Headquarters Department of Tennessee
| Mission Ridge, November 15, 1863 |
|
|
| General S. Cooper |
| Adjutant
and Inspector General, Richmond |
| |
| General, |
| For three weeks I have been striving to
bring forward from Atlanta two battalions of troops intended for
this army. |
| My orders have been repeated over and over,
without result, whilst passenger trains loaded with citizens have
left that city twice every day. The transportation quartermaster
there is stationed by the War Department, and not under my control |
| During this same time the enemy has
crossed the Tennessee River in North Mississippi, and marched to
this point, more than 200 miles, over a rugged country, with 25,000
men. |
| I am, general, very respectfully, your obedient
servant, |
| Braxton Bragg |
| General, Commanding |
| |
|
First indorsement |
| November 21, 1863 |
| Respectfully submitted to Secretary of War. |
| S. Cooper |
| Adjutant
and Inspector General |
| |
|
Second indorsement |
| November 23, 1863 |
| Quartermaster-General |
| Can you account for this alleged delay?
Had you not better give some express directions to have the
battalions forwarded? |
| J. A. S. |
| Secretary of War |
| |
|
Third indorsement |
| Quartermaster-General's Office |
| November 26, 1863 |
| Respectfully returned to the Secretary of War. |
| At the time of the delay complained of
by General Bragg, there was an unusual pressure upon the railroad,
owing chiefly to the fact that the larger portion of its
rolling-stock had been removed by General Bragg to another road for
the purpose of transporting General Longstreet's command. By the
dispatch from the transportation quartermaster at Atlanta inclosed
herein, it will be seen that the troops had been sent up the road
two days previous to the date of General B.'s letter, though, of
course, that fact must have been unknown to him. |
| A. R. Lawton |
| Quartermaster-General |
| |
|
Inclosure |
| Atlanta, November 24, 1863 |
| Brig. Gen. A. R. Lawton |
| |
| All the troops here were sent forward on
the 12th, 13th, 14th, and 15th instant, by passenger trains, except
one regiment in box-cars of Western & Atlantic Railroad. With
assistance from other roads, now sending forward Quarles' brigade
from Mississippi. |
| Don't think there will be any delay. |
| Jno. Frizzel |
| Captain, etc. |
|