68 Southern Historical Socictf/ /'timers.
torious enemy and Breckenridge' s shattered columns, gave time for the latter to rally and resume a line they had held in the morning.
This affair gave rise to much bitter feeling between General Bragg and Major-General Breckenridge, Bragg in his official report having animadverted very severely upon Breckenridge' s conduct and having attributed more I think to my brigade than it was entitled to. On the other hand Breckenridge hardly did us justice, or rather his friends, who discussed the matter in the public prints did not give me due credit for our conduct or operations on that occasion. They rather contended that I reached the ground after the fight was over, and although we came with good intentions and doubtless would have rendered efficient services, if it had been necessary, yet there was nothing to be done after our arrival, &c. The facts are, however, as I have stated them here, and as I stated them in my official report on that occasion, a copy of which I sent to General Breckenridge, whereupon he wrote me a very complimentary note, characterizing the report as one that was "truthful and manly." [This note, with many valuable packages, including most of his Confed- erate correspondence and official reports in a handsome desk, were burned at St. Marks, Fla., while awaiting shipment. The warehouse was burned and they in it in 1869. E. A. A.] I think General Bragg founded his report upon exaggerated statements of some partial friend of mine and hence attributed to more than I deserved. I al- lude to it here because both Bragg' s and Breckenridge' s statements may become matters of controversy and dispute hereafter.)
After the battle of Murfreesboro, during the illness and absence of Major-General Withers, I was in command of the division for over a month. In the meantime Brigadier-General Chalmers, who com- manded a brigade of Mississippians in the division, was transferred to the cavalry service in Mississippi, and upon Withers resuming command of the division, I was assigned permanently to the com- mand of Chalmers' brigade, which I exercised without interruption while the army was at Shelbyville, Tenn., and during our retreat from that place to Chattanooga, in June-July, 1863.
In July, 1863, I was sent with my brigade to hold the Tennessee river at Bridgeport and vicinity, while the balance of the army was at Chattanooga aad above there on the river. This duty was per- formed to the entire satistaction of General Bragg. In August Withers was transferred to duty in Alabama and Hindman was as- signed to the command of the division. Shortly before evacuating Chattanooga my brigade was withdrawn from Bridgeport by order
