Western sentinel. [volume] (Winston [i.e. Winston-Salem], N.C.) 1856-1886, 1863-12-24
Ext, act fr"gn c"py of letter.
RIcHM ND. VA lar % I262


You will, trust be able by conversation
with Ger. Bragg and Others of his command. to
decide what the best interests of the service re
quire, and give me the advice which need at
this onctu,a. A. that army is a part Of your
c',mma,,d. no order vii! be necessary to give
you author y there, whether present ab
sent Yen have right direct its operations
aud d" whatever e:se belongs To- his General
ie"minandng.
| Ve"s truly and respectfully yours,
(Sgned) JEFF. DAVIS.
Exar from letter of Gen. J. E Johnstoc.]
IAL1AH MA, Feo. 8, 1868.
Mr.. President: So
Your Telegram ordering
t" Gu. Bragr's hradqnarters recr,v-d
M"s'iie wh~n ] was M my way t" them. Your
letter oi January 22d reached me her. oG the
30tn.
My principal object has been To ascertain the
feeling exIs,'ng in he regiments, he'ng Confident
that If The solo cprs MT depressed,
have nothing To fear; Tor it is not he suppns.
ed that the Zeal of general officers cat sbe ,tn.
pared by Any wa", 81 confidence ia their gem
erai's skill. Inces<.nt rain has permitted me
tn but fourth IF the troops ~ yet. They
are represented by their field officers to he in
/ | very glad t" fiud iha, your confidence
Gen Bragg is unshak-n. My own cons
fismed by his recent operations, which. N my
opinion, evincrs great vigoI and skill. 1t would
be very unfortunate to remove biu at this juno
ture, when h- ha- just earned, if not won, the
gratitude Of he country.
! Alter seeing all the troops shall write a.
gain. respectfully 81, g~st should it then ap
pear t., You nece~sar, to, remove Gen. Bragg,
no in this army engaged in this iavesti.
gasion ought to be ms successor.
! Mos respectfully,
! Your obedien, servant,
/ (Signpj) j. E. HNsToN, Gsn'l.
/ HIS Exceil-ncv the President.
Extract from a letter nf Gen. } E. Johnston.
TULAH MA Feb. 10. 1868.
Since writing tn you ON the
Sd | hn.e seen the whole army. Its appear
ance is very encouraging, and gives positiv~ AS
surance of en-. Brag.'s capacity to command
IL IL we'll clothed, health, and in fine spirts.-
the brgades engaged at Murfreesboro' are
! now stronger than they were the nnrhng
ri ha hstt.e-mapIy by the return Of the alb :
sen,ses brought back by the Generals vigorous
ss,sfe".
Nv object has been tn ascertain il the conf
to beat the en-my is at all impaired.
i | ind no ind ,cation that it is less than when
YOU were in IT'S camps.
While this feeling exists and you regard
Gan. Bragg AS brave and skiIful, the fact that
some "r all of the general officers of the army
and nvn, of the subnrdisates think that you
might give them II commander with fewer de-
frc;., cannot. 'hink, Rreati. diminish value
To me. l: seems that the "parstluns of this
my in Middle Tennessee have oeen conducted
admrsbl,. can find no record of m"re eff.c
tive Ggh,,ng in modern battles than that IF thl.
army 10 December, fvincng skull in the com
+ nander and courage in the troop, winch fall,
entile then to the hanks Of the Government.
IN the early part of January. the coun'r,
north Of Grenada being eohedersd imprac'ica-
bic, directed. Maj. GenaraI Van Dorm to bring
to General Bragg aid the cavalry of the Mis-
sissippi army, except -pch as Lieut. General
Psmberton considered necessary t. him.
|. / have been told BY --------, that they have
advised y ou 10 r-a,"ve General Bsagg, AND
place me in command of tbs army. am sure
that you will agree i'h me that the part
] have porn in this investigator would render
1t inconsistent. with my psrs.nat honor To "ecu
! py that posision. | believe however, that the
in, crest of the service requires that Gsn. Bragg
should no. be removed. g.f5-4., ts. ~
,.ls Most respectfully, your cht sers't-
/ (S,gned) 5.a ae.taess J. E. JOHNSTON.
/ - His II 4