmond,
with your private letter by Captain Wick
life. three days since but the pressure or
affairs and the necessity of getting my com
mand across the Tennessee, prevented me
sending you an earlier reply.
anticipated ali that you have told me as
10 the censnre which the fall Of Fort Donel.
sou drew upon me, and the attacks 10 which
YOU might be subjected, but 1t was imposs-
Bile for me to gather the facts for detailed
report, or to spare time which was required
to extricat9 the remainder Of my troops, and
save the large accumulation of stores and
provisions after that disheartening disaster.
Transmitted the reports of Generals Floyd
and Pillow without examining or Analysing
the facts, aud scarcely with time to read
them.
when ABOUT 10 hreulue COultltuu VI luin
department, the Government charged me
with the duty of deciding the question Of
occupying Bowling Green, Kentucky, which
involved not only military bat political con
alteration. At the time of my arrival at
Nashville. the action of the Legislature Of
Kentucky Led put an end to the latter by
| sanctioning the formation of companies me
| nacing Tennessee, by assuming the cause Of
The Government at Washington, and by
| abandoning the neutrality il protested, and
| in consequence OF their action the occupa
| lion of Bowling-Green became necessary as
nm act of self defense, at least in the first
! step.
! Buckner advanced with a small force of about
| 600 men. which was increased by the 18Th
! of October to 10000 aud hough accessions
| of force were received, it continued at about
the same strength until the end OF Hovem-
her, measles and other diseases keeping down
the effective force. The enemy's force was
| renorted to the War Department at 10000
and an advance was impossible.
Believing it to be of the greatest moment
to protract the campaign, as the dearth OF
cotton might bring strength from abroad
and discourage the North, end TO gain time
10 strengthen myself by new troops from
Tennessee aud other States, l magni6ed my
forces to the enemy, but made known my
true strength to the department and the Gov
errors of States. The aid given was small
Az length. when General Bsauregard came
out In February, be expressed his surprise
al The smallness of my force, and was i'm
pressed with the danger OF my position.
admitted what was so manifest aud laid be
fore him my views for the future, in which
he entirely cOncurIed, and sent me me
morandum Of oar conference, copy o
which l send you. l determined to iigh
Cor Nashville at Donelson, and have the bes
part of my army to do it, retaining only
$4,000 men to cover my front, and giving
10000 to defend Doneson.
: The force at Donelson is stated in Genera
Pillows report at much less, and | do no
doubt the correctness of his statement, fO
the force at Bowling Green, which | suppos
ed to be l4.0O0 effective men, (the medica
report showing only a little over 500 sick II
the HOSPITALITY, was diminished more thar
8 600 by those who were unable to stand tn,
fatigue Of a march, and made Ivy force OF
reaching Nashville less than 10000 men.
enclose Medical Directors report.
Had L wholly uncovered my front to De
fend Donelson, Buell. would have known it
and marched directly on Nashville. Their
| was only ten small steamers In the Cumber
land, ia imperfect condition--only three o
which were available at Nashville, while tn
: transportation of the enemy was great.
r The evacuation Of Bowling Green was i'm
peratively necessary, and was ordered befor
and executed while the battle was beinI
J fought at Donelsou.
, JOHNSTON refers to the fall Of Fort Donelsou
1 and says on his retreat from Nashville;
, Nashville was .incapable-ot defence froI
its position, and from the forces advancing
; from Bowling Green and up the Cumberland
8 A rear guard was left under Gen. Floyd q
! secure the stores and provisions, but did nc
completely effect the object The peopl
5 were terrified, and some of the troops " err
q disheartened. The Encouragement wa
spreading, and ordered the command
Murfreesboro', where / managed, by Assem-
4 bling Crittenden's division aud the fugitive
f from Donelson, to collect an army able t
offer battle. The weather was Indictment
the floods excessive, and the bridges wer
8 washed away, but most Of the stores ant
4 provisions We're saved and conveyed to ne'
, depots.
4 This having been accomplished thong
with serious loss, in conformity with m
original design | marched Southwark, an
o crossed the Tennessee at this point, so as {
co operate or unite with General Beauregar
@ for lhe defense Of the valley Of the MississiE
0 pi. The passage is almost completed, an
, the head OF my column is already with Ger
eral Bragg at Corinth, The movement wa
t deemed too hazardous by the most exper
a enctd men Of my stan, bat the object wal
ranted the risk The diiiculty OF ciiectln
= Il Junction Is not wholly overcome but
y approaches completion. Day after TO mo
= row, unless the enemy intercepis me, sha
n be with Bragg.
Hao !c.tc. concludes &c fellows
= The test OF merit 10 my profession, vi
j the people, is success lie Is hard rulePbut
!. think Il right. II join this corps 20 q
I. toices Of General Beauregard, u confess
I. hazardous expgrimenI) then those who "a
now dnclniminq Aghinat ma VIII be WILhOI