The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1861-11-01
The Responsibility.

We would not undertake TO cast upon ~
man share in the terrible responsibility
The disastrous results Of tie Lee 2rr e:...-,-
ment 1t would he painful task L. :. >.
whose duty ii might bet would be 81 ~
possible task 10 any others, for w..t @: g..
the evidence IN the case. But IT, p, -.-
have deep interest III the Question ~.
they are everywhere talking abouti;. Il,
their question rather than that Of any md
vldua. Tor thousands of mourning hearts ~.
more to be regarded than a single l--,e>-
>ional reputation. il is true. the past ! f.,-
yond help. but Indifference 10 lis lessons a.
a deaf ear to lis Judgments viii only a,u,.a-
late needles. mi>eries in the future.
But II is manifest that We can OILY irdca.-
where the errors We're in the late d:sas.rr
from the best evidence We can Obtain. an
state the tragmen,ary evidence bearing UPON
the grea. question. IL is alleged tia. o.,
Stone gave Col Baker 300 tro,n. :.
which 10 cross the Potomac. cau;iofilE In.
moi 10 move unless his mans OF tra.>,o-.
were amp " sufficient. not 10 advance IN -
Virginia bank until his force was Over. a..
not 70 engage the enemy unless he was So
oi his position. II IS moreover stated III.
during the day Gen Stone received mrs>,-,..
from Col Baker that all MAS progressing 81.
~ that he had no difficulty in crossing. a
the impression was made that h. had cross.
with It's whole command, and was abe
,:llve the rebels before him. until tie new,
came Q: the repulse and Col Bakers dealt
There Is no counter statement. II. IS
appear TO BE- that Col Baker had at no TN
across the river more than 100 men II.
he never had but three scows 10 pass I've!
in. and that certainly one and probably ~
Of these became useless and thai l.. r,,e,..I
his men INTO tie engagement nearly as IA.
as he S)t them over. So far. then. il W.. he
seen that It becomes pertinent 10 :nc1.y,
whethef the acting Major General ola l,y>-
ION Is not bound 10 know within rca>o-.s-
bic time whether or not three-,uar,srs a.. q.
force which he has designated for an .pp5r-
tant movement are staying hehini-ut-t,.e-
ne is not bound 10 have a persona, kr.u.-
edge Of The condition Of his transports n
such case-and whether he should -.
make sure OF learning he progress of h4,-
lie waSed by his own troops all ds. W,
few miles of him? There are other cons.
eratlons connected with these inquiries M
Will suggest themselves 10 most minds. ~.
they need not be stated here.
The foregoing considerations leave {.
Bakers conduct on the other side Of the p
tomac untouched. But for the sake Of >
nooie memory we may say a word u,.oa
Single topic IN that connection. |. has been
alleged that the disaster was largel, due :.
his lmpetuously dlSobeying the order no. =.
engage the enemy unless strong enough =
succeed. In the first place. il is inherently
improbable that such di>obedience-: ..y
lhtre "as-"as owing 10 iiapstu9sitl .-
rashness IN Col Baker. He was not a ,.,-
ian or raw officer, but an old soldier. g..
on the battle fields of Mexico. He WIS coz
cool, and his conduct in H.. h4:-
tie was steady and heroic. If he rrrta-
therefore, II must have been from the ,xe--
use OF ms best Judgment. lie sa~ tia:
Vas oSerpoWered from the trst-but s. -
rom beng at liberty TO engage the erera
Or not' the engagement had actually t,,a
gong on three or four ht urs when he any
u. Inc question was, whether he >ho,.
etredt under hire or not; The R,or,,er. T..
ave the command 10 retreat. il would p. .
out. for back of them law a steep h;.l. ~
ing down a hundred feet 10 the >pc..e
orrtnt OF the Potomac. with cn,r mo snt
'oats at hand. They would have hern -:
Io"n by the hundred, escaping onlv u W
ro~ned IN the river. He and his me- -
erred, TO such sad fate. 70 sell thei- yrs
S dearly as possible TO the foe, and 70 '-s
ne most honorable deaths Besides. TO
night hope TO drive back Their assailau;>. e..
I'm pause in the Rattle, for safer r,,.,s,.
.or was 1t unreasoi atle TO hope thai ,l'.-
ltuatlon would be marked. and reinforce
lents would come TO their aid. if thew could
old out long enough. Indeed. il is stated
nat the rumor of 1000 or 1000 soldiers tr-
u on the way 10 their assistance circulate
lrough the Geclmatrd ranks. and did nl-t-
Keep up the {, orious efforts Il the mer.
ut whether this be true or moi. and hcWsi-
the other questions We haze raised IA
settled, II seems clear TO Us that Col IL
ers conduct on the immediate field wLslt
fell, was as judicious and discreet !:
as brave and glorious. Jour.s.,