so by the time bragg confronts william stark in murfreesboro on december 31st and january 2nd, 1863, he was on the verge of losing control of his army. and though his men fought hard and defended the city of murfreesboro for two days in the face of their numerically superior federal foes, bragg again wins a tactical victory and then says, time to go home. so he withdraws his army. in the days following the battle and the late in hostility of paul carty and benjamin cheatham turns to full blown mutiny. by early january of 1863, the intrepid observer arthur james lyon freemantle, another wonderful civil war name, noted that the commander of the tennis army of tennessee at the time so bragged appeared, quote, sickly cadaver, fierce and haggard. thanks. in the afternoon wrath of the battle. his observation, right. fremantle's observation was hardly a ringing endorsement of bragg strength in the midst a physically grueling campaign. and i will make the point here, bragg was sick. he was very, very sick. a lot of the time. he suffered from sort of serious stomach issues, probably allergies