The Nashville daily union. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1862-1866, 1864-03-01

3VunStVHs
From the Richmond Dispatch. February Isl
On Wednesday last pamphlet copies
Of the correspondence between the
President and General Joseph E. John
ston, together with that Of the Secreta
~ of War and the Adiutant and In
spector General, during the months Of
May, June and July, 1863, which was
submitted, in response to resolution
of the House, adopted on the llth Of
January, were distributed among the
members. This correspondence is quite
voluminous; embracing, as they do, over
sixty pages, and covering all the letters
and kilograms which passed between
the Executive and General Johnston,
from the time the latter was assigned
to the command of the army in Missis-
sppi, until the 3lst of July, nearly one
month after the fall Of Vicksburg
In the early part of the correspond
ence, the President urged upon General
Johnston the necessity of making an
effort for the relief of the garrison at
Vicksburg, and on the 24th of May he
sent him the annexed dispatch, which
was in response TO one from General J.,
expressing confidence in General Penn
berton's tenacity:
80 General j. T. Johnston, Canton, Mss
issppi:
Il concur in your reliance on the
tenacity with which General Pember-
ton will defend his position, but the
disparity of numbers renders prolonged
defense dangerous / hope you will
soon be able to break the investment,
make a junction and carry in muni-
tons. General Rains, who has made
valuable inventions, IS ordered to you
for special service, and will, think, be
useful both on land and river. Gener-
al Bragg has probably communicated
TO you If my strength permitted,
would go to you.
[Signedl JEFFERSON DAVIS"
Again on the 2Sth, the President
telegraphed that he had withheld moth
ing from him which it was practicable
TO give; that numerical equality was
not to be hoped for and that time
would probably increase the disparity.
On the same date General j. tele-
grapeed the President from Jackson,
Miss, as follows:
" TO His Ercellency the President:
ut is reported that the last infantry
coming leave Montgomery tonight.
When they arrive shall have about
twenty-three thousand (23000( Penn
berton can be saved only by beating
Grant Unless you can promise more
troops, we must try with that number.
The odds against US will be very great.
Can YOU not add seven thousand 2
Asked for another Major General, vii
cox, or whoever you may prefer. We
want good general officers quickly.
have 10 organize an army and collect
ammunition, provisions and transpor-
tation
TSignedl a. E. JOHNSTON
With reference to the troops sent TO
General Johnston, the President tele-
graphed on the Both Of May, as follows :
q To Gen. Jos. E. Johnston, Jackson, Mas !:
Your dispatch, of 2Sth, received
The Secretary of War reports the re-
Inducements ordered TO you as greater
than the number you request. Added
to the forces you have from Pember-
tons army, he states your own force TO
be thirty-four (34) thousand, exclusive
of militia Bowen and Walker pro-
NOTED, French and Breckenridge or
dered 10 you, will, I hope meet your
want of Major General If another be
required, s. D. Lee Is, | think, equal TO
that grade. Officers in the field here
can not be sent to you without too great
delay. The troops sent to you were 50
fully organized that ] suppose you viii
have little trouble as to organization,
unless it DO of militia. Colonel Stock
ton can probably answer your requisi-
tons for ammunition You no doubt
will be embarrassed by deficiency Of
field transportation The recent rob
berries have diminished the amount IN
the country.
TSigned JEFFERSON DAVIS"
To this Gen. Johnston replied on the
lst June, from Canton, Mississippi:
% To HIS ErceHsncy the President;
" The Secretary Of War Is greatly
mistaken in his numbers. By their
own returns the troops at my disposal
available against Grant are
OF Pernberton's 9,700
of Brac9's 500
or BeauTegartl's 5000
z4,I00
"Not including few hundred ire
gular cavalry nor Jackson's command,
the strength Of which | do not know
Bowen and Lee are in Yicksburg, be
yond my reach. In the estimate that
garrison is not included
The total Of the above, twenty-four
thousand one hundred ga, 1907
ri Z