Col. J. Stoddard Johnston, Confederate Military History, a library of Confederate States Military History: Volume 9.1, Kentucky
Clement Anselm Evans, Ed.

[118] rapidly as the railways can carry them. Maj.-Gen. E. Kirby Smith met me here yesterday by appointment, and we have arranged measures for mutual support and effective co-operation. As some ten days or two weeks must elapse before my means of transportation will reach here, to such extent as to enable me to take the field with my main force, it has been determined that General Smith shall move at once against General Morgan, in front of Cumberland Gap. Should he be successful and our well-grounded hopes be fulfilled, our entire force will then be thrown into Middle Tennessee, with the finest prospect of cutting off General Buell, should that commander remain in his present position. Should he be reinforced meantime from west of the Tennessee river, so as to cope with us, then Van Dorn and Price can strike and clear West Tennessee of any force that can be left to hold it.

Our cavalry forces thrown out from Tupelo are harassing the enemy in that region, and I trust will hold him in check until we can drive his forces from Middle Tennessee. The feeling in Middle Tennessee and Kentucky is represented by Forrest and Morgan to have become intensely hostile to the enemy, and nothing is wanting but arms and support to bring the people into our ranks, for they have found that neutrality has offered them no protection. Both Buell at Bridgeport and Morgan at Cumberland Gap are now and have been for some days on short rations, owing to the exhaustion of the country and our interruption of the railroads in their rear, which leaves them without adequate means of transportation.

Respectfully, your obedient servant,

Braxton Bragg, General Commanding.

At the time this letter was written, while General Buell was really intending to enter East Tennessee by way of McMinnville and Altamont, he was masking his purpose by throwing a force toward Chattanooga, as if intending to go there. Upon this hypothesis Bragg proposed to march north from Chattanooga and move into Middle Tennessee in the direction of Nashville, via Altamont and McMinnville, and to get into what would be Buell's rear if he was in fact concentrating for a move on Chattanooga. General Buell adopted this theory as to Bragg's intentions, and when he moved, made his dispositions to