Weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1858-1865, 1863-10-21
Correspondence of the Richmond Dispatch.l
ATLANTA, Oct. 18th, 1893.

President Davis is now with the Army of Tennes-
see What is the object of his visit? Has he come
to mingle with his soldiers and encourage them by
his presence? Or has he come to compose the stres
of officers, and, if need be- to institute change in
the command Of the army?
shall not undertake to fix the responsibility for
the condition of things in the army now before
Chattanooga. Whether General Bragg possesses
the requisite qualities for command, or whether his
officers have withheld from him that cordial coope.
ration and support without which no commander,
however gifted, can hope for success questions
which may be reserved for future discussion.
This much, however, may be safely affirmed at
this time: Gen. Bragg has sufficient reason to desire
to be relieved from his present command, and that,
too even if he had been in the right and his o2po-
nents in the wrong upon all the points which have
been raised against him. He cannot hope to be as
useful to the country or to accomplish as much for
his own fame, in his present position as he might
reasonably expect to do in some other command.
He and large majority Of his Generals are MT in
accord and whether he is right and they are wrong,
or they are right and he is wrong the result is the
dissatisfaction on the part of both, disorgan
lzation in the army, and such want of unity and
CO operation as to make it impossible for either Com
mander in Chief his officers or his troops, to rem
der to the country as valuable service as they might
and would perform under more suspicious circum-
stances.
Should the President decide, therefore, to send
Gen. Bragg to some other field where he can be
more useful to the cause, and to call some other off,
Ger to his place, he probably will d. such pro-
ceeding would not necessarily imply the Of
the commander of the Army Of Tennessee, any more
than his refusal to make this change would involve
the condemnation of his subordinat Who the new
commander will be- should such change be deemed
advisable it is impossible yet to determine, but the
prevailing opinion is that it will be either Gen Lee
or Gen. Longstreet.
But the new commander, whoever he may be,
will not have a smooth path to tread. Rosencrans
is sllrewd and able officer he has already formi-
dable army, and heavy reinforcenents are marching
to his support from every available quarter. Indeed
no pains will be spared by the Federal Government
to maintain its armies at Chattanooga and Knoxville,
and eventually to overrun and occupy Georgia.
These preparations the part of the enemy call for
corresponding effort and resolution on our part If
renforcements are sent by the enemy, then reinforce
ments must not be withheld on our side 1t may
be- indeed, that great battle will soon be fought
on the banks of the Tennessee battle that in its
magnitude and results, will eclipse all others upon
this continent. 1t is hoped the President will see
to it that we are not unprepared for the mighty con-
fict when it docs come.
Gen. Hood was dong we'll yesterday, and his
physician considers that he has passed the crisis.
The wounded here are receiving every care and at
tention return to the front as soon as can COM
plete my outfit for the winter. suit of winter
clothes at $50O-thnk of that? SALLUsT