Continuation of Confederate Veteran Magazine’s 1895 article on Gen. Bragg by Dr. S.H. Stout:

“None who  approached appealing for justice, pleading for mercy, or asking a favor, ever went from his presence unheard. He would not allow needless interruptions. His prompt dismissal from his presence of all parties when their business was completed often offended even those whose requests had been granted.

“Referring to the unhappy state of the army after the battle of Chickamauga, the arrest of certain Generals for failure to obey orders, and then the petition of a dozen of them [including Gen. Longstreet] to President Davis that the Commanding General be relieved, induced a volunteer official conference with him by Dr. Stout.

“Under these conditions, Rev. C. D. Elliott, of Nashville, Tenn., who was widely known, and intimate with generals and private soldiers, in speaking with the Medical Director [i.e. Stout], said: ‘Ah! when passing about the many headquarters, I heard little else than discussions about the chances of promotion of various parties, and in some circles, nothing but the abuse of poor old Bragg. But whenever, or wherever I have seen him, I have found him hard at work night and day always laboring for the cause, thinking not of self indulgence or personal ease, but living hard. He is respected and loved by the private soldier. He is eminently a just and, I believe, a consecrated Christian man.

“‘He never praises, he never permits himself to be praised or flattered. If he only had suavity of manner commensurate with his self denying patriotism and untiring industry, what a grandly successful man he would be!'”

Obviously, a manager who never praises is unlikely to be “loved” by anyone who works for him.

Next: Stout on Bragg’s professional background in the U.S. and Rebel armies.