Pierre Gustave Toutant Beauregard letter to Braxton Bragg, 28 July 1862

CULLUM SPRINGS, BLADON, ALA., July 28th, 1862.

General BRAXTON BRAGG, Commanding Department No. 2, Mobile, Ala. :

My dear General, Your letter of the 22d instant was received only last night. I give you with pleasure the following views on your proposed operations from Tupelo, for I wish you the amplest success, both on your own and the country's account.

You have evidently but one of four things to do. First, to attack Halleck at Corinth ; second, to attack Buell at or about Chattanooga ; third, to attack Grant at or about Memphis ; fourth, to remain idle at Tupelo.

From what you state the first is evidently inadmissible, and the last cannot be entertained for one moment, for action, action, is what we require.

Now, with regard to the other two propositions, it is evident that unless you reinforce General E. K. Smith, at Chattanooga, he will be overpowered by Buell, and that our communication with the East, and our supplies at Atlanta, Augusta, etc., will be cut off; also that a partial reinforcement would so weaken you at Tupelo as to paralyze you for any other movements from there ; hence you have adopted the wisest course in sending to Smith all your available forces, except just enough to guard your depots, etc., to the rear of your present position at Tupelo.

The third proposition would have afforded you some success, but not as brilliant and important in its results as the second one, if the newspapers will permit you to carry it successfully into effect ; for Halleck and Buell, occupying the base of a long isosceles triangle, of which Mobile is the apex, could get to Chattanooga before you if they should become aware of your movements, and then you would have to contend again with superior forces, as usual to us. The moment you get to Chattanooga you ought to take the offensive, keeping in mind the following grand principles of the art of war: First, always bring the masses of your army in contact with the fractions of the enemy ; second, operate as much as possible on his communications without exposing your own ; third, operate always on interior or shorter lines. I have no doubt that with anything like equal numbers you will always meet with success.

I am happy to see that my two lieutenants, Morgan and Forrest, are doing such good service in Kentucky and Tennessee. When I appointed them I thought they would leave their mark wherever they passed.

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Sincerely your friend,

G. T. BEAUREGARD.