The Confederate Senate to General Robert E. Lee, February 4, 1865

C. S. Senate Chamber,

4th February, 1865.

Genl. R. E. Lee.

Sir: The undersigned beg leave earnestly but respectfully to recommend the assignment of Genl. Joseph E. Johnston to the command of the troops lately composing the Army of Tennessee. We are induced to make this suggestion by information derived from such sources as to leave us no room to doubt its correctness, that the Army referred to is seriously disorganized, and that the surest, if not the only means of effecting its speedy reorganization, and of restoring its discipline and efficiency in time for the approaching campaign, will be the immediate return of its former commander, whose assignment to that position is universally desired by the Officers and Soldiers of that Army. We are further persuaded that among the people of those important and principal States of the Confederacy which have looked to the Army of Tennessee as furnishing their chief defence against the forces with which the enemy is seeking to overcome them, the desire is not only general, but intense, that the principal Army designed for their protection should be placed under the command of Genl. Johnston. And we are convinced that the gratification of their wishes on this point would materially assist in dissipating the feeling of despondency which undoubtedly prevails to a considerable extent in those States, and do much towards restoring public confidence and reanimating the hopes and courage of the people.

In making this suggestion to you, we assume that under the recent Act, by virtue of which, you have been appointed General in Chief of the Armies of the Confederate States, the right and duty of assigning the General Officers to command our different Armies, are devolved upon you. Such we believe was the intention of Congress in passing the Act, and such we trust will be its practical construction.

In conclusion we beg leave to assure you that in recommending the assignment of Genl. Johnston to the command in question, we have been influenced by an imperative sense of duty, and by a firm conviction that what we have advised, would be promotive of the public good, if indeed it be not essential to the public safety.

With high respect,

Your obdt. Servants,

R. H. Walker, Ala.	James L. Orr, So. Ca.
A. T. Caperton, Va.	Geo. G. Vest, Mo.
Landon C. Haynes, Ten.	W. E. Simms, Ken.
Waldo P. Johnson, Mo.	W. A. Graham, No. Ca.
A. H. Garland, Ark.	W. S. Oldham, Texas.
Jos. C. Watson, Miss.	Wm. T. Dortch,
No. Ca. H. C. Burnett, Ken.	A. G. Brown, Miss.
Louis T. Wigfall, Texas.

Without committing myself to all the reasons set forth in the foregoing paper, I cordially endorse the recommendation in it for the assignment of Genl. Johnston to the position requested.

alexander H. Stephens,

V. P. C. S. A.

I concur in the foregoing recommendation, not agreeing however, to the view expressed in the paragraph next preceding the last.

A. E. Maxwell, Flo.

Jas. M. Baker, Flo.

Official.

W.H.Taylor,
A. A. G.

SOURCE: Louise Wigfall Wright, A Southern Girl in ’61, p. 235-8