The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1903-01-15
MAJ. GEN. Dow CARLOS BUELL..

reasonable length Of time in an effort to
capture the garrison at that place, at the
crossing of Green River. This garrison.
some $500 or 1000 strong. was COM
lnanded by Gen. Wilder. notably gallant
officer. Wilder's troops were intrenched
in position that commanded the cross
ing of the railway and the turnpike road.
An effort to carry Wilder's position by as
sault failed. Notwithstanding be had
10000 veteran troops under his command.
Bragg devoted three days to investing and
reducing Wilder's defenses, the Federal
garrison not surrendering until Sent. II.
When Bragg should have been in pcs
session of Louisville. he was engaged in
reducing the comparatively petty Federal
stronghold at Munfordsville.
BRAGG IN THE HOME STRETCH.
Having secured the strategic position
at MnnfordsvilIe, Bragg was master of
the situation. There was straight open
| road to Louisville, and a wide open door
there for him to enter in. Notwithstand-
ing his dilatory movements, he was good
four days march ahead of the northward
moving Federal army. In sight of the
From the time Bragg reached Munfords-
vile until he finally retreated from Ken
lucky, he seems to have moved like man
in q dream.
The question has been asked: eff Gen.
Bragg did not want to go to Louisville.
what was to prevent him from stopping
Gen. Buell.. calling Kirby Smith to his
assistance and. thus outnumbering. crush
his Adversary"
Confederate General at Munfordsville. He
| could. undoubtedly, have pushed forward.
captured Louisville or Cincinnati. or both.
and gathering support from Kirby Smith
have fought Buell. with superior numbers:
| or. if he did not want to fight Buell. at all.
he could have marched back on Nashville.
while Buell. was marching on Louisville.
1t is not unreasonable to suppose that he
could have. established himself on the
banks of the Cumberland with less of loss.
fatigue and discomfort among his troops.
than existed when, after his long, harass-
ing and wearying marches, he halted at
Murfreesboro much later.
Instead of pursuing either Of the
courses above indicated, Bragg dropped
ont of the "home stretch" in the race for
Louisville, and marched northeast to
Bardstown, on the road to Lexington.
leaving Buell. to march triumphantly and
without molestation to Louisville. where
amid much applause he was crowned with
the wreath due the victor in the race
Bragg. meanwhile, unlaureled and unap-
plauded, dreamingly marched to Lexing-
ton.
SOME REFLECTIONS.
Bragg's possession of Louisville would
have been exceedingly embarrassing to
Gen. Buell.. who would have been COM
PEELED to find his way to the Ohio River
ut some point where he could open new
communications. To do this in the pres
ence of a victorious and vigilant adver-
sary would have been fraught with diHi-
cnlties SO serious as to almost hOpeIessly
discourage even commander of BuelI's
exceeding ability.
The greater need Of praise is due Gen.
Buell. because of the fact that he had to
march by the longer route, seriously hand
icapped In many ways, and at the start
did not know with certainty whether
Bragg's objective point was Nashville or
Louisville.
II. peradventure. the Confederate Cen
eral never really intended to occupy Lou
isville. why did he move 80 far westward?
Evidently. If his primary object was to
join Kirby Smith ut Lexington, he should
have fully adopted Forests maxim:
Take the short cut and get there first
with the most men," 1t is true. his west
Nashville and to somewhat mystify Gen
Buell.. If, however, he did not intend
to capture Louisville, the feint on Nash
vile was not necessary. He could have
made demonstrations upon Buell. by
means of a detachment of infantry and
strong bodies of cavalry. of which he
had large force, and with his main
army, starting from Chattanooga, taken
the "short cut" and reached Lexington
simultaneously with Kirby Smith.
The fact remains, however, that Gen.
Bragg did march Westward; that despite
dilatory marching he secured the strategic
point. Munfordsville, where he fell be-
tween two lines of brilliant and promis-
ing action. verifying the quotation from
Solomon that heads this sketch: ''The race
is not to the swift, nor the battle to the
strong"