Regardless of one’s personal feelings about the factors that created the Confederacy, it is difficult to deny the accomplishments of the military officers of the Confederacy. No one would argue that Robert E. Lee and Stonewall Jackson were not impressive military generals, or that J.E.B. Stuart or P.G.T. Beauregard was not as fine in battle as anyone the U.S. Army had to offer. What, then, accounts for the tarnished reputation of Braxton Bragg, the eighth-highest ranking officer in the Confederate Army who is nonetheless remembered as the Confederate Army’s biggest liability?

Braxton Bragg’s career started off much like those of the other major Confederate military officers. After graduating

from West Point in 1837 - fifth in his class - Bragg was commissioned a second lieutenant, and served admirably in the Second Seminole War and the Mexican-American War, where he moved up the ranks quickly. However, he made enemies on his way up; it is rumored that some of the men in his command attempted twice to assassinate him, and once a 12 pound artillery shell was exploded beneath his cot.

Bragg’s querulous nature no doubt played a part in the attempts on his life, and certainly made those who served with him resentful. In 1856 Bragg no doubt relieved many by retiring from the Army to take up the life of a sugar planter in Louisiana, a retirement that came to an early end in 1861 at the beginning of the Civil War.

A strict disciplinarian and even stricter interpreter of military rules and regulations, Bragg whipped his Louisiana regiment into shape, over the no doubt loud and lusty complaints of his men, and soon gained the rank of major general. In 1862 he was given command of the Army of Tennessee, and his descent began.

Bragg’s first misstep as commanding general of the Army of Tennessee was a failed invasion of Kentucky. His retreat into Tennessee by way of a circuitous route that took his army through the treacherous pass at Cumberland Gap culminated in an almost-victory at Stones River, which again resulted in Bragg withdrawing his troops and ceding ground to the Union.

By this time the battle-timid, irascible Bragg was becoming unpopular with his men, two of whom, Generals Leonidas Polk and William Hardee, embarked upon a letter writing campaign to have Bragg removed from command. Although this attempt failed, it just the beginning of the insubordination Bragg would face from Polk, Hardee, and others.

As the war in Tennessee moved closer to Union General Rosecrans stronghold in Chattanooga, Bragg began to see the effects of his feud with his subordinates. Generals D.H. Hill and Polk both refused to follow orders from Bragg that could have helped defeat Rosecrans sooner rather than later. However, Bragg and General Longstreet prevailed over Rosecrans at Chickamauga, and Bragg used the victory to divest himself of both Polk and Hill, who were transferred to other units.

But true to form, Bragg refused to pursue the Union forces and run them out of Chattanooga, and the battle within the Confederate ranks began, with the defeat of Bragg the ultimate goal.

The dissent that existed between Bragg and his subordinates was such that Lieutenant General James Longstreet lamented that “nothing but the hand of God can save us or help us as long as we have our present commander.” The brash and outspoken Nathan Bedford Forrest, never one to mince words, told Bragg, regarding his refusal to go after the Union troops after Chickamauga,”you have played the part of a damned scoundrel. … If you ever again try to interfere with me or cross my path it will be at the peril of your life.”

Bragg’s career as a commanding officer was short-lived after these incidents. He ended up in Richmond as Jefferson Davis’ military advisor, going back into the field to attempt to save Fort Fisher, the last major stronghold of the Confederacy, and nearly losing it to Union General Kinston, as well.

There are historians who would argue that Bragg was a victim of the vociferous complaints of more popular generals who have been widely admired in the years since, or that Bragg’s less-than generous nature, which made him unpopular with his subordinates, has tainted his legacy. While there may be truth to both arguments, the fact is that Bragg simply was not as outstanding a general as Lee, Jackson, or even Stuart or A.P. Hill. In a pantheon of heroes such is the tableau of the Confederate Army, a fair-to-middling officer such as was Bragg is simply outflanked.

Posted: 10|27|08 at 11:16 am. Filed under: Articles.
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