Daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, Va. [W. Va.]) 1859-1865, 1862-07-12

CoRIxra, june %. 1862

SoklNTH, June %, 1862.
For some time reports have been brouph,
here by citizens, prisoners, and deserters
coming from the vicinity of 0koloua that
tue Commander-iu>Cch of tue rebel ar
mics In the West had lett that place about
the middle OF the present month for Rich
mona. The report being always coupled
with the statement that the greater portion
OF his army had left, or was preparing To
leave, for Eastern Virginia, it was NOT cred
tied, direct and Indirect evidence of a moro
positive and Trustworthy character show
| ing the respective location of the four
army corps and reserve that had confront
ed our army before this place between
GuntoWn, Okolona, and Grenada, COMING
in at the same time. By the arrival on
yesterday of several released Union Off t.
GERS, captured at Shiloh, and held in can
ttvity n Grenada, Jackson, and Columbia.
Mss We have at least proper expiana-
ton of the first mentioned report. These
ohcers having had good means Of iufor-
nation partly by having the liberties of
the towns III which tLey were held, and
partly by their intercourse with rebel off
GERS, their accounts may well be considered
trustworthy.
They state that it is the common renort
and general and firm belief, both amonp
the well-infOr:led Rebel officers and citi-
zens they bad opportunity to converse with.
that Beauregard had evacuated CuriDtb
contrary TO express, explicit. and peremp-
tory orders of jeff. Davis, whose ins,ruc
tons were TO hold that key to Mississippi
and AlHbama, and in fact the whole Missis-
siPpi Valley, at all hazards; and that it
WAS for the violation of his orders, by its
abandonment, that be was directed to turn
his command over 10 Bragg, and report for
explanation at Richmond
Ihey represent further, that. if what thev
heard can be relied on, Beauregard's s star had
Is decidedly on the wane. Deuunciations
of his Gallic arrogance, dictatorial pre-
sumption, and excessive yainglorious-
ness, and especially of the vast diff
erence between what he promised TO
accomplish and what he has actually ac-
eomplished, are much more frequent among
Rebel officers than expressions of satisfac-
ton. No regret at his transfer to the East
seemed TO be manifested by anybody.
Gen. Price was summoned 10 Richmond
before Beauregard left. There was ILL
feeiing-rivalry or jealousy, whatever il
might be-betWeeu him and his associates
IN command, very similar to the irritations
between our regulars and volunteers. Price
is sald to have sueered openly nt the defen-
siVe strategy of Beauregard, in the face of
-" iu'iuluB army, as uemOTetlZiUE aud ru-
inous, and opposed the evacuation of Cor
nth to the last
Neither Beauregnrd nor Price was ac-
eompanied by any part of the rebel army.
and although reports of an intended rein
iorcement of the Coufederates before Rich
mond from Bragg's command were current
at the time our officers left Central MIssis-
siPPi, none had as yet lett, to the best of
their knowledge.
Ii was rumored and believed that Price
lgoHtd be detailed for an expedition info
Hestern PirgiHiG IN order 10 prereat a con-
eenIrdhoH cf Union troops before Richmond.
So numerous had, of late, become the
desertions from the rebel ranks uuder
Bragg, that orders had been used threat
enins the inhabitautt harboring any SOL
der, unable to exhibit permit of absence
from the army, without Immediately noti-
tying the nearest military commander.
with summary Punishment by court-mar-
tial.
1t is thought here that the stories Of
diversion OF parts OF Bragg's force to
Richmond, in the rebel prints, are strata
gems. like the story about the failure of
the Merrimac, that lured the naval authori-
ties into fatal security. and intended to
orIug about weakening of the Union
forces in the West.