Year: 1863




We published, in Saturdays paper, q
communication exculpatory of Gen. Bragg,
asking "what has General Bragg done
that he should be compelled to smart un-
der the merciless lash Of your pen What
act Of his during the fearful and bloody
struggle at Chiekamauga should subject
him to such fiery ordeal? Did he not
perform his part well? Was he either
whipped or outgeneraled? The results of
that extraordinary battle are too well
known throughout the Confederacy for
such q conclusion ever to be thought of.
He was victorious to degree which has
filled the whole country with enthusiasm p"


A friend, whose opportunities for infcr-
nation are unsurpassed in the army of
General Bragg, whose high character as
gentleman of intelligence and integrity is
guarantee for the truthfulness of his
statement, and for whose fairness and un-
prejudiced disinterestedness We can give
the fullest pledge, has sent us the follow
ing letter: .-


NEAR CHATTANOOGA, Oct. 81, E3


l send you an extract from an Atlanta paper,
which gives you IN idea, but only faint one
Of the deplorable conditioned affairs out here.
in the hope that you may be able to draw from
1t some facts which may aid you in writing
upon the subject. The extract is most bitter
In its language, and as we do not know what
influences may have operated On the writer,
We shall not publish it.-Fd. I wish that /
could truly picture what the cost to the country
has been by the command of this department
being In the hands of General Bragg; Of op-
pOrtualties upon opportunities he has}neglected
10 hold, first Kentucky, then Tennessee.
and lastly to improve and pluck the fruits of
the victory OF Ihiekamauga, which Longstreet
won for him.


When Longstreet took Command, on Sun
day morning Che 29th) of the left wing of
the army, he found it arraHSed helter-skelter,
with gaps mile long bsCween the brigades,
and everything in confusion generally. The
position chosen for the fight by General
Bragg was most Hnfavorable in case of . re-
pulse. and altogether in favor of the enemy.
The order was for the right to begin the attack
at dawn, bat it was IL O'Clock before it opened,
and then it rolled along until the left took it
up. In q very short time to use General
Braggs ewn words, the fright was disastrously
repnfsed and had no fight in it," and Long
street had to fight the enemy entirely alone.
After some hours of hard fighting he drove
him in confusion from every position, took
from thirty TO forty pieces of artillery thousands
OF prisoners, and converted his army into
a terrified fving mob. 1t was then that he
saw that by forward movement of the whole
army, Rosecrans' whole force could be cap
tured in twenty hours, and that no obstacle
was between US and the Ohio, and perhaps
peace. He therefore sent word to Wheeler,
who was on his left. to dash forward between
Chattanooga and the enemy, and cut him to
pieces; but just as Wheeler was about to exc
cute this movement, he rece we'd an order from
General Bragg, directing him to pick up arms
and stragglers Longstreet had heard from
Bragg but once during the day, and then it
was to say that he was beaten on the right.
He now sent to beg him to advance, but the
General in Chief declined doing 80.


The council of Generals entroated him,te
move on Knoxville, cut off Burnside, turn
Rosecrans at Nashville, and go into Kentucky.
He consented to the move, the troops were put
in motion; but, after marching ten miles, he
recalled the army, without any explanation to
his Lieutenants, and placed it, without an OBJ
ject to achieve, before this place, where sick
ness and desertiOn are doing more than the
enemy hope forr Dissatisfaction and detection
are awfully prevalent, and no one hesitates,
from the highest to the lowest, to speak Of
their contempt for their commander. We all
hoped that surely Mr.. Davis would see the
danger which was threatening the country
by the impunity of Bragg, and his arrival
was hailed with JOY. He did perceive the in.
tense feeling against him. and called the corps
commanders to meet Bragg and himself at
headquarters. When they had. assembled, he
began with General Longstreet, and asked
what they thought of him as a'General, and Of.
his condact in this fight. General Longstreet
said he had not seen Bragg half an hour on the
field before he saw he was not the man to com.
mand an army, and particularly this army. as it
was then situated; that his disposition of the
troops was horrible; and that his tactics were
wretched; that he had not the least confidence
n him, and begged that If he was not removed
the President would send him TLongstreeU
back to Virginia.