Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1863-12-08
crow GENERAL BRAGa's ARMY.


The news Which was received from {
the West during the nrst part OF ias'
week wis of the most sombre ana als, 9
couraoiny character, as it 1epresenteu S
tbe army of Gen. Bragg not only de1 sss {
ID cd Init ! on ted, and the victorious enc !;
~ NV enerpei ically and successfully, pur-
sl,;,g I; was feared that Bragg,s at,
nv Was SO shattered and demoraiizesou
that it would be impossible Tor II 10
make stand which would checA ,lns
onward march of the enemy nlsiieu
with victory. This news was calculated
TO depress The spirits OF our people, bnt
the news received since has been OF |
loss sombre and more cheering charac- |
ter Tn the fight on Lookout Noun ain
and at Missionary Ridge on the 94th
and 25th, whilst We had to fall back IN
disorder, and lose great many guas
and leave our badly wounded and many
prisoners in the hands of the enemy, IN
eonseanence of their overwhelming nlsfl-
hers. vet We inflicted SO much more loss
in killed and wounded upon them thah
we suffered that it was Pyrrhus victory
60 the enemy. There can be brt little doubt
from all the evidence that the enemy 8,
loss In killed and wounded was three
times is great as ours. The truth is
that both armies acre partially WHIP
ped. The enemy's left was badly whip
ped, our left was overcome and gave
way. The yielding of our left necessl-
tated retrsat. and this gave the enemy
the claim to victory. 1t is sasd that be-
fore night, in the struggle at Missionary
Ridge, in the front of Gen'l. Hardee's
command on our right, there lay 5000
dead bodies of the enemy. The enemy
after our uithdrawal from Missionary
Ridge, pursued our forces with great
confidence ill they rushed into the am
buscade pi epared for them by Gen
Oleburne on Friday, the 275h, near Ring
gol1, where they suffered a repulse ano
tho loss OF 800 men. After this they
took the back track at double quick
burning the bridges and tearing up the
railroad track and bridges to preven
pursuit. Gen. Bragg sent the follow
ing despatch to the War Department:
DALTON, DEC. I'd, 1853.
To Geu. s. Cooper.
The enemy has fallen back across the
Chattanooga, destroying everything il
their route, including the railroad track
and bridges. Their loss was very heavy
in their attack on our rear guard un-
der General Cleburne.
GSignedl BRAxToN BRAGG,
General.
Though 4hers has existed great disat
isfaction with Gen. Bragg for some
time, and though he was SO unfortunate
as to lose the battle,yet no one distrusts
his gallanrry or patriotism. In this very
battle his gallantry was very conspieu
Gus. Whilst endeavoring to rally the
left wing ho rode up within one hun
dred and fifty yards of the enemy where
the balls were as thick as hail-stones in
a hail-stornl. |. IS within the power o.
man to deserue but not to command sue
cess. At the solicitation of Gen Bragg
the President has relieved him from
command, and Gen. Hafdee has nov
the temporary command of that army
Who will be appointed to the perma
nent command is not known a. yet
Gen. Hardee is a good tactician, and
so far has been very fortunate. He has
never been repulsed. We hope his
good luck may never desert him.