The Arkansaw traveler., 1883-06-23

 None of his corps commanders could have committed greater blunders, while Grant or sherman were tar more qualified ts command the army and push |, ahead 10 victory.
 Outside of the two attacks mentioned. the confederates delayed Halleck by such skirmishing as would have delayed no ore else. Whenever the federal advance struck confederate picke, which held is ground for any length of time, whole bngades would be ordered up; and II A scout came in with the report of a eonted- crate division in position on any ot ihe roads, the matter was serious enough for council of generals.
 On the 18th of May, Halleck had fairly invested Corinth, and his Siege-guns were up and in position. Bezuregard did not have ar carthwork or his whole line that held-artillery could no, have battered down. nor was there one single point in his line which was considered impregna- ble. l, was pretty conclusively shown. when the federals ,ha, had Halleck massed on his righ, and attacked sharply. he would have doubtless broken through Indeed, a sudden dash by 10000 men. al any point on the eonfed- crate line. would have tried II severely.
 Halleck neither massed for crushing blow. nor tried q sudden dash. He was going 10 besiege Beauregard. the same as if the confederate troops had been shut up in walled city with no line of retreat. and no way 10 renew supplies of provis- ions. Having double the force of Beau regard. behind intrenchments equally | sfia.-l- l t.xva ,ratAaA of making them. and for three or four days routed ,he army ou, upon the slight es, pretext- On the ;olh day of May he fully expected an attack all along his line, and tha; without further excuse than heavy pieke; firing.
 Beaures ard had known for days and weeks that he must fall back when Hal- leck moved up. The alue ef Cofin,h as str. ! .giC point Is O worth risking battle n winch ac would De outnumbcred. ard mus, attack ntrenched iinessat that. Therefore. n the i4st dAv 2syNAy orders were 4lven- tor line je<te uatiea oi the place. No polnt H1S efrf abandoned m a more ofdeFiS>1Ili sl s,cg.atic manner. in the face ssSS an enemy.
 tSety iaiAntrY tafps vas ordered a move At < eEt4sn hour. hy certain read, to d cettaIa rendezvous. livery baggage tram had II, position ss.gned, tnd was gwen | partieu ular hous iot leaX lng. k.Nery ammua!t31n-tfain and battery knew i;S position n the line ot retreat. the strength oi is guard. and the spot where |, was to halt on the other slde ot the Tusoam blA. Whiic iour-hilhs oi the infantry were to begin the retreat al d cet- tain hour. l. WAS under such instructions that. had an attack been made by Hai- leek n any point during the night. every brigade would have been wheeled about and marched back to the trenches with out confusion. About one fifth of the infantry was left m the trenches for some hours and cavalry Tn considerable force was IF front The cavalry was to skir- mish and annoy, and keep up appear ances until the last of the infantry was miles away. and then. in falling back, ,o destroy bridges and obs,ruo, the roads IS much .ls possible.
 The whole history of the war does no, furnish another such cool and deliberate proceeding as the evacuation of Cornth. Much of the confederate line was under ire. Halleck was moving bodies of troops here and there. ard hls siege guns were expected te open nre every moment. and yet the confederate evacuation was without hurry or excitement BeAute- gard had iwo railroads ;o send away stores by. and he dId ID; leave .lo worth ot public property behind hlm. All his guns. ammunition. tents. wagons. amhu- lam es, forage and other stores were sent oii in safety The orders ;o each corps. division. brigade and regiment we're ,o clear and plain that mistakes were im- possible.
 The programme must be carried out in the face of grea, army ready ;o spring a, moments notice. The confederate. therefore, resorted 10 Yankee cunning 10 conceal their movements. A balloon, not large enough 10 hold a man. but big enough 10 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 visi- ble to the federals. and the amount of iron and lead fired al t would have been a load for freight car
 Al stated intervals through the nigh, the railroad locomotives al the depo,s blew whistles as # trains were arriving. and soldiers detailed for the purpose cheered the reinforcemenis so vigor-
  ously that Haileck believed the whole southern contederacy was massing m CoYnth.
 Another of the tricks was ,o keep the canp-tires burning. and now and then send up sIgnai-rookets and open picket hring The iejera! pickct-i.nc wa thus kep, disturbed and anNious. and Halleck WAS sofeiy puslied to kno3 what new plan Beaurcgard va, carrying cut, Worthless tents and am nunti0u and- broken wagons were Jeff as prizes. bu, sha;eNer ~ass of value. no matter what the ,fl.bie te move t, vas moved. Sew era. aresian wells had been bored in search ot water The machinery of these was no. ony taken away. bu, the wells themselves destroyed. The programme of evacuation was carefully followed, and on the morning of the 39'h Halleok had before him only the confederate cavalry