Unknown to George W. Randolph, August 25, 1862

Tupelo, Miss., August 25, 1862.

Sir: I feel that it is not necessary for me to apologize to you for the frequency with which I request you to do such acts as seem to me calculated to promote the effiviency of the army under my command, but that it is my duty to make such reqnests as often as the occasion arrives. 1 therefore call your attention to the deficiency of general officers in the Army of the West, and to the unfortunate consequences which necessarily result from this fact.

My troops are distributed into two divisions and a cavalry brigade, commanded, respectively, by Brigadier-Generals Little and Maury and acting Brigadier-General Armstrong. Little’s division (which is much the larger at present by reason of the recent addition of six regiments of Mississippi troops) consists of four brigades, commanded by BrigadierGenerals Hébert and Green and Colonels Gates and Martin; Maury’s

division consists of three brigades, under the command of BrigadierGeneral Moore and Majors Cabell and Phifer, the last two having been assigned by General Van Dorn months ago to the command of their respective brigades as acting brigadier-generals. Colonel Armstrong, who is an acting brigadier-general by appointment of General Bragg, commands the cavalry brigade, which consists of five regiments and three battalions. I do not think it will be advisable to lessen the number of these brigades, especially in view of the fact that General Bragg has informed me of his purpose to strengthen my army by ordering to it several thousand of the exchanged troops. emi

You will perceive from this statement that the two divisions are each commanded by brigadier-generals, while five of the eight brigades are commanded by colonels and majors. This anomalous condition of things not only deprives regiments of their proper commanders and brigades of their appropriate staff officers, but gives rise to rivalry and jealousy, which are extremely prejudicial to the harmony and discipline of the army, and which would not otherwise exist. The existence of these within this army has been brought to my knowledge for the first time since the decision of the department in the cases of Majors Cabell and Phifer has been made known. That decision disclosed the fact that there were five vacant brigadierships in this army, and the knowledge of that fact has given rise to efforts which are tending to disturb the good feeling which has hitherto characterized it. I hope that it may be your pleasure to put a summary end to all this by assigning brigadier-generals to the command of the several brigades. I do not feel that I ought, nor do I desire, to express any opinion as to the filling of these vacancies, though I will do so if such is your wish or the will of the President.

I may, however, be permitted to say that I hope that Generals Little and Maury will not be superseded in the command of their respective divisions, except by officers of acknowledged ability, and I

very respectfully submit to you the impolicy of placing either of them under the

command of any officer who was their junior in the United States Army,

unless he has particularly distinguished himself. I may also express

the wish that General Little be appointed major-general. He happened to be in Missouri when the war broke out. He at once resigned

his position in the United States Army and tendered his services to

me. I placed him upon my staff as assistant adjutant-general, in which

capacity he continued to serve until I began, some nine months ago,

to organize a brigade of Missouri troops for the Confederate service.

I assigned him to the command of these. He organized, drilled, and