The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1863-05-26
GEMS. BRAGG AND BRECKENRIDGE.

! GEMS. BRAGG AND BRECKENRIDGE.
| 1t is matter of sincere regret that there
| should be any jealousies engeEdered between
| those who are appointed to lead the arlnie:
OF the South il her struggle for indie pc ndenc 9
In his official report of the battle of Murfrees
boro, and the engagements Immediately sub
sequent, Gen. Bragg reflected upon Gen
Breckinridge and the gallant division unde,
his command. In letter to Adjutant- Genera
Cooper, which we publish below, Gen. Breck
inritgs gives an emphatic and explicit contra
diction to material statements contained in
Gen. BTagg's report and full and confiden,
denial of the justice of the csnsure cast upon
him and his troops:
HEADQRs BRECKiNRIDGE Dy'N.)
Tullahoma, March 81, 1863.
To 5. Cooper, Adjutant aud Inspector G en-.
erai, Richmond, Va
Sir-TwO days ago / read General Braxtou
Bragg's Official report of the battles of Stone
river before Murfress5oro', and after proper
time for reflection tbiuk it my duty to send
you this communication.
l cannot conceal from myself the fact that
go much of tue report as refers to my com.
mand Except some general compliments to the
courage of a portion of my troops on Wedne.
day, the 3lst December) il in lone and spirit
thorough disparagement of both. This tone
runs through all ite parts and lies like q broad
foundation underneath the whole. At the
same time the narrative of events is made to
sustain the general spirit.
While the report of the commanding Gen
eral fails, as think, to do justice to the be-
havior of my division on Friday. tho I'd OF
January, yet its structures are chiefly Ieveled
at my own conduct as an officer during all the
operations. BY direct statement and by un.
mstakable inuendo, it is throughout u retec.
tion upon my capacity and conduct
Without referring to its contents in detail, |
have to cay in respectful terms, that neither its
material statements nor its equally material
inuendOes can be maintained by proof-that
its omission of important facts creditabls 70 nv
division and my aelf is as remarkable as many
Of its affirmative statemeDts-in a word, that
in spirit and substance it is erroneous and un-
just.
trust that nothing in the foregoing express
sions passes the limit of military prOpriety.
and that plaiDness of statement will be par,
doned to one who, even under the weight of
superior military csnsure, feels that both hs
aud his command have deserved well Of their
country.
Having met the commanding General re-
peatedly on the ield and on three c &C asions in
council during the progress of the operations,
without receiving from him the least indica
ton of dissatisfaction with my conduct, was
not prepared to see report, bearing a subse-
quent date containing representations at va.
rance with these significant facts. Nor was
my surprise lessened when | observed that it
was written after correspondence with his
CORDS and division commanders, II being one
of the latter in which he invokes their aid to
sustain him, and speaks Of them as officers
upon whom (he) have ever relied as upon
a foundation of rock.
The commanding General having written
and forwarded his report before receiving
those of his subordinate commanders could
have derived no assistance in its preparations
from those usual official aids to the Com.
mandsr in Chief, aud since his position On the
field prevented him from seeing many of the
movements, especially those of Friday, ths 2d
of January, it much concerns all affected by
his statements to know sOmsthing Of those
other, and to them unknown, sources of in
formation to which he has given the sanction
of his influence and rank as the head Of the
army.
l have felt that it would be improper in
paper Of this character to enter upon de-
tailed vindicatiOn yet i'll view of the fact
that the Casualties of war may at any time
render AN investigation impossible, l hope
that it has not been improper for me to place
on record this general protest against the in.
furious statements and inferences of the COM
manding General, particularly since, not an
ticparing his censures, l may not have been
suffi cienily minute in portions of my report
And in regard to the action of Friday, the
Cd Of January, upon which the commanding
General heaps 80 much criticism, have to say
" ish the utmost confidence that The failure of
my troops to hold the position which they car
lied ON that occasion was due to no fault Of
theirs or Of nine but TO the fact that we were
commanded to do AL impossible thing. My
force was about 4 500 men, of these, !, 200 he
roic spirits stretched upon that bloody field, in
an unequal stroggle against three divisions,
brigade, an overwhelming concentration Of ar
tilisry, attested our efforts to obey the order
have the honor to request that Court of
Inquiry be appointed to assemble at the ear
liest time consistent with the interest Of the
service, aud clothed with the anplest powers
Of investigation.
OF course do not desire the interests of the
service to be prejodiced ia the least degree by
any matter Of secondary Importance accord
ingly while an early Investigation would be
grateful 70 my feelings, eau cheerfully await
the time dsemed best by the proper authority.
With great respect,
Your obedient servant,
fSignsd) JoHN G. BREcKIKRIDGE,
Msi. Gen. Z. A. T.. y.