Joe Johnston instead of Beauregard

[ole]

Bragg was known for his ability to whip raw troops into shape quickly -- he demonstrated that at Pensecola. Might there be a reason in this for early advancement?

ole

[elektratig]

Originally Posted by ole

Bragg was known for his ability to whip raw troops into shape quickly -- he demonstrated that at Pensecola. Might there be a reason in this for early advancement?

ole

Ole,

Exactly right. My point was simply that Davis and Bragg had not been buds before the war. Early on during the war, Davis came to appreciate Bragg's virtues. Bragg rose because Davis came to respect him for his deeds and words, not due to old friendship. Here's some more Woodworth:

"While at Pensacola Bragg began to attract the favorable notice of the president for his energy and efficiency in organizing and training troops as well as for his unselfish offer to send four of his best regiments to Virginia in exchange for four newly raised regiments. In September [1861] he was promoted to major general and given charge of all of Alabama and West Florida.

"Despite these promotions he was incensed when the command at New Orleans went to Mansfield Lovell. . . . [H]e continued to believe that Davis was 'not overwell inclined towards' him. In reality Davis was shrewdly assessing Bragg and discovering that the Confederacy had in him an officer of great potential value. Davis had remarked that Bragg was 'the only General in command of an Army who has shown himself equal to the management of volunteers and at the same time commanded their love and respect.'"

Ironically, Bragg was apparently one of the few people who gained Davis's respect by speaking bluntly:

"[While in Pensacola, Bragg] came to realize Davis's error in trying to hold every last inch of . . . the Confederacy, when the wiser course would be to abandon nonstrategic points and concentrate Confederate strength . . . . This opinion Bragg expressed in letters to Richmond, which may have further impressed Davis since he was also beginning to see the advisability of greater concentration."

Nytram01,

Here's Woodworth on Beauregard and Davis:

"In mid-June [1862], without requesting permission and almost without warning, Beauregard decided his chronic ill health entitled him to a week or two of vacation . . .. Accordingly, he turned over the command temporarily to Bragg and left, writing to Richmond to assure the authorities that he would be at Bladon Springs only 'long enough to restore my shattered health.' Then he would return . . ..

"This unprecedented action made Davis's next move simple. If Beauregard's health was so bad he needed an indefinite period of rest, that was reason enough to remove him. If more reason was needed, there was the fact that Beauregard had essentially deserted his post in the face of the enemy and very much without permission . . .."

Woodworth makes pretty clear, however, that but for Beauregard's absenting himself, Davis did not feel at liberty to relieve Beauregard of command due to his popularity. For this reason, Davis had been trying backhanded methods, such as asking Charleston authorities to contact Beauregard directly to ask him to return there.