95 Facts About Braxton Bragg

Braxton Bragg resigned from the US Army in 1856 to become a sugar plantation owner in Louisiana.

At the start of the Civil War, Braxton Bragg trained soldiers in the Gulf Coast region.

Braxton Bragg was a corps commander at the Battle of Shiloh, where he launched several costly and unsuccessful frontal assaults but nonetheless was commended for his conduct and bravery.

In June 1862, Braxton Bragg was elevated to command the Army of Mississippi.

Later that month, with the assistance of Confederate forces from the Eastern Theater under James Longstreet, Braxton Bragg was able to defeat Rosecrans at the Battle of Chickamauga, the bloodiest battle in the Western Theater, and the only significant Confederate victory therein.

Braxton Bragg forced Rosecrans back into Tennessee, but was criticized for the heavy casualties his army suffered and for not mounting an effective pursuit.

Braxton Bragg briefly returned to the field as a corps commander near the war's end during the Campaign of the Carolinas.

Braxton Bragg is generally considered among the worst generals of the Civil War.

The losses suffered by Braxton Bragg's forces are cited as highly consequential to the ultimate defeat of the Confederate States of America.

Braxton Bragg was born in Warrenton, North Carolina, one of the six sons of Thomas and Margaret Crosland Bragg.

Braxton Bragg was often ridiculed as a child because of rumors about his mother's prison sentence for allegedly murdering an African American freeman, and some of those rumors stated that he was born in prison.

Braxton Bragg was descended from Captain Christopher Newport of Jamestown, Virginia, and his son-in-law Thomas Bragg, who was born in England and settled in the Colony of Virginia.

When Braxton Bragg was only ten years old, his father decided on a military career for him and sought ways to obtain a nomination to the United States Military Academy.

Braxton Bragg did well in academic pursuits because of his superior memory rather than diligent study and received fewer disciplinary demerits than most of his contemporaries.

Braxton Bragg graduated fifth of fifty cadets from the West Point Class of 1837 and was commissioned a second lieutenant in the 3rd US Artillery.

Braxton Bragg served in the Second Seminole War in Florida, initially as an assistant commissary officer and regimental adjutant, seeing no actual combat.

Braxton Bragg soon began to suffer from a series of illnesses that he blamed on the tropical climate.

Braxton Bragg sought a medical transfer and was briefly assigned to recruiting duty in Philadelphia, but in October 1840, he was ordered back to Florida.

Braxton Bragg launched a series of argumentative letters with senior Army officials, including the adjutant general and Army paymaster, that established his reputation as "disputatious".

Braxton Bragg had a reputation for being a disciplinarian who strictly adhered to regulations.

Braxton Bragg submitted a requisition for supplies for his company, then, as quartermaster, declined to fill it.

Braxton Bragg had suspicions about the perpetrator's identity but had insufficient evidence to bring charges.

Braxton Bragg included thoughtful recommendations on a proposed structure for the Army general staff that were ignored at the time but echoed in reorganizations that occurred in the early 20th century.

Braxton Bragg had been court-martialled and convicted; he had been censured by the Secretary of War, the adjutant general, and the commander of the Eastern division.

Braxton Bragg was arrested and sent to Fort Monroe, Virginia, where he was court-martialed for disobeying orders and disrespecting his superior officers.

Braxton Bragg conducted his own defense and attempted to turn the trial into a condemnation of Scott.

Braxton Bragg was found guilty, but an official reprimand from the Secretary of War and suspension at half pay for two months were relatively mild punishments, and Bragg was not deterred from future criticisms of his superiors.

Braxton Bragg was promoted to captain within the regular army in June 1846.

Braxton Bragg became widely admired in Taylor's army for the discipline and drill of his men and the newly tried tactics of light artillery that proved decisive in most of his engagements against the Mexican Army.

Braxton Bragg having, no thanks to them, won for himself a brilliant reputation, is the object of the most fulsome adulation.

On December 31,1855, Braxton Bragg submitted his resignation from the Army, which became effective on January 3,1856.

Braxton Bragg continued to uphold his reputation as a stern disciplinarian and an advocate of military efficiency.

Braxton Bragg's methods resulted in almost immediate profitability, despite a large mortgage on the property.

Braxton Bragg became active in local politics and was elected to the Board of Public Works in 1860.

Braxton Bragg opposed the concept of secession, believing that no majority could set aside a written constitution in a republic, but this belief would soon be tested.

Braxton Bragg took the assignment even though he had been opposed to secession.

On January 11,1861, Braxton Bragg led a group of 500 volunteers to Baton Rouge, where they persuaded the commander of the federal arsenal there to surrender.

Braxton Bragg commanded the forces around New Orleans until April 16, but his commission was transferred to be a brigadier general of the Confederate States Army on March 7,1861.

Braxton Bragg commanded forces in Pensacola, Florida, Alabama, and the Department of West Florida and was promoted to major general on September 12,1861.

Braxton Bragg's tenure was successful, and he trained his men to be some of the best-disciplined troops in the Confederate Army, such as the 5th Georgia and the 6th Florida Regiments.

Braxton Bragg was concerned about the prospects of victory west of the Mississippi River and the poorly supplied and ill-disciplined troops there.

Braxton Bragg was experiencing one of the periodic episodes of ill health that plagued him throughout the war.

Braxton Bragg proposed to Davis that he change his strategy of attempting to defend every square mile of Confederate territory, recommending that his troops were of less value on the Gulf Coast than they would be farther to the north, concentrated with other forces for an attack against the Union Army in Tennessee.

Braxton Bragg transported about 10,000 men to Corinth, Mississippi, in February 1862 and was charged with improving the poor discipline of the Confederate troops already assembled under General Albert Sidney Johnston.

Braxton Bragg's men became bogged down against a Union salient called the Hornet's Nest, which he attacked for hours with piecemeal frontal assaults.

Braxton Bragg received public praise for his conduct in the battle.

Braxton Bragg was then appointed his successor as commander of the Western Department, including the Army of Mississippi, on June 17,1862.

Braxton Bragg considered various options, including an attempt to retake Corinth or to advance against Buell's army through Middle Tennessee.

Braxton Bragg eventually heeded Kirby Smith's calls for reinforcement and decided to relocate his Army of Mississippi to join him.

Braxton Bragg moved 30,000 soldiers in a tortuous railroad journey from Tupelo through Mobile and Montgomery to Chattanooga, while his cavalry and artillery moved by road.

Smith and Braxton Bragg met in Chattanooga on 31 July 1862.

Unable to command Smith to honor their plan, Braxton Bragg focused on a movement to Lexington instead of Nashville.

Braxton Bragg cautioned Smith that Buell could pursue and defeat his smaller army before Bragg's army could join them.

Braxton Bragg had to decide whether to continue toward a fight with Buell or rejoin Smith, who had gained control of the center of the state by capturing Richmond and Lexington and threatened to move on Cincinnati.

Leonidas Polk to attack what he thought was an isolated portion of Buell's command but had difficulty motivating Polk to begin the fight until Braxton Bragg arrived in person.

Braxton Bragg referred to his retreat as a withdrawal, the successful culmination of a giant raid.

Braxton Bragg saw that his army had little to gain from a further, isolated victory, whereas a defeat might cost not only the bountiful food and supplies yet collected but his army.

Braxton Bragg renamed his force the Army of Tennessee on November 20,1862.

Braxton Bragg struck back, court-martialing one division commander for disobeying orders, accusing another of drunkenness during the battle, and blaming Breckinridge for inept leadership.

Disheartened, Braxton Bragg told a friend that it might "be better for the President to send someone to relieve me," and wrote Davis to the same effect.

Braxton Bragg's generals were vocal in their dissatisfaction with his command during the Kentucky campaign and Stones River.

Braxton Bragg reacted to the rumors of criticism by circulating a letter to his corps and division commanders that asked them to confirm in writing that they had recommended withdrawing after the latter battle, stating that if he had misunderstood them and withdrawn mistakenly, he would willingly step down.

Braxton Bragg wrote the letter when several of his most faithful supporters were on leave for illness or wounds.

Braxton Bragg was slow to react, and his subordinates were typically uncooperative: the mistrust among the Army of Tennessee general officers for the past months led to little direct communication about strategy, and neither Polk nor Hardee had a firm understanding of Braxton Bragg's plans.

Braxton Bragg demurred, concerned about the daunting geographical obstacles and logistical challenges, preferring to wait for Rosecrans to solve those same problems and attack him.

Braxton Bragg was rightly concerned about a sizable Union force under Maj.

Braxton Bragg continued to suffer from the conduct of his subordinates, who were not attentive to his orders.

Braxton Bragg aimed to cut off Rosecrans from Chattanooga and destroy his army.

Braxton Bragg's army suffered 18,450 casualties, making this the costliest Confederate victory of the entire war.

Braxton Bragg turned over temporary command to Hardee on December 2 and was replaced with Joseph E Johnston, who commanded the army in the 1864 Atlanta Campaign against William T Sherman.

In February 1864, Braxton Bragg was summoned to Richmond for consultation with Davis.

Braxton Bragg used his organizational abilities to reduce corruption and improve the supply system.

Braxton Bragg took over responsibility for administrating the military prison system and its hospitals.

Braxton Bragg reshaped the Confederacy's conscription process by streamlining the chain of command and reducing conscripts' avenues of appeal.

Braxton Bragg harbored the hope that he might be chosen to return to command of the army but was willing to support Davis's choice.

Still, Braxton Bragg was reluctant to promote an old enemy and reported that Hardee would provide no change in strategy from Johnston's.

Braxton Bragg had extensive conversations with a more junior corps commander, Lt.

In October 1864, President Davis sent Braxton Bragg to assume temporary command of the defenses of Wilmington, North Carolina.

Braxton Bragg's responsibility was increased at the recommendation of Robert E Lee to include all of the Department of North Carolina and Southern Virginia.

Braxton Bragg assumed that the first failed siege meant the fort was invulnerable, but poor communication and planning from the US forces had played a large role.

Braxton Bragg became, in effect, a corps commander under Johnston for the remainder of the Carolinas Campaign.

Braxton Bragg attended the final cabinet meeting and convinced Davis that the cause was lost.

In 1867 Braxton Bragg became the superintendent of the New Orleans waterworks, but a formerly enslaved African-American man soon replaced him as the Reconstructionists came to power.

Braxton Bragg worked there for four months before becoming dissatisfied with the profession and its low pay.

Braxton Bragg considered but rejected a position in the Egyptian Army.

Braxton Bragg remained in Texas as an inspector of railroads.

On September 27,1876, at the age of 59, Braxton Bragg was walking down a street with a friend in Galveston, Texas, when he suddenly fell over unconscious.

On his celebratory tour, Braxton Bragg visited Evergreen Plantation in Wallace, Louisiana, where he met 23-year-old Eliza Brooks Ellis, known to her friends as Elise, a wealthy sugar heiress.

The primitive conditions at these forts were unsuitable for the married couple, and after another six months, Braxton Bragg requested leave, and the couple returned to Thibodaux.

Braxton Bragg traveled to Washington to implore Secretary of War Jefferson Davis to reassign his artillery battery away from frontier duty, but was unsuccessful.

In June 1863, Braxton Bragg received religious instruction and was baptized into the Episcopal Church in Shelbyville, Tennessee.

Braxton Bragg loved to crush the spirit of the men.

Woodworth claims that Bragg never received the support Davis gave to Robert E Lee and Sidney Johnston.

Historians Grady McWhiney and Woodworth have stated that, contrary to popular belief, Davis and Braxton Bragg were not friends, having bitterly quarreled during the antebellum years.

Braxton Bragg regularly addressed his letters to Davis as "Your Friend" and worked with Davis in the Carolina Insurance Company.