were jealous of Major Generals, and even some became jealous or dissatisfied with General Longstreet himself.  Crimination and recrimination were indulged in, censures and charges were made and denied, and on the whole the army began to be in rather a bad plight for the campaign just commencing.  Had it not been for the unparalleled patriotism and devotion to their cause, the undaunted courage of the rank and file of the army, little results could have been expected.  But as soon as the war cry was heard and the officers and men had sniffed the fumes of the coming battle, all jealousies and animosities were thrown aside, and each and every one vied with the other as to who could show the greatest prowess in battle, could withstand the greatest endurance on marches and in the camp.

General Law, who commanded an Alabama Brigade, had been arrested and courtmartialed for failing to support General Jenkins at a critical moment, when Burnside was about to be entrapped, just before reaching Knoxville.  It was claimed by his superiors that had Law closed up the gaps, as he had been ordered, a great victory would have been gained, but it was rumored that Law said “he knew this well enough, and could have routed the enemy, but Jenkins would have had the credit,” so that he sacrificed his men, endangered the army, and lost an opportunity for brilliant achievements through jealousy of a brother officer.  Much correspondence ensued between General Longstreet and President Davis, and as usual with the latter, he interfered, and had not the Wilderness campaign commenced so soon, serious trouble would have been the result between General Lee and General Longstreet on one side, and President Davis and the war department on the other.  But General Law never returned to our army, and left with any but an ennobling reputation.

General Robertson, commanding Hood’s old Texas Brigade, was arrested for indulging in mutinous conversation with his subaltern officers, claiming, it was said, that should General Longstreet give him certain orders (while in camp around Lookout Mountain), he would not recognize them, unless written, and then only under protest.  He was relieved by General Gregg.

General McLaws was relieved of his command from a want of confidence in General Longstreet, and more especially for his inactivity and tardiness at the assaults on Fort Sanders, at Knoxville.  On ordinary occasions, General McLaws was active and vigilant enough—­his courage could not be doubted.  He and the troops under him had added largely to the name and fame of the Army of Northern Virginia.  He had officers and men under him who were the “flower of chivalry” of the South, and were really the “Old Guard” of Lee’s Army.  McLaws was a graduate of West Point, and had seen service in Mexico and on the plains of the West.  But General McLaws was not the man for the times—­not the man to command such troops as he had—­was not the officer to lead in an active, vigorous campaign, where all