Headquarters
Department of East Tennessee
| Knoxville, Tenn., April 13, 1862 |
| |
| Major, |
|
On the 11th General Mitchel, with a Federal force, well ascertained
to be about 8,000, with four batteries, entered Huntsville,
capturing twenty-one engines and three trains of cars {on
the Memphis & Charleston RR}. They came
from Murfreesborough via Shelbyville and Fayetteville, and were
followed by two additional regiments, making a force between 8,000
and 10,000 strong. Pushing their trains on beyond Stevenson, they
destroyed the bridge over Widden's Creek, 4 miles west of
Bridgeport, and secured their flank against any movement by rail
from Chattanooga. I have two regiments at Bridgeport and two at
Chattanooga, under the command of General Leadbetter; one of the
latter, the Forty-third Georgia, is awaiting the arrival of arms
from Richmond. |
| General Maxey, with three
regiments and a battalion, passed through Huntsville the day
previous to its occupation by the enemy. The three armed regiments
between Bridgeport and Chattanooga were to have completed the
re-enforcements intended for General Beauregard. My own command not
being large enough for offensive movements, and feeling that on the
fate of the army at Corinth hung the fate of East Tennessee, I felt
justified in ordering this force to General Beauregard even before
being called upon by him for re-enforcements. |
|
General Beauregard telegraphs that six regiments from Pemberton's
command are en route for Chattanooga. He suggests a movement
from that point, taking the enemy in reverse at Huntsville. I could
add four regiments, making a force of between 5,000 and 6,000
effective men, but the destruction of the road west from Bridgeport
renders the operation of artillery on that line now impracticable. A
demonstration of 5,000 infantry toward Huntsville might alarm
Mitchel, but no decisive results could be reasonably anticipated.
The advance of a force from Kingston by Sparta on Nashville is the
strategic move, offering the greatest results and the most
practicable in operation. I so telegraphed General Beauregard,
notifying him of the destruction of the bridges on the Memphis road,
and giving him an opportunity to countermand the order to the South
Carolina regiments and to direct them to re-enforce him by [the]
Montgomery and the Mobile and Ohio road. |
| The Eufaula Artillery, which
was ordered here with its battery, is still without guns. The
pieces, with ammunition, should be sent from Richmond as soon as
practicable. |
|
I am, sir, respectfully, your obedient servant, |
| E. Kirby Smith |
| Major-General
Commanding |
|