mihalik wrote:
Walking along the top of Missionary Ridge at Chattanooga I still found it difficult to believe the Rebs lost it in the manner they did..
Amen to that. I stood on top of Missionary Ridge, looking down, and decided Bragg wasn't quite as stupid as so many have made him out to be for thinking that line was impregnable. I couldn't see how any body of men could possibly have climbed that ridge under fire. I've read some of the reasons why the Rebel line fell apart (inability to depress their artillery far enough to fire at the advancing enemy, low morale due to seeing the entire Union force spread out in the valley below, no viable line of retreat, etc.), but these were from the benefit of hindsight.
I still wouldn't want him as my superior officer, but in this case I am willing to give him the benefit of the doubt.