GDG- ANV corps commanders

[Chet Diestel]

> Esteemed GDG Member Teej Smith Contributes:
>
>    LOL..no agrument there but if Stuart had had his way, Hampton would 
> have been working his magic in Mississippi. This post script to a letter 
> written to Custis Lee in February1864 might interest you.
>
> "PS: As a postscript to the accompanying letter which is of a more formal 
> nature than this, I thought I would enter a little more into details than 
> such a letter permitted.
>
>            I allude to the obstacles in the way of my assignment as 
> Lt.Gen'l vice Holmes-
>
    It occurs to me that, there is such a strong popular feeling in favor of 
Price out there that my appt. might do more harm than good to the Cause-Is 
there not danger of a repetition of the Heth business, and my rejection by 
the Senate because of Price?  Is there any assurance that my appt would be 
productive of harmony and thorough co-operation? These are serious 
considerations bearing on the public policy of the measures, but which I 
take it for granted will duly enter into the Presdt's view of the Subject. 
Again, as Gen'l Lee has done me the honor to mention my name favorably in 
connection with the Command of an Infantry Corps, is it not probable that he 
has reference to one of the Corps in this Army, where I am no doubt more 
favorably known than anywhere else-In this connection might not the transfer 
of one of these Lt. Generals to the command of so important a Dept., better 
accommodate discontent and rivalries out there than the appt. of myself (a 
new appointment) especially to take that Command.
   Besides according to military usage, it is proper to give a senior an 
independent Command in preference to a Junior & could therefore give no just 
cause of offence to either of these Lt. Generals-Now a few words as regards 
my own Command here-the Cavalry. Hampton is not the man for such a command 
and I know he will not suit Gen'l Lee, nor the peculiar requisites of such a 
station. Hampton is a gallant officer, a nice Gentleman, and has done 
meritorious service, but there you must stop. But he is not the man for such 
a place-I am satisfied he is not content with his present place, he has 
frequently expressed to me the desire to serve in the West, and if there is 
the remotest intention to promote me, it would be a measure highly conducive 
to the public interest to assign him to the Command of the District of the 
Mississippi before my promotion, to operate with his Cavalry & Horse 
Artillery against gun boats.It is a species of warfare which would suit him 
exactly & for which he has peculiar fitness. He would be flattered by such 
an assignment, would render good service & would be in a region of country 
perfectly familiar to him. I feel perfectly confident that he would put a 
stop to the mercantile navigation of the Mississippi.
   If necessary bring S.D. Lee-who is his junior to this Army. Fitz Lee is 
young, active, of a comprehensive grasp, and possesses wonderful faculties 
for wielding and combining analyses, being specially fitted by education & a 
large experience for Cavalry Command. He is as it were the genius of Cavalry 
(we must making stop drinking for the war) and I will guarantee success, 
wise conceptions and brilliant executions. Your father will never apply for 
Hampton's removal or transfer because his son & nephew are immediately 
affected by it but he told me not long ago that he wishes Hampton would go 
and stay-very emphatically-He will wear on and let his hair be whitened 
more; as he once
said he owes many of his gray hairs to McLaws-
   This matter requires prompt action, I think the present a very favorable 
opportunity , I desire & have recommended Rooney's promotion, & to have in 
his Div. one of Hampton's old brigades but he (Hampton) will still have 3 
but I expect him to complain, it will then be a favorable opportunity to 
give him the command of the District of the Mississippi. I see by the Yankee 
papers that steamboats are moving regularly, laden with cotton, on the 
Mississippi. Don't neglect this Postscript for it is very important to the 
Country-I think, certainly as far as it refers to the Cavalry."
   Regards,
    Teej

   Whatever the Virginia cliché may have felt about Hampton, the bottom line 
is the big South Carolinian was too well connected and too politically 
powerful to be handled in such a cavalier manner as the above writing 
suggests. To remove Hampton from the main theater of war would be 
politically untenable for the Davis Administration.
   Moreover, there were complaints, even among some Virginians, that there 
were too many Lees in the ranks of the ANV without isolating a fighter like 
Hampton to make REL's nephew heir apparent to the cavalry command. Besides, 
Hampton was a better leader and a more competent commander than Fitz Lee and 
proved so on many a battlefield.
   With regards,
       Chet