The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1864-01-01

action, no more than sufficient to protect
retreat. Whatever reasons may have
compelled General Bragg to abandon the
| heights, the movement was not forced on
him by the fighting, but prepared and par
TALLY executed before it began. General
Grant himself speaks of the action in the
curiously qualified terms SO often employ
ed by the Federal commanders. He does.
not consider himself premature in an
nouncing" victory.
He rather claims than asserts it. But
the result can hardly be disputed. Bragg
has given up an advantageous position, and
this reverse is the penalty the Confederates
pay for missing the opportunity presented
to them after the battle of Chickamauga.
The defeat of the Federals was total, yet
not decisive, and time has recovered for
the beaten army all it had lost Though
the government of the Confederacy does
not displace,. reappOint and dismiss its
Generals SO lightly as the cabinet of Wash
ington, the Southern armies Judge their
commanders very much by results, and
have their own opinions of the personal
qualities of their superior officers.
The last letters of our correspondent at
Gen. Bragg's headquarters described a
state of feeling in the Southern camp that
had seriously shaken the confidence of
officers and men in their chief He was
not popular nor had he authority
enough to repress the jealousies that
existed between the subordinate command
ers. The discipline of the western army
was in every respect inferior to that of the
Army of Virginia, under Gen. Lee. The
deterioration, moral and material, had
commenced before the battle of Chicka-
mauga. The credit of that victory was
given to Gen. LOngstreet, who had been
detacheda by Lee with a reinforcement.
That the rout of the Federals, which
equaled the panic and disorder of Bull
Run, was not followed up at Longstreet's
earnest request, naturally increased the
discomfort of the confederate troops, and
rendered Bragg more unpopular than ever.
Soldiers freely give their lives, but feel
acutely when commander throws them
away. Discomfort thus created is the
severest trial of the discipline of an army.
The feeling that existed before the battle
OF Chickamauga has ranked and deepened
through the period of forced inaction in
front OF beaten enemy
Our correspondent left the Southern
camp with the most unfavorable impres-
sions, and strong conviction that the
relations between the army and it's COM
mander had demoralized the whole force.
He predicted that Bragg would find bis
position untenable unless he fought another
battle, while he doubted the possibility of
a commander SO little assured of hearty
support making the bold movement the
circumstances required. His prediction
has been fully verified. Bragg has giyen
up the ground gained by one of the most
sangulnary engagements of the war. IF
ne retires few miles further to the south.
he must recross the frontier of Tennessee
into Georgia. Both sides have been
receiving ieinforcements during the las6
SIX weeks, though no authentic Statements
OF the numerical strength of the two armies
has appeared. The Southern army. how
ever, seems to have been for some tima
fatally weakened by distrust AID dislike Of
its commander. The morale of the troons
of all ranks was shaken, and even if thew
escape a decisive defeat in the field. it is
probable that for the confederates the
autumn campaign in the west will prove
disastrous.