Gibson, Randall Lee (1832-1892) to James Seddon
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Gilder Lehrman Collection #: GLC01810 Author/Creator: Gibson, Randall Lee (1832-1892) Place Written: Tullahoma, Tennessee Type: Autograph letter signed Date: 1 March 1863 Pagination: 2 p. ; 25.5 x 20.5 cm. Order a Copy
Confederate Colonel Gibson writes to the Confederate Secretary of War to protest being relieved of command and demoted to an inferior office. He had succeeded Brigadier General Daniel Adams after Adams was wounded at Murfreesboro and had just been reassigned to "conscript and recruiting service." He considers the action "arbitrary and unjust - as depriving me of my dearest rights as a soldier and degrading me in the eyes of my comrades in arms." Written from the Headquarters of Adams' Brigade.
[Draft Created by Crowdsourcing]
Head Quarters Adam's Brigade Breckenridge's Div
Hardee's Corps. Army of Tenn
Tullahoma Tenn March 1st, 1863
Honl. James A. Sedden
Secretary of War-
Sir,
Under a profound sense of duty not less to myself than to the service but with such reluctance I have the honor to make formal complaint of injustice done me by the commanding General of this Army.
On the 1st January Brigadier Genl. Adams being disabled by a wound turned over the command of his Brigade [struck: over] to me and I conducted it through the succeeding operations before Murfreesboro, including the engagement of Friday-and have continued in command. I believe I have given satisfaction to my superior officers. I have at least heard no complaint.
I have this day received an order from Head Quarters of this Army which without giving any grounds for my removal relieves me of my command & assigns me to conscript and security service. My place is filled by a Junior Officer who has been absent for several months and on his return about two weeks since was placed on security & conscript duty. He is now brought back and made to displace me. I proceed to obey the order of
[2]
of the commanding General but earnestly protest against it as arbitrary and unjust-as depriving me of my [devout] right as a soldier and degrading me in the eyes of my comrades in arms.
I think it due to my own self respect not less as a gentleman than to the profession of a soldier to remonstrate & protest against the unjustice of the commanding general and to appeal to the impartiality of the Department of War and the President of the Confederate States to restore me to my command.
If my conduct has been such as to meet the disapproval of the commanding General or such as to [wound] him in removing me from my command I demand that charge shall be proffered and that I shall be brought to trial.
[Very] respectfully,
R. Gibson
[struck: Col Comdg] Col. 13th La. Vols.
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