Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1862-1865, 1863-12-16

dent with this precious Arrangement that In speech
delivered by him a. Selma, few days after Leaving
Chattanooga he proclaimed that grand military move
ment beubeIng executed BY Longstreet under tds
supervision Of the valiant Bragg, that would In short
nine deprive the enemy of il the advantages they had
recently earned. undertake 10 say that more piu-
dcious military movement was never made than this
fatal division Of our army. much fear that Ill the
disastrous CONSCIOUSNESS resulag from It hsvs not yet
been realized These being the undoubted cs Of the
disaster Justly resiss
Tn, fact ia that the President had for many months
resisted the whole public sentiment of the country, in
the army and out Of it. demanding the dispacsment Of
Bragg and the substitution Of Johnston, Beauregrd,
or some other efficient commander IN his stead Hany
had warned him long ago that the continued retention
of Bags at the head of the Army OF Tennessee would
DO productive Of all the woful consequences which We
have sirss real sd The battle OF 0hickaaaugs had
been fought and Bragg had dssrzcsfdy failed TO crush
the whole army Of the enemy, a IL was clearly In hia
power to do, By following that army into Chattanooga
on Sunday evening, o; BY pursuing him on Konday.-
The whole country was indignant and Justly indignant
a. his conduct The President did not Ike 70 eet Goa
gress whist Affairs in this plight and therefore
he did not call US hero in special session. honsh the
condition Of the currency notorousy required n and
he resolved 10 despatch Longsrset into Rsst Tennessee
hoping that he would be able 70 do something before
Congress should meet to yndicate his astonishing OBJ
snacJ in retaining Bragg in command Just 10 he had
done f days before the battle of kurfreesborough
when he distracted General Joe. Johnston from the
cenusnd of the same army and took hiia witt aim "a
Mississippi leaving behind him orders with Gen. Bragg
directing him to fight battle at Nurfreesoorough
Were 10 battle ought to have been fought hoping
tha. Bragg would win great victory, which would ef
fectually vndisats his Partially for him. BE ssw
that something must be done in order TO rescue th,
character Of Bragg from the deep dgrsse of the Kan
lucky campaign in the progress OF which be had COM
mtsd blunders enough TO Disgrace fifty such Generals
falling to stack the army of Buell. when 1. war passing
almost in tight of his linse when he bound
to know that inferior to tho army which he COM
mandsd in numbers was utterly defnoralssd and wa
on It's way to Louisyie where all she world, sxcep,
General Bragg knew Bae could be reinforced 10 any
extent shich he might desire proposing, Just befor,
the battle OF Perryve break his Amy into several
ds,iact divisions in presence OF the enemy, which h
was only restrained from doing by the united remon
srances of other officers and actually .uing militia, ,
order to General Polk just before the battle Of Perry
vile, whic had ie been carried out wesd have beer
10 r. but which General Polk took the responsibility Of
dafegIrdIng and thus notorisusly saved the army
from ruin Ihe painful remembrance Of which fact ha
maze ,sgg his enemJ fer lie. -.s.ts,, 4
Sir Gen. Bragg was 90 odious TO this army that ru-
mors which believe TO be wel-fodnded, asscrt tia
the whole body of tho officers Of rank uAs belonged
to It. besought the President to- dispacs him. One
my colleagues mr. SwAss,) whom am glad 70 find In
dis place. received, am Informed and he CON
fssed to me the otber day, letter from Gen. Drsn
about four weeks ago, in Ehioh he declared In SUB
,tares, that he would never be asle to command iAs
Army Of Tennessee effectively, until he should b able
10 rid himself of at least twelve Brgader Generals and
full regiment OF fsd officers. As 70 the fselin9s oil
the rank and file Of the army, profess 70 know them
we'll; have mingled with the brave soldiers Of thai
army freely during the pass summer and care no,
who may assert to the contrary, aver that Genera
Bragg did possess the confidence and respes Of the
brave men whom he commanded How could 10 b
otherwises Has be rot quarrelled with almost evsry
General under his commando Has he not been tbe
cause of the removal from the Army Of Tennessee Of
the noble hearted and veherated Polk the accomplish
ed, magnanimoui, and heroic oBuokner; of cheat
ham, the brsvest of the brave Of the indonitssls
Hill; and Of the gallant, upright high souled Mo0ovn
Where these lustrous officers when the battle Of
Chattanooga was Fought Tbey far distant from
the of contest where their presence would have
been full of encouragement and inspiration. Who
doubt, after this detail that she battle OF Chstta
nooga was not lost by the want OF "salor" and ns
condac of soldier. Who now doubt the ustcs
of the President in charging the loss OF this battle 70 the
wan. of heroism among troops whose glorieI
are as respondent and eternal the sun in Heavens