On Patrol

Growing up with an unusual name like “Braxton Bragg,” one quickly becomes accustomed to correcting people when they mishear or misread it.

It has its benefits, as well. It’s alliterative so, once people get it right, they usually remember it.

Both my first and last names begin with ‘B,’ so anything alphabetical typically works out in my favor.

Confederate General Braxton Bragg. Courtesy photo

What not everyone knows, however, is that my parents very carefully chose my name for its historical significance. My great, great, great, great uncle was the Confederate General Braxton Bragg, who served as commander of the Army of Tennessee, and later as an advisor to Confederate President Jefferson Davis, during the American Civil War.

Many might say that sharing the name of a Confederate general is a dubious legacy, but it’s been an important element of my life that has always provided me a unique link to part of our country’s history.

For example, my parents would sometimes plan family vacations around visits to Civil War battlefields. We visited Gettysburg—twice—Fredericksburg, and the Museum of the Confederacy in Richmond, Virginia. I often received books about my namesake, the Confederacy, or the Civil War. In fact, I have a copy of the official Braxton Bragg biography, Braxton Bragg and the Confederate Defeat, which I read cover-to-cover while in my early teens.

My ancestor’s victory at Chickamauga and subsequent defeat at Chattanooga by Ulysses S. Grant fascinated me. Perhaps even more interesting and controversial were Bragg’s tumultuous relationships with his subordinates, particularly generals William J. Hardee and Leonidas Polk.

If studying history helps us to avoid the mistakes of the past, perhaps one of the greatest lessons I can learn from Bragg’s experiences is to play nice with others.

In middle school, our faculty chose the Civil War as the topic for an interdisciplinary “Living History” project. Every student in my grade participated, but not all of them enjoyed it the same way I did.

Braxton, right, and his younger brother Colin at Gettysburg National Military Park in 1995. Courtesy photo.In multiple classes, I had opportunities to research the Civil War and my forebear’s role in it. The family connection made the project feel more exciting and alive

The semester culminated with a showcase in our cafeteria. I, like all of the students, wore a historically relevant costume, but mine came with a genuine antique on loan from my great aunt—a powder horn we believe may have belonged to the general.

As an adult, working at USO has been a fascinating experience thanks to all of the military history scholars I have encountered. In fact, during my initial interview with the organization, the CFO asked me whether I was related to the general. Such conversations have been frequent as I’ve met troops and other USO employees over the course of my years here. Each time, we usually end up discussing other ancestors or family members who have served in our nation’s military at one time or another.

It is not surprising that almost everyone can name a relative with a record of service, a testament to how closely it has touched all of our lives.

I’m not sure when I first became aware of Fort Bragg in North Carolina, but my younger brother and I have always felt a sense of pride in “our” fort, which houses the U.S. Army Airborne and Special Forces.

I believe awareness of these connections and an appreciation for the importance of military service is crucial for any American citizen. So, if you don’t know much about your family’s history, do a little digging. You might be surprised by what you’ll learn!