The Nashville daily union. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1862-1866, 1863-01-29
a Criticism Upon General Bragg.

From the Chattanooga Rebel, jan. s.
Criticism upon the late battle should
watch itself closely, lest il descend into
personal abuse. Gen Bragg, it must be
owned, is not popular He is unfortunate
in haUiag alienatel, through some cause
unknown to us, many Of his s,tbordinateS,
uhilst the rank anil file of his army entertain
neither confidence nor affection for him. Es-
pecially is he an object of ill will with
the newspapers. Under these circum-
stances his position was altogether en-
barrassing. If he fell back without a
fight, he was sure of being assaulted by
the malignant; if no fought and lost, he
ran an equally certain chance of bring
ing down a weight of responsibility upon
himself; if he turned to right or left,
front or rear, he was hemmcd in by OBJ
stacles which none but the most rSsoluts
are able to Observation-Disclosures which attack
as well as oppose the rsrest of all human
virtucs-moral courage, decision Of char
acter, and disregard of public opinion.
Unluckily, these things inilasnced
General Bragg moro than they would
have influenced Andrew Jackson. His
earlier kilograms were Aasty dHd inoolsid
crate. They conveyed ne wrong suppression.
He was too eager to let the oSuHtry know
that he had gained q smashing viStSry.
Thus, the Richmond papers, for example
are full of an imaginary triumph, the
rout Of ROsecrans, and aAhihilAtion Of
his whole force, The reaction will DO
great. when these papers aAd their read
ers learn that we have been obliged our
selves to retire. Their sudden burst Of
Joy will be converted into an equally an
reasonable clamor, and between the tive
stools, General Bragg will flAa no resting
place or seat Of defence. Already the
press has opened FIRE upon him, and il
will be a miracle il he escape maAy SLAM
dors among the multiplied criticisms and
condemnation,
We share none Of this feeling. We
shall pursue toward General Bragg eur
by.gone course. We have ne harsh
words to utter. Besides eur opinion
differs materially from that verdict
which would yield him no credit for his
campaign.
lie deserves much credit His energy
and admirable talent fer organization
placed our army in healthy condition
of discipline. His industry has cellest-
| cd for its subsistence, supplies fer large
extent. In word, his ability as a de-
partmental and administrative Officer has
been fully tested and provSn. His great
misfortune lies in two misunderstanding
affection Of his troops and his sAgacity
as a field marshal. With an intellect
which is conceded 10 he once OF power, Of
culture, and Of expesience, Gen. Bragg
has sufficiently proven himself wanting
in the sterling requisites which have
made the great captains Of Christendom
what they were. His is not Napsle-
onic genius and it is worse than idle for
his friends, however devoted their attach
ment, to endeavor to deceive themselves
or the country,
There seems to be from this distance
two errors which Gen. Bragg will be
called on to explain in connection with
the battle in Rutherford county.
The first is, why did he allow RoSesrans
to intrench his left and centre in an inn
pregnable position within three miles Of
our line;
And the second, why he waited
| throughout Thursday and half Of Friday
before he repeated his attack.
If retreat were designed, why not
have made it after the battle Of Wednes.
day? If not, why wait for tho enemy
to reorganizie before again assailing him ?
Pertinent queries these, and they may
be susceptible of easy answers. II looks
to us that if General Bragg had dubbed
his forces and made rapid dash on
Thursday morning, instead Of Friday
afternoon, he might have driven Rose
Grams across Stewards Greek, and thence
on Nashville before he had time to regain.
Failing to do this, tho fight of Friday
afternoon was incobsiderate, because ac-
counts agree that il was not necessary
10 protect or cOnsummate a retrogade.
The victory Of Wednesday was a great
one, SO far as il went; why spoil il by a
second battle, lift was not intended TO be
an earnest effort TO dislodgs the enemy,
and if it was so intended, why wait a
day aud half TO make it?