Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1862-1865, 1863-05-06
be ruDg mady fifteen consecutive hours one DAY
each week for the next six months.
Cen Brsgg's Report of the Battle Of Murfrees-
horo

DOlO.
This Report dated Feb 2Sl 1868, has at last been
Given TO the pubEe-hanks to the energy of the Rich
T,ond correspondent Of Knoxville paper. 1t is vel
,.;,,sn has few rhetorical aOurishes and states the
plan and results of the battle quite clearly.
Well may General Bragg call it an unequal contest
The enemy advanced from Nashville with over 10000
men; MeCook's captured papers Showed an eiecti We
strength Of nearly, if not quite 10000 men, Ger.
Braggs force consisted of less than $4,000 lighting
men, Of which $4,000 we're infantry and artillery With
tbess he attacked Rosecrans, killed 5000, wounded
1s 600 cnptured 627s, brought off thirty pieces Of
c,,non G. 600 stand Of new arms-ambuances, mules
mess and large amount of other valuable property
Resides he destroyed not less than 500 wagons, mostly
deu with arms, amunitiOn provisions, baggage, cloth
ing. medicines and hospital stores.
His own loss amounted to 10000 killed and wounded,
three pieces of artillery and 500 prisoners. He sent to
the Wa, Department with his report nine stand of c.
lors; hers were captured the field and otherwise
disposed Of He left at MureesbOrO 1900 badly wound
Cd half of shom afterwards died 800 sick and 200
vel men. and medical officers to attend to them. The
epemv was in 10 condition to interfere with his re-
treat.
Gen Bragg takes pains to state that in his army the
Tennessee troops largely in the ascendant. He
Attributes his failure complete the rout Of the enemy
partly 20 Gen. NcCowu, but mainly TO Gen. Brecken-
ridge 1t will be reueu bered that long before the bat
lie Of MurfrcesborO Gen. Bragg announced publicly his
want Of faith in political Generals We do not mean to
shield Breckenridge or question Braggs veracity-
Breckenridges report to be published will show
what defence he make against Bragg's charges
Unless a better state of feeling now exists between
those Generals the prOprety of their continued associa
ton is questionable.
Gen Bragg reserves his rhetoric for the private sol
der Reports so often dismiss the men of all others
who do the work of battles, with the brefest possible
compliment to their galhntry, and dwell so much at
length upon the herosm of aides and attaches that VIC
quote, as note worthy curiosity, Gen. Braggs hanC
some tribute to the file of his army:
TO the private soldier a fair need of praise is due;
aul though Is seldom given and rarely expected
that &c nay be considered out of place cinnot in
justice to myself withhold the opinion ever entertained
ana 80 often expressed during struggle for ndepen
Cepee In the absence Of the instruction and discipline
OF OH armies aud Of the confidence which long
cation produces between veterans, we have in great
measure 70 trust tohe individuality and self reliance Of
'he private soldier Without the incentive the
tive which controls the officer who hopes TO live in his
tory without the hopes of reward and actuated only
by sense OF duty anI patriotism he has in this great
contest justly judged that the cause was his own and
gone INTO 1t with determination to conquer die, to
DC nee or MOTTO be at AL No encomium is high,
hOhof TOO great Tor such sol6eFy. However much OF
crediI and glory may be given, and probably justly
gwen 10 the leaders in struggle, history viii yet
award the main honor where it is due-to the private
soldier who, without hope of reward and with other
incentive than consciousness of rectude has encOunt-
cred all the hard -hnE all III
wen mas 1t been said: 1.-The first monument our Conlede
rSey rearS when our independence shall have been won
should De lofty shaft pure and epotless bearing this
inscription, To the unknown and uurecOrded dead