Herald and tribune. [volume] (Jonesborough, Tenn.) 1869-current, 1885-11-12
DAVIS, BRAGG, LoNasTREET.
General Grants Opinion OF Them-A Story
About Bragg.

against great odds, considering the ad-
vantage the enemy had of position, and
was accomplished more easily than was
expected by reason of Bragg's making
several grave mistakes-first, IN sending
away his ablest corps commander, with
over 10000 troops; second, in sending
away division of troops on the eve of
battle; third, in placing so much of a
force on the plain in front of his impreg-
nable position.
1t was known that Mr.. Davis had visit
ed Bragg on Missionary Ridge short
time before my reaching Chattanooga. 1t
was reported and believed that he had
come out TO reconcile serious difference
between Bragg and Longstreet, and, find
ing this difficult to do, planned the cam
paign against Knoxville, toibe conducted
by the latter general. ] had known both
Bragg and Longstreet before the war, the
latter very we'll. We had been three
wears at West Point together and after
my graduation, for time in the same
regiment. Then we served together in
the Mexican war. knew Bragg in Mex
leo, and met him occasionally subsequent
ly. could we'll understand how there
might be an irreconcilable difference be-
tween them Bragg was a remarkably
intelligent and well-infOrmed man, pro-
fessionally and otherwise. He was also
thoroughly upright. But he was possess
ed of an irascible temper, and was natu-
rally disputatious. A man Of the highest
moral character and the most correct
habits, yet in the old army he was in
freuuent trouble. As subordinate he
was always on the lookout to catch his
commanding officer infringing upon his
prerogative; as post commander he was
equally vigilant to detect the slightest
infringement of the most trivial order.
have heard in the old army an anccdotc
told characteristic of Bragg. On one oc.
casion, when stationed at a post of sever
al companies, commanded by field off
Ger. he was himself commanding one OF
the companies at the same time acting
post quartermaster and commissary. He
was first lieutenant at the time, but his
captain was detached on other duty. AS
commander Of the company he made a
rcquisition upon the quartermaster-him
self-for something he wanted. AS
quartermaster he declined to fill the
requisition, and indorsed on the back Of
il his reason for so doing. AS company
commander he responded to this, urging
that his requisition called for nothing but
what he was entitled to, and that it was
the duty Of the quartermaster to fill it.
The quartcrmaster still persisted that he
was right. In this condition of affairs
Bragg referred the whole matter to the
commanding officer. The latter, when
he saw the nature of the matter referred,
exclaimed; my God, Mr., Bragg, you
have quarreled with cvety officer in the
army, and now you arej qaarreling with
yourselfv' ~ "
Eonesrreet was An Ncnttfciy different
man. He was brave, honeet, intelligent;
a very capable soldier, subordinate TO his
superiors, just and kind TO his subordi-
mates, but jealous Of his own rights, and
with the courage to maintain them. He
was never on the lookout to detect a
slight, but saw one as quickly as anybody
when Intentionally given. 1t may be that
Longstreet was not sent to Knoxville for
the reason stated, but because Mr.. Davis
had an excited opinion of his own militia
nv genius, and thought he saw chance
of "killing two birds with one stone"
On several occasions during the war he
Davis came to the relief of the Union
army by means of his superior military