| Headquarters |
| En route for East Tennessee |
| March 16, 1864 |
| |
| His Excellency President Davis |
| |
| Sir, |
| I have the honor to acknowledge your
favor of the 7th instant. The army now occupying a portion of
East Tennessee
has been obliged to depend entirely upon the resources of the
country for subsistence stores and for forage, and in some measure
for clothing. To hold a part of the State which could supply the
wants of the army we were obliged to, occupy a line very near the
enemy. |
| The line from Dandridge, on the French
Broad, across the
Holston
near Mossy Creek, was selected as necessary to our subsistence. The
enemy occupying Cumberland Gap to our right and rear, it was
necessary that we should have a considerable cavalry force to watch
any movements from that quarter, and to break up any foraging
parties that the enemy might send out upon the east side of the
mountains. The general disposition of the troops was made more with
a view to gathering supplies than for active military operations. In
December last I reported to the Department that Rogersville was the
nearest to the enemy that I could occupy without General Martin's
cavalry, as the enemy's cavalry was strong and we entirely dependent
upon foraging for our existence. Under the hope that the Department
had advised you of these facts I was in hopes that I might retain
the cavalry as long as it was intended that we should hold East Tennessee. The enemy re-enforced his cavalry force to a considerable extent
from Middle Tennessee, and made an effort about the middle of
January to get possession of the country that we were occupying for
forage, &c., but we were fortunate enough to retain the country
occupied by us and to drive the enemy entirely back to his
fortifications. In his retreat the enemy gave such evidence of
demoralization that I determined to advance our entire force as soon
as our railroad was repaired and our men shod. Early in February the
railroad was finished and all of our men were tolerably comfortable
with their winter clothing; the army was therefore advanced as far
as Strawberry Plains. |
| ***** |
| It
occurs to me that a better plan for making a campaign into Middle
Tennessee would be to re-enforce General Johnston in his present
position by throwing the Mississippi
troops and those from General Beauregard's department and my own to
that point. |
| The shortest practicable route by which
I could join him must be a little over 200 miles, and this through a
very rough, mountainous country, and at a season of the year when we
may expect some delays from the mountain streams. It would probably
be better, therefore, to take a quicker route and march from my
present position to Greenville, S.C., and take the railroad thence to
Atlanta
and march up from Atlanta. |
| As there are two routes of railway to Atlanta
I have supposed that one can be used for the speedy transportation
of troops while the other is occupied in transporting provisions,
&c. This move may be made, if it is begun very soon, in time to
enable us to take the initiative in the approaching campaign. |
| ***** |
| I remain, sir, with great respect, your most obedient
servant, |
| J. Longstreet |
| Lieutenant-General |
|