September 6, 1863 (Tuesday): To Move An Army

General Otto Strahl

HEADQUARTERS ARMY OF TENNESSEE,
Chattanooga, September 6, 1863.
Lieutenant-General POLK:
    Send everything to the rear. Retain only fighting men.
     By command of General Bragg:


     GEORGE WM. BRENT,
     Assistant Adjutant-General.

HEADQUARTERS ARMY OF TENNESSEE,
Chattanooga, Tenn., September 6, 1863.
Lieutenant-General POLK:
Commanding Corps:
     GENERAL: It is ordered that six days' rations be drawn and carried be the troops, but that only the bacon be cooked. The beef will be driven on the hoof. Bread or meal must be taken by the corps for six days.
     I am, general, very respectfully, your obedient servant,


     KINLOCH FALCONER,
    Assistant Adjutant-General.

HEADQUARTERS POLK'S CORPS,
Chattanooga, September 6, 1863.
Major-General CHEATHAM:
   GENERAL: The lieutenant-general commanding desires that you will have your command placed in readiness to move without delay with three days' cooked rations.
    Most respectfully, general, your obedient servant,


    THOS. M. JACK,
    Assistant Adjutant-General.

    (Same to Major-General Hindman.)

HEADQUARTERS POLK'S CORPS,
Chattanooga, September 6, 1863.
Major General T. C. HINDMAN:
    GENERAL: The lieutenant-general commanding wishes you to hold your command ready for movement at a moment's notice.
    Respectfully, general,


    [THOS. M. JACK,]
    Assistant Adjutant-General.

   (Same to Major General B. F. Cheatham.)

HEADQUARTERS POLK'S CORPS,
Chattanooga, September 6, 1863
Major-General CHEATHAM:
    GENERAL: When you are ready are to move the lieutenant-general desires you to inform him of the fact, in order that he may put the column in motion.
     Respectfully, general, your obedient servant,


     [THOS. M. JACK,]
     Assistant Adjutant-General.]

     (Same to Major-General Hindman.)

HEADQUARTERS HINDMAN'S DIVISION,
September 6, 1863.
Lieutenant Colonel T. M. JACK,
Assistant Adjutant-General:
     COLONEL: The brigade commanders of this division have been requested to report as soon as they are ready to move, and the information will be sent to corps headquarters promptly. I write this to account for the present delay. I am apprehensive of trouble upon the subject of transportation for rations.
     Respectfully,


     [T. C. HINDMAN,]
     Major-General, commanding

HEADQUARTERS BRECKINRIDGE'S DIVISION,
September 6, 1863-6.45 p.m.
Colonel ARCHER ANDERSON,
Assistant Adjutant-General:
     COLONEL: By direction of the lieutenant-general commanding I have the honor to inform him that my headquarters for to-night are on the open ground near the frame hospital which I pointed out to him this afternoon.
     I respectfully suggest that I have received no orders except verbally from you this morning to move my command to Chattanooga, and that I have found my brigades moving under other orders, which is may apology for their scattered condition. I have officers in search of them, and will report their exact locality as soon as possible.
     I am, colonel, respectfully, your obedient servant,


     JOHN C. BRECKINRIDGE,
     Major-General, Commanding.


CHATTANOOGA, September 6, 1863.
Lieutenant-general POLK,
Commanding Corps:
     GENERAL: I am instructed by the general commanding to say that you need not put your troops in motion to-night.
     I am, general, very respectfully, your obedient servant,


     GEORGE WM. BRENT,
     Assistant Adjutant-General.

HEADQUARTERS POLK'S CORPS,
Chattanooga, September 6, 1863.
Major-General CHEATHAM:
     GENERAL: The movement of this corps is suspended until further orders.
     Most respectfully, general, your obedient servant,


     [THOS. M. JACK,]
     Assistant Adjutant-General.


    (Same to Major-General Hindman.)

LOOKOUT POINT, September 6, 1863.
Lieutenant-General POLK,
Commanding Corps:
     Enemy just in front of my pickets. Send battery, if you can, immediately.


    STRAHL,
    Brigadier-General.

Official Records, Series I., Vol. 30, Part 4, Pages 612-614.

This is a rare, but good example, of a series of orders to move an army on short notice.  Bragg has decided to leave Chattanooga, but great coordination is required to move his whole force as each part must, to some extent, cover the others.