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to him. He didn’t completely trust Liddell, knew that Liddell had been one of those noisy annoyances from the field, speaking out against Bragg’s decisions during several engagements. Bragg had little regard for brigadecommanders who assumed to know more than their commanding general. But still … Liddell was here now. And the message he was offering to Bragg might be placing Liddell in a compromised situation within his own command. At the very least, Bragg was intrigued by the courage, or the backhandedness required for Liddell to address him at all.
    “Is it not true, Mr. Liddell, that you have been a critic of mine in the past? Have you not done your own share of spouting out? Now you tell me others are doing the same, and you come here … why? From a sense of outrage?”
    Liddell seemed to understand his predicament, chose his words carefully. “Sir, I admit that I have often disagreed with your command decisions, or your methods of maneuver. I have however been discreet within the bounds of my station. My concern is that others … including many who outrank me … are not so discreet. There are boundaries of protocol. Those boundaries are being grossly violated.”
    Bragg stared at Liddell with a hard scowl, waited for more, could see that the man was extremely uncomfortable. “You said a petition. Who signed it?”
    Liddell looked down. “I did not, sir.”
    “I assumed that you are not both indiscreet and stupid, General. If your signature was on that petition, you wouldn’t be here, correct? You’d be out there, scurrying about your headquarters like the other rats who claim to support this
vessel
of an army, all the while abandoning it.”
    “I cannot recall every name, sir. Numerous officers were present. Most all outranked me, though there were some regimental commanders who signed as well.”
    “Longstreet?”
    “Yes, sir. Most definitely.”
    That was no surprise to Bragg. Any petition condemning Bragg that was being circulated through his command would most likely originate with Longstreet.
    “What does it say, precisely? As precisely as you can recall.”
    “I … prefer not to attempt to quote such seditiousness, sir. Suffice to say that a dozen or more general officers in this army have petitionedPresident Davis to remove you from command. Your abilities are being soundly dismissed. Must I say more?”
    “Hill? Buckner? Breckinridge?”
    Liddell took a long breath. “I believe so, sir. Cleburne, Randall, Preston. No, not Breckinridge.”
    “No, of course not. Ever the politician. One’s name on a piece of paper can’t be so easily denied should that piece of paper one day become inconvenient. But, General, tell me, why is your signature not on that piece of paper? I am well aware of your lack of respect for this chair.”
    Liddell seemed to ponder the question. “Sir, I have revealed to you the details of a subject which has caused me, and will cause this entire army, considerable anxiety. My own feelings are well known within my own camp, and no further. Two weeks ago, the fruits of victory were right before us. All we had to do was grab them. I believe an opportunity was lost. But I would not voice that opinion to any public forum. It is unbecoming an officer. I was outraged that these men would be so blatant in their efforts to remove you from command. It is no less than an act of mutiny.”
    “And by that you are outraged. And you would perform an act of indiscretion by approaching me directly to let me know just how outraged you are. You, who have been quick to question my decisions, who may perhaps believe with those others, that I am not fit to command this army.”
    “I would not sign, sir. I would not go so far as to question your abilities for command.”
    “Go as far as you wish, General Liddell. By signing this ridiculous petition, my enemies have made themselves known to me. They have revealed their cards, as it were. But I am not concerned by this. Not at