Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1862-1865, 1863-11-30
cgHcOYsTIFUTION-sTATE RIGHTs'
RICHMOND WHIG.
mONDA I MORNINGsNOv. so, 1888.
!. Chattanooga and our ARMY.

The meagre details tlst reach from General Bragg
in no degree lessen the magnitude assigned to his dis
aster by public opinion on the reception Of the hcst
news OF the REVERSE The loss OF Ave thousand prison
ers is painful Addsndum the loss Of the field Other
particulars furnished compel to think that the deAt
was little short Of rout and it is probably due to the
failure Of the enemy to pursue that i: lAeks any feature
of that most deporAbls calamity that can bsfAl an
army Il is far from pleasant to have to confess thai
he argss: army We have owes is safety to the want Of
enterprise in the enemy but in this case We may do SC
without dspnAgng the courage that has been displayed
on TOO many 6ells to be doubted. more fatal want
than want of eourAge-WSnt Of confidence in their com
mandeF-unnerVed and pArGl yEsd that army. An army
Of towards we'll disciplined and trusting Ia their lea der
may fight veil; hut An army Of brave men, feeling that
they are Ia the hands Of Incompetent commander
gill fight badly This truth has long HinsS formed is
self into thu AdsgS that IAN army Of asses led by hcr
% better than ar army Of lions led by ass"
But the safety of the remnant Of BrAgg's Srmy ID
only temporary; unless the command ia Immediately
changed and reinfOcemen's are sent to its relief The
losst avoidab!e delay in the hrs: Of these steps s
criminal triHng with interests important were
ever committed to the keeping Of mortal man. If We
are not msled by information that no one would be
apt TO discrsd t. the army under Gen. Bragg, dis
coutented almost to Hu.iny before the late disaster
cannot be kept together under hs leadership Il is
matter about which the Commander-in-C Chief cannot
nov be considered having any discretion. Oircum-
stances more imperative even than the voice Of the
people demand oh,nge. Fortunately, the service az
;ordi more than one man situated At present to
be available Tor this duty, whose trAnsfer the Couatry
and the army will bail with delight lis unnecessary
to name them. We think it necessary only 20 remark
that the value of any effort to retrieve the calamity
that has resulted from Gsn. BAggs inoOmpssency will
depend mainly upon the prOmptnsss with which it ID
made.
The PC P'isty Of reinforcing the army the Chick
amauga does not need diSctssi ng-ths best mode Of
doing so s hardly As su6ec: for the neWspapeu.-
There are various bodies of troops that It is obvious
can be made Of more use nov by being consolidated
with that army ttGa in their Pressut aelds of service
Concentration affords the reAdieSt and SureSt relief
Ii instantly and vigorously set about and COM
uGrder be placed a. the head of the cOmbLsd forces
may only retrieve the losses have sus Aiaed, but
ys; upon the foe vengeance that will be remembered
Shils the world stands.
P. Slater information raises doubt As to the &C.
uracy Of the statement ha: the enemy are not pursu-
ing. Graz; il said to be following up his victory with
energy despite the loss Of twenty thou
sand saHard which, the reader will perceive
comes from Atlanta the headquarters Of the Press As
ISOLATION.