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Birth
Braxton was born in Warrenton NC. He had 5 other brothers. His father was a carpenter and contractor, and earned enough wealth to send him to the best school in the state at a young age. -
Attending West Point Academy
When Braxton was 16 years old, he was accepted into West Point Academy with the help of his oldest brother, a state legislator, and a U.S. Senator. He was a great student due to his excelent memory and didn't get into any trouble. There were many notable leaders who attended West Point in his years, like Joseph Hooker and William HT Walker. -
Graduating West Point
He graduated fifth of fifty cadets from the West Point Class of 1837 and was commissioned a second lieutenant in the 3rd U.S. Artillery. -
Second Seminole War in Florida
Bragg was commissioned into the 3rd U.S. Artillery and first served in Florida during the Second Seminole War (1835-42). He was next transferred to Charleston, South Carolina, where he was disciplined after publicly criticizing the esteemed U.S. General Winfield Scott. He was nown as a widely strict and disciplinary leader. -
Mexican-American War
Braxton and his men were ordered to join General Zachary Taylor in defending Texs from Mexico. He was promoted for his bravery and his distinguished conduct. He was promoted to captain, and then major, and finally lieutenant colonel in the Battle of Buena Vista. Buena Vista made him widely admired, and he returned as a war hero. -
Marriage and Family
After his fame stemming from the Mexican American war, he went on tour. IN Kentucky he met his wife, and they settled into a relaxed station in Missouri. They were then forced to leave and go to Indian territory in Oklahoma, and later Texas. The conditions of the forts in Texas were deplorable for his family. -
Resignation from Army
Braxton submitted his resignation on December 31, 185 after the conditions of his station were unsuitable for his family. They retired and purchased a sugar plantation, where they owned 105 slaves. -
Beginnings of the Civil War
Bragg also served as a colonel in the Louisiana militia. At the outbreak of the Civil War in 1861, he was promoted to major general in the militia and helped raise Louisiana’s army. He was later shifted to the rank of brigadier general in the Confederate Army and placed in command of troops on the Gulf Coast. -
Major Battle of Shiloh
Bragg’s first major combat experience came in April 1862 at the Battle of Shiloh in Tennessee. The battle ended in defeat, but Bragg received praise for his tenacious assaults on a Union position. He was promoted to full general that same day. Later Bragg was promoted to command of the Army of Mississippi. -
Commander of Army of Tennessee
Bragg led his army, fighting battles across the South. For about the first year, he was in high regards, losing some battles, but still gaining praise for his tactical skill. Later, in around Decemeber 1863, he began to come under scrutiny, his men calling for his replacement. -
Resignation as Confederate Genral
After a great battle against the Union, causing their 30,000 men dead in the Bttle of Chickamauga, Bragg declined to use his command's advantage and allowed the Union army to retreat. He came under great fire for this, and resigned in December 1863. -
Post-Civil War Service
After being relieved of his command, Bragg was appointed as the military advisor to Confederate President Jefferson Davis. He also coordinated Richmond’s defenses. In October 1864 Bragg took command of the defenses of Wilmington, North Carolina—one of the last ports of call for Confederate blockade-runners—and later oversaw the entire Department of North Carolina and Southern Virginia. In November 1864 he commanded the defenses of Augusta, Savannah and Columbia during General William T. Sherman’ -
Later Life
After the Civil War Bragg returned to Louisiana to find that the Union Army had seized his plantation. After struggling financially for some time, Bragg found work as the superintendent of the New Orleans Waterworks and then as the chief engineer of Alabama. He moved to Texas in 1874. -
Death
Bragg died in Galveston, Texas, in 1876 at the age of 59. Actual date of death unknown.
