June 3, 1862 (Tuesday): 30 Miles South of Corinth

General P. G. T. Beauregard

THIRTY MILES SOUTH OF CORINTH, MISS., On Mobile and Ohio Railroad, June 3, 1862.
General S. COOPER:
    We evacuated Corinth successfully on 30th ultimo; a complete surprise to the enemy. Rear guard arrived here unmolested last night. We brought away all our heavy guns, tents,&c., but had to burn a few trains, cut off by gross neglect in getting to a bridge.


G. T. BEAUREGARD.

Official Records, Series I., Vol. 10, Part 1, Page 762.

Beauregard here informs General Cooper in Richmond of his abandonment of Corinth.  It is an indication of how badly things had gone thus far for the Confederates in the west that it was actually considered something of a triumph for an army to retreat on it's own power, as opposed to surrendering en masse.  Corinth was a strategically significant rail junction and its loss was keenly felt.  But Beauregard's thinking that drawing the Union forces deeper into the interior would stretch their supply lines and make them more vulnerable when, and if, he could strike a blow was sound.  It was also, at this point, the only alternative available.