But on actual strategy the man's imagination was inex- haustible. To appreciate its golden and beneficent luxuri- ance I must summarize briefly the lines it followed. To be- gin with, in Mexico, a mere captain, he is said to have devised the plan that took the city. Before Bull Run he was urgent with schemes for himself and Johnston, which Lee rejected. Then he made a plan for the battle, which Johnston rejected. Perhaps I cannot better illustrate the sparkling eagerness with which these schemes were conceived than by quoting part of a letter written to Johnston shortly before the battle. Ardor bubbles out of the man like champagne. "We will probably have, in a few days, about forty thousand men to operate with. This force would enable us to destroy the forces of Gen- erals Scott and McDowell in my front. Then we would go back with as many men as necessary to attack and disperse General Patterson's army, before he could know positively what had become of you. We could then pro- ceed to General McClellan's theatre of war and treat him likewise, after which we could pass over into Maryland to operate in rear of Washington. I think this whole campaign could be completed brilliantly in from fifteen to twenty-five days. Oh, that we had but one good head to conduct all our operations ! " ^^ Now, whose head do you think he meant ?
Early in 1862 Beauregard was sent West. Immedi- ately he proposed an elaborate design to Albert Sidney Johnston. Rejected again. All the sojourn in the West
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