Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1862-1865, 1863-10-26
fR6a FaE AMY or TESNEssKE.
SPECIAL cOaanssoxOrNcs or TEE WING.

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relief lis fact patent TO all who are familiar with
army sentiment that we are not where We ought 70 DC
that instead Of being victorious body OF veterans
pursuing routed enemy across our country Tepossess
ing ourselves of captured territory gathering recruits
In Kentucky and Tennessee and releasing troops TO
operate in Mississippi Alabama and Virginia, while
others are pushing on to Fort Pillow, Memphis aud
nerbaps 10 Cincinnati tseh-We are quietly resting on
our arms within ten miles OF hard won field after the
most decisive battle of the war; while our then dsoom
fitted enemy is only few hundred yards IN our 'front.'
reorganizng his command receiving renforoements and
prenarpR for fresh demonstrations upon the heart OF
the Oonlederacy.
lis this thought which chafes our troops renders
them dissatisfied with the condition OF Affairs and makes
welcome to their camp the chief to whose judgment
they now appeal
President Davis reached Chickamauga Friday eve
ming vas received by Gen. Bragg and an escort and
conducted to headquArters Yesterday the Generals Of
division assembled 70 pay their respects TO their Com
mander in Chief but before reaching his quarters found
tina. he was already engaged in reviewing the line
Riding on. they Joined his cortege and tho spectacle
presented was one of the most strihngy interesting
ever behed in the South Gathered around the Pres
S'~-. ~
our armies to victory and amid the smoke and clangor
of battle,
amid death shOts falling thick and fast"
have srodethe giants of the hour-the hero Generals
Of our country.
do not know that can mention the names Of all,
but as l recall the occasion, remember seeing by the
side of the small grey haired sharp featured man. who
in plain clothes and black tlouched hat led the cava-
cade the dgn6ed fern of Bragg then came the sturdy
locking Longstreet the facetious d. II. Hill, Lieutenant
Generals; then the Major Generals stately Breckin-
ridge, rough and ready Buckner, impetuous jenkins,
Cuow commanding Hoods divson,) dAshing Cheatham,
always ready for fIolic or a fight; W. Il. T. Walker,
McIaws, Cleburne, Stuart Preston; then several Br
gadisrs-Gist, MackA, jackson and Others observe,
also. Colonies Chestnut and Johnson Of the personal
staff of the President Preston, the Kentucky orator,
and Gen. Pemberton after all Of whom follow line Of
coufiers and horsemen OF lesser grades.
The review commenced on the extreme right and eI-
tended to the left but owing 10 the fact that we are
in battle array il Of rather an informal character
the troops being hastily gathered from their camp fires
as the cOrsge approached and formed in line behind the
works The President aud his brilliant staff then rode
by the bands played the banners dropped, the official
head was barred, and the affair was over. In Braggs
army the cheering long and loud but as His Excel
leIcy neared the left prudence compelled the men to
restrain their enthusiasm since the proximity Of the
Federal lines might have revealed to them the cause Of
the commotitn and drawn their FIRE. The feeling how
ever was none the less sincere because manifested in
silence.
Reaching the base OF Lookout Mountain, the party
IF n
battery and might have been sheed with the most unOr
tunate results but the enemy muzzed their dogs of war
for the moment and the danger past On the noun
tain, His Excelency spent some time in inspecting the
Yankee position and If be has any poetry in his soul
came down with picture written on his heart, whose
arabesque beauty is enough to supply man with ad-
miration for the remainder Of his life.
The presence OF Gen. Psmberon on the occasion, at
tending him as lie had done from Atlanta has excited
comment throughout the army, and 1t lie shrewdy sur
missed by that he will he 2roTsred the position
Gated by Leut.-General Polk. l am free to say that
such appointment would be unpopular, and perhaps
tend to results at al favorable to the beat interests Of
the country. l am not of those, however, who
would Join in the popular hue and cry after any unor
tunate officer until his merits dement's have been
established by a Court OF Inquiry. Public opinion In
revolution like our own, should be respected by our
leaders, but never foresta the Judgment of those who,
moving with the undercurrent possess a knowledge Of
the secret causes affecting events unknown to the body
polite For similar reason GEN Bragg, against whom
the shafts of the press aimed ought not to be
hastily weighed in the balance. The negative results
of his victory, in checkmaapg the advance OF the
enemy into the middle of the COnfederaOy, and in
o,ka. -,
portaut points, cannot be too much appreciated;
and because it was his misfortune not 10 penetrate
toe designs of the Federal Commander, to be igno-
rant of the disastrous nature Of his defeat and 70
have failed TO push army onward and bGndly, We
have right justice to lay at his door alone the CEN
sure which attends the present condition Of aairs As
General Bragg has showa his ability on every held,
AID under circumstances which has subjected that ab-
y TO the tess-when, for instance be had but
handful of contend AGAINST the legions OF the
Oyand it Is strange feature OF our struggle that
after grea achievement public opinion Is now seeking
TO immediate him upon it's mercless altar for not doing
waat perhaps the President himself with all his foresight
aad Judgment would have failed to accomplish had he
been here in person. There facts connected with the
history of the late battle that cannot prudenty be given
to the world at this time; but when they shown,
believe il will be found that General Bragg has done
his duty his whole duty, and nothing but mis- duty.
give you single incident The orders OF Gen. Bragg
were t the attack on Sunday morning on one portion
of our lines should commence Ut daylight. The attack
was delayed until O'Clock. That interval, it is be-
leved, held the turning point of battle, and had it
been filed up according to orders, the whole Yankee
army would nov have been demoralized and helpless
mass of men. have at present no further comments
to make on the subject.
OflOesl affairs there Is little to record. The enemy
continue to shell Look Out Mountain whenever their
suspicion are excited by movements in that vicinity,
but thus far we have maintained dgnl6ed silence.
For the last three or four days important exped.
ton in the of Chattanooga, only seven or eight