The Daily Dispatch: August 12, 1863., [Electronic resource]

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Department of the West.

--We learn from a very recent correspondence, (Morton Miss, August 3,) of the Atlanta Appeal, that some important changes have been made in the department of the West. Gen. Johnston, in compliance with a long-standing request on his part, has been released from the charge of affairs in East Tennessee. Bragg is now in full command there, while Johnston devotes himself to Mississippi, Alabama, East Louisiana and West Tennessee. The arrangement heretofore existing was very cumbersome.--Generals Bragg, Maury and Pemberton had special charge of the departments to which they were assigned, while Johnston had nominally, or more properly, advisory charge of all. It was his mission to take special command in any of the departments when peculiar danger threatened. The correspondent adds:

‘ Probably no two Generals have precisely the same ideas as to the proper disposition of armies for offensive and defensive war. Without venturing into particulars which might be dangerous, I can illustrate my point by saying that the ideas of General Johnston differ diametrically from those of General Pemberton on this point, and that when Johnston arrived in the department the troops were placed precisely where he did not want them. The new troops sent into the department, though liberal as reinforcements, were almost useless as an independent army, in which capacity they were compelled to act.

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