Yours, 8:30 P. M., received.
I most deeply dissent from your views as to the policy of pursuit.
We have defeated, routed, and demoralized the army which held the
Lower Mississippi Valley.
We have the two railroads leading south to the
Gulf, through the most populous parts of this State, into which we can now pursue them by the
Mississippi Central or
Mobile & Ohio Road. The effect of returning to our old position will be to give them up the only corn they have in the country west of
Alabama, including
Tuscumbia Valley, and to permit them to recruit their forces, advance, and reoccupy their old ground, reducing us to the occupation of a defensive position, barren and worthless, on a long front, of which they can harass us until bad weather precludes any effectual advance, except along the railroads, where time, fortifications, and rolling stock will render them superior to us.
Our force, including what can be spared with
Hurlbut, will garrison
Corinth and
Jackson, and enable us to push them.
Our advance will cover even
Holly Springs, which will be ours when we want it. All that is needful is to combine, push, and whip them.
We have whipped, and should now
