HEADQUARTERS MILITARY DIVISION OF THE WEST,
Tuscumbia, Ala.,
November 15, 1864.
General J. B. HOOD,
Commanding, &c., Florence, Ala.:
GENERAL: As you seemed yesterday to have misunderstood my verbal
communication of the 13th instant through my chief of staff, I deem it of
sufficient importance to communicate in writing what I had instructed him to
say relative to the movement of the Army of Tennessee. I instructed him to tell
you “that in consequence of the information received the night previous, to
wit, the apparent confirmation of the concentration of the bulk of Sherman's
army in Middle Tennessee – at Pulaski, Huntsville, and Decatur – the arrival of
Canby and part of his forces at Memphis, and the condition of Cobb's and
Smith's forces at Lovejoy's Station, I desired to confer further with you
before you commenced the projected movement into Middle Tennessee, then partly
in process of execution – that is, Lee's corps already in advance of Florence,
and Cheatham's and Stewart's corps under orders to cross the river.” My purpose
was to call again your attention, as I did yesterday:
First. To the necessity of guarding well your right flank and rear in
advancing toward Lawrenceburg and Pulaski against a sudden offensive movement
of the enemy from Huntsville or Athens across the Elk River.
Second. To securing against the passage of the enemy's gun-boats another
point – about Savannah or Clifton – besides Florence, for the army to recross
the Tennessee in the event of disaster.
Third. To giving still greater protection to Corinth and the Mobile and
Ohio Railroad to that point.
I was aware that those points had already been discussed between us, but
my anxiety for the safety of the troops under your command made it incumbent on
me to call again your attention to those important matters. I wish also to
inform you that the third point mentioned may require greater time than was at
first supposed necessary. All orders for completing the defenses of Corinth,
repairing and prosecuting vigorously the work on the Memphis and Charleston
Railroad to this place, and for repairing the Mobile and Ohio Railroad from
Okolona to Bethel, have been given and are being carried out as rapidly as the
limited means of the engineer and quartermaster departments will permit. It is
at present reported that the railroads referred to will be completed in from
fifteen to twenty days, but it is reasonable to suppose that the prevailing
unfavorable weather will delay the work one or two weeks longer. General Taylor
and myself will always be anxious to aid you in your present campaign with all
the means at our control, but these being limited, ample previous notice of
what may be required should be given, to enable us to make all necessary
preparations. It will also give me pleasure to confer onyou
such powers as you may deem necessary to secure your communications, repair
roads, and hasten supplies to your army whilst operating in the department of
General Taylor.
Respectfully, your
obedient servant,
G. T. BEAUREGARD,
General.
SOURCES: The War of the Rebellion: A Compilation of
the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies, Series I, Volume 45,
Part 1 (Serial No. 93), p. 913; John Bell Hood, Advance and
Retreat, p. 275-6
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