December 17, 1863 (Thursday): Longstreet Charges McLaws

General Lafayette McLaws

SPECIAL ORDERS,
HEADQUARTERS,

No. 27. Near Bean's Station, December 17, 1863.
    Maj. General L. McLaws is relieved from further duty with this army, and will proceed to Augusta, Ga., from which place he will report by letter to the Adjutant and Inspector General. He will turn over the command of his division to the senior brigadier present.
     By command of Lieutenant-General Longstreet:


     G. MOXLEY SORREL,
     Lieutenant-Colonel, and Assistant Adjutant-General.

Major-General McLAWS,
C. S. Army.


CAMP ON BEAN'S STATION GAP ROAD, December 17, 1863.
Lieutenant-Colonel SORREL,
Assistant Adjutant-General:
    I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of Special Orders, No. 27, from your headquarters, of this date, relieving me from further duty with this army. If there is no impropriety in making inquiry, and I cannot imagine there is, I respectfully request to be informed of the particular reason for the order.
    Very respectfully,


    L. McLAWS,
    Major-General.

HEADQUARTERS,
Near Bean's Station, December 17, 1863.
Major-General McLAWS,
C. S. Army:
    GENERAL: I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your note of to-day asking for the particular reason for the issue of the order relieving you from duty with this army. In reply, I am directed to say that throughout the campaign on which we are engaged you have exhibited a want of confidence in the efforts and plans which the commanding general has thought proper to adopt, and he is apprehensive that this feeling will extend more or less to the troops under you command.
     Under these circumstances the commanding general has felt that the interest of the public service would be advanced by your separation from him, and as he could not himself leave he decided upon the issue of the order which you have received.
     I have the honor to be, general, with great respect, your obedient servant,


     G. MOXLEY SORREL,
     Lieutenant-Colonel, and Assistant Adjutant-General.

Official Records, Series I., Vol. 31, Pages 497-498.

In the aftermath of Longstreet's failed campaign at Knoxville he filed charges against McLaws for the failure of the attack at Fort Sanders and against Robertson for incompetence.  McLaws requested a courts martial, which resulted in his acquittal in February.  Although reinstated, McLaws would not return to the Army of Northern Virginia and was sent to command the defenses of Savannah.