E. K. Kirby Smith to J. B. Magruder, June 11, 1863

Maj. Gen. J. B. MAGRUDER, Commanding District of Texas, Ge.:

GENERAL: I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your two letters of the 7th of May* and 4th instant,t+ which arrived about the same time. By reference to my letters addressed to Brigadier-General Scurry, you will see how our views coincided in regard to the concentration of your disposabie troops in Eastern Texas. These letters were written him during your absence at Brownsville. Your kind assurances of your hearty co-operation are most welcome, and the coincidence of our views fortunate. Whether the enemy is successful or unsuccessful in his present attempt to open the navigation of the Mississippi, his effort doubtless will be to engage his men in operations that will remove them

*See Magruder to Belton, Series I, Vol. XV, p. 1078. t Not found.

48 W. FLA., 8. ALA., 8. MISS., L. A., TEX., N. MEX, [Cuar. XXXVIIL

from the yellow fever region and the malaria of Lower Louisiana. In any event, therefore, short of an almost total demolition of Banks’ command at Port Hudson, we may expect him to attempt a campaign for the reduction of Red River Valley, with an eye to the establishment of bases of operations against Texas. Such a force as you can coucentrate at or within supporting distance of Niblett’s Bluff would greatly embarrass him. If the enemy is defeated at Vicksburg and Port Hudson, I hope his troops in Missouri may be taken from there to supply the ranks of the Army of the Mississippi. Arkansas being thus relieved from danger, we may gather a force that will enable us to expel him from all Lower Louisiana west of the Mississippi, and thereby to seize and fortify the true strategic points for the protection of that rich and beautiful region. Niblett’s Bluff presents to my mind many advantages for a place of rendezvous for your disposable forces. It is on the flank of the enemy if he undertakes a campaign up the Red River Valley ; there are good roads leading from there to various parts of Louisiana, and troops can be speedily transported from that point to Galveston or other threatened points on the coast of Texas. Notwithstanding this opinion of its advantages, I leave the selection of a place of concentration to your discretion. Ihave ordered a military road to be constructed from the Bluff to Vermillionville. A copy of your excelleut letter to Governor Lubbock, of Texas, has been submitted to me, and I trust the people may turn out in such numbers as to give you an effective force for the defense of the coast and also the northeastern frontier. I believe I have informed you that I have directed Major-General Taylor to send two mounted regiments to that frontier as soon as he can spare them.

I have the honor to be, general, your obedient servant,