Southern Historical Society Papers, Volume 22.
Reverend J. William Jones, Ed.

[3] of his division, and General Polk is made to send this officer likewise to hunt up General Johnston, and after ‘reporting back the remarks of General Johnston, Major West found that Captain Morris had reached General Polk's headquarters,’ and the captain in turn ‘was sent to French's position to make a thorough survey and report of it.’ He made a very thorough one and reported the position very exposed for the defensive, but as admirable for the offensive.

I have Captain Morris' report, but I do not find in it where he reported the line as admirable for the offensive. I will have occasion to refer to this report after a while. I merely wish to remark that when we find Captain Morris at General Polk's headquarters we have something tangible in regard to time.

Third—And the article goes on to state that ‘General Polk, since the first report from General French, appeared much annoyed at this unexpected weakness in his line, which, from the pertinacity of General French, was growing into an obstacle to the impending battle, for which General Polk shared the enthusiasm and confidence of the troops.’

Now, contrast this with what the writer says further on, when he tells us ‘General Polk had so little confidence in the representations of the weakness of his line at the point referred to that he did not go there in person.’

It is not always safe to divine what is passing through a man's mind from appearances, and having ‘little confidence in the representations,’ the deduction of ‘annoyance’ may not be correct which is attributed to General Polk. Now, inasmuch as General Polk was present (when General F. A. Shoupe ‘pointed out the fact to General Johnston that his line would be enfiladed before the troops were posted, and suggested a change of position) and strongly supported Shoupe's objections,’ he must have been early apprised of the general condition of the line before he received the alleged report from me, which the writer explicitly affirms was sustained by Colonels Sevier, West and Morris-hence the weakness of his line was not unexpected, and should not ‘have grown into an obstacle to the impending battle.’ General Shoupe's letter will be found in Hood's book, page 105.

Fourth—In writing about the conference I find the account thus:

‘That evening about sunset General Hood arrived at the rendezvous, ’