23, "The Tennessee troops and those of the Confederate States are not organized alike in all respects, and, consequently, in the transfer the organization of the former may be in some respects interfered with." Governor Harris to L.P. Walker, Confederate Secretary of War relative to transfer of the Provisional Army of Tennessee to the Confederate States.
Richmond, July 23, 1861,
Hon. L.P. WALKER, Secretary of War:
I am requested by his excellency Isham G. Harris, governor, to ask at your hands full and specific instructions for the transfer of the Provisional Army of Tennessee to the Confederate States. The Tennessee troops and those of the Confederate States are not organized alike in all respects, and, consequently, in the transfer the organization of the former may be in some respects interfered with. The governor made such appointments in the general staff for the Tennessee Army (about 22,000 strong) as were deemed necessary for a force of that magnitude. These appointments embrace an adjutant-general, quartermaster-general, surgeon-general, inspector-general, and commissary-general, with suitable and proper number of assistants of each. In the transfer by regiments and battalions will those appointed be displaced or not? If displace, the governor expressed the hope that, as an act of justice to the State and to the appointees, in supplying the force with necessary officers in this branch of the service, they be taken from Tennessee and from his appointees, if it can be done without prejudice to the service. If shall be decided to be the general line of policy; of the appointing power, it will give great satisfaction to the State.
In order to prevent confusion, and to relive the governor from embarrassment and the officers of the general staff from uncertainty, please state the effect of the transfer and the general rule to be observed as to this branch of the service. A large quantity of stores were collected for the subsistence of the Provisional Army of Tennessee, and the same is now on hand. They have been paid for, and constitute part of the war expenditures of the State. The transfer of the army makes it necessary to determine what shall be done with these stores. If they are to be turned over with the army, it us respectfully suggested that arrangements should be made for the purpose. Be kind enough to furnish instructions on this point.
The governor desires that steps be taken to have the debt incurred by the State for the war purposes settled and provided for by the Confederate States, in accordance with the league between the two powers. I submit an aggregate of this debt, with the hope that measures will be instituted for its adjustment.
The extent of the force will make it necessary to appoint several generals in addition to those already appointed. It would be gratifying to the governor if in making the same the appointing power would select Generals Caswell, Sneed, and Foster, appointed by him as generals in the Tennessee forces. He would not make the request if he thought the service would suffer by it.
I am requested to invite your attention to the policy of establishing camps of instruction in East Tennessee. The healthfulness of the climate, cheapness of forage, and proximity to the field of operations all indicate this section of Tennessee as eminently appropriate for camps of instruction. In addition to which, the presence of an armed force will furnish a sense of security to our friends, and tend to suppress unlawful combinations and conspiracies against the Government.
Rifle regiments for twelve months, each man to provide his rifle, to be taken by the Government at value, and converted into minie rifles, are being raised in Tennessee, and it is believed that several thousand troops under this description could be raised if desire by the Confederate Government. The State is able to convert these rifles at the rate of 300 per week into Minie rifles. The State is engaged in the manufacture of guns, sabers, powder, and caps, and if encouraged by some expression of approbation from the Confederate Government would, it is believed, press forward with greater energy;.
Enclosed with this letter was the following financial statement showing how much Tennessee had shelled out for stuff for the Provisional Army. I take it then that it was understood by Governor Harris and etc. that the Confederate States was to reimburse Tenn..
G. Gannt
[Inclosure]
Military and Financial Board
Nashville, Tenn., July 18, 1861
His Excellency Gov. Isham G. Harris:
Sir: The expenditures of this board to date are as follows:
Quartermaster-general's department $918,775.94
Commissary-general's department 522,456.03
Paymaster-general's department 399,600.00
Medical Department 8,500.00
Ordnance Department 362,045.91
Contingencies - special services,
expenses of board, & c 12,513.03
2,223,890.91
Very respectfully,
F.G. ROCHE, Secretary
OR, Ser. I Vol. 4, pp. 372-373.
23, Major-General W.T. Sherman refuses to rescind orders permitting draft age Confederates to remain in Memphis
HDQRS. FIFTH DIVISION, ARMY OF THE TENNESSEE, Memphis, July 23, 1862.
Dr. E. S. PLUMMER AND OTHERS, Physicians in Memphis, Signers to a Petition:
GENTLEMEN: I have this moment received your communication , and assure you that it grieves my heart thus to be the instrument of adding to the seeming cruelty and hardship of this unnatural war.
On my arrival here I found my predecessor (Gen. Hovey) had issued an order permitting the departure South of all persons subject to the conscript law of the Southern Confederacy. Many applications have been made to me to modify this order, but I regarded it as a condition-precedent by which I was bound in honor, and therefore I have made no changes or modifications, nor shall I determine what action I shall adopt in relation to persons unfriendly to our cause who remain after the time limited by Gen. Hovey's order has expired. It is now sunset, and all who have not availed themselves of Gen. Hovey's authority and who remain in Memphis are supposed to be loyal and true men.
I will only say that I cannot allow the personal convenience of even a large class of ladies to influence me in my determination to make Memphis a safe place of operations for an army, and all people who are unfriendly should forthwith prepare to depart in such direction as I may hereafter indicate.
Surgeons are not liable to be made prisoners of war, but they should not reside within the lines of an army which they regard as hostile. The situation would be too delicate.
I am, with great respect, your obedient servant,
W. T. SHERMAN, Maj.-Gen.
OR, Ser. I, Vol. 17, pt. II, p. 114.
23, "The City Council -- Board of Education;" an editorial call to meet the needs of the public school system in Nashville
This evening the Common Council holds its regular semi-monthly meeting, and at half-past 3 o'clock the two Boards are to meet in convention for the purpose of electing a City Treasurer and a Board of Education. The present faithful incumbent of the offices of Treasurer will no be re-elected, and we therefore dismiss that part of the business. Of the Board of Education we wish t say a few words, however, as that is a subject which we deem of infinitely more importance than is usually attached to it by the unthinking. Upon the careful training of our children depends not only their future happiness, but the peace of mind of the parents and the well-being of society. In proportion as proper attention to the moral and intellectual culture of children diminished, in the same or a still greater ration will crime increase. We do not believe that secular education alone [sic] prevents crime, because long years of experience has taught us that the most solid piety and unflinching virtue is found among the unlettered and unlearned in the wisdom of the world, but we do maintain that the moral and religious culture ought to go hand in hand with those useful adornment of the human mind, when we all love to see in our children.
The distracted state of the country present the possibility of obtaining statistic which are always valuable in forming a basis on which to ground an argument, but in the present instance we think it will be taken for granted that large numbers of children have, for the past twelve months, been deprived of all mans of education, and that as a natural consequence their time has been spent I idleness or wickedness; the former being little better that the latter, for man or woman is scarcely able to avoid being in some kind of mischief, with the mind and body unoccupied by some useful employments, and how call we reasonably hope for anything better in the child?
These facts being conceded, what is our duty in the premises? It seems to us very plain that our first duty is to select as members of the Board of Education eight gentlemen whose minds are capable of appreciating the position in which our children are unfortunately placed, and who, appreciating, are able and willing to suggest and carry out a remedy. We want men who do not seek the office for the honor thereof, but men who feel that they are bound to look after the education of the hundreds of children in our midst, whose parent are absent from home, or who, being at home, are unable to pay for their education. We want men who feel that the city of Nashville needs their services, and has the right to ask of them the aid of their wisdom and experience. If such are elected, we have nothing to fear -- all will be well soon.
But some have asked, where are such to be found at the present time, who, in addition to their intellectual endowments, posses the requisite political qualifications for office? We answer -- We have such men herein abundance; we have Francis B. Fogg, J. B. Knowles, R. H. McEwen, sen'r, Russell Houston, Anson Nelson, J. S. Fowler, Isaac Paul, F. O. Hurt, J. W. Hoyt, J. B. Lindsley, M. H. Howard, in addition to others in the Board at present.
We do not expect the public schools to be re-opened, and the whole system to be again put in operation; even if it could be done, it is not necessary at present Let the new Board get one school-house , if they can, if not, hire a suitable building, or two or more large rooms, and have them temporarily fitted up of the present emergency. If that cannot be obtained see what can be done in the way of furnishing increased accommodation for the private schools not interspersed through the city, or hat arrangements can be made with them for receiving the children of the poor who are unable to pay. In short, we want men selected for members of the Board who are capable of appreciating our position and are willing to exert themselves to remedy, as far as possible, the evils under which we labor.
Nashville Dispatch, July 23, 1863.
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