The Mockingbird's Ballad

"Feb. 15, '63. Forrest blew up at the general and offered him his sword this week. A stupid, hotheaded, senseless action by General Forrest. He took exception with General Wharton as he read the report of Fort Donelson attack. Bragg had ordered General Wheeler to attack Ft. Donelson. Forrest had been given the task. It was cold, snowing, with two inches on the ground. Union forces too strong. Forrest withdrew and cussed Bragg, Wheeler and the elements. General Wheeler defending Wharton said, 'the report does ample justice to your (Forrest) men.' Forrest would have none of it. All I can say is we're cold and the weather is misery and Bragg's headquarters ordered a senseless offensive against a strong fort. The attack was a 'forlorn hope'. Everyone knows Forrest hates Bragg, threatened to give him a whipping. Bragg has no grievance against General Wheeler. The general gives General Wheeler a job and we do it. No trouble, we do our job. All can be said is that there is bad blood between Bragg and Forrest and General Wheeler is Bragg's Chief of Cavalry and Forrest is his subordinate - General Joe is caught in the middle. Politics everywhere in this here army."

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The major paused from reading of what seemed the far past and thought a few moments looking north and a little west toward Chattanooga before he wrote of the last few days happenings. He thumbed ahead to the next clean page.

"November 25, 1863 near Dalton, Georgia - It wasn't a disaster but it surely was a mistake. Time, time is the abiding enemy in living and in war. What Bragg planned, or was it Longstreet, or both? Just couldn't work. We had a mere three weeks to get to Knoxville and flush Burnsides out of his strong hold. He had plenty of shot and shell with good artillery soldiers. Idea was, with Burnsides threatened and maybe whipped and Knoxville and northeast Tennessee in danger, the Yankees have to take men from in front of Bragg at Chattanooga. Great idea, terrible in reality! Stalemate in Knoxville. Burnsides hunkered down and made good use of artillery. We couldn't budge them. Bragg called us back from Knoxville to Missionary Ridge November 23."

"Yesterday, Nov.26, near Ringgold, Georgia - Thomas and his bunch just plain walked over us as the Yankees marched over Missionary Bridge yesterday. The general, staff and escorts got to the battle at the beginning of the party. We were able to pull together some cavalry, not near enough, a puny group, and tried to do some good. Retreated with Cleburn's division and we turned on those arrogant SOB's. Hooker's bunch couldn't get past us. Lord, what a fight. Cleburn and Wheeler were tasting fire. A vicious ordeal. The general wounded by shrapnel in foot. Sent by ambulance east around Union positions. I'm moved back to Dalton with rear guard."