Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1883-07-30

~ hioto oAuCtAJ uhuuCA IN tAO law
of an enemy.
Every infantry corps was ordered to
move at a certain hour by certain
road to certain rendezvous. Every
baggage train had its position assigned
aud was given a particular hour for
leaving. Every ammunition train and
battery knew its position In the line Of
retreat, the strength Of its guard, and
the spot where 1t was 70 halt on the
other side Of the Tuscumhia. While
four fIths Of the infantry we're 10
begin the retreat at a certain hour,
it was under such instructions tina
had an attack been made by Halleck
at any point during the night, every
brigade would have wheeled about
and marched back to the trenches
without confusion. About one-6fth
Of the inlautry was left in the
trenches for some hours, and the GAYS
airy in considerable force was at the
front. The cavalry was to Skirnish
and annoW and keep up appearances
until the last of the infantry was
miles away, and then in falling back
to destroy bridges and obstruct the
road as much as possible.
INCIDENTS OF THE EVACUATION.
The whole history of the war does
not furnish another such cool and
deliberate proceeding as the evacua-
ton of Corinth. Much of the Confed>
crate line was under FIRE. Halleck
was moving bodies of troops here and
there, and his siege guns we're expected
to open fire every moment. and yet
the Confederate evacuation was with
out hurry or excitement. Beauregard
had two railroads to send away stores
by, and he did not leave $40 worth Of
public property behind him. All his
guns, ammunition, tents, wagons, am
balances, forage and other stores were
sent off in safety. The orders to each
corps, division, brigade aud regiment
we're so plain that mistakes were i'm
possible.
The programme must be carried
out in the face of a great army ready
to spring at moments notice. The
Confederates, therefore, resorted to
Yankee cunning to conceal their
movements. A balloon, not large
enough to hold a man, but big enough
to fool Halleck, was sent up on the
night OF the evacuation and held sus-
pended for some hours. The glare of
The camp fires made the balloon
plainly visible to the Federal, and
he amount of iron and lead fred at it
would have been load for a freight
car.
At stated intervals through the
night the railroad locomotives at the
depots blew whistles as if trains were
arriving, and soldiers detailed Tor the
purpose cheered the "relnforcements"
so vigorously that HaIleck believed
the whole Southern Confedersey was
msssing in Corinth.
Another of the tricks wss to keep
the camp fires burning, and now and
then send up signal rockets and open
picket firing. The Federal picket
line was thus kept disturbed and anx>
ious, and Halleck was sorely puzzled
to know what plan Beauregard was
carrying out. Worthless tents, ammu-
milton and broken wagons were left as
prizes, but whatever was of value, no
matter what the trouble to move it,
was moved. Several artesian wells had
been bored in search of better water.
The machinery of these was not only
taken away, but the wells themselves
destroyed. The programme Of evacu.
alton was carefully followed, and on
the morning of the Both Halleck had
before him only the Confederate cav.
airy pickets.
OPENING THE SIEGE.
At daylight on the morning of the
Both, when Beauregard's army was
miles away, Halleck opened the siege
Of Cerinth. His great guns roared,
his army cheered, and round shot and
shell pounded at undefended earth-
works. When he finally became salts.
fed that Corinth had been evacuated
he rushed in. captured 400 GONZALES,
cents who had failed to move, ss many
old muskets, a few half burned freight
cars and disabled locomotives, and
that was the end.
On the 4th of June Halleck recov.
cred sufficiently to report that Popt
bad pushed Besuregard many miles
capturing 10000 prisoners, l5,C0(
stands Of arms, IL field pieces, trsir
Of wagons, 8 locomotives and many
cars.
Pope had not captured 600 prison
ers; he had not even attacked Beaure
| gard in force; he had not pressed hin
at all; he had not captured 800 mus
kets, nor a single field piece nor al
army wagon. He had captured som,
cars and disabled locomotives, but haC
himself lost prisoners and had aban,
doned many wagons and mules.
| Beauregard deliberately Withdrew
to a new position at Tupelo, and Hal
leck left for the East to secure
| grsnder field for his military ambition
He left no friends behind. Arrogan
and conceited, he had perilled cam
paign, disguised a nation and show
his utter inoompetency every hour il
the day. Had Halleck stuck to The
West it is doubtful if Grant, Sherman
or Thomas would have even continued
corps commanders.
A smart Man