Braxton Bragg by Earl J. Hess

Author:Earl J. Hess
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: The University of North Carolina Press

SIMON B. BUCKNER. A member of the troublesome Kentucky clique in the Army of Tennessee, Buckner initially tried to soothe Bragg’s anger at Polk’s disobedience of orders during the Kentucky campaign. He then turned into a vocal critic of Bragg, to a large degree because his Department of East Tennessee was merged into Bragg’s Department of Tennessee. Buckner played a key role in derailing Bragg’s promising plan to smash the Federals at McLemore’s Cove and retained a critical attitude toward his former commander for the rest of his long life. (Library of Congress, LC-DIG-cwpb-07431)

Another confrontation with a subordinate developed in October. Nathan Bedford Forrest had been ordered to Bragg’s army in the summer of 1863 and placed in command of a division. He had, with Joseph Wheeler, been unable to provide timely information about Rosecrans’s movements, contributing to Bragg’s problems. Forrest seemed more interested in getting back to an independent command in West Tennessee than in doing his duties. On August 9, he told Samuel Cooper of a plan to give up his division under Bragg and organize a small force designed to harass Northern steamboat traffic on the Mississippi River. Forrest believed he could accomplish more good in this way than in his current position. At this point, Bragg still relied on Forrest and claimed he could not spare him. Davis was willing to let Forrest have his way but deferred to Bragg’s judgment for the time being. When Forrest realized Bragg was reluctant to let him go, he sent a copy of his proposal directly to Davis. The Rebel president, however, continued to defer to Bragg’s judgment.58

Forrest served Bragg poorly after Chickamauga as well. The commander wanted to use his mounted arm to cut the Union supply line into Chattanooga, but he also had to contend with a move by Burnside’s cavalry from Knoxville early in September. He ordered Forrest to leave a brigade to cover the army’s right flank on September 25 and take the rest of his division to Cleveland, Tennessee. When Forrest exceeded his orders by pushing Burnside’s cavalry north of Cleveland, Bragg became angry. Striking Rosecrans’s supply line was more important, so he ordered Forrest to detach most of his division to Wheeler. Bragg knew Wheeler could be counted on to obey orders. Moreover, Wheeler had done very well in destroying Rosecrans’s wagon trains at Stones River. His decision to favor Wheeler instead of Forrest was fully justified.59

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