The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1891-01-22


that he was a great General and military
genius, il ] can in any way reconcile such a
belief with The dictates Of common sense
and common experience. ] knew Gen. john
ston rs we. as a man so much his junior in
years and rank would be likely 10 know
him aud further knew him from the con-
versution Of those better acquainted with
him ihnn was, and do not hesitate 10 say
that a more noble, generous man and alto
getleI honorable gentleman never wore the
uniform OF "a soldier. His engaging man
ners hjs gracious smile, his noble counte-
nance and fine, martial figure cap,iyated all
who came near him; and do not wonder
that men were devoted to him and more
than anxioust TO invest him with every high
quality of which man is capable. I'm truth
] feei very much the same way myself when
think Of hm as last saw him before the
war
HE WAS MAGEANIMOUs,
and ] believe, truly unseifsh-utterly in
capable Of any dishonorabIc action or willing
injury 10 my man. He was a man Of strong
feeling, ana warm attachments, but, from
all j could ever hear, he was either without
personal preiudices or incapable Of being
Influenced by them IN his official actions
il was .aid that in the Spring Of 1861 he
was inclined TO be unfaithful to his trust,
and was arranging that the forts and arma-
ments in the haTbor OF San Francisco might
be handed over OF taken over by him 10 the
Southern side; but happened to be on the
Pacific Coast aud holding the very command
be held himself, when this charge was made
and fully discussed. There was not the
smallest foundation for suspicion even. He
was then rs true 70 the obligations Of his
duty 10 the Government which had invested
him with so great trust as any officer in
the Army; and although in the nature Of
things he would probably have allied him
sell 10 the Southern side, he would have
done 80 I'D an open and honorable way, and
with no faint OF deception or unfaithfulness
IN bis action. That be WAS noble gentle
man. high-toned and honorable, no man vi ho
knew bim would think Of coniesting.
MheiheT be was equally great as a soldier,
or even approximately so, is another ques-
lion /, ior one, shall be rejoiced If ] can
be supplied with good reasons 10 think so.
The Dext officer 10 BeauTegard in rank
and command at Corinth was Gen. Braxton
Bragg, and a remarkable man he was. Tall
and erect, with thick, bushy eyebrows and
black, fierce eyes, with harsh features and
most
FOEBIDDIEG cOUETEEANcE,
he possessed, or was possessed, by the most
sullen and drvilish temper that ever afflicted
human being. Kindly feeling or soft
sentiment of any kind fed before bis frown,
and those subject 10 his authority retired
from his presence with almost equal CELEBRITY
and relief do not think he could ever
have had warm friends.
Indeed he seemed even 10 detest himself
IL one miFht Judge from the dissatisfied ex-
preston which continually sat enthroned
CD bis face, and yet the South produced no
more capable General Than he. Though his
military success was greatly lessened and at
times transformed into actual defeat by the
bitterness Of feeling created against him
among his snbOrdinates by his harsh and
unoompromising dealings with them, yet
undcTiaIc 70 say, and ] am Convinced that
history viii. in due time, confirm the opn-
ion, That Gen. Bragg accomplished more with
less comparative force aud under more nm
favorable and discOuraging circumstances
and relations than any Southern General
IL is bard 10 realize how difficult the posi-
tion and bow hopeless the outlook ofmilitarv
operaiious Of a man surrounded as he was by
10 many personal enemies upon whose cordial
support and sympathy be was compelled TO
do without in the most critical moments Of
his campaign. il is impossible that be did
not often lament the infrmities Of temper
which deprived him Of the
FRIEEDsHIP AND SYMPATHY
OF those nearest 10 him in rank and infiu-
ence bUi the unhappy results born Of such a
condition of feeling seemed only 10 render
hs temper he more bitter and uurcIentipg.
Under every dseouTapcmcnt both Of senti-
s"'A' '''t'' - ''Nt'r ~ tAtHsA3E fitNFllfu "a
grim front 10 his enemy. before and around
him. How be maintained himself 80 long
and 80 wei under such circumstances. has
always been a wonder Had his temper and
his mauBer- been such az make friends aud
not cnen. .es, il is hard 10 say how great
might Lave been his success, gifted as be
was, in ny opinion, with military ability Of
The highest order.
lie never appeared 10 be a young man AT
all, even iu the earliest stages Of his military
service, Hur IN any way capable Of enjoying
the pleasures or the aniicipations OF
youth. Lyen when he was a Lieutenant Of
artillery DIS military capacity was recognized
as quite exceptional, and this knowledge OF
him occasi0ned Gen. Taylor to do an act Of
great injustice 10 a most competent and
meritorious officer. Just before the Army
moved from Camargo upon Monterey, ia
1876, Capt T. W. Sherman Iafterward Gen.
Sherman, of Hilton Head fame. reported for
duty as Teceutly-promoted Captain Of one OF
the light batteries of artillery belonging 10
the Army, and Of which Bragg as senior
Lieutenant, was in command. The future
before us was quite unknown. We neither
knew the force Of the enemy we were 10 en-
souDter, nor what preparations he had made,