November 4, 1863
---On this date, Gen. Braxton Bragg makes the fatal decision
to order Gen. Longstreet on an expedition to Knoxville, to eject Gen. Burnside
from East Tennessee. Whether Bragg does
this from a sound strategic basis of judgment, or from his exacerbated
inability to tolerate Longstreet in his command is still uncertain and open to
debate. Longstreet, however, is the only
remaining officer of the cabal that sought his being relieved. Hill, Polk, and others had been sent away to
other duties. Bragg orders Longstreet
and his divisions (McLaws and Hood), with artillery, to march to Knoxville and
drive Burnside out. Longstreet protests,
believing that two divisions is not enough to take on Burnside’s Ninth Corps
plus supports. In addition, he points
out, as do others, that Bragg is weakening his army precisely at the wrong
time, as Grant and his troops are gaining strength day by day.
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| Lt. Gen. James Longstreet |
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