Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1863-10-19
Gems. Bragg, Polk and Hindman.

to suspend Lieut.. Gen. Polk and General
Hindman from their commands. \ cor
respondent of the Atlanta Confederacy
gives the following account:
Some things seem to be coming to light
in regard to the battle of Chickamauga.
A member OF Gen. Bragg's staff while at
these headquarters a short time since, sta
nd that Gen. Polk is responsible for the
present position Of Rosecrans' army;
that if the orders given to Gen. Polk had
been obeyed at the proper time, Rose
Grams army would have been cut to pie
ordered perempterily by Gen. Bragg to
renew the fight at dawn of day, Sunday
morning, the Goth, and that at 10 o'clock
Sunday morning the attack has not been
made ; that de (this staff officer) was
sent by Gen. Bragg to Gen. Polk to show
why the attack had not been made. He
found Gen. Polk on this side (south side)
of Chickamauga, reading a newspaper
His answer was he could not tell why
the attack had not been made-that he
had issued the necessary orders the over
night, that he was very anxious the at
tack should be made, and that he would
go directly himself, and see about it. |
understand that Gen. Polk and staff have
been ordered to Atlanta.
This same staff officer informed US that
before the fight of Chickamauga, at Nc
IGNORES cove, Gen. Hindman with about
1900 effective musketS, was ordered to !
attack a body of the enemy, which if he
had done as ordered, he would have cap
tured Thomas corps, numbering $4,000
men. Hindman. by moving two miles,,
would nave cut off Thomas only avenue
OF escape, for he was otherwise surroun.
ded.
The Augusta Chronicle and Sentinel
furnishes the following solution Of the
diff
We have heard various animadversiors
upon the conduct of commander Bragg for
sospending Gen. Polk and sundry reasons
have been assigned why he has found it
necessary to pursue such a course with
one sohigh in position. A very current
rumor has it that Gen. Polk was ordered
to renew the attack on the enemy at 5
o'clock of the Sunday of the battle, and
that he did not make the assault until
at er 9 o'clock. In consequence of his
delay other orders which were to be ex-
ecuted after Gen. Folks assault had
commenced could not be executed. The
consequence was, that night overlook the
armies before the rout of the enemy could
be effected. The delay in the morning
gave him ample time to put everything
in preparation to receive the assault,
whilst it also postponed the victory to
such o late hour in the day that it was
impossible for our men to gather as much
fruit as would undoubtedly have been
secured had the@attack been made as di-
rected. This, we say, is the reason which
a very current report has assigned for the
extraordinary course of General Bragg.
If it be true that the order was given as
reported, and that Gen. Polk delayed the
execution "because of a difference OF
opinion" as to the prppriety Of the pre-
cedure, we presume that the country as
ii we'll as the army will almost unanimously
sustain Gen. Bragg in his course. In
, deed they must honor the officer who
. requires every subordinate, of whatever
= grade, to recognize the authority Of the
supreme head. Without order, an army
is but a rabble; and order means obedi-
OtOC " VIC duCLOiiIy "LlSl1 uoo GuC IASu1
4 to direct, If Gen. Bragg gave such ar
A order to Gen. Polk as reported, there was
n by military law, but one right course
s possible for the latter and that was, ex
q e~cutien. If the or,ler was Judged unwise
: still lin the absence of discretionary pow
n ers) it must be obeyed, and upon tn
General issuing the order, must fall tn
, responsibility for any disaster whic'
might ensue.
~ We shall rejoice if the Court of Inq vi
4 ny is able to relieve all parties of tn
- embarrassment which exists.
- Every one has confidence in the cour
;, age, the skill as a commander and hi
q. devotion to the Southern cause of Gen
kPo.k, and we confidently believe that
viii. be made to appear before the cour
:. of inquiry thst for good reasons it wa
impossible for him to execute the orde
IS OF his superior but at the same TIN
Gen. Folks most partial frienls mi'
. approve Gen. Bragg's course, until tn
- reason is set forth and approved by tt
n War Department ana the President :.
S Officers of high and low degree, as ",
ne as privates, must be held to a strict a
be couutabilily for no. performance of dut
at or there will be no efficiency in u arm