The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1856-1888, 1864-02-04
The Richmond Wing on Bragg,s Defeat
From the Richmond Wing, November 9th

From the Richmond Wing, November 27thl
1t is unwise to make light of a defeat. and equally
unwise to overrate it. For the first time a large Con-
Tolerate army has been driven from a powerful posi-
tion and compelled TO abandon it altogether. Wheth-
er this was done oy dint of bravery or by maneuver-
ing, aud the sudden precipitation Of large numbers
upon n comparatively weak point, we are, as yet,
without the means OF knowing. The probabilities
are in favor of the latter supposition, although
General Bragg. with a candOr which all must admire.
and which other Southern Generals would do well TO
initiate, admits that his q left center" was scar
RED" Ii will appear. we apprehend. that this
center had been weakened in order TO prevent the
extreme left from being hanked-a danger which all
Generals take care to guard against, and none are
more afraid Of than General Bragg.
To have been whipped out of a chosen and natural
~ strong position is a serious thing TO a Southern
army. Ii is an inadequate consolation to know that
this happened when Is, 900 States troops of Georgia
were permitted to return to their homes for ngrcul
turai purposes, and when probably as many more
under Longstreet had been sent on what Will prove
to be a bootless and hazardous attempt against
Knoxville. But when it became known that Sherman
with 20. 900 men had joined Grant. ought not every
man to have been recalled ? Nay, ought they to have
been sent beyond the reach of speedy recall?
What is done is done. We can bear the disaster,
and another like it, but not many more. If Long
street be cut off from Bragg. as he doubtless is, the
trouble is nightly complicated ; for Grant will press
his advantages, and, if possible, destroy first one and
then the other. All this is clear now to the dullest
observation it was quite as clear to military minds
from the moment it was known that Bragg had
divided his army IN the face OF an able General who
was rapidly being reinforced. Grant seized the
occasion which Bragg gratuitously made for him
that is all.
However, Bragg is back upon the field Of his great
victory. His loss we know not the morale of his
army we know not. Admit that the one is heavy,
the other bad admit, too, that there is no help TO
come from Longstreet. Take The case in its worst
aspect, aud prepare for it. This is the duty of the
President, the duty of Georgia, the duty of ALL
Georgia will surely do her duty; she has never failed
to do it. Will the President do his? We trnst he
will; we may say we believe be will, for we have
observed that it ever requires the worst TO come to
the worst before the pressure that insures prompt
action begins to tell on the firm, stern temper of the
Executive.
Much has been said about Gen. Bragg, and the
hour may come when it will be proper to say much
more. But there is no time for quarreling now
First make ready to repel Graz t and Thomas, both
able men, and then we may think Of preferring
charges. II the army cannot be made to resist the
talents of Grant and Thomas without a change of
commanders, in Heavens name let ii be done; let US
give all possible encouragement to the gallant army
of Chickamauga-back them up; support them;
strengthen them; cheer them with all that busy
hands and grateful voices can accomplish. By hook
or by crook, We must beat back the invader. We
have done it before, and by Gods help We will surely
do it again. Let US bend every energy to that end.