October 27, 1863---"I had much rather fight Yankees than take corn from women and children."

OCTOBER 27, 1863:           

Unlike their Commander-in-Chief, Confederate soldiers are not waxing rhapsodic about the glories of war in Tennessee. An anonymous Georgian writes:

"...I just returned last night from a trip of three days up in Walker County, Georgia after corn. I could not find any corn to buy and had to press some. I pressed it from a lady whose husband is gone to the Yankees, It was very hard to do so and she was crying and begging but I could not help it, my orders was to get corn and I was obliged to get it. I don't want to go anymore. I had much rather fight Yankees than take corn from women and children. I had a good time otherwise, eating butter and milk and potatoes and other vegetables but it did not last long, but like the hog I had to return to my wallering in the clay and vomit again. ..."

October 26, 1863---Jeff Davis at Lookout Mountain

OCTOBER 26, 1863:            

After traveling to Lookout Mountain to mediate, unsuccessfully, among his squabbling Generals, Jefferson Davis begins a series of whistlestops through Confederate-held areas. According to the Atlanta-Knoxville Register, Davis, feeling that East Tennessee is vital to the Confederacy, says he will abandon Richmond if necessary in order to repossess East Tennessee. “The coming shock of contending armies on the soil of Tennessee will be decisive of the fate of the Confederation.”

After vindication by their Commander-in-Chief, Bragg’s “besieging” army skirmishes at Philadelphia, and Jones Hill, Tennessee with units of The Army of The Potomac. Bragg’s cavalry captures more than 400 Union prisoners, in addition to their artillery, small arms, and other equipment.