The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1864-01-08

me 70 Gen. Bnggs headquarters, was received
In Mobile, when ] Was on my way to them.
Your letter Of January 22d reached me here on
.aszhssksas 80
Ny principal object has been to ascertain the
feeling existing in the regiments. Being con-
have nothing to fear, for 1t L. not to be sup
posed that the zeal of general officers can be
impaired BY any want of confidence in their
generals skin. .Incessant rain has permitted
me to see but fourth Of the troops IS yet.
They are represented by their field officers to
be in high spirits, and as ready as ever for
fight.
/ am very glad to find that your confidence
in Gen. Bragg 10 unshaken. Ny own are con.
firmed by his recent operations, which, in my
opinion, eyince great yigor and skill. It would
be very to unfortunate remove him ut this juno
ture, when he has just earned, if not won the
gratitude Of the country. 1873 nsieaEea tDaj
After seeing all the troops shall write again.
l respectfully suggest, should, it then appear
to you necessary to remove General Bragg, no
one IN this army, or engaged in this investiga-
ton, ought to be successor. Il ila 1idal97a
Most respectfully, your obedient servant,
f..a.ge-1 j. 3. JOHNSTON, General.
His Excsllency the President,
EXTRACT FROM LETTER FROM GEN. J. +.
JOHNSTON. .f..
TULLAHOMA, Feb. IL, 1868.
Mr.. PRESIDENT: Since writing to you on the
ance is very encouraging, and gives positive
assurance Of Gen. Bragg's capacity TO command.
It is well clothed, healthy, and in fine spirits.
The brigades engaged at Murfreesboro are now
stronger than they were on the morning of the
battle, mainly by the return of the absentees
brought back by the Generals vigorous system.
Ny object has been to ascertain if the conf
dence Of the troops in the ability of the army
to beat the enemy is at all impaired.
find no indication that it is less than when
you were in its camps.
While this feeling exists, and you regard
Gen. Bragg as brave and skillful, the fact that
some or all of the general officers of the army,
and many of the subordinates, think that you
might give them a commander with fewer de-
| fects, cannot, think, greatly diminish his
value. To me it sseIns that the operations Of
| this army in Middle Tennessee have been con-
| Quoted admirably. 1 can find no record of
more effective fighting in modern battles than
| that of this army in December, eyincing skill
| in the commander and courage in the troops,
which fully entitle them to the thanks of the
Government. 1885 SIX
In the early part of January, the country
north of Granada being considered impractaca.
BILE, directed Maj. Gen. Van Dorm to bring 10
Gen. Bragg's aid the cavalry Of the Mississippi
army, except such as Lieut.. Gen. Pemberton
considered necessary to him.
= = u
have been told by that they
have advised you to remove Gen. Bragg, aud
place me in command Of this army. am sure
that you will agree with me that the pars have
borne in this investigation would render it in
consistent with my personal homo. to occupy
that position. l believe however, that the
interest of the service requires that Gen. Bragg
should not be removed. ~
Most respectfully, your obedient servant,
j. e. JOHNSTON. /