Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1862-1865, 1862-12-24

see remote srrninationremote when we take into &C
these immense sacrifices and the strain upon the
public mind in the meanwhile In the Presidential cleo
ton Of 1854 the nation will find that solution of its diff
culties which the abilities Of its and the mag
ntude Of It's resources have failed TO supply To the
magnificent conservative majortes that viii sweep the
North in that contest SHALL under Cod be indebted
for the restoration Of the South
REVIEW OF THE "sITuATIoS"-A DEFEAT ACKsowLEDGED
correspondent of the New York Tribune writes
from Fredericksburg Sunday night, December 18th,
as follows;
Whatever the results of the battle may be termed
check or repulse-it is certain that the failure
psh what we attempted is not the only evil fruit of yes
terday have spent several hours this morning in Wis
ling the field and positions held by troops and
found the unmistakabe evidence everywhere that
the expenditure Of strength has been great to
duce exhaustion degree that viii rendar the resump
tion of the offensive part impossible not only for
to-day but for several days TO come The extent Of
loss in killed and wounded Is not ascertained yet with
anything like deniteness. have seen enough, howey-
en- to satisfy that 1t will be greater than it
supposed last night If 5000 will cover that of the
Rght Grand Division, shall be gratefully disappont-
ed The fact that many Of our men have been taken
prisoners has only become known this evening But il
not in the casualties alone that the army has been weak
ened The fatigue and exposure of the soldiers for the
last three days has been very great they have been
standing under arms in the mud and cold. Upon the
whole il is my deliberate opnion-and | know it is
shared by many Of the generals have seen-that the
army Is not fit for the immediate renewal of hoses,
and that il requires rest imperavey 1t is likewise evil
ident that the unsuccessful fighting Of yesterday and
the hardshps endured have not only affected the bodies
tnt also the spirits of both officers and men, and time
for nentsl Incorporation seems also to be reqsired
No one would be gladder 10 reflect the bright sides Of
the situation and prospect OF the Army Of the Potomac
~ IF trnt me- IN afa
that il is by any encouraging. To renew an
attack the enemy position during the night strength
ened as il has been ascerained this morning, by new
batteries with weakened numbers would probably result
in no better than that Of yesterday To continue
in the position now held cannot be thought of.
correspondent of the New York Tines writest
The Confederate leaders have acted with their usual
witness in this whole matter. They did well TO let
easily into Fredericksburg firing but half dozen guns
when they could hare brought hundred TO bear upon
upon us The city itself the verest trap that
was aid-and we have walked into IL. '..
Is il any WONDER that with such posion-on the in
side of of a circle Of batteries
"'Mid upper, neither and surrounding fires"
our troops we're over and over again broken and shater
ed in the attempt to take tS The wonder Is that such
admirable pluck was shown
Itls hopeless task now to 20 back the series
of blunders that have made this disaster forcbleto
inquire for instance who is responsible for the delay
ing of the pontoOn bridges ten days beyond the time
promised Gen Burnside thus enabling the rebels to
render their position impregnabe. Buough that the
nquiition will come By and by.
At the close of the battle tonight Gen. Burnside de
clared that he would the contest in the morning
There is to my mind, however little probability that
this will be DONE be DONE IL is likely that the
council of Generals-compOsed Of Burnside, Sumner,
Hooker and Franklin-nOs meeting at this house, will
shake this determination know they are all opposed
to the measure Indeed, one has only 10 60 over to
Fredericksburg, where the army is row huddled and
sea its shattered and broken conditon-regimens scat
tered disorganized, &c 10 that renewal Of the
eight in the morning for sometime Is wholly irl-
possible. ....... ....--...--.-