Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1863-02-19
The Bragg and Breckinridge Diffl'
guilty.
.[From lhe NashvllIe union, 7lh.l

. rom the Noshvlnc Union, ftnl
The public have hitherto had vague in
tima.ioDs that the relations between Gems.
Bragg aud Breckingridge and the Kentucky
troops have for some time past been OF q
nature by no means amicable, and not long
before the defeat Of Bragg at Stones River,
| their mutual hatred broke out in quarrel.
From the day when Bragg began to re-
treat from Kentucky, Breckenridge AND the
few in number and not very jealous, in
spite Of all that has been said to the con.
trary-distrusted Bragg and felt gloomy.
Bragg saw much, aud his spies told hun
more, bringing him each day petulaDt and
sarcastic remarks, dropped unguardedly in
conversation, by disaifected soldiers aud of.
tcers. Breckenridge and Bragg understood
each other perfectly, aud they became dead
ly foes. Not long before the battle of Stone s
River, private in Breckinridge's division
was court. martialed for trivial offense,
and as he was kentuckian Bragg order
ed him TO be shot rs a warning to all SOL
diers from that State. Kentucky blood was
rather too feverisb, he said, for the health
Of the army, and he thought little blood
letting would bring the corn. crackers to their
senses
Breckinridge hastened to Bragg's head
quarters, as soon as he heard of the unfor.
tunate soldiers doom, and begged that his
llie IN ght be spared. The soldier had of.
Tended, 1t was true, but still his oifense was
trivial-iar too trivial to bo expiated by a
terrible death. Bragg replied that there
had been too much grumbling among the
Kentucky troops, and he intended to stop
It, II he had to shoot every man of them.
Breckenridge replied that Kcntuckians we're
not used to be treated like slaves. Bragg
| retorted that they might get used to that
or any other treatment he saw fit to give
them, as sooL as they pleased For his part
he would little rather take Kentuckian
Tor warning than anybody else. Breckin.
ridge said that the Kentuckians were ready
to spill their last drop OF blood to unite
their State with the South. Bragg retorted
that they had queer way of showing it, ii
they felt that way. But d-n Kentucky.
He was fighting not for her, but for the Con-
federacy not for what he wanted, but for
what he could get. Breckenridge then ask
ed if no leniency could be extended to the
unfortunate soldier OF his division who was
condemned to die? Bragg sharply answer
ed, no. Breckinridge then said the execu.
ton would be military murder, whereupon
Bragg Immediately ordered him to be placed
under arrest. The news Of the arrest flew
like wild fire throughout the Kentucky
camps, and created storm of excitement
and Indignation. Company alter company
rushed out and stacked their arms, refusing
to obey any ordcrs until their General wa:
relsased. Revolt and secession wero the
watchwords OF the Kentucky troops at that
time. A most alarming condition of affair:
existed in the rebel army, and Bragg, not
daring to proceed any further, telegrnphed
to JEFF. Davis to come and settle the broil
Davis came and Breckenridge was released
but the soldier was shot. The difficulty wa,
still not settled, and Bragg, in solemn silence
waited for chance to revenge himself Al
urtreesboro', after he had fully deteruin
ed to retreat, he ordered Breckinridge, on
Saturday night, with devilish refinement o
malice, to make an attack on our lines, which
he must have known would be unsuccessful
Breck inridge and his Kentucky troop
obsyed the order and were repulsed with
shocking loss. They were literally cut t.
pieces. The only thing which Bragg re
, gretted was that Breckinridge was not lef
on the field AS poor Hanson was, and tha,
his division was not exterminated. He haC
exposed them to the Federal batteries will
the same purpose tnat King David EXPOSED
Urlah to the armies of the Phllistines, ant
was ready to ease the pain of Conteder
ate rcpulse with the thought til at the vic
tins were on ly kentuckiaDs.