National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1885-08-24
"REMINISCENCES OF THE CON-
FEDERATE WAR.

CLARK, and West Point Col. Sam G..
Reid, the Confederate War Corre-
spondcnt-Gen. Bragg ms u Comman-
der How the Confcderacy Was Lost.
Tie 'intervicw' Of Gen Robert Toombs
in relation to the late confederacy, JofTer-
going the rounds of the press, recalls
in this connection which may
throw some light on the remark of Gen.
Toombs, that "the south could have sue
ceeded had IL not been throttled." Gen.
Toombs did not say the south had been
by West Point, as has been repre-
scented. But he did say, che Davis filod
with West Pointers, aud stuck to
them through every reverse" which, so far
as Gen. Bragg was concerned, at least, can
not be contradiCtcd.
1t was in the early part Of May, 1863,
shortly after the battles OF the Wilderness
and charlottesville, that Col. Sam c.
Reid, formerly Of the New Orleans Plea
yune, and who after the fall Of that city
became the well-known correspondent for
the army Of the Tennessee, went TO Rich
mond, Va, with view Of writing up the
incidents of these battles.
While at the Ballard House Col. Reid
met his old friend, GEN John d. Clark,
then confederate states senator, Of Mis-
respect to the future prospects OF the con-
federacy. Coli Reid had gained high rep
utation for the boldness and brillinncy OF
his letters and for the accurate and graphic
pen pictures Of the battles which he de-
scribed, and which Horace Greeley after
ward comqlimented In his book on the late
war. Rcid's knowledge. and information
were therefore greatly relied on by Gen.
Clark, for, as | have said, he was truly the
correspondent for the army OF The Tennes-
zee, having been on the battle field Of every
conflict from Donelson 10 Atlanta, during
which time he corresponded for the Mobile
Register and the Tribune, the Memphis
Appeal, the Chattanooga Rebel, the Atlanta
Intelligencer, the Charleston Mercury and
the Courier the Savannah. Republican, the
Richmond Wing, and other papers.
Col. Reid told Gen. Clark that he consid-
cred President Davis highly reprehensble
In permitting the odium TO rest upon Con.
Albert Sidney, Johnston. for falling back
from Bowling Green, Ky. Davis knew
that Johnston'sl force was, totally incapa-
suited in the surrender Of Fort Donelson
ana the evacuation Of Nashville. For this
Johnston was mathematical by the south
ern people at the time. This unfavorable
impression Davis permitted to rest upon
Johnston without having the magnanimity
to explain IL.
~ believe" said Col. Reid, "that this was
the remote cause Of Gen. Johnston's death.
When begged him to permit me to make
the true explanation In my letters, to which
he reluctantly consented, he replied, lex
plantations do no good; what the people
want Is victory, and they shall have IT,
This may account for Johnston's rashness
at Shiloh, In leading the troopsin the charge,
which he did on'two- occasions, for It is GER
tain when he received his death wound the
smile of conscious victory played upon his
lips. He knew the victory was won, which
II certainly was had 1t been followed up.
eve have had no commanders of the army
of Tennessee since we lost Johnston at
Shiloh" said Col. Reid, and he then pro-
ceeded to criticise the movements of Gen.
battles OF Peryville and Murfreesboro, eX-
planning to Gen. Clark how both the battles
were lost by the ineficiency of Bragg as a
commander.
"The army is greatly disconnected and
dissatisfied with Gen. Bragg" said Reid to
Gen. Clark, "and 1t is extraordinary that
the president continues him in command"
"Why, don't you know" replied Gen.
Clark, "that Bragg is a West Pointer, and
lDul DuN1b bllChb 10 HlIll lUT lHdU lttkDIl,
although II is well known that Bragg is
hardly fit to command battery, for Gen.
Taylor said that Bragg's misconduct at
Buena Vista came within an ace Of losing
him the battle"
~ Know It did, said Reid, sand Gen.
Harvey told me that Gen. Taylor told him
with his own lips that had he not felt SO
magnanimous after the victory he would
have had Bragg courtmartialed."
"You know had been trying for long
time TO get Davis to appoint Sterling Price,
of Missouri, q major-general," said Gen.
Clark.
well, one day I went up to his office to
see him."
"Herc you come again, Gen. Clark" said
Davis, "and know 1t is to importune me
about Gen. Price"
"Well," said l, "Col Davis (for always
called him Col. Davis since the Mexican
war;, II you will promise not to get mad, j
would like to talk to you about that very
matter.p
swell, won't get mad," said Davis
laughing; stake seat"
81 then urged upon Davis that the inter
est of the confederacy and the public servic,
demanded that Price should at once be made
a major general outside Of his own merits
and said that could see no good reason fol-
not promoting him, except that he was moi
West Pointer.n 80 - .-...'.. 3.
~ thought you were coming to that
said Davis, evidently displeased and ex
cited. "West Point-West Point-Wes
Point is being continually .dinned into my
ears until am tired OF it,"
'There, / knew you would get mad about
It, Col Dayis,n said i, Shut 1t is the last
time will ever mention the subject TO you
and, bidding him good morning, left.n
"Such was the pressure on Davis, after
ward,n continued Gen. Clark, "that he wa
forced to send Prices name to the senat,
to be made major general, who was al
once confirmed, Subsequently, having oc
casion to go to the executive office on bust
ness, ] met Col Davis, who, bowling with
smile, said: well, Gen. Clark, you see
have at last yielded to your request ant
made Price major general
"'No, Col. Davis replied, you hav'
not yielded to my request, but to the de
mands Of tho confederacy, and i cauno
feel that am under any obligations toyou
for it.'n -.-
1t is O. remarkable fsct that in all til,
battles fought by Bragg he never won
complete victory or recovered any lost ter
rltory. 1t is true his armyperformed heroi
acts OF valor, and defeated the enemy at Muir
freesboro or Stone River, Perryville, and a
Chickamauga, but he never pursued tn,
enemy to final victory, when he had 1t IL
his power, but left his foe to gain the want
age ground which compelled him In turn t
retreat. Notwithstanding, Davis kept Bragg
in command, although at one time all hi
field officers had urged that he be relieved
and It was only after Brage's defeat and re
treat from Missionary Ridge that Davis wa
compelled to relieve him and place Gen
Joe Johnston in command.
Thus II would seem clear that It was no
West Point that "throttled" the confed
eracy, but the inefllciency and stubborn
preiudices of jefferson Davis, for as Gen
Toombs truly says, "When jefferson Davi
insniIed hv dnmnsIic intrigmes remove