The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1864-01-04

rrnox OUR OWN coanEsrorDssr.]
TncxAsrox, Ga Dec. S6th, 1863.
GENERAL bRAoo.

fFRoM OUR OWN coRREsroNDKNr.1
TncxAsTox, Ga Dec. Seth, 1868.
| GENERAL BRAaa.
Taking the Generals In the Army Of Tennessee
| IN the order Of their rank, would remark thst
Gen. BraSton Bragg, the late Commander in Chief,
was born In the good old State of North Carolina,
about the year 1878, and is consequently about
for,y-eisht years Of age. He entered the wes.
Point Academy in 1888. In the same class with
MAJ. Gen. w. II. r. Walker, Of Ceotgls, between
whom and himself there has ever since existed
mnsaal friendship and confidence. The country IL
familiar with Gen. Braggs career In Mexico, and
with the distinguished services he rendered during
the war with that couutry an artileriss. Some
time after the war, and during Mr.. Pierces admin
istration, he resigned his commission in the armv
OH account of some ruling by Mr.. Davis, the Sec.
retary of War, and retired to his plantation In Mis-
sissippi.
When the present war broke out, II found Cen.
Bragg engaged In the peaceful and ennobling pur
suits OF the planter. He had married after the
Mexican war and was the possessor of one of the
finest estates in the Southwest. Soon after his
Inauguration as President of the Provisional Gov
ernmenf, Mr. Davis, overlooking their former diff
ferences, offered him the commits ssion of Brigader
General In the Provisional Army, which he ac-
cepecd without moments hesitation. The fact
here recorded is credItable alike TO the President
and his new Brgadier, since it shows that neither
OF them would allow private feeling to stand In the
way of public duty. 1t proves, moreover, that the
President has not been Influenced by motives of
personal friendship In his support of Gen. Bragg
as the commander OF one of our most importan;
armies. II will not be Inappropriate to add In this
connection, that the report persistenily cicuat
ed TO the effect that these two eminent pcrsonaqes
related to each other by blood or marriage. is
without the least foundation in fact. Their rcIa-
tons arc friendly and agreeable, but nothing more
Gen. Bragg was assigned TO the command of the
forces at Pensacola. where he remained until the
spring OF 1862, and then was ordered to Tenne
and finally 10 COriDth. In the great hattie Of Shj-
loh, fought on the 9Th and 7tb Of April In that year
he and HaIdee and Polk commanded the three
iines with which the army advanced to The as
sauit, and each one greatly distinguished himself
on that bloody field. The lamentcd Sidney John
ston having fallen in the thickest OF the fight,
Bragg was Immediately PRONE ted to the rank of
full of General by the President, and made Chief
Of taft under Beauregard, who succeeded to the
command of the army. subsequently,, upon the
evacuation Of Cornth and the removal of Genera,
Beauregard, the command Of the army was turned
over TO Gen Bragg.
But it Is not Of Gen. Bragg's career 20 much as
Of his military character and qualifications that
propose TO speak Looking at him in this light,
therefore, be may be fully and correctly described
In the five following words: He Is simply SOL
der" 1t Is not ant to be asserted that he is not
gentleman OF intelligence and culture, and OF
ibis-but VIII 4 mean to affirm is, that when he is
al the head of an army his whole being and char
acter seem to be absorbed and merged in that of
the soldier. He is destitute of diplomacy, aud
knows neither friends nor foes in the discharge Of
n 9 duties. II one of his officers has been taken
from civil life where he occupied large space in
public estimation, Us in the case Of Gen Breckn
ridge, he shows him precisely the same constdera-
ton As he does the least distinguished Of his sub
aiterns who has won his way with his sword TO
tue same position--neither more nor less. He ex-
poets the one to know his place and obey his Or
ders us implicitly as the other.
That this stern military rule Is founded In alb.
s'ract justice, If nOt in wisdom, Oae can deny;
and yet IT, with his earnest perhaps austere man.
ners, when occupied with business, has had tl;c
effect TO rendsr him unpopular with Some of his
offlcers VINO, In their turn, have inn0cu uated TIE
subordinate officers In their respective commands
with somewhat o: their own feelings and opinions.
1t Is said but with what truth am not prepared
to Decide that for some time past Gen. b. has been
more cOnclliatOry in his bearing towards persons
having business TO transact with him Be this as
IL may IL is certain that he has turned aside
from his du les in the field to court the favor OF
the public. He is the hardest worker have met
with in the Confederate army. Day and night, in
sunshine and in storm, in cold weather and in
hot he is ever at his post; and he allows pleas
ure, however temPtHs, aud society, however
charming, TO take him away from his duty. He
not only works himself, but he requires every one
about him u work. His staff officers like himself,
know not what it is to enjoy a day relaxation.
have thought thai br remains TOO closely at his
quarters and that II would be better for his health
and for the good of the army if he would inspect
his lines oftener and see and Judge for himself.
OF his capacity for command nerd not stop to
speak the world will judge him by his campaigns
rather than by anything might say As an Or
gaDi2cr OF forces and admin stratye officer, he
ranks deservediy high. There are no better SOL
dlers In the whole army than his Pensacola troops
of which lie had the exclusive training and disci-
pnins. lie possesses unusual quickness and ca
pacity for business, and Is man Of ardent oatri-
otisln and undoubted courage. II he did not seek
death In the late battle on Missionary Ridge, he
was certainly Indifferent to it. He is member of
the Episcopal Church, and In private life his habits
are as exemplary those of any Christian gentle
man In all the land. His loss of property has been
very heavy, the enemy having taken everything he
possessed except his land, and driven his wife from
her heme with only the clothing in which she
stood. In stature, he is tall, thin man with
piercing black eyes, ircn-gray hair, and heavy eye
brOws that meet above the nose and impart to his
face aspect of much austerity.
His stern manners, unsOcial habits, and devo-
tion to business have rendered him unpopular with
many of his superior officers; while his neglect of
those arts b. which ambitious men are wont to
win popular applause, has had much to do In sbap-
ing public Opiuon against him, in that it left his
opponents free to say and publish what they pleased
concerning hin. As Giscipnaran, he is veiy
rigid. and has probably had As many executed rs
any twO commanders in the army; and vet he i, |
far more popular with his soldiers and reglneniaI
officers than with those in higher positions. As
sirae2is and fighter, his friends may well point to
which preceded il; and yet, in contest before \
the people through the public prints, the most COM
mOnplace of his political Generals Is more than q |
match for him.
When Gen. Bragg was about to relinq .lish the |
command of the Army of Tennessee, called, as |
others did, to bid bin adIeu. He spoke freely and
feelingly of the recent disaster, and seemed to be
far more concerned for the success of our cause /
and the welfare of the troops than about his own 7
reputation. He remarked that he did not know !
but that Sidney Johnstpn's rule, that comma and ,
er should be judged by the results OF his campaigns
was just standard, aud that far as his fall was
the consequence OF his 9wn conduct, he was pre- !
pared to accept II and abide by ii but insofar it
was The result of the incapacity, disobedience or
perversity of others he thought he ought to be
lieved and he believed that impartial history when
all the facts brought to light woufd do it, His
own disgrace destruction was matter of but !
little consequence he had lost his property aud |
his health in the service, and ready to give his
life and reputation for the success of the cause Of
which he entei tanned no doubt whatever.
Recalling to mind how much he had lost, and
how much he had suffered in health and Teputa
ton, coufess, as bade him farewell, that could
not withhold my sympathy and admiration from e
man who was SO firm and unse fish in the hour of
aud in whose Yesolute eyes there glis-
tened tear, not for himself, but for his bleeding
country. SALLUsT.
GERAT AUCTION SALE IN AreusrA-Fak in Prices.
The corresp0 ndent of the Atlanta Reaisser writing