June 1, 1863 (Monday): Johnston Counts Heads

Union Street, Canton MS (visitimississippi.org)

CANTON, MISS., June 1, 1863,
VIA MONTGOMERY, June 2.
His Excellency the PRESIDENT:
     The Secretary of War is greatly mistaken in his numbers. By their own returns the troops at my disposal available against Grant are
Of Pemberton's . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9,700
Of Bragg's . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8,400
Of Beauregard's . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6,000
TOTAL . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24,100
     Not including a few hundred irregular cavalry, nor Jackson's command, the strength of which I do not know. Bowen and Lee are in Vicksburg, beyond my reach. In the estimate, that garrison is not included. The total of the above, 24,100. These are numbers of effectives.


     J. E. Johnston.

Official Records, Series I., Vol. 24, Part 1, Page 195.

Davis believed Johnston had at least 10,000 more troops.  Here the difference may be, in part, one of terms.  Johnston counted, as generals tended to do, only effectives (under arms, physically able, not detached to non-combat duties).  The War Department would have been likely to provide Davis with the total number on troops on muster rolls, as they could not have known who was, or was not, under arms.  The critical point is, regardless of how the troops were counted, Johnston had fewer men available to come to Pemberton's rescue at Vicksburg than Pemberton had trapped in its lines.