Nashville, Jan. 25, 1864.
. . . After writing
you yesterday I had the satisfaction of seeing orders issued for troops to be
moved from Chattanooga to Knoxville under General Thomas in person, with
directions that on reaching the latter place he assume command of our entire
forces there and give Longstreet battle. This is as it should be, and unless
orders are changed, which I don't think will be the case, a bloody fight may be
expected soon, or East Tennessee will be evacuated by the enemy.
We left Chattanoga
about a quarter after six P. M. and arrived here a few minutes before seven
this morning, General Grant going directly on to St. Louis and leaving matters
here to be attended to by Colonel Bowers and myself. The first thing that met
my eye was a despatch from General Foster stating that the enemy had ceased to
press him vigorously, that he had no idea they would attack Knoxville, that he
had secured the drove of 4,800 hogs he had feared were in danger, but his
troops needed rest and he had ordered them into winter quarters.
So you see the
difference in the despatches of yesterday and to-day. One was most alarming and
the other allays the alarm previously caused. In this manner has the news
alternated from that quarter ever since my return, and yet General Foster is
said to be a brave man and perhaps is.
The next was a
despatch from General Halleck relating to the condition of affairs in East
Tennessee, the security of our present line on the Tennessee River, and future
operations. And as the General was absent, and Thomas's orders to go to the
relief of Knoxville depended somewhat upon information he might receive from
Foster, I determined under cover of sending a copy of General Halleck's letter
to him, to make his orders positive, and depend upon nothing less than the
result we hoped to accomplish by his going there. Accordingly I directed him “to
relax no energy and spare no exertion in his preparations for moving into East
Tennessee, no matter what news he might have from Foster, short of the enemy's
retreat from the State.” So you see that if Longstreet is not driven out of the
State, it will not be because I have not in the General's absence made the
orders ring with fight.
The Secretary of
War has authorized a change of the superintendent of railroads, and if the
changes are not made it will be the General's fault, for the moment the
despatches came I telegraphed an order for the officer to report here by whom
the present superintendent will probably be relieved, and repeated the
Secretary's despatch to Louisville, where I have no doubt the General will get
it. I also advised him of the action I had taken in the matter. It is now time,
but no reply has yet been received. I spoke yesterday of going to Huntsville,
but instead I sent the orders to Logan. On the General's return, however, I
expect to go down to that place, if not before. . . .
SOURCE: James H. Wilson, The Life of John A. Rawlins,
p. 391-2
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