The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1846-01-14

itury exception among the officers in Texas" who ii
disposed 10 complain on account of the hsrdships o
active service in the field These and similar rease-
tons are INDUCED in, calculated 10 wound the pride
and lacerae the sensbllues of one Of the most in
teigen active, and promising young officers in the
service.
In the controversy which has grown I'D in the
army in regard TO the inyidous and unjust distnc-
tons that the law has erected between officers Of the
staff and the line, it has been the lot Of Lieut. Bragg
to take an active, and perhaps, considering his
YOUTH too conspicuous part. In the progress Of
this controversy, Lieut.. Bragg has discussed, and de-
nounced with ability and hrmness, many gross
abuses that have long obtained in the service; and
10 not surprising that in doing so, he has disturbed
the repose Of certain truly "far-weaiher soldiers
who lily brook any exposure Of the great inequsl-
ties Of labor and emolument that exist under the
present system. For having done this, Lieut.
Bragg will not be soon forgiven by the city soldiers
who lounge about the saloons of the capital-who
receive nearly double the pay of officers Of the line
ioho do the p0rk Of the army and who would have il
believed, when their delinquencies are brought 10
light that the administration is attacked and ought
be defended The writer IL satisfied that from
some such quarter the suggestions which prompted
the comments Of the Union emansled.
Let us whether facts warrant the insinualions
that have been made Lieut. Bragg graduated al
West Point in 1887, and, though the youngest
Diet Of his class, he graduated with high distinction
He was immediately ordered to Florida, aud served
the until the cessation Of hostties-exposed To
all the dangers Of Indian warfare, and the still
dangerous Influences Of that deadly climate. Had he
been "fair-weather soldier" DO would have fol-
lowed the example Of most Of bis class, aud with
drawn from so disgusting and inglorious a service
by rcsgning his commission. He felt however,
that he had been educated and fostered by his
try and correct principle, as well as the i'm
pulses OF youthful patriotism, prompted him Ia
90 cheerfuly and with alacrty to the field. Since
the termination Of the Florida war, Lieuten
ant Bragg has been stationed al Fort Moul-
tre, near Charleston. Last summer, when appre-
tensions arose Of difficulties with Mexico, he was
among the FIRST and was, indeed, the only officer Of
his regiment, who was ordered TO the frontiers of
Texas. The writer Of this present when that
order, which II was understood had been issued un
der instructions from distinguished member Of the
cabinet, then temporarily dscharging the duties Of
Secretary OF War, was received. lie well remem-
bers the pride and elevation Of feeling evinced by
Lieut. Bragg on its announcement, and his warm eA
pressons Of gratitude the honorable secretary, IL
whom he believed himself indebted for the compI.
ment Of an independent command in the srduous
pioneer service Of Texas.
1t is true that Lieutenant Bragg afterwards learn
ed that the major-general of the army, in whose alb
sence the order had been given, complained that he
had been selected for this service, hut the order had
been given--it remained unrevoked-and under It
the youthful soldier, filed with the noble ambition
of distinction and eager and an xious TO meet the
expected foe, proceeded with the gallant Taylor and
his handful of soldiers TO the wids Of Texas And
this is the brave, and generous, and devoted young
officer who, at the bidding of csrtaia carpet knight
about the capital is held the country as "far
weather soldier" and as "the only one Of the many
officers in Texas who is disposed TO complain
about the hardships and discomfortS of service in
the field
As To the New Orleans letter being an attack
on the administration, the idea is preposterous
If the staff officers about Washington are To
be considered part and parcel of" the admin
istration, all that the writer has to say is, tina
the administration is not quite democratic a.
some people seem to suppose. Had the editor
the Union been apprised Of the political predilec
tons and associations of Lieut.. Bragg, he would
never have suspected him of disposition to attack
the administration ! For his political education
Lieut.. B. is indebted to Mr.. Richie himself Tn.
Richmond Enquirer was the first paper he eveI
read; and from its columns he imbibed his political
preferences, and, in great degree, his political
principles. But enough of this. Lieut.. Bragg ia 10
politician. He consults the proprieties of his posi-
tion and leaves politics to others If certain high
dgnitaries in the service would initiate his prudent
and proper example, the army and the country
would be gamers.
1t has seemed to the writer that sheer Justice re.
quired his hands the foregoing vindcation of 1t
Bragg who is absent from the country, from the
PERSONS contained in the article of the Union, TO
which he has alluded. u.