The Confederate counteroffensive
During the summer of 1862, in the absence of offensive Union strikes, the Confederates seized the opportunity to take the war back into the Upper South states of Tennessee and Kentucky. Besides, the federals had held the upper hand long enough in those states that civilians might desire Confederate redemption, particularly in light of the fact that Northern authorities were directing their armies to strike at the institution of slavery. About the same time that Halleck left the west, so too did Beauregard. MajorGeneral Braxton Bragg was his successor.
Confederate General Braxton Bragg had a distinguished prewar career After serving ir the Seminole War Bragg won three brevets in the Mexican War. He was ordered to command m the west m earl-/ 1862 and participated m the battles of Snilon, Fferryville. Stones River Chicicamauga. and Chattanooga. He was constantly in dispute with several top commanders, which considerably weakened his command (Ann Ronan P-cture Library)
A West Point graduate and Mexican War veteran, Bragg enjoyed a prominent reputation. He was bright, industrious, and an able administrator, but his argumentative manner often invited criticism and alienated him from others. Stilt, once he assumed command of the Confederate army in the west, he was determined to redeem the confederacy's lost fortunes. Having been driven from the Confederate heartland, Bragg devised a scheme that would reverse the war in the west.
Bragg's Kentucky invasion began after the Confederates retreated south to Tupelo in June. From there he would move his 22,500-man army by rail to Mobile and then to Chattanooga before Buell reached the city. In mid-July, he left Van Dorn at Tupelo and set out on a circuitous journey that would take several weeks, finally reaching Chattanooga by the end of August. From
Loimvilli
Frankfort
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