The New York herald., 1863-10-30
Il REBEL FLANS In TEXAS.
-e'~0-----~-
The New Military Policy Of the InSur-
gents West Of The Mississippi.
Their Trans Mississippi Army to be Con-
centrated ON the Sabine River.
Arkansas and Louisiana to be Evacuated by
The Nlain Sirength of Their Armies.
TEXAS TO BE HELD AT ALL HAZARDS,
ks., Ae.s kss
MIR. Deb. Randolph Keim's Despatch.

MIR. Deb. Randolph keim's Despatch.
NEw ORLEANS, Oct. .16, 1868.
Since the reopeniug of the Mississippi river by the capt.
uat,oa vicssbirg and Port Hudson, and tho ccnse
quent nl the pseudo combination OF States
under the high sounding appellaon Of "The Southern
Conoderacy that part of the confederation lying west
of the river has figured in kind OF isolation which the in
srgenis at Richmond could reach. This fact in the
OF armed assistance yet in communication by courier
or letter as yet been permanent interruption
In consideration OF these facilities the enemy is able TO
direct, at least if not to assist tho operations of their
troops west OF the Mississippi Until present very
little attention. however, has been given by tho rebel
leaders to affairs in this far of region The threatening
advances OF Rosccrans into Georgia. tho demonstrations
OF Mcadc in Virginia, and the approaches Of Gilmore at
Charleston, combined to keep their attention close
iy retcd upon tho things presen-that is hand
than sacrifice themselves homo for the consummation
o! an extremely difficult and uncertain task abroad Ac
cordingiy all sorts OF wild and unaccounabe move
ments unit! the present have been going on In their
Trans Mississippi Department. Therlmiitary matters
however, are now assuming q condition controlled by
some Of the principles Of military operations The prn
cple of combating by the concentrate on Of
heavy bodies certain strategic points and the
alton or mere patrol Of the territory formerly held
been extended TO the rebel armies Of Arkansas louisiana
Texas and the frontier The creduty Of the dupes of
tho nsrgent leaders, tho entire Southern people, havo
magned the rerogrossive movement of the Army Of the
Cumberland into decisive and irremcdiable disaster;
and envened by their belief the permanent success Of
their arms there they look for inevitable counterpart
of that success by similar means in the West. The
manner in which this work is to be effected Is thus
Tho armies now commanded by Holmes Price Parsons
in Arkansas; the forces of Smith, Hobart and Taylor in
Northern and central louisiana those OF Greene Straight
and Major in the Southern part OF the Sate part OF
tho troops Of Mgruder Texas TO be
Nibelts Bluffs on tho Sabine river which, together with
tho lake OF the same name forms the boundary between
Louisiana and Texas The evacuated regions necessary
to be occupied for military rcasons-for instance demon
sraon against the advance OF armes-wil be held
by mere handful Of mounted men, depending upon the
cooperation OF guerilla bands cases OF move upon our
part.
The point OF concentration chosen by the enemy
exhibits TO Insignificant sagacty. Sabine Lake
lies Immediately upon the Gulf coast, being con.
nccted with the Gulf by narrow channel known as
Sabine Pass The ako is formed by the inflow OF tho
waters OF tho Sabine and Nechcs rivers. Upon the
Louisiana side OF the Sabine situated Nblcts Bluffs in
amost the same latitude tho side OF the Ncchcs
lies Beaumont-a small town. Between tho two points,
BY land across the peninsula formed by the two rivors
thero lies an immense swamp, inpaesabe some soa
sons OF tho year even 10 local conveyanccs for the
passage Of an army Its Infantry, cavalry, artillery,
baggage and supply trans would be at all times
impractcablc. However, by running from Nib.
let's Bluffs down the Sabine river, across tho
lako, and thence up tho Nechcs 10 Beaumont,
form, an excellent water communication between tho
Blus and Beauinent the distance being but eighty eight
miles. For purposes Of navigation by this route tho
enemy has about twelve light draught steamers.
Upon these excellent considerations Nblets Blus has
been chosen a. the defensive offensive position OF their
concentrated armies and Beaumont the base OF supplies
for from tha, place to Houston Texas the communication
by road passabc and at Houston the cattle and entire
agricultural resources Of Texas DO centred for trans
portation 10 Beaumont and thence to their army a the
Bluffs.
The entire force Of the enemy when bore centred will
not exceed thirty thousand THOR In the extreme
West havc suffered greater depletion than those of the
East and more from disease than by the casualties Of
battle or campaign.
The enemy Is resoutey determined to hold Texas for
the possession OF that State put an end 10 the
existence as an aggregation Of their tho west
side OF the river. As consequence, they have wisely
determined to gather in their forces, aud It be their
fortune to fall before the indomitablc prowess the in
vincibe Of tho undivided republic they choose to
die together having failed at every other point 10 sacr
hcc themselves upon the last defensive position against
the progress Of soldiers and dsenthramcnt of Texas