Hd. Qrs. Armies C.
States,
13 Feb., 1865.
Gentlemen:
I had yesterday the honor to receive your letter of the 4th
inst., recommending the assignment of Genl. Jos. E. Johnston to the command of
the Army of Tennessee. The three corps of that Army have been ordered to So.
Ca., and are now under the command of Genl. Beauregard, two of them having
already arrived in that Deptmt. I entertain a high opinion of Gen. Johnston's
capacity, but think a continued change of commanders is very injurious to any
troops, and tends greatly to their disorganization. At this time as far as I
understand the condition of affairs, an engagement with the enemy may be
expected any day, and a change now would be particularly hazardous. Genl.
Beauregard is well known to the citizens of So. Ca., as well as to the troops
of the Army of Tennessee, and I would recommend that it be certainly ascertained
that a change was necessary, before it was made.
I do not consider that my appt. as Gen. in chief of the
Armies of the C. States, confers the right which you assume belongs to it, nor
is it proper that it should. I can only employ such troops and Officers as may
be placed at my disposal by the War Dpt. Those withheld or relieved from service
are not at my disposal.
I have the honor to be,
Your most obdt. svt.,
R. E. Lee,
Genl.
Honble. A. H. Stephens,
Honl. A. E. Maxwell,
&c, &c."
SOURCE: Louise Wigfall Wright, A Southern Girl in
’61, p. 238-9
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