Logistics

Feeding the men and animals of the Army of Tennessee required thousands of tons of food to be transported by wagon, train, and steamboat. In addition to transportation, feeding the army proved difficult because its food supply had to be shared with other branches of the Confederate Army. Soldiers often complained of monotonous rations. Capt. Moses H. Wright’s Atlanta Arsenal supplied most of the Army of Tennessee’s ammunition. However, the Atlanta Arsenal struggled to keep up with demand, and army personnel complained about defective equipment. An attempt to uniformly equip soldiers with weapons ultimately failed. The Atlanta Quartermaster Depot made shoes exclusively for the Army of Tennessee. This depot also made clothing for the army. Shortages of clothing and shoes persisted. The Army of Tennessee relied on the Western & Atlantic railroad to transport materials from Atlanta, which at times did not have enough engines to provide adequate supplies. Overall, the Army of Tennessee had industrial assets, but an inadequate transportation system led to meat shortages, which decreased morale and resulted in desertions. Additionally, the poor transportation system prevented additional troops from reaching the disastrous Battle of Chickamauga.