History of Warrenton, (Warren County) North Carolina United States of America

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Biographies:

Braxton Bragg, soldier, was born in Warrenton, Warren county, N. C., March 22, 1817; brother of Thomas Bragg, statesman. He was graduated at West Point in 1837 and took a conspicuous part in both the Seminole and Mexican wars as Heutenant of artillery. His gallantry and bravery won him steady promotion. He attained the rank of captain by brevet for the defence of Fort Brown, that of major of artillery for bravery at Monterey, and in 1847 that of Heutenant-colone1 for gallantry at the battle of Buena Vista. In January, 1856, he resigned his commission and retired to his plantation in Louisiana. Upon the breaking out of the civil war he reported for service in the Confederate army; was appointed brigadier-general and placed in command of the forces at Pensacola, Fla. In return for brilliant services in the Pensacola campaign he was raised in February, 1862, to the rank of major-general, was engaged in the battle of Shiloh, and, on the death of Gen. Albert Sydney Johnston, he was promoted general, and succeeded General Beauregard as commander of the department of the Mississippi. In August, 1862, he left Chattanooga, passed through east Tennessee and entered Kentucky at the head of forty-five thousand men, expecting to capture Louisville. General Buell reached Louisville in advance, and compelled him to retire after having fought the battle of Perryville. This was the beginning of a series of reverses that befell his command. He was placed under arrest for a short time, but was restored and given command of the army, opposing General Rosecrans. He was defeated at Murfreesboro, Jan. 2, 1863, losing nine thousand men killed and wounded. On Sept. 19-20, 1863, he again encountered Rosecrans at Chickamauga, and, though he won the victory, he lost fifteen thousand men in the two days of the battle. In November of the same year he met with disastrous defeat in the battle of Chattanooga, and was deprived of his command for the loss of Mission Ridge. At the invitation of President Davis he then repaired to Richmond, to act as military adviser to the president. In 1864 he led a small force from North Carolina to Georgia, in an unsuccessful attempt to intercept General Sherman. After peace had been established, he accepted the position of chief engineer for the state of Alabama, and had entire charge of the improvements in Mobile harbor. He died in Galveston, Texas, Sept. 27, 1876.

From: Twentieth Century Biographical Dictionary of Notable Americans, Johnson, Rossiter, editor

Thomas Bragg, senator, was born in Warrenton, N.C., Nov. 9, 1810; son of Thomas and Margaret (Crossland) Bragg and brother of Brax-ton Bragg. After a classical course he took a course at the military academy at Middletown, Conn. He then studied law, was admitted to the bar in 1831, and, settling in Jackson, N.C., began practice. He served for one term in the popular branch of the state legislature in 1842-'43, was elected governor of the state in 1854 and re-elected upon the expiration of his term. In 1859 he was elected as U.S. senator from North Carolina, and in July, 1861, he was expelled from the senate, having meanwhile accepted the position of attorney-general in the cabinet of Jefferson Davis. In 1863 he resigned from the cabinet and returned to his home and the practice of his profession. He took some interest in local politics after the establishment of peace, and in 1870 took an active part in the impeachment of Governor Holden. He died at Raleigh, N. C., Jan. 21, 1872.

From: Twentieth Century Biographical Dictionary of Notable Americans, Johnson, Rossiter, editor