Unknown to John S. Mason, June 3, 1863
Mason: Let me thank you for your letter with the Natchez extras. I have no fears for the result of either Port Hudson or Vicksburg, and believe General Taylor will arrive opposite the latter place in time to complete Grant’s destruction.
Our couriers from Natchitoches are only nine hours en route to this point. Dispatches take from two to three days from Alexandria. Stations should be established every 10 or 12 miles between Alexandria and Natchitoches, which will bring your headquarters within twenty or thirty hours of Shreveport.
Many rumors and reports are said to be in circulation in Alexandria,
30 W. FLA., S. ALA., 8S. MISS., L. A., TEX., N. MEX. [Cuar. XXXVIIL
misrepresenting my relations with General Taylor, and otherwise calculated to injure me. These reports are said to come from your headquarters. I am sure they do not originate there, and you, who know the relations existing between General Taylor and myself, will, I trust, counteract any misstatement in circulation. I have General Taylor’s interests at heart, and, knowing injustice has been done him by the people of Louisiana, determined to give him the means and opportunity for proving how greatly he has been misappreciated. I told General Taylor I would leave him in command unless it became necessary to send an officer senior to him with the re-enforcements ordered to Louisiana, in which event I would myself take the field in person. The interests of the Government, moreover, require me to remain at headquarters, if possible, till the bureaus and departments have been organized and some general system has been introduced throughout the Trans-Mississippi Department.
I directed General Boggs to instruct you to have a courier leave Alexandria daily, and to give me any information received either from below or from General Taylor.
What reports have you from Mouton? I have the telegraph now in operation to Monroe, and expect soon to open communication through Richmond with General Taylor.
Give my regards to Mrs. Taylor. I have attended to her requests in regard to her little boys’ graves.
I remain, sincerely, yours,