is hoped he will succeed in supplying your wants. It is important that all horses unfit for immediate service be turned in to him.*

A. R. LAWTON,

Quartermaster-General.

[32.]

MOBILE, March 3, 1864.

[Honorable J. A. SEDDON:]

No firing yesterday. Fleet hauled off on account of shoal water.

D. H. MAURY,

Major-General.

[32.]

HEADQUARTERS ARMIES CONFEDERATE STATES,
Richmond, March 4, 1864.

General JOSEPH E. JOHNSTON,

Commanding Army of Tenessee:

GENERAL: Your dispatch of the 27th ultimo,+ desiring to divide your army into three corps, is received. The force is considered too small for such division, and it is therefore deemed unadvisable. It is hoped the movements of our troops may soon produce such a junction as to give you three corps with commanders of appropriate rank.

Very respectfully, general, your obedient servant,

BRAXTON BRAGG,

General, &c.

[32.]

GREENVILLE, March 4, 1864.

General S. COOPER,

Adjutant and Inspector General:

The enemy has returned in some alarm.

J. LONSGREET,

Lieutenant-General.

[Indorsement.]

Respectfully referred to the President.

These dispatches, with their antecedents, evince a want of information and unsteadiness of purpose not calculated to inspire confidence.

BRAXTON BRAGG.

[32.]

HEADQUARTERS ARMIES CONFEDERATE STATES,
Richmond, March 4, 1864.

Major General L. McLAWS,

Abingdon, Va.:

MY DEAR GENERAL: Your two communications reached me by same mail, but the case was so extraordinary, and involved so much calculated to destroy the integrity of the service, that I determined to sude the information. Orders have been given to the president of the court, evidently a tool in interest against you, that will most probably secure you from further delay and annoyance. The irregularity already committed cannot be commented on until the official proceedings are received. They will not then escape attention. This matter has been

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*This in reply to Johnston, VOL. XXXII, Part II, p. 811.

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+See VOL. XXXII, Part II, p. 808.