The Confederate president wrote to William M. Brooks, an Alabama lawyer who had presided over his state’s secession convention, defending his choice of John C. Pemberton to lead the army defending Vicksburg. A West Point graduate from Philadelphia married to a Virginian, Pemberton had commanded the Atlantic coast defenses of South Carolina, Georgia, and Florida before being sent to Mississippi in October 1862.
Richmond, April 2 1863
My dear Sir.
Your letter of the 20th ulto, reached me in due course; and has received careful attention. Your friendly assurance of the extent to which I am honored by the confidence and esteem of my fellow-citizens is a source of sincere gratification, the more acceptable coming from one so well qualified to judge as yourself.
I was not prepared to learn the dissatisfaction which you represent as existing in regard to the assignment of Lt. Genl. Pemberton, and I hope that the distrust in his fidelity & ability to which you allude is not as great as you have been led to believe.
I selected Genl. Pemberton for the very important command which he now holds from a conviction that he was the best qualified officer for that post then available, and have since found no reason to change the opinion I then entertained of him.
If success which is generally regarded in popular estimation as evidence of qualification be so regarded in his case, I am surprised that Genl. Pemberton’s merits should still be doubted. With a force far inferior in numbers to the enemy, menaced by attack at several points widely distant from each other, with no naval force to meet the enemy’s fleets on the Mississippi and its tributaries by his judicious disposition of his forces and skilful selection of the best points of defense he has repulsed the enemy at Vicksburg, Port Hudson, on the Tallahatchie and at Deer Creek, and has thus far foiled his every attempt to get possession of the Mississippi river and the vast section of country which it controls.
I think that he has also demonstrated great administrative as well as military ability. He has been enabled to subsist and clothe his army without going out of his own Dept., and though within a recent period some difficulty may have arisen in the transportation of supplies, or some scarcity may have been apprehended which circumstance is, I regret to say, not confined to his command, I think he is not the less commendable for his former success in this regard & that he is entitled to confidence in his ability to overcome the difficulty and procure the requisite provisions for his troops, if indeed such may be practicable.
I still hope that “the suspicions and distrust” which you mention do not exist to any considerable extent; but however this may be, I feel assured that they are “groundless”.
With reference to the fact that General Pemberton was born at the North being alleged as a justification of distrust in his fidelity to our cause, I can imagine nothing more unjust and ungenerous.
General Pemberton resigned his commission in the U.S. army on the secession of Virginia—his adopted State.—He came at once to Richmond and was one of the first officers of the U.S. army who offered his services to Governor Letcher, by whom he was immediately appointed to a field commission. He afterwards entered the service of the Confederate States in which he has risen from step to step to his present position. In addition to the other proofs which he has afforded of his devotion to the cause of the Confederate States, I may add that by coming South he forfeited a considerable fortune.
Your suggestions as to Col. I. W. Garrett shall receive due attention. I recollect him very favorably and have no doubt that your estimate of him is just. With assurances of regard and esteem I remain very respl. & truly yours
JEFFN. DAVIS.