New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1863-10-06
IMAGES "vICTORY.D

| BRAGC'3 "VICTORY.0
The Daily Ners--which is in thorough sym.
pathy with the Rebels and is justly patronized
by them as their Northern organ-has long
bulletin of Richmond News" dated "Sept.
Doth, 1862" and doubtless made up in Balti-
more from direct advices from Richmond. 1t
speaks of the Union armies as "the enemy"
and in every way indicates the thorough identi-
fication of its author with the Rebels and their
cause. With regard to the late battles near
Chattanooga, it says 1--WE quote every word):
Bragg has fought bate-and Bragg has reported
to the Department that he gained great victory But
Gen Bragg does not mention what his losses were al
though kn0p that according to accounts OF the san
culinary conflict, the battles near Chattanooga may DC
called drawn Gghtsboth opponents terribly used up.
To great extent Gen Bragg has lost the confidence OF
the people from the fact that he has 80 often decesu
them by false dispatches crediting himself with VIC
tories when he actually suffered most disastrous dc
fcat-for instance at Shiloh. But the public Is cred
ulous. ard any rumor OF victory sets them ann I
and no matter who is the leader be Is at exalted
The list Of Killed. rounded and missing nH not JaH
short Of 30 900 Among the latter is Brig Gen Adams
Of Texas who was reported badly wounded and in the
hands of the enemy. Thirteen Generals here been PIT
de- combat in The asf engagement and haze been ee
killed ROUNDED. or captured"
The 10000 killed, wounded, and miss
ing" here is of course the RtJd loss alone-the
writer is not speaking or thinking of our loss
Gen. Bragg, it will be noted, speaks of his
losses as very heavy, but steers very clear oil
figures. That he lost more than doubethe gen.
cral officers that we did was already known, and
it low appears that his general losses were pro-
portionate. And this is just why he has so
stubbornly refused to let our men go within his
lines to identify and remove the dead or to
succor the furnishing wounded. lie burst not
Il let us see the terrible slaughter be had brayed,
the fearful losses he had incurred, by mass
| ing his men in dense columns and rushing them
| in Overwhelming numbers on our thin lines,
breaking through at points, but leaving half his
forces strcwn along the bloody track of their
charge.
We do not think Bragg quite fairly charged
with sending 4" false dispatches" His account
of the Stone River or Murfreesboro fight was
ingenious and unfair, but not absolutely false
He admitted tina, he was obliged at last TO
retreat and abandon his severely wounded as
well as the battlefield, but claimed that he in
| licted on our army quite as much damage as he
received That was not far from the truth.
And now he claims a victory, because he holds
the battle field and has taken several cannon
and two or three thousand Of oar desperately
wounded Any Of our Generals would have
claimed victory under like circumstances. fc,
his losses ore doubtless far the heavier, because
our men fought mainly on the de.enaye-oi
course. under cover OF rude breas,-woiAs, or
woods or from elevated positions, which
gave our artillery grca, advantages IN ex-
ecu,ion. European stFategis,s appear 70
be generally agreed that the assault, In
column-which was Napoleon hyonte
and generally successful resort OF the
decisive moment--has been rendered too
hazardous aud costly by the Increased range
and precision Of the rife muske, 81 our day
tia, i, now costs too much 10 carry positions
IN this way TO Justify resort to IT save IN rare
omergoncics-that what was very properly
ordered and undertaken when The practical
range Of musko,ry was hardly 300 yards and
that Of field artillery hardly more than loo,
Is lut NAIIAAkeNl't flllA' si'ii baAAA4'Ag w
come effective for more than mile, and vol
leys of muske,ry DO execution q, nearly hall
that distance But The Rebel chief. seem 20
regard men as their cheapcs, aud most abund-
ant material. aud use them accordingly. A.
their Richmond organ clearly lntma,cd, Brage's
victory would not pay expenses unless II
resulted in the capture Of Chattanooga
with good part Of Rosocranss army.
But Thomas'S subsequent fight Oh the len pre-
vented this, and the battle Of the 2OtA actually
closed with tho Rebels recoilng In disorder
from his stubborn front, with his guns thunder
! ing on their rear. If regard were had only 10
it, close, we might fairly claim The honors Of
that bloody day; but the breaking OF our center
compelled Thomas 10 fall back dunng the night
leaving the hard-contosted field wholly IN the
fhands of the Rebels; 80 that, though the gen.
eral result was really adverse u their waning
hopes, they have "a right to claim the triumph
which their overwhelming numbers rendered
almost inevitable.