General Lee and
the Army Of Northern Virginia have set up a line of defenses along the
Rappahannock and Culpeper. The
defense is on the North Bank of the Rappahannock at Rappahannock Station
near a burned railroad bridge. Entrenched
with earthworks piled high our gallant men wait for Federal forces under
General Mead to make a crossing of the river.
General Lee made inspections of the entrenchments and concluded
these defenses to be sound. Robert
E. Lee's commitment to aggressively defend Northern Virginia was evident
in his decision to hold the bridgehead at Rappahannock Station as a “tęte-de-pont”.
Although the railroad bridge has been destroyed, a pontoon bridge is
laid across the river at this point, protected by our entrenchments on
the northern side of the river. According
to General Jubal Early, who is charged with the defense, "The
works...are, in my judgment, very inadequate, and not judiciously laid
out or constructed." Despite Early's doubts, Lee remains confident
that his men, protected by earthworks, will hold off a concerted Union
attack. It is Lee's hope that his position at Rappahannock Station will
force General Meade to divide his forces, if and when he advances across
the river. Inside the
trenches the men are in good sprits.
In the past two months they’ve received fresh uniforms and
supplies of food, so with bellies full they continue work on their
defensive positions. When
the Union forces attempt a crossing, Lee’s plan will be to wreak Mead
in earnest, “ With
a large Union force tied down at Rappahannock Station, I am prepared to
launch a blow at the vulnerable Federal columns camped near Kelly's
Ford”. General Lee is so
confident of Meads next move that he has issued orders to all his
commanders regarding the execution of his plans.
General
Longstreet and General Hood’s Division will not be present on the
banks of the Rappahannock. General
Lee temporarily detached Longstreet and Hood sending both to Tennessee
along with Hood’s Division for assistance to General Bragg last
September. General
Longstreet is currently headquartered at Russellville,
East Tennessee. There he
continues to stir up controversy in
the Army of Tennessee by requesting that General Robertson be relieved
of command as a result of his behavior at Wauhatchie Station. Longstreet
commented that, "This officer has been complained of so
frequently for want of conduct in time of battle that I apprehend that
the abandonment by his brigade of its position of the night of the 28th,(October),
may have been due to his want of hearty co-operation," and "He
seemed to exercise an injurious influence over the troops. . . ."
The action against Robertson, who commands a brigade in John Bell Hood's
old division, rocks the unit, which is already suffering due to the
intense rivalry between Generals Micah Jenkins and Evander Law. General
Longstreet sent the following request to Col. Brent regaurding this
issue, “Col.
GEORGE WILLIAM BRENT, Assistant Adjutant-General: - COLONEL: I have the
honor to ask that Brig. Gen. J. B. Robertson be relieved from the
command of his brigade pending the proceedings of the board now
examining his case. This officer has been complained of so frequently
for want of conduct in time of battle that I apprehend that the
abandonment by his brigade of its position of the night of the 28th may
have been due to his want of hearty co-operation. I remain, sir, very
respectfully, your most obedient servant, JAMES LONGSTREET,
Lieutenant-General”.
General
Bragg answered Longstreets request sending the following, "At
the request of Lieutenant-General Longstreet, Brigadier-General
Robertson will be relieved from duty while the proceedings and actions
of the examining board in his case are pending. By command of General
Bragg."
As
a result of the continuing strife in Bragg's army, President Davis again
sends his aide Colonel Chestnut, “ to confer with General Bragg, and
for inquiry, observation, and report.”
President Davis is concerned at the never-ending conflicts that
surround General Bragg.
President
Davis is hopeful that the unsatisfactory situations surrounding General
Bragg can and will be resolved without removal of General Bragg or other
ranking officers currently assigned to the Army Of Tennessee.