Abstract from return of the troops in Department Numbers 2, &c.-Continued.

Command. Present

duty.

Officer Men. Effect Aggreg Aggreg Aggreg

s. ive ate ate ate

total. presen presen presen

t. t and t and

absent absent

. last

return

.

Whelers 442 4,975 4,937 6,791 15,481 15,334

corps:

Cavalry.

Artillery. 4 126 125 155 382 382

Forrest's 285 3,387 3,338 4,562 6,664 6,572

division:

Cavalry.

Artillery. 6 129 125 145 192 206

Total. 737 8,617 8,525 11,653 22,719 22,449

Total Army 3,459 39,242 51,027 78,372 79,147

of 38,618

Tennessee.

Direct of 108 1,576 1,566 1,966 3,341 3,341

Northern

Alabama:

Cavalry.

Artillery. 2 59 58 76 134 134

Total 110 1,635 1,624 2,042 3,475 3,475

District of

Northern

Alabama.

Provost 13 155 154 262 305 226

battalion,

Atlanta.

Grand total 3,582 41,032 40,396 53,331 82,152 82,848

Department

Numbers 2.

CHATTANOOGA, July 21, 1863.

[General BAUREGARD:]

MY DEAR GENERAL; Accept my thanks for the copy of your letter to our friend Johnston, * and your indorsement of the 7th instant.+ Our view in regard to what ought to have been done in this country are identical. Failing to impress the idea on others who control, I was put strictly on the defensive, and have struggled with insufficient force until at length depleted so far that safety compelled me to fall back.

Rosecrans refused to give me battle, except on his own views of pushing the campaign in Tennessee, and feeling the weakness of our dispersion. I fell back to this line, and reported for orders on 1st July. Twice since have I reported no enemy following, and asked for orders for this army. No response, and yet Johnston, within five days of me, is falling back day by day, yielding ground we cannot recover, and without which we cannot service. By this time whole army could have been in Mississippi and victory won. As it is, we may except to be destroyed in detail. What a sad result to affairs at Vicksburg and Port Hudson! An army closed in, besigned, and starved in the midst of abundance. Several time I tried to impress, and starved in the midst of ambulance. Several times I tried to impress the ides of your arrangements of last year, but to no effect. Fortified places I felt were to be halt by small garrisons, and armies held for the field, but the rule is reversed. An army is backed up against a river by a force in cannot fight and in a place which it cannot scape.

These things are too sad to dwell on. May God protect and defend you in your trials.

Very truly, yours,

BRAXTON BRAGG.

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* See Beauregard to Johnston, May 15, p. 836 + Not found.

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