Weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1858-1865, 1862-10-29
The Campaign in the West.


We have placed in another column the comments
OF the Richmond press upon the character and re-
suits Of the campaign in the West. During its
progress we have forborne the expression of an
opinion, hoping that the confidence reposed by the
press and the country generally, in the of
Gen Bragg, might be more than realized.
We confess that the results, so far as his move.
ments are concerned, have not disappointed u.s.
From the day that 1t was announced that Gen.
Beauregard had been relieved of the command in
the West on account Of i'll health, we have had our
misgivings; and those msgivings gave way to fear
full anticipations, when saw that Beauregard was
not re-instated upon his recovery.
Every man worth any thing has his peculiar fit
ness for certain positions. Few men, and especially
few Generals, are well fitted for any and all posi-
tions And what is a little remarkable in this
country the universal mind of the masses discovers
this especial fitness of General for particular de-
partments of the public service much sooner than
our rulers. The history of the nation proves this.
Gen. Beauregard, at very early period, impress
ed the public mind as by intuition, that he pos
sessed greater versatility Of talent, as military
man, than any of our Generals. Whether employ
ed in projecting defences for eur seaports planning
battle or campaign, in camp or in the field, he
is the right man in the right place. Gen. Lee, with
larger experience and unquestioned eminent ability
as military man, possesses this quality, yet
there is room to doubt whether in all respects, he
is Beauregard's equal.
The same public judgment has designated "Stone-
wall" jackson as the dashng, impetuous and sue
cessful leader of his own corps, to intercept, way
lay and destroy the enemy, and defeat his combna-
tons. And with the same correct precision, this
judgment has long settled down upon Sterling Price
as the man to rally our hardy western boys beyond
the Mississippi, and to free Missouri, Arkansas and
Texas.
Gen. Bragg though perhaps too rigid, is a sPlen-
did discplinarian, capital engineer and defender
of Notifications. His defence of Pensacola was emf
nently satisfactory to the country. He was the
man to have been placed in command at New Or.
leans as soon as the war broke out That great,
vital interest of the South would have been safe in
his hands. He does not grasp quickly the exigen-
cies of heavy. campaign, or the rapid strategic
movements Of an enemy, but whatever comes with
in the scope of his eye he does well and ably This
is the public judgment Of Gen. Bragg, and it is
doubtless correct.
HIS plans for his recent campaign were marred
by the tardness of his movements. He might have
crushed Buell. between Chattanooga and Nashville,
but that was not in his plan. Had he ordered Kirby
Smith to fall back upon Cumberland Gap, after he
disposed Of. Nelson, then to have used up Morgan
at the Gap and fastened to his assistance, he might
have destroyed Buell., re-captured Nashville, and
found Kentucky opened to him. Yet the advan-
tage of Kirby Smiths successes was neutralized as
much or more by the unfortunate and foolish idea
of invading Ohio, gotten up by the panic presses,
as by tn. tardi9ess of Bragg. As matters now
stand his only safety is in retreat which he is do
ing, having large train of stores accumulated in
Kentucky to guard and provide for.