Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1862-10-15

have either 10 surrender or cross without re-
sources into Arkansas, wherr Gen Holmes
would take good care OF them. Prom Fort
Pillow i would compel the forces n CorInih
and jackson, Tennessee, 10 fall back precipl-
lately 10 Humboldt and Columbus, or their
lines OF communication would be cpt Oft also.
We would then pursue them vigorously he
yond the Mississippi az Columbus, or the Ohio
M Paducah.
We would thus compel the enemy To evacu-
ate II once the Statr of Mississippi and West
rin Tennessee, with probably the loss IN Our
lHrt Of only few hundred men. p 60
Gen. Price could then be detached into Mis-
souri TO support his friends, where has pres-
cn.e alone would be worth an army TO the Con-
iederacy.
The armament and ammunition Of the works
rtferred TO should be collected soon possi-
bic al Meridian and Chattanooga.
such are the operations which i would carry
into effect, with such notifications as circun-
stances might require, IL the President had
Judged proper 10 order me back 10 the command
of that army hieh had, with Gen. Bragg's
and which had only left TO recover NV shat
tered health, while my presence could be spared
from IL. and until he informed me that Il was
ready TO take the offensive.
Hoping for It's entire success, remain, very
respectfully. your obedient servant,
@. T. BEAUREGARD, General G. g. A.
Gen SAN,L COOPER, Adjutant General, &c,,
Richmond, Va.
General Bedureodrd 10 General Brdr1on Broco.
CULLoN SPRINGS, BLA DEN, (Ala-0f
IConfidentiall 18th July le62
nv Dear General: Your letter OF the sssd
instant was only received last night. i give
you with pleasure the following views on your
proposed operations from TuRelo, for i wish
You the amplest success, both on your and the
country's account:
You had evidently Int one Of four things
to do
LIST. To attack HalIeck at Corinth.
ID. To attack Buell. at about Chattanooga
3d To attack Grant at or about Memphis.
tth. To remain idle at Tupelo.
Prom what Won state, the first is evidently
inadmissible, and the last cannot be enter
tanned for one moment; for action, action, and
action Is what we require!
Now, with regard TO the other two proposi-
uons, ~ Is evident that unless you reinforce
Gen. r.. Ia. Smith at Chattanooga, he will be
oNtrpowered by Buell., and then our commu-
nications with the East and our supplies at
Atlanta, Augusta. &c., will be cut on. Also,
that partial reinforcement would SO weaken
You at Tupelo as to paralyze you for any other
movements from there. Hence you have
adopted the wisest course in sending 20 Smith
all your available forces, except Just enough 20
guard yonr depots, &c., 10 the rear OF your
present position at Tupelo.
The third proposition would have afforded
You some success, but not as brilliant and i'm
portant I'm results as the second one-if the
newspapers will permit you TO carry IL success
fully into effect. For Halleck and Buell., oc-
curyne the base of a long isosceles triangle, of
which Mobile is the apex. could get u Charta-
nooea before you, il they should become aware
Va nOhl 1tiONtNhcut. Ahttl YOU WOulO nave
10 contend again with superior forces-as equal
10 MS.
The moment you get TO Chattanoosa YOU
ought 10 take the offensive. keeping in mind
the following grand principles of the art Of
war:
I. Always bnng the masses OF your army in
contact with the fractions OF the enemy.
,. Operate as much as possible on his COM
municatIons without exposing your own.
>. Operate always on interior or shorter lines.
have no doubt that with anything like equal
numbers you will always meet with success.
am happy TO see that my two Lieutenanrs,
Morgan and Forrest. are doing such good SER
VICE IN kentucky and Tennessee. When ap-
pointed them. L thought they would leave their
mark wherpVer they passed.
BY the bye, thinkwe ought hereafter, in orr
official papers. 10 call the - Yankees Alto
htiOnlsts" instead OF - Federals,-' for they now
proclaim not only the abolition of slavery. bat
of all our constitutional rights. and thai name
viii have sftR0ing effect on our Western sn-
emi6s. intend TO issue = general order on the
subject whenever / assume n command.
Sincerely your friend.
q. 7. BEACRFE
Gen. BRAEToN BIZ RAGG. Commanding D,part-
m'nt No. ,. Mobile, Ala