4/30/62 Tangipahoa, La-Lovell to Van Dorn-[just five days after New Orleans had fallen, he informed Major Gen Van Dorn of his intention to arm & occupy Vicksburg.]
Just returned from New Orleans. The men at forts refused to hold out longer, & Duncan had to surrender. The enemy will therefore occupy the city under his guns. All seems quiet & orderly, & I think there will be no trouble for citizens & families. The only fear is a scarcity of provisions. I shall occupy Vicksburg, & support Beauregard with all the men I can organize & arm.
6/25/62 Jackson, MS-Lovell to A Gen Cooper-I have been relieved by Van Dorn. Have no orders.-Would prefer to be sent to the field of immediate action. Will I be allowed a change of position to put an end to unfounded popular clamors?
After my supersession I repaired to Richmond, with Gen Van Dorn's permission, & urged the convening of the Court of Inquiry. Interview with the President, on 7/18
9/8/62 Van Dorn's Spec Orders Dist of Miss, Jackson-
I. Maj Gen M. Lovell having reported for duty with this army is assigned to the command of a Div composed of the Bgde of Brig Gen J. B. Villepigue & other Bgdes to be organized. [At this time, he is probably thinking of one or more POW Bgdes for Lovell]
II. Gen Rust having reported for duty in this command will report to Maj Gen J. C. Breckinridge.
9/20/62 Jackson- Lovell to wife- I saw the pieces in the paper that you sent me-the news about Smith & Bragg. If the latter succeeds in his present campaign it will all be overlooked; if not they will haunt him to death.
There seems to be little doubt that the step I am taking in going with Van Dorn is just the thing-I could not have arranged it better if I had been allowed to fix it for myself. [When Lovell was relieved in Dec 62, there was mention that Van Dorn had assigned him to duty without going thru the War Dept]
Every one of my friends seems to think I have done a first rate thing in getting into position in this manner without any help from the War Dept
Van Dorn & Price will join forces to which will be added 8-10,000 returned prisoners in a short time, giving us as large an army as Johnston & Beauregard had at Shiloh of which I shall be the second officer in rank & my relations with Van Dorn will be just what you indicated in your letter before last.
12/10/62 Gen Lovell wrote from Jackson, to the A.G. in Richmond:* * Gen Lovell's letter-book, p. 134. "Arriving in Grenada in charge of the rearguard of our army on a long & tedious retreat, I found myself relieved from the command of my Corps, because I had not been assigned to duty here by the War Dept. This is a very mortifying result to me, Gen, after the severe labors of the last three months. Under the orders of Gen Van Dorn I had organized, clothed, equipped, & provided as fine a Corps as any in the army, consisting of 13,000 present at Abbeville & 1,500 at Port Hudson. They had been with me in battle & on the march, & I have no hesitation in saying that officers & men had become attached to me, & placed entire confidence in me as a cdr. I beg leave to say, with deference, that I do not see the difference between my assignment to duty here, & that of Gen Van Dorn. I was in command of the Dept & was superseded by him, & he in turn by Gen Pemberton, & both have remained here on duty, under the same conditions. When in Richmond I requested the President to relieve me from duty in this Dept, & he replied that 'he did not see why I could not serve under Gen Van Dorn.'
I asked Gen Bragg then in command of this section of the country for assignment under him, & he telegraphed me, that probably Gen Van Dorn could give me a position. The Court of Inquiry having been postponed until further orders, he gave me a command, & I can refer to his written reports to show that I have done my duty. With regard to my conduct at Corinth, on the retreat thence to Holly Springs, & from there to Grenada, I am willing to be judged by the officers & soldiers of my command. Their opinion, as universally expressed, is one of entire satisfaction & confidence; & much regret was manifested by them at my removal. I hope that the President will see fit to place me again on active duty, as I greatly dislike remaining idle while there is so much to be done."
6/23/63 Jackson, J Johnston to AG Cooper-desires for Lovell to be assigned to his Dept
6/28/63 Jackson, Gen Johnston to Gen Cooper-If as I am informed the court …Has reported favorably to Gen Lovell, I request that he be assigned to duty in this Dept
-Jan 64 Gen Jo Johnston requested Lovell as Corps cdr
--Johnston had asked for Chase Whiting or Lovell to command Breckenridge's old Corps. Davis refused & gave him Hood instead
-served as a volunteer on Gen Joseph E. Johnston's staff that summer; apparently in response to a further request
1/16/64 Dalton, Johnston to Gen Cooper-Judging from the published reports of the court of inquiry in Maj-Gen Lovell's case that he is now available for duty, I respectfully renew my application for his assignment to my command.
I wish to divide this army into three parts. It is now composed of two Corps, one of four Div's under Lt-Gen Hardee, the other of three under Maj-Gen Hindman. I propose to have three Corps, one of three Div's under Lt-Gen Hardee, another of two under Maj-Gen Lovell, & the third of two under Maj-Gen Hindman. This organization will be more convenient in every respect than the present, & the size of the Corps more appropriate to the rank of their cdrs, & the army could be handled more readily & maneuvered more rapidly. I beg leave to suggest to the War Dept that in this difficult & responsible command I have not had such advantages as my predecessor, who assisted in the nomination of many of the principal officers of his army. It is important to me to have near me some officers of high rank whose military qualities I know, as I feel I do those of Maj-Gen Lovell. I therefore respectfully urge my claim to his assistance.
The reason for Johnston's support of Lovell is very much the same as the reason for Johnston's support of G.W. Smith early in the war. Johnston, Smith & Lovell were, with McClellan, very close pre-war friends & Johnston was someone who always looked out for his friends. From a web forum
1/27/64 Richmond, Lovell to Gen Cooper-Learning from Gen Johnston cdg Army of Tenn that he has applied for my assignment to duty with his command I ask for orders to that effect
2/5/64 Richmond, Lovell to A&IGO-His application for assignment to the Army of Tenn having failed will return to Columbia, SC, & there await orders-repeats his request to be assigned to any position in which he can be useful
7/3/64 Johnston to Bragg-Stewart's Div requires a cdr immediately. It will be useless unless one is assigned. I again urge, most respectfully, the assignment of Maj-Gen Lovell to it.
July 64 Gen Hood requested Lovell as Corps cdr
Dec 64-Hardee applied to assign Lovell to some command at Savannah. But as everyone before him including Johnston & Hood, this was declined.
12/24/64 Gen Lovell, at Columbia, SC, wrote to the SC Gov: "The occupation of Savannah by the enemy in large force renders the invasion of this State quite probable. Under these circumstances, as I am unemployed in my official position, I beg leave to say that, if, in this emergency, I can render any service, or render you any assistance in military matters, I will do so most cheerfully. My sole desire is to contribute to the utmost of my ability to the success of the common cause."
† Gen Lovell's Letter Book, p. 142.
3/23/65 Johnston made another request for Lovell & Lovell was ordered to report to Gen Lee for assignment.
3/24/65 Breckinridge as Sec of War to Lee-Your dispatch of this date in regard to Maj-Gen Lovell has been received & he has been ordered to report to you.
4/7/65 Near Smithfield NC, Maj Gen Lovell is assigned to command in the State of SC. By command of Gen Johnston
4/21/65 Beauregard at Greensboro to Lovell-"Gen Lee has assuredly capitulated & the paroled men of his Army must be permitted to pass to their homes as prescribed in their passports."
4/26/65 Lovell was included in Johnston's surrender on 4/26, but his personal parole has never been located
5/5/65 Salisbury-J E. Johnston to Maj-Gen Lovell, Columbia: Understanding between Gen Sherman & myself, one- seventh of arms taken home by troops-These used to keep country quiet or disposed of by U. S. local cdr. Field transportation & subsistence stores taken by troops for men distributed for farming when troops reach home. Any military property not required by troops goes to US.
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