Regarding: sending CS troops west:
Two times my ancestor's division, Cleburnes, in the Army of Tennessee was ordered away from the main army. Once, to help Gen. Longsreet at Knoxville (1863) and once to help in Mississipi (I think?) in 1864.
I'm recalling info from his war letters which were difficult to read, so please give me a break,
ie..I'm rather lean on the facts but willing to learn.
In 1863, just before Missionary Ridge my ancestor in Cleburne's Division, AOT & others were ordered to board the train for Knoxville to reinforce Gen. Longstreet's Corps. Some troops had already left and my gggrandfather's regiment/div. were very close in doing so. The Union army threatened & Gen. Cleburne per orders given him stopped the transfer and quickly made ready for the Mission Ridge fight.
In 1864, just before the Atlanta Campaign began, my ancestor in Cleburne's Division DID board a train for Mississippi but was stopped in Atlanta, Georgia and moved back into Gen. Johnston's command and participated in the Atlanta fighting.
My point: Please forgive the slight Off Topic thought but I agree that CS Army troops were not utilized properly by President Davis. Whether Gen. Lee, who became Comdr. in Chief in 1865, was responsible...I don't know. Being totally unbiassed and frank, I believe Gen. Lee WAS caught-up in his own Virginia "chessboard" and made a strategic mistake in doing this. I have ALWAYS held belief that a distinction was made between Confederate Eastern troops & Confederate Western troops. The problem IMHO was pure bias. By which Confederate leader? Pres. Davis & Bragg were two peas in a pod. Gen. Lee was Pres. Davis' 'adviser' & confidant. Only once that I'm aware, were troops from Gen. Lee's ANVa sent west; this was just before Chicamauga in Sept., 1863; Longstreet's Corps was sent to reinforce Gen. Bragg's Aot.
I am, as everyone obviously knows, as true pro-confederate as one can be. But...Gen. Lee in my understanding, either did not see the whole scope of the war or was totally biased in thought regarding 'the west.' Vicksburg & the Mississippi R., Atlanta and Chattanooga were VITAL to my Confederate ancesors' success. Gen. Lee should have seen this importance and been mor proactive in his ways. I have always considered the CS Gov't and leaders (not all) as prejudiced and very biased towad the 'western' theatre. Gen. Grant probably would have reinforced western troops intermittently or as my former profession utilized, on PRN (as needed) basis, whereas Gen. Lee seemed stoic and unreasonable on anything outside of Virginia & northern territorial invasion.
I guess I'll take take much grief on this reply stating derogatory comment on Gen. Lee's generalship, but I have to be realistic. Was this Gen. Lee's fault? Gen. Lee DID have Pres. Davis' 'ear' in a military manner of speaking. The entire western theatre was TOTALLY defended by very brave CS soldiers and a small handfull of competent CS officers IMHO. The only exception to this was Chicamauga. <added..per edit..this Chicamauga reinforcement from Lee aided in a CS victory>
Sincerely,
Rob Adams