PERRYVILLE, KY., October 7, 1862-7.30 p. m.

General BRAGG, Commanding Army:

MY DEAR GENERAL: I am receipt of your "confidential circular" of this date, also your letter of instructions to General Polk. From the tenor of the letter of instructions to General Polk I presume that this is later than the confidential circular. Both are in the same inclosure and of the same date. Permit me, from the friendly relations so long existing between us, to write you plainly. Do you scatter your forces. There is no rule in our profession which should never be forgotten; it is to throw the masses of your troops on the fractions of the enemy. The movement last proposed will divide your army and each may be defeated, whereas by keeping them united success is certain. If it be your policy to strike the enemy at Versailles, take your whole force with you and make the blow effective; if, on the contrary, you should decide to strike the army in front of me, first let that be done with a force which will make success certain. Strike with your whole strength first to the right then to the left. I could not sleep quietly to-night without giving expression to these views. Whatever you decide to do will meet my hearty co-operation.

Your sincere friend,

W. J. HARDEE,

Major-General.

N. B.-If you wish my opinion, it is that in view of the position of your depots you ought to strike this force first.

I have no envelope, but I send this by an officer.

SHELBYVILLE, TENN., April 15, 1863.

General BRAXTON BRAGG, Commanding Department No. 2:

GENERAL: I am this day in receipt of yours of the 13th instant,* in which reference is made to action had in council of wing and division commanders held at Bardstown, Ky., on the 3d and at Perryville on October 8, 1862. After quoting extracts from General Polk's reports of these deliberations you remark that-

As these councils (usually regarded as sacred among military men) are now publicly disclosed, and in a manner compromising you as advising a disobedience of my orders, the facts are laid before you, and I beg, if consistent with your sense of duty, you will inform me to what extent you sustained the general in his acknowledged disobedience.

As I can see no way in which detriment to the public interest might now arise from such a course I do not hesitate to comply with your request.

On October 3, 1862, I was present at General Polk's headquarters in Bardstown at a council composed, as well as I now remember, of Major-Generals Polk, Hardee, and Cheatham, and Brigadier Gen. S. A. M. Wood and myself. Your dispatch from Frankfort, of date 1 p. m. October 2, was read, and after an interchange of views in regard to our military condition, as junior officer present I was called upon by General Polk to give my views as to what was best to be done. I hesitated to do so, whereupon General Polk inquired as to the cause of my reluctance to advise a course which seemed to be so clear, and I replied that your order just read did not seem to admit of any other course than that of

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*See Bragg to Hardee of that date, p. 1097.

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