File:Two letters from Lewis G. DeRussy, Fort Pillow, Tennessee, to Brigadier General Leonidas Polk, commanding Army Corps, New Madrid, Missouri, August 17, 1861.jpg

Discuss plans for a junction of General Pillow’s forces with those of General William Hardee probably near Cape Girardeau, Missouri.

Transcription: Fort Pillow 17th August “(at night) 1861

Br General G.L. Pillow

Commandg. Army Corps, New Madrid, Mo.

General,

I have the honor to enclose herewith a dispatch from Genl. Hardee, Just now recd by the command General: It is now I sent you for your own consideration, and in the mean time, I am directed to say to you that Genl. Polk has other information which will probably be more or less to be relied[?] upon by the time the next steamer shall pass of which will be early tomorrow morning Your advance being concluded upon, General Hardee’s letter will be of importance in deciding by what route you may march; to effect a Junction with him — At this moment the commandg General is inclined to the of opinion that a union should be effected in order to advance at once upon St. Louis and by the next passing boat you may expect his reasons[?] for that opinion; but it is clear from General Hardee’s letter that your point of Union must be at some point nearer the Miss river[Mississippi River] than Ironton; probably about Cape Girardeau; The Boat hurries me so much that I I have but time to add that the General will write you more fully. And that the Judgement be now entertains is the result of conversations with Mr. Kearnery, with whom you must have conversed this evening; He went up on the child[Alonzo Child] —

I have the honor to be

General

Lewis G. DeRussy

Actg Aide de camp

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Fort Pillow 17 Aug “ at night

Brig General G.L. Pillow

Commandg Army Corps, New Madrid Mo.

General

Your dispatch of this morning, by the steamer chenney[Cheney] is recd you will, before receiving this have rec’d the cargo of the Hill by the Alonzo Childs[Alonzo Child], as[?] also 50 wagons by the Ingomar — Herewith you will receive a dispatch to General Hardee, which you will read, and send forward to the General, by a Special courier. With such information as to your plans as may be advisable — This courier the General Commandg desires to be a pick’d man, to be dispatch’d as soon as possible — As there has been no time to copy these dispatches to General Hardee and yourself the Genl commandg desires you to have them copies, and the copies sent to him as soon as convenient —

I have the honor to be

Genl. Your Servt.

Lewis G. DeRussy

Actg aid en camp