[Jefferson Davis was in New Orleans at this time, preparing to travel to England, but Barksdale may have addressed his letter to Davis' home in Memphis.] Barksdale stated that, in accordance with Davis' request, he had sent him the document relating to General Johnston's removal. Barksdale explained how he came to be in possession of it. Owing to the public controversy that resulted from his having shown it to a friend [T.J. Wharton], he had denied all other petitions for it. Davis' request left him no alternative but to accede, yet he begged Davis not to allow copies to be made or it might be printed prematurely. Johnston, in his forthcoming book, was using an abstract from memory that someone had provided to him to serve as a basis for his reply to and criticism of Davis' statement. [Published in Rowland, Jefferson Davis, His Letters...,VII, 381-382.]
