NF Bragg Has a Defender

[TerryB]

I watched a C-SPAN program last night featuring a new, kinder, gentler biography of Bragg. The author's last name was Hess, if I recall. The general came up a bit in my estimation, but the author admits he had a hard personality to get along with. The story Grant told (and admitted he wasn't sure it was true) about Bragg having a memo war with himself, leading the post commander to state, "Bragg, you've quarreled with every officer at this post and now you quarrel with yourself!" is apocryphal. Too bad! I always liked that one.

https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/br...oks_00000000&2sid=Google_&sourceId=PLGoP75606

 

[Sbc]

E

I watched a C-SPAN program last night featuring a new, kinder, gentler biography of Bragg. The author's last name was Hess, if I recall. The general came up a bit in my estimation, but the author admits he had a hard personality to get along with. The story Grant told (and admitted he wasn't sure it was true) about Bragg having a memo war with himself, leading the post commander to state, "Bragg, you've quarreled with every officer at this post and now you quarrel with yourself!" is apocryphal. Too bad! I always liked that one.

https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/br...oks_00000000&2sid=Google_&sourceId=PLGoP75606

Hess is usually spot on. Should be a good read on a tough topic.

 

[Pat Young]

I am reading the book by Hess right now. I will post a review when I finish it.

 

[nitrofd]

Hess's book is really an excellent read.Bragg has his problems but not all of them were 100% his fault.one of his biggest problems was in dealing with Breckinridge And Bruckner.Polk was a problem to everyone icluding himself.all the bad gossip that started about Bragg started from people no where he was.it was a frienddifferent of of a friend 's cousin said he did this and so on.
Another book woth reading which looks at a lot of primary sources I'd "Braxton Bragg and the Confederate Defeat,Vol.1 by by Grady McWhiney.

 

[CMWinkler]

https://www.c-span.org/video/?429295-3/confederate-general-braxton-bragg

Dr. Hess is a good author.

 

[CMWinkler]

I read his book on the Knoxville Campaign in connection with studying the Texas Brigade in the West. Well written and very authoritative.

 

[diane]

I'm interested in reading this book - lately I've been cutting both Bragg and Halleck some slack! Neither one is easy to like and I wouldn't want to work for Bragg at all, but...tweren't all his fault. His subordinates had no business undermining him and getting the knives out - Davis should have halted that funny business in the bud.

 

[Jamieva]

All of his writing is very good

 

[Sbc]

I read his book on the Knoxville Campaign in connection with studying the Texas Brigade in the West. Well written and very authoritative.

Read his book on Ezra Church--really good and informative.

 

[7th Mississippi Infantry]

Bragg having a memo war with himself

In the past, I've actually had to work for a guy that would have email arguments with himself.

New employees were very stressed about such confusion.

All of us veterans would just laugh at him.

This "Division Director" didn't last long.

 

[nitrofd]

In the past, I've actually had to work for a guy that would have email arguments with himself.

New employees were very stressed about such confusion.

All of us veterans would just laugh at him.

This "Division Director" didn't last long.

The story about Bragg arguing with himself was first mentioned in Grant's memoirs and he later admitted it was a good story and there never has been proven to have happened..just another case of an untruth rumor snowballs into becoming the gospel truth.this happened with so many people thru out history.

 

[ErnieMac]

I have Hess' books about Pea Ridge, Knoxville and Ezra Church. All are very well done.

 

[nitrofd]

I have Hess' books about Pea Ridge, Knoxville and Ezra Church. All are very well done.

If you are a die hard fan of Earl Hess,I have his book on Fortifications in the East.this gives a bigger insight then just breastworks.

 

[Jamieva]

His fortifications works are excellent.

I watched his talk on Bragg last night. Very interesting. I did not realize Bragg, like Lee, was having physical health issues in 63.

Also a good point that Hess made. Bragg and Polk hated each other from the day they met, and it really was Davis fault for keeping them together and hoping it would work out. He didn't remove Polk from the AoT until Bragg resigned.

 

[TerryB]

I first learned about McLemore's Cove from a book published by West Point and it's all maps. I read it years ago, and it was obvious from the maps that Bragg's subordinates threw away a golden opportunity to take on Rosy in detail as his divisions were strung out on the march. On the other hand, I think Hess is too easy on Bragg re Chickamauga. The smashing part of that victory was pure dumb luck, and one source I read claimed Bragg was sure he'd lost the battle. And any kudos he gets for Day 1 of Murfreesboro he threw away on Jan 2. I wonder could Bragg have won Chickamauga without Longstreet.

 

[Pat Young]

here is my review of Earl Hess's bio of Braxton Bragg.