General Joseph E. Johnston, Narrative of Military Operations During the Civil War

The effective total of the army (infantry and artillery), thirty-six thousand one hundred and eleven. At the end of December it was thirty-six thousand eight hundred and twenty-six, which, during the month, was reduced by the transfer of Quarles's and Baldwin's brigades (twenty-seven hundred). The present brigades of the army, therefore, were increased by nineteen hundred and eighty-five effectives during January. We have a few unarmed men in each brigade. About half are without bayonets. Many barefooted --the number of the latter increasing rapidly. Thirteen thousand three hundred pairs of shoes are now wanted for infantry and artillery.

The artillery is not efficient, is unorganized, and there are not means of ascertaining if it has officers fit for colonels and lieutenant-colonels. Both these grades should be filled. I am endeavoring to improve the organization. About four hundred artillery-horses are wanting. The chief quartermaster is procuring others. There are one hundred and twelve pieces, sixty of which are present, with teams, incapable of manoeuvring them on a field of battle. Forty-eight [570] are near Kingston, to improve their horses. I have applied for the promotion and assignment of Colonel E. P. Alexander to the grade of brigadier-general to command this artillery. It requires such an officer to prepare it for the field. The efficient chief of ordnance supplies us well with every thing pertaining to his department, except bayonets, which it is known cannot be procured. By taking about three hundred baggage-wagons from the troops we have for supply-trains six hundred wagons. Many of their mules require rest and food to make them fit for a campaign. One hundred and thirty wagons are being altered to bear pontoons. Such trains would not carry food and forage for more than three days for this army. Although the performance of the railroads is greatly improved, especially that of the Western & Atlantic, we do not yet receive sufficient supplies of long forage to restore artillery-horses to the condition they lost on Missionary Ridge. The army is composed of two corps. It cannot be manoeuvred in battle without forming a third. I have, therefore, so recommended, and beg consideration of that recommendation. The army should be organized, as nearly as practicable, as it is to fight. These troops are very healthy, and in fine spirits. This position is too much advanced. But for fear of effect on the country, I would fall back so that we might not be exposed to be turned by the route leading through Rome.

The written effective total of cavalry is five thousand four hundred and forty-two, but Major-General Wheeler reports that but twenty-three hundred of these have efficient horses. It is necessary to keep about two-thirds of them below Rome, near the Coosa, on account of forage.

At the end of December	the effective total was	36,826
	total present and absent	77,653
At the end of January	the effective total was	36,111
	total present and absent	69,514

(Cavalry not included.) [571]

At the end of December, the effective total of cavalry was	5,613
At the end of December, the total present and absent	13,290
At the end of January, the effective total of cavalry was1	5,442
At the end of January, the total present and absent	12,152

I have urged General S. D. Lee to send his cavalry at once to break the railroad between Dalton and the Etowah. If you agree with me in the opinion that it can at this time render no service in Mississippi to be compared with this, I suggest that you give him orders.

Fearing that a previous telegram may not have reached you, I respectfully recommend the promotion of Brigadier-General Walthall to command the division of Lieutenant-General Polk's troops now under Brigadier-General Canty.

General Polk regards this promotion as important as I do.

Note.-Bad health makes General Canty unable to serve in the field.

I earnestly suggest that Major-General Forrest be ordered to take such parts as he may select of the commands [572] of Pillow, Chalmers, and Roddy, all in Eastern Alabama, and operate in the enemy's rear between his army and Dalton.

I have received your dispatch inquiring why three regiments had not been sent to Savannah in exchange for those of Mercer's brigade.

They have not been sent, because, before Mercer's brigade joined, we were engaged with an enemy more than double our numbers, and ever since have been in his immediate presence.

I considered the fact that the Government² reinforced us from the coast afterward proof that my course was right. The three regiments shall be sent as soon as it can be done without danger to our position. They are now, like all this army, within rifle-shot of the enemy.

I recommend the assignment of Major-General Lovell to the command of Stewart's division.

All quiet yesterday.

I respectfully urge the importance of immediate decision on my recommendation of assignment of Lovell to Stewart's division. He is now serving as a volunteer — without command, of course.

Stewart's division requires a commander immediately. It will be useless unless one is assigned. I again urge, most respectfully, the assignment of Major-General Lovell to it.

I have received your dispatch of yesterday.

Our falling back has been slow. Every change of position has been reported to General Bragg. We have been forced back by the operations of a siege, which the enemy's extreme caution and greatly superior numbers have made it impossible for me to prevent. I have found no opportunity for battle, except by attacking intrenchments.

I strongly recommend the distribution of the United States prisoners, now at Andersonville, immediately.

Your dispatch of to-day received.

The slight change in the enemy's dispositions made since my dispatch of the 14th to General Cooper was reported to General Bragg yesterday. It was a report from General Wheeler that Schofield's corps had advanced eastwardly about three miles from Isham's Ford, and intrenched.

As the enemy has double our numbers, we must be on the defensive. My plan of operations must, therefore, depend [574] upon that of the enemy. It is, mainly, to watch for an opportunity to fight to advantage.

We are trying to put Atlanta in condition to be held for a day or two by the Georgia militia, that army movements may be freer and wider.

• 1. The “effective strength” of the Army of Tennessee, as shown by the tri-monthly return of the 1st of May, 1864, was: Infantry, thirty-seven thousand six hundred and fifty-two; artillery, two thousand eight hundred and twelve (forty thousand four hundred and sixty-four); cavalry, twenty-three hundred and ninety-two. This was the entire strength of the army, “at and near Dalton,” at that date.
• 2. The movement from Dalton began on the 12th of May. On that day Loring's division, Army of the Mississippi, and Canty's division, joined at Resaca, with about eight thousand effectives. French's division, same army, joined near Kingston several days later (about four thousand effectives). Quarles's brigade from Mobile (about twenty-two hundred effectives) joined at New Hope Church on the 26th. The cavalry of the Mississippi Army, which joined near Adairsville, was estimated at three thousand nine hundred effectives; and Martin's cavalry division, which joined near Resaca, at three thousand five hundred. These were the only reinforcements received while General Johnston had command of the army.
• 3. There was no return (field) of the army made after May 1st, until June 10th. The return of June 10th gave, as effectives: Infantry, forty-four thousand eight hundred and sixty ; artillery, three thousand eight hundred and seventy-two (forty-eight thousand seven hundred and thirty-two); cavalry, ten thousand five hundred and sixteen.
• 4. The next return was made on the 1st of July. Effectives: Infantry, thirty-nine thousand one hundred and ninety-seven; artillery, three thousand four hundred and sixty-nine [575] (forty-two thousand six hundred and sixty-six); cavalry, ten thousand and twenty-three. On the 3d of July, at Vining's Station, the Fifth and Forty-seventh Georgia regiments (about six hundred effectives) left the army for Savannah, under Brigadier-General J. K. Jackson.
• 5. The next and last return made under General Johnston was on the 10th of July. Effectives: Infantry, thirty-six thousand nine hundred and one; artillery, three thousand seven hundred and fifty-five (forty thousand six hundred and fifty-six); cavalry, nine thousand nine hundred and seventy-one (exclusive of escorts serving with infantry). This was the estimated force turned over by General Johnston to General Hood.
• 6. The report was made under General Johnston, and signed by General Hood. On the 18th of July the command was turned over to General Hood. The first return thereafter was that of August 1st, after the engagements of Peach-tree Creek, on the 21st, and around Atlanta, on the 22d and 28th July.
• 7. The foregoing figures are taken from the official records kept by me as Assistant Adjutant-General of the Army.