^.B.Z. 
 
 
 
 y^' 
 
 SENATE, Jan. 9, 1864.— Referred to the Committee on Military 
 AfFairs and ordered to be printed. 
 
 [Presented by Mr. Lyons.] 
 
 LETTEK FROM CM. WISE. 
 
 Hkadquarters 6th MruTARY District, J 
 
 Department Sou*h Carolina, Georgia and Florida, > 
 
 January 3, 1&64. ) 
 
 To Hon. Jas. Lyons, John R. Chambliss and others, 
 
 Of the Virginia Delegation in Congress : 
 
 Gentlemen — I respectfully ask you to represent me as endorsing, 
 without re^^erve.the memori;il of 'lenerals llardee, Stevenson and other 
 officers, dated Decerabpr 17th, ISGo, from the "Army of Tennessee," 
 respecting tbe army. A copy is enclosed. 
 
 From nearly three years experience in the army, I can cordially 
 ■inite in the policy they so wisely recommend. I respectfully protest 
 against any reorganization of the array by re-elections. The elective 
 system, has proved bad. Not tbat any 'better officers have been ap^ 
 pointed tban elected ; but I aver tbat tbe sani- officer rltcfid is not,^ in 
 many respects, as well ahlf to command as himself if nppo'nted. Eltc- 
 tinn, and elecfionecring destroy the efficiency of com;:iHnd, and the 
 power of di.^cipline to a creat extent. They were bad at fir.-t and 
 wottW bo ten-fold uwrse now. The reotganization, at the critical 
 juncture of the spring of 1862, in its bid effects, was enough to ac- 
 count for many of our del lys and disasters. So far as I am informed 
 and belive, the officers nn<l iiien of my brigade, with but Uw excep- 
 tions, desire no re-organization and espcci lly none by election. What 
 they want mo?*t is a thorough lefnrm of the army from its departments 
 down to its piekets, and especially in its quartennaster's, commissa- 
 ry's, ordnnnce officers and mediciil departments. 
 
 Please have this presented and referred ; and believe me, with the 
 highest respect. 
 
 Your obedient servant, 
 
 HENRY A WISE, 
 Brig. Gen. Commanding, fyc. 
 
f 
 
 '1 
 
 Army of Tennessee. Dec. 17, 186."5. 
 
 To the Congress o( {'it Lonjokrate States : 
 
 In the existingr condition of affairs, it is hoped your honorable 
 bodies will pardon the variance from custom, of addressing you from 
 the army. It is done in no spirit of dictation, hut under the conscien- 
 tious conviction that tlie nece.-isitics of the country demand the voict. 
 and labors of all, and that delay, even for thirty d.iys, in enacting 
 proper measures, may m^ke present disorders incurable and the dan- 
 geis of the moment omnipotent for our destruction. 
 
 In (»ur (tpiuion. it is essential to retain, for the toiiu ol' during the 
 war, without re-organizatiou, the troops now in service; to place in 
 service iuimetliat.elv. for the same term, all other white males, between 
 eighteen and fifty years of age, al le to perfoim any military drty ; to 
 provitle for placing in service, at the discretion of the Preisdent, for 
 the same term, all white males between fifteen and eigthteen, and 
 b'etw en fifty and sixty years of age ; to prohibit substitution ; to pro- 
 hibit exemptions, except for the necessary civil offices and employ- 
 ments of the Co!if;derate States and the several States; to prohibit 
 details except for limited periods, and for carrying on works essential 
 to the army ; to prohibit discharges except in cas s of permanent dia- 
 ab|Jiiy from all duty ; to prohibit leaves and furloughs, except under 
 uniform rules ol universal application, based, as far as practicable, on 
 length of service and meritorious conduct ; to prohibit, to the greatest 
 possible exten', the detail of able-bodied officers and men to post, 
 hospital, or other interior duty; and to place in service, as cooks, 
 laborers, teamsters and hospital attendants, with the army and else- 
 rhere, able-bodied negroes and mullattoes, bond and free. 
 
 These measures, we tliink, if promptly enacted as laws, so as to 
 give tiii;e for organizing and disciplining the new meterial, would 
 make our armies invincible at the opening of the campaign of next 
 year, and enable us to win ba.ck our lost territory and conquer a peace 
 before that campaign shall be ended. 
 
 We beg further to suggest that, in our opinion, the dissatisfactions, 
 apprrhenied or existing, from short rations, depreciated currency, and 
 the reteuti(m of old soldiers in the service, might be obviated by al- 
 lowing bounties, with discriminations in favor of the retained troops, 
 an increase of pay, the commutation to enlisted men of rations not 
 issued, and rations, or the value thereof, to oflacers. 
 We have the honor to be. very respectfully. 
 
 Your obedient servant.'?, 
 
 W. J. HARDEE, Lieutenant General. 
 C. L. STEVENSOJS, Major General. 
 B. F. CHEATHAM, Mfijor General. 
 JOHN C BIIECKINRIDGE, Major General. 
 JOHN C. BROWN, Brigadier General. 
 EDMUND W. PETTUS, Brigadier General. 
 A. VV. REYNOLDS, Brigadier General. 
 JOHN K. JACKSON, Brigadier General.