Beauregard, Pierre Gustave Toutant, 1818-1893 [Address to soldiers before anticipated Union assault on Corinth]

Rallying the soldiers before the anticipated battle and assuring a Confederate victory. "We are about to meet once more, in the shock of battle, the invaders of our soil, the despoilers of our homes, the disturbers of our family ties. Face to face, hand to hand, we are to decide whether we are to be freemen, or the vile slaves of those who are free only in name; and who but yesterday were vanquished, although in largely superior numbers, in their own encampments - on the ever memorable field of Shiloh. Let the impending battle decide our fate, and add one more illustrious page to the history of our Revolution; one to which our children will point with noble pride, saying: 'Our fathers were at the battle of Corinth.'" Printed on blue paper and signed by Beauregard and Otey. Although a number of minor skirmishes occurred around Corinth at this time, no major battle took place. The Union forces approached the city very slowly, and by the time they arrived the smaller Confederate forces had wisely and stealthily abandoned the city.