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Show GENERAL BEAUR5CARD. HIS SYMPATHIES WITH THE TUiiKo ' UUW AND WHAT HE WOULD DO If HE Win IN COMMAND. The following letter will be of interest in-terest to those who are studying the Russian. Turkish war. In lb'O'J the i sovereign prince of Roumania , tendered to General Beauregard, then in Paris, the command nt his armies. I He offered the rank of F e d Marshal, with a hbial omtit. Mini $100,000 a year pay. Gem-ral U'-aunyard was ; to be at liberty to select bis own BtsrJ i and cerUiu other officers, and the j i army was to be kept at 100 000 men. Col. Duncan would prohably bare been his chief ol stall. General Beauregard believing that it was his duty to remain and Bhare tbefaieof those whose fortunes he had shared for lour yuars ol war, and that ha might bo serviceable to bis own friends and fellow confederals, declined the Drouosals. In view of the position which, but for his declination. decli-nation. General Beauregard might now occupy aa one of the conspicuous figures of the great world's drama, liu teller will bo of particular interest. As armiei aluipe the des'mie of countries, and aa tnonarchial armies are often wielded according to the will of a popular commanding general, gen-eral, it is a great loss to the Turks that General Beauregard did not go to Roumania, as the action of that country might have been shaped for Turkey instead of for Russia. It is addressed by General Beauregard Beaure-gard to Col. Blauton Duncan: New Orleans, May 10, 1877. My Dear Colonel I would indeed in-deed have been in the inidet of it. Btil I miiBt say my aypatliies, if any, are with Turks, for they are the weaker party and defending thoir homes and firesides. As to ttie pretext for tliewar on the part of Russia (the protection of the Christians in Turkey), it reminds me of the complaint of the wolf drinking at the same spring with the lamb. As you remark, Turkey oners mag- ninceut hues of defencethe Danube, and the Balkan mountains. With two or three hundred thousand con- I federate troops I would guarantee to hold them against any number of Rueiiam. If I were in command there I would fortify those lines well, and with my ironclad gunboats 1 wnuld prevent the construction of any budges across the Danube. I would send General Forrest, with 20,000 or 30,000 cavalry, to destroy all the depots of supplies, railroads and bridges from the Danube to middle Russia, thence to some port of the Black sea, where I would transport hia command to some other favorable point, Bay in rear of the Russian, forces operating in Asia, Mouth of the Black sea. ForroBt would be provided with camels to transport his light field artillery, baggage, and light pontoon trains. He would have also a full supply uf carrier pigeons to keep me posted aa to his movementi. My fleet in the Black sea would keep it free of the euemy ships. I would destroy their supplies at Odessa and other ports on the Black sea. In other words, I would bring starvation to my assistance. How long do you think Russia could stand Buch a defensive de-fensive war? Moreover, I am confident confi-dent that the other powers of Europe will never allow Russia to get any nearer to Constantinople than the Balkan mountains, if eveu she gets there. Votla mon pi in de campnync. But I am a man o'- peace, n w that Louisville is free. I remain your friend, G. T. Beauregard Col. Blanton Duncan, Louisville, Ky. |