Today in History:

492 Series I Volume XX-II Serial 30 - Murfreesborough Part II

Page 492 KY.,MID. AND E. TENN., N. ALA., AND SW.VA. Chapter XXXII.

GENERAL ORDERS, HEADQUARTERS ARMY OF TENNESSEE,


Numbers 2. Winchester, January 9, 1863.

The general commanding has perceived with surprise and pain that some of the troops of this army have been engaged in the indiscriminate destruction of fences and houses, devastating a fair and fruitful country, on the productions of which salvation depends. Fields of growing wheat have been left without fences, and property, which even a rapacious enemy had respected, has been needlessly destroyed.

Such wanton acts of waste are unworthy the character of Confederate soldiers, injurious to the holy cause they defend, and are alike destructive of personal honor and military discipline.

This growing evil must be checked, and commanders and inspectors are enjoined to take all proper precautions in future to prevent such disgrace to our fair name. Inspectors will, in all cases, report to these headquarters by what troops such injuries have been inflicted. They will cause a rigid scrutiny into all such acts, and bring to punishment all offenders.

Citizens are invited to bring in their accounts for such injuries, when they audited and paid, and the amount charged against the responsible commander.

By command of General Bragg:

GEORGE WM. BRENT,

Assistant Adjutant-General.

DECHERD, January 10, 1863.

General S. COOPER, Adjutant and Inspector General:

I have this day removed my headquarters to Tullahoma.

BRAXTON BRAGG.

Abstract from return of the Second Division, Smith's corps, Major General J. P. McCown commanding, for January 10, 1863; headquarters Shelbyville, Tenn.

Present for duty.

Command. Officers Men. Aggrega Aggrega aggrega

te te te last

present present return.

and

absent.

First Brigade, 73 899 1,216 2,402 2,470

Brigadier-

General Ector

Second Brigade, 98 1,120 1,458 2,493 2,503

Colonel Vance

Third Brigade, 80 872 1,064 2,183 2,661

Brigadier-

General McNair

Douglas' battery 4 79 88 98 96

Eufaula Battery 2 136 138 176 175

Humphreys' 5 103 123 130 130

battery

Escort, Captain 7 86 170 261 264

Hardy

Grand total 269 3,295 4,257 7,743 8,299


HEADQUARTERS ARMY OF TENNESSEE,
Tullahoma, Tenn., January 11, 1863.

General JOSEPH E. JOHNSTON, Jackson, Miss.:

DEAR GENERAL: I replied promptly to your dispatch about the command of my depot at Chattanooga and of General Smith's department in East Tennessee. I regret exceedingly that my meaning was so imperfectly expressed as to convey any idea of dissatisfaction with you or any desire on my part to supersede General Smith. My sole object was to convey to you my most decided and emphatic conviction that


Page 492 KY.,MID. AND E. TENN., N. ALA., AND SW.VA. Chapter XXXII.