Wartrace, Tenn., October 23, 1863.
We had just got comfortably settled down at this place when,
yesterday, orders came to General Slocum to concentrate his corps as soon as
possible at Bridgeport. The movement has commenced, and we shall probably break
camp to-morrow. The change in commanders has, of course, been an important topic
with us for the last few days. A man takes a great responsibility on his
shoulders now, when he accepts the command of an army. We are fortunate in
having as good a man as Thomas for the successor of Rosecrans. There is a great
chance to speculate on the coming campaign.
We have rumors that two corps are moving east on the Memphis
and Charleston R. R. This force, with the Twelfth and Eleventh Corps and
Burnside's army, if concentrated at Chattanooga, would undoubtedly be large
enough to give battle to Bragg, with a more than even chance of success. But
the risk of having communication cut off is very great if our corps is entirely
removed from the railroad; it leaves about one hundred and twenty miles of road
almost without a guard, and there is a succession of high trestle-work bridges
all the way from Nashville to Bridgeport. At this present moment there is a
band of some eight hundred guerrilla cavalry within twenty-five miles of this
place, lying in wait for any opportunities they may have to destroy property. A
strong force of cavalry could, within three days of our departure, stop this
road from running for weeks. Still, I suppose that we have the chance of
fighting Bragg before he can take advantage of this. Our worst enemy now is the
weather. It has rained almost every day for the last ten days, and is very cold
and disagreeable; the roads, of course, are fearfully muddy; they are quite
equal to Virginia roads. I have great confidence in General Thomas. General
Slocum knew him well before the war, and has the highest kind of opinion of
him; he says he is as high-minded, noble, and kind-hearted a man as ever lived;
that he has always opposed all kinds of humbug, and has never allowed any
newspaper reporters about his corps, for which reason he hasn't enjoyed the
brilliant reputation of a certain stripe of officers. He has really fine
qualities, and I hope will be allowed to keep command.
SOURCE: Charles Fessenden Morse, Letters Written
During the Civil War, 1861-1865, p. 150-1
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