regain the space and time which had been lost."* It may have been "too late" on the 30th of November; but was it "too late" on the 12th of October, on the 22d and 24th of the same month, on the 3d and the 6th of November-dates at which both the President and the War Department, as we have seen, had been officially apprised of the successive alterations, deemed necessary by General Hood for the success of his campaign? That General Beauregard had originated none of these alterations, and that he, more than once, deplored their adoption, has already been shown; and that the President, though made conversant in season with General Hood's amended views and intentions, said nothing to indicate his disapproval of them, is no less a patent and wellestablished fact. His disapprobation, if not officially expressed and communicated to General Hood, could be of no import, was altogether futile, and might as well have been acquiescence. Mr. Davis never hesitated to reject the plans of any of the generals commanding in the field when, in his opinion, there was sufficient reason for so doing. He had gone farther, and, on former occasions, had openly prohibited the execution of many a proposed military movement. We refer to the plan of aggressive campaign prepared by General Beauregard and submitted to the President, through Colonel Chestnut, on the 14th of July, 1861; to the advance urged at the Fairfax Court-house conference, in October of the same year, by Generals J. E. Johnston, Beauregard, and G. W. Smith; to the plan of campaign suggested, instead of the invasion of Pennsylvania, in 1863; to the proposed concerted attack upon Butler's forces, near Bermuda Hundreds, in May, 1864, by the whole of General Beauregard's army, reinforced by 10,000 men from the Army of Northern Virginia. On those occasions the President's purpose was clear, his opposition unmistakable. No doubt could exist as to his meaning. Here, on the contrary, so vague and equivocal, so liable to misconstruction, was the language made use of in Mr. Davis's despatch of November 7th to General Hood, and in his letter of November 30th to General Beauregard, that, had the campaign into Tennessee resulted in success instead of disaster, this same despatch and this identical letter could have been interpreted to show Mr. Davis's unqualified approbation of the movement.

"Rise and Fall of the Confederate Government," vol. ii., p. 569. The italics are ours.

CHAPTER XLII.

General Beauregard's Effort to Reinforce General Hood by Drawing Troops from the Trans-Mississippi Department.-His Communication to General E. Kirby Smith. He Urges that Two or more Divisions be Sent to the Army of Tennessee, or that a Diversion be Made towards Missouri.-His Advice as to Best Method of Crossing.-War Department Authorizes Call upon General E. K. Smith.-General Beauregard Leaves for Charleston.-He again Presses General E. K. Smith to Forward his Troops.-The Latter Considers the Attempt Impracticable.-No Steps taken to Carry out the Movement.-General Beauregard Arrives in Charleston.-He visits Savannah on the 9th of December, and Consults with General Hardee as to the Defence of the City.-Returns to Charleston.—Letter to President Davis.-Detailed Orders to General Hardee.-Second Visit to Savannah. -General Sherman Demands the Surrender of the City on the 17th of December. His Demand Refused.-Preparations for Evacuation.-General Beauregard's Confidential Circular.-He Goes to Pocotaligo.-Sends Memorandum of Orders to General Hardee.-Successful Evacuation of Savannah. Want of Transportation for Troops.-General Beauregard in Charleston on the 22d of December.-Prepares new Defensive Lines.—His Presence Required by General Hood.-He Applies to be Relieved of the Command of South Carolina, Georgia, and Florida.-Request Granted. -His Last Letter to General Hardee.-He Leaves for Montgomery. BEFORE following General Beauregard on his way to Savannah, via Charleston, where he arrived on the evening of December 7th, it may be of interest to mention what he had endeavored to do immediately after the battle of Franklin, with a view to reinforce General Hood's army upon its entrance into Tennessee. He had cast his eyes towards the Trans-Mississippi Department, then under General E. Kirby Smith, and, with that rapidity of strategic conception so remarkable in him, had formed a plan of concentration which, if carried out in season, might have materially changed the aspect of our military affairs. We submit his communication to that effect:

"HEADQUARTERS, MILITARY DIVISION OF THE WEST, MONTGOMERY, ALA., Dec. 2d, 1864.

"To General E. KIRBY SMITH, Comdg. Trans-Miss. Dept.:

"General,-You are probably aware that the Army of Tennessee, under General J. B. Hood, has penetrated into Middle Tennessee as far as Columbia, and

that the enemy is concentrating all his available forces, under General Thomas, to oppose him. It is even reliably reported that the forces, under General A. J. Smith, in Missouri, and Steele, in Arkansas, have been sent to reinforce Thomas. It becomes, then, absolutely necessary, to insure the success of Hood, either that you should send him two or more divisions, or that you should at once threaten Missouri, in order to compel the enemy to recall the reinforcements he is sending to General Thomas.

"I beg to urge upon you prompt and decisive action; the fate of the country may depend upon the result of Hood's campaign in Tennessee.

"Sherman's army has lately abandoned Atlanta, on a venturesome march across Georgia to the Atlantic coast about Savannah. His object is, besides the destruction of public and private property, probably to reinforce Grant, and compel Lee to abandon Richmond. It is hoped that Sherman may be prevented from effecting his object; but should it be otherwise, the success of Hood in Tennessee and Kentucky would counterbalance the moral effect of the loss of Richmond. Hence the urgent necessity of either reinforcing Hood, or making a diversion in Missouri in his favor. "Hoping that you may give us the desired assistance,

"I remain, your obedient servant,

"G. T. BEAUREGARD, General."

A copy of the foregoing letter was immediately forwarded to Richmond for the information of the War Department, and this telegram preceded it:

"MONTGOMERY, ALA., Dec. 2d, 1864: 9 P. M.

"His Ex. President JEFFERSON DAVIS, Richmond, Va., via Tallahassee, Fla. : Generals Steele and A. J. Smith are reported to be reinforcing General Thomas at Nashville. Cannot General E. Kirby Smith reinforce General Hood in Middle Tennessee, or take offensive in Missouri? His assistance is absolutely necessary at this time. G. T. BEAUREGARD."

The next day, and while General Beauregard was already on his way to Georgia, there to gather up, from every quarter, all available forces to check Sherman's advance, he caused the following letter to be sent to General E. K. Smith, in order to give him all possible facilities for successfully executing the transfer of his troops to the eastern side of the Mississippi:

"HEADQUARTERS, MILITARY DIVISION OF THE WEST, MONTGOMERY, Dec. 3d, 1864.

To General E. KIRBY SMITH, Comdg. Trans-Miss. Dept.: "General, I am this day in receipt of telegram from General Beauregard (who is now en route to the Atlantic coast), dated Opelika, Ala., Dec. 3d, in which he directs that I recommend for your favorable consideration that detached floating booms, armed with torpedoes, in addition to light batteries on shore, be placed in the Mississippi River, to prevent the enemy's gunboats from

passing or offering annoyance at the point that you may select for the transfer of troops to this side, should you deem it expedient to make such transfer.

"These booms should be triangular in shape, about 40 feet in length by about 20 feet base; should be made of five longitudinal pieces and five or six cross ones, strongly halved into and on top of the former. The booms should be anchored across the river, about forty feet apart from centre to centre, and torpedoes should be anchored in the open space between them.

"A second row of booms, breaking openings with the first, should be anchored about one hundred feet below the first row, being in the same manner as the former armed with torpedoes.

"The torpedoes should be about six feet below the surface of the water. The booms should be firmly anchored, with the apex of the triangle up stream. "I have the honor to be, General, respectfully, your obt. servt.,

"GEORGE WM. BRENT, Col., and A. A. G.”

The Secretary of War, the Hon. James A. Seddon, had answered General Beauregard's telegram to the President, and, though he doubted General E. Kirby Smith's willingness to respond to the emergency, had, however, authorized the call upon him.* But his reply reached Headquarters after General Beauregard's departure from Montgomery. When the War Department was apprised of the fact the following telegram was forwarded to Lieutenant-General Taylor: "MERIDIAN, Dec. 14th, 1864.

"By Telegraph from Richmond, 7th, via Mobile, 13th.

"To Lieut.-Genl. TAYLOR:

"Transmit by most rapid means the following despatch to General E. Kirby Smith, Shreveport, La.: 'If practicable, cross troops. Aid General Hood, or divert forces from operating against him in Tennessee. If crossing be impossible, cannot you make demonstrations to withdraw troops of the enemy? "We have intelligence that Steele, with 15,000 men, had reached Memphis, and was proceeding to aid Thomas, commanding the enemy in operations against Hood. The campaign in the Trans-Mississippi has ceased or been abandoned, while the enemy concentrates east of the Mississippi. "The co-operation of your troops should, in some force, avail us.' "JAS. A. SEDDON, Secy. War."

To avoid all possible misunderstanding and present the case in a stronger light, Colonel G. W. Brent, A. A. G., transmitted to

*Mr. Seddon's telegram to General Beauregard read: "Your telegram of the 2d inst. is referred to me for answer. If General E. K. Smith can now act as you suggest, it would be well he should do so. You are authorized so to inform him, and to request his prompt attention. He has, however, failed heretofore to respond to like emergencies, and no plans should be based on his compliance." The telegram was dated Richmond, December 4th, 1864.

General E. K. Smith, through Dr. Macken, special courier of the War Department, a duplicate copy of General Beauregard's first letter, with this additional communication:

“HEADQUARTERS, MILITARY DIVISION OF THE WEST, MONTGOMERY, ALA., Dec. 13th, 1864.

"To General E. KIRBY SMITH, Comdg. Trans-Miss. Dept.: "General,-On the 2d inst. General Beauregard transmitted to you, by his aide-de-camp, Captain Toutant, a letter requesting that you would, without delay, send to the support of General Hood two or more divisions, or threaten Missouri, to distract the enemy, so as to induce him to recall his reinforcements to Thomas. Since that date General Beauregard has been ordered to the East, and is now absent, and I am in receipt of a telegram from the Hon. Secretary of War directing General Beauregard to order the movement indicated in the letter of the 2d instant.

"In the absence of the General I transmit you a copy of the said letter, and request a speedy compliance with it. Your prompt attention and action are not only required by the order of the Secretary of War, but by the exigencies of the public service.

"I am, General, very respectfully, your obt. servt.,

"GEORGE W. BRENT, Col., and A. A. G."

Thus, it is made apparent that General Beauregard's earnest appeal to General E. K. Smith was approved, and promptly acted upon, by the War Department. General Hood in his book also discloses the fact of his great anxiety to receive reinforcements from the Trans-Mississippi Department. He writes:

"The President was still urgent in his instructions relative to the transference of troops to the Army of Tennessee from Texas-[why from Texas, which would have caused additional delay ?]—and I daily hoped to receive the glad tidings of their safe passage across the Mississippi River." *

But no "glad tidings" came. General E. K. Smith could not be moved to action. He allowed exaggerated rumors and obsta cles, trifling in their nature, to prevent him from adopting the step which had been so earnestly urged upon him. And here we may appropriately remind the reader that, scarcely one month before, General Forrest, with his light batteries alone, had captured and destroyed several of the enemy's gunboats and transports on the Tennessee River-thus proving that they were by no means so formidable as reported. It is to be regretted that General E. Kirby Smith, although, in many respects, an officer

* “Advance and Retreat," p. 299.