Page:Southern Historical Society Papers volume 12.djvu/56

 46 Southern Historical Society Papers.

note on page 496, of the November number, 1883, of the Southern Historical Society Papers, that Brigadier-General Alexander W. Reynolds's Brigade of East Tennesseeans were the first to give way at Mission Ridge, and could not be rallied, is the late General Bragg. In the preparation of the sketch. General Bragg furnished me many of his private papers, " preserved from the general wreck," and wrote me several letters in answer to certain questions at differ- ent times asked of him. The statement to which you called my attention was furnished in answer to one of these questions, but did not reach me until the sketch had been published in our city paper, the Columbus Index, then edited by our mutual friend, General J. H. Sharp. I appended the statement, and other information furnished me by General Bragg, in the form of notes, intending at some future time to elaborate more at length ; but on the visit here last winter of General George D. Johnston, agent of the Southern Historical Papers, he heard of the papers in my possession, and asked to read them, and then made the request that I furnish them to the Society at Richmond. In the following (last) February I received from Rev. J. William Jones, of the Society, a very urgent • letter requesting copits of my papers. Not having the time to make copies, I sent him the original papers by express on the 13th of P^bruary last, and heard no more from them until I saw the first installment of the " Sketch " published in the Papers.

The original autograph letter of General Bragg, dated February 8, 1873, containing the statement of which you complain, is quite lengthy, and written entirely with pencil; and, along with the other letters, is in the possession of the Southern Historical Society, where you can, I presume, by writing to the Secretary, obtain a copy. It was in a good state of preservation when forwarded by me.

In his report of the battle of Mission Ridge you will observe that General Bragg charges Anderson's division with first giving way and permitting the enemy to pierce our centre; but you can see by read- ing the letter of February 8, 1873, a copy of which is now before me, he makes the following unqualified declaration:

" I have always believed our disasters at Mission Ridge were due immediately to misconduct of a brigade of Buckner's troops from East Tennessee, commanded by Brigadier-General Alexander W. Reynolds, which first gave way and could not be rallied."

You will find in said letter many startling revelations, which I would not, for obvious reasons, allude to in the "sketch."

So far as I personally know, this brigade may or may not have