The Montgomery advertiser. [volume] (Montgomery, Ala.) 1885-1982, 1902-08-05
E. S.BRACG IN CONGRESS
SOMETHING OF THE FAMOUS
MANS CAREER.
While in the House He Was Feared
by His Opponents for His
vitriolic Eloqunce and
Biting Sarcasm. --~-s .-,.--
savoyard in Nashville Banner.

Savoyard In Nashville Banner.
washington. July Silt was. at second
Bull Run that the "Stonewall'' Brigade
OF the Confederate army and the Iron
Brigade OF the Federal army grappled in
death struggle When the soldiers had
exhausted their ammunition they dubbed
their guns, and when these were broken
they fought with appalling savagery with
the stones of that historic railroad cut
Tor missiles. 1t was at once charge
and a melee.
Past Fontenoy. past Fontenoy. while
thinner grew their ranks.
They broke as breaks the Zuyder Zee.
through Hollan's ocean banks
They were the flower Of the two ar
mics. and valor was never more glorious
~ illustrated on stricken field than 1t
was that bloody summers day.
Edward o. Bragg was the commander
of the Iron Brigade. It was recruited
principally in the Northwest territory,
which had been coded to the Union by
the Old Dominion, and their adversaries
had been recruited principally in the
famed Valley OF Virginia. There is ira
dition that the regiments composing the
Iron Brigade lost more men In killed and
similar command OF the whole Federal
arrny, yand 1t is history that the Stone
wall brigade was annihilated IN one of
the tremendous battles of Grants cam
paign against Richmond.
General Bragg Is a very small man,
weighing little more than 100 pounds.
The blue cloud Of that derringer. fire.
new from the arsenal. which General
kSsH HAAA -.
son Webb. described 30 particularly and
infinitely by the latter in his card Of
apology explaining Why it was imprac-
dcable for him to put in execution his
announced purpose to cowhide General
Green In the big rotunda Of the National
Capitol, was not more suggestive of cold
steel than every air and manner of Ed
ward q. Bragg. Abiding to the serenity
OF the ''bravest OF the brave" in the hour
Of peril. Napoleon said: "Ney has 2
o'clock in the morning courage" The
same may be said of Bragg. Many a
brave man has been made to play the
coward when taken by surprise Whole
armies. brave as Caesars Tenth Legion.
have been stampeded by a sudden and
unexpected attack. Not so Bragg.
He Is OF somewhat sour and severe
mien, with differing gray eyes, short,
full, shaggy and grizzly beard, a pro-
nounced and protruding chin, a firm
mouth and square jaw. The head Is
round and the forehead ample. He has
dyspeptie look and the look of a man
OF thought as well. There is an Irritating
deliberation in his movement, a calm
sedate, tranquil emphasis in his tones of
voice, an exasperating disdain in his
manner. lofty arrogance in his ges-
lures, demoniac mockery in his express
siois OF contempt, a majestic scorn of
everything sordid. that render him a
terror to those he opposes.
General Bragg was born in New York
State In 1927. He received a good educa-
ton. close the law for a profession, was
admitted to the bar. and at the age of q
he opened an ONCE at Fond du Lac, Wis,
where he still resides. He was a Demo-
cret. as was Matthew H. Carpenter, and
in 1850 he was a delegate to the historic
Charleston convention where he support
ed Stephen A. Douglas. He was one
of the earliest volunteers of 1851, and
served the fun four years. in all the
grades. from private in the ranks to
Brigadier General, and was a part of the
Army of the Potomac from the beginning
to the ending.
In 1865 there was a convention Of the
conservative men of the North. which had
its sittings in the city OF Philadelphia.
Henry ]. Raymond was the leading
figure, but there were many members of
great abilities and high char acter, among
them Edward s. Bragg They were
there to protest against the radicalism of
Stevens. Wade and Butler. and to sup
port the policy Of Andrew johnson.
Two years later there was a convention
of Union soldiers and sailors assembled
in New York TO promote the election Of
Horatio Seymour. the Democratic can
di6ate for President of the United States.
General Bragg was a delegate to that
convention. He was In the convention of
1872 that nominated Horace Greeley, ana
in that Of 1884 which nominated Grover
Cleveland.
General Bragg was repeatedly a member
of Congress, and 1t may truthfully be
said of him that while there were ADLER
men in the House than he. he never met
his match in debate. ana was the most
feared man in the House. not excepting
Thomas B. Reed himself. He made a
great reputation opposing Southern war
claims" and 1t is worthy OF remark that
the Southern brigadiers" of those days