AU GÉNÉRAL COOPER, MINISTRE DE LA GUERRE

Mobile, Alab. 5 Septembre, 1862.

General :—Under the supposition that on the restoration of my health F would be returaed to the command of Department No 2, 1 had prepared, wüile at Bladin, Alabama a plan of operations in ‘T'enessec and Kentucky based on my knowledge of that part of the theatre of war, but hearing that my just expectations are to be disappoinied, i have the honourto communi- Cate it 1o the War Department, in the hope that it may be of service 1o our arms ond to our cause. Et was submitted by me to general Brage on the 2d iastant, By looking at the map, it will be seen, that the force operating in that section of coun':y will be separated at first by one river (he Tenessee), and afierwards by two (the Tenessee and Cumberland) hence they will be unable to support each other, being unprovided with portoon trains ; but their operations must be more or less dependent on or connected with each other. I will first refer :o those in East ‘l'enessee and then to those West of it. In the first case, our objective points must be first Louisville and then Cincinnati. How best to reach them from Chatiancoga, with Buell at Hunts-

ville and Stevenson, is the question. It is evident he.

has the advantage of two bases of operations, the Cumberland and Tenessee Rivers, and that if we advance towards our objective points without getting rid of bim, we would expose our lines of communications with Chattanooga. We must then give him battle

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first, or compel him to retire before us. Should he retire on Nuasville, as the news papers say he is now doing, we will be advancing towards Louisville ; but shouid he ventare on Florence or Savannah io unite his force with Rozencranz or Grant, we will have to concentrate enough of our forces from Middle and East Tensssee io follow him rappidly and defeat him in a great batile, waen we would be able to resume our march as before indicated, We must, however, as soon as practicable, cons ruci strong works to cominand the Tenessee and Cuimberland Rivers, for otherwise our Cominunications would be eut off by the cnemy, as soon as those two rivers shall have risen sufliciently t0 admit the entrance of their gunboats and transports. The best position for said works is about forty miles below forts Donildson aud Henry, not far from Eddysville, where those two rivers come within one and a half miles of each other. Fam informed there is at that point a cominandinug el:vation where a strong field work could be construcied for a garrison of 2500 or 3009 men, who could hold om with ample provissions and communications against a large army. Under the guns of 1his work, and along the banks of each river a series of batteries armed withihe heaviest guns (eight nine, ten iuch and rifled guns) could be constructed bearing directly on the obstructions placed in each of said rivers. When Louisville shall have fallen into our possession, 1 would construct a work there for the command of the Ohio and the canal, and 1 would destroy the latier as soon as possible, so completely that furture travellers would hardly know where it was. This I would do as a return for the Yankee vandalism in attempting to obstruct forever 1he harbors of Charleston and Savannah. A detachment of our army could Fthink,take Louisville, while the main body would be marching to Cincinnati ; but if we could get boats enough, it would be shorter to go up the Ohio in them. To keep the command of Cincinnati, [ would constract a strong work heavily armed at Covington. Now for

the operations in Western Tenessee. The object there should be to drive the enemy from there and resume the command of the Missiseipi River. For these purposes.

I would concentrate rapidly at Gr. Junction Price’s ar-

my and all that could be spared from Vicksburg of Van Dorr’s. From there I would make a forced march to fort Pillow, which 1 would take with probably only a small loss. Ilisevident the forces at Memphis and Yazoo River would then have their line of communication by the river withthe North cut off, and they would have either to surrender or cross without resources in Arkansas, where general Holmes would take a good care of them. From fort Pillow I would compel the forces at Corinth and Jackson, Tenessee, to fall back precipitately 10 Humboth and Columbus, or their lines of communication would be cut off also. We woul then parsue them vigorousiy beyond the Mississipi at Columbus, or the Ohio at Pailucah. We would thus compael the enemy to evacuate the State of Micissipi and western Teressee, with probably the loss on our part of a few hundred men. General Price could then be detached into Missouri to support his friends, where his presence aione would be worth an army 10 the Confederacy. The armament and ammunition ofthe works referred 10 be coilected as soon as possible at Meridian and Chatianoogn. Such are the operations which I would carry into effect, with such modifications as circumstances might require, if the President had judged proper 10 order me back 10 the command of that army which Thad with general Bragg’s assistance collected togeiher and organized. and which I had only left to recover my shaltered health while my presence could be spared from it, until he informet me that it was ready to take the offensive,

Hoping for its entire success, [ remain very respectfully, your obedient servant.

G. T,. Braurzcanrp.

General C. S, A,

nf 0 0

stunewæll Jackson.—With deep griefithe Commanding General announcees to the army the death «of Lieut. Gen. T. J. Jackson, who expired on ‘the 10th instant at 3.15 P. M. The daring skill and energy of this great and good scldier, by a decree of an all wise Providence, are now lost to us, but while we moum his death we feel that his spirit still lives and will ànspire tbe whole army withhis indomitable courage and unshaken confidence in God,as our ‘hope and strength. Let his name be a watchwordi1io his corps who have follswed him to victory on somany fields. Let the officers and soldiers emulate his invincible determination to do every thing in the defence: of:our:beloved country.

Roserr, E. Lee.

General.