The National tribune., 1906-03-29

From Lieut.-Gen. Polk .............-..
From From Gen Gen Beanregard ::,.;i''..', ..,oni
"It is proposed TO hold the reinforce
ments ready, and TO put them in mo-
tion just as soon as you may be able
| to use them. To throw them to the
front now would only impede the ac-
| emulation of supplies necessary for
your march,
Johnston Given $1,000 Men.
here give the subjoincd extract
| from letter of Gen. Bragg, addressed
10 me at the close of the war:
"Near Lowndesboro, Ala, Dec. II,
1865.
My Dear General: In addition to
| the Army of Tennessee, then at Dali
| ton, the General commanding there
was offered, for an offensive campaign,
Polk's Corps from Mississippi and Ala
| bama, Longstreet's Corps from East
Tennessee, and sufficient number
| from Beauregards command in South
| Carolina and Georgia TO make up 75,-
| 600 effective infantry. The cavalry
| with these commands would have NUM-
bered at least 10000 and the artillery
5000; total, $1,000. Besides the eff
| fectivc, so reported, there We're not
| less than $1,000 able-bOdied men bear
ing arms, but reported on extra duty,
| such as clerks, cooks, mechanics, la
| borers, teamsters, etc, one-half OF
| whom, at least, could at any time be
placed in battle without impairing the
! efficiency of the army. To
| furnish the means all other armies
were for the time being TO be subor-
dinated to the Army of Tennessee.
| Even Gen. Lee, with the Army of Vir-
| ginia. was to give up Longstreets
Corps and remain on the defensive.
Yours truly, BraXton Bragg"
The President had thus agreed 10
afford Gen. Johnston every facility in
his power for the execution of the pro-
posed plan Of operations; and it was
with the understanding we We're 10 en-
| ter upon an active campaign that
| consented 10 leave the Army of North
ern Virginia, with which / had served
since the outbreak of the war.
On the evening of my arrival at Dali
ton, on or about the 4th of February,
repaired TO Gen. Johnston's head
quarters, and reported TO him for duty.
| During our interview, in his room
alone, he Informed me that Gen.
Thomas was moving forward. and he
| thought it might be best for us TO fall
back and take up some position in
| rear of Dalton. 1 at once told him
that I knew nothing of the situation
or of the object of Gen. Thomas's move
| from Ringgold, but that we could, at
least, hold our position Il sufficient
length of time to compel the enemy
to develop his plan. The Federals, in
few days, fell back to Ringgold. hav-
ing merely made q feint, I'm order to
cover some movement then being made
in Mississippi.
This was my Introduction to the
Army of Tennessee, albeit not calcu-
lated to inspire or encourage military
ardor-since it was proposed TO retreat
la.f hF.g. IN
| earnest; / nevertheless laid before
Gen. Johnston the plan TO join Polk's S
Army and Longstreet's Corps on the
| march into Tennessee, gave him as
surance that the authorities in Rich
mond would afford him every assist
ance, and informed him, moreover,
that Gen. Lee favored the projected
campaign.
Gen. Johnston Immediately took the
ground that he did not very well know
the country through which il was pro-
posed TO pass to the rear Of the enc
my; that there were difficulties to be
encountered, ETC.; ne desired Polk IS
| and Longstreet's forces to join him at
Dalton where, this large army being
| concentrated, he considered he should
be left 10 decide and act for the best
| in other words, be left TO move for
ward, stand his ground or retreat, rs
might seem most expedient.
| IHlS utIuaHu StIl. Lee was uI-
willing to accede; he was reluctant To
give up Longstreet's Corps, unless for
| the purpose of active work and deal
| ing hard blows, in the performance of
which task 1t had already so often
distinguished itself. The War Depart
ment objected to the withdrawal OF
Polk's army from Mississippi. until ac-
tive operations were to commence, az
by such ii movement one of the best
regions Of country for supplies would
be abandoned to the enemy Thus
matters stood until the 7th of March
when, still anxious for the offensive.
wrote to President Davis. suggesting
that Polk join US at Dalton, and We
move forward TO make a junction with
Longstreet.
Hood Writes TO JeT Davis.
| I will here incidentally remark that
the following is the only correspond
ence / remember ever to have had with
the authorities at Richmond, while. oc-
cupying subordinate position, and it:
object was the furtherance of Gen
Johnston's wishes:
Dalton, Ca, March Z, 1864.
ITO His Excellency, President Jeffer.
son Davis:
II have delayed writing to you 81
as TO allow myself time TO see the
condition of this army. On my arriva
l found the enemy threatening our po'
! Sition. ] was, however, delighted tC
find our troops anxious for uattle. He
the enemy, withdrew after taking {
look, and is now resting With his ad
vance at Ringgold.
Il am exceedingly anxious, as I eX
pressed TO you before leaving Rich
, mond, 10 have this army strengthened
so as TO enable us to move to the real
of the enemy and with a certainty o
success. An addition of 10000 or Is,
900 men will allow US 10 advance. W.
can do so anyhow by uniting witt
LongSireet.
5 But so much depends upon the sue
> cess Of our arms on this line, that
: thoroughly appreciate the importance
+ of collecting together all the force
: we possibly can, in order TO destroy tn
a army under Gen. Grant. We shoul'
march to the front as soon as posi-
BILE, 50 as not to allow the enemy t.
concentrate and advance upon us. Th
+ addition of few horses for our artil
' lery will place this army in fine con
! dition. II is well clothed, well fed, tn
transportation is excellent and in tn
. greatest possible quantity required.
II feel that a move from this posi-
tion, in sufficient force, will relieve ou
entire country. The troops unde
Gems. Polk and Loring having unite
with the forces here, and q junctio
being made with Gen. Longstreet vii
give us an army of 10000 or 1000
men, which l think should be sufIi
| cient TO defeat and destroy all tn