January 18, 1865---"What God failed to do . . . To make a soldier of Braxton Bragg."

JANUARY 18, 1865:           

The Charleston Mercury reports on the fall of Fort Fisher, which it discounts. The report reads in part:

THE LAND ATTACK ON WILMINGTON

- DEFENCE AND FALL OF FORT FISHER

Our community was much depressed yesterday by the news, which reaches here in the forenoon that Fort Fisher, the gate of the Cape Fear River, had succumbed to another tremendous combined land and naval attack by the enemy. It was currently stated that among the incidents o the disaster, 3000 of our men . . . are all reported to have been wounded . . .  We annex a detailed account of the attack from a Wilmington contemporary:

As already stated . . . the enemy suddenly appeared off our coast on Thursday night . . .  and commenced landing on Friday morning . . .  On Friday they landed a considerable force . . . 

On Friday the bombardment of Fort Fisher was heavy . . . We learn that on Saturday and yesterday the bombardment continued heavy . . . the last report we have heard is that things remain pretty much in status quo . . . the enemy force consists of seven thousand whites and four thousand negroes.

General Bragg telegraphed Sunday forenoon that all was quiet, and then there was no cause for excitement or apprehension . . . 

LATER.

At half-past six . . . (Sunday) . . .  the enemy were making a heavy assault by land and sea. The bombardment was going on furiously . . . It is reported that the enemy had succeeded in establishing a battery on the river above Fort Fisher and below Sugar Loaf, cutting off communication with the fort by water . . . The gallant defenders of Fort Fisher are passing through a terrible ordeal. God grant that they may pass through it successfully.

STILL LATER.

The following official dispatch from General Bragg has been kindly handed to us. SUGAR LOAF, JANUARY 15, 8 p.m.

The sensational reports about Fisher are entirely unfounded. Official information from General Whiting of later hour, reports enemy attack unsuccessful. Fresh troops are being sent to him, and we are confident they will hold it.

***

It should be remembered that Bragg was not present at Fort Fisher and ignored Fort Fisher’s repeated calls for reinforcement. Where this information came from, and whether Bragg simply made it up, is unknown.  Certainly, Bragg had refused to send fresh troops. Bragg’s military career and reputation, already badly dented, is ruined by the debacle. General Joseph Johnston wrote:

I know Mr. Davis thinks he can do a great many things other men would hesitate to attempt. For instance, he tried to do what God failed to do. He tried to make a soldier of Braxton Bragg . . ."

 

Bragg’s negative reputation dated back to before the Civil War, when he supposedly requisitioned powder and shell (in his capacity as a Battery Commander), passed the paperwork on (in his capacity as the Company Clerk), and then denied the requisition (in his capacity as the Company Supply Officer); having denied his own request he (as Battery Commander) then filed an appeal (as Company Clerk) against himself (as Supply Officer) to a superior officer who approved it with much head-shaking and many harsh words for Bragg. Although the story is bizarre (and probably apocryphal) it reflects the low opinion which most fellow officers held of the inflexible Bragg. Jefferson Davis, however, was one of Bragg’s few friends, and stood by him no matter what, and too often blindly.