The weekly north Iowa times. [volume] (McGregor, Iowa) 1857-1867, 1862-12-24
The Slaughter At Fredericksburg.

The Slaughter at Fredericl<sbur0.
We give elsewhere quite full details Of
the great slaughter at fredericksburg,
which has for its results the loss of more
than thirteen thousand men killed, wounded
and missing, aud the hasty retreat Of our
army to the north bank Of the Rappahan.
mock. We say slaughter, for the manage
ment OF that battle was such a. exposed
our men to the most reckless destruction,
in the very Jaws Of DEATH" where their
most heroic efforts were futile to inAict
damage upon the enemy.
The mode Of attack upon the rebel works
seems to have been devoid Of the elemen.
tary principles Of military science, moon.
siderate, without system, and innocent OF
the simplest strategic movements. When
We say that the attempt was made to dis.
lodge the enemy by . mere rush If men.
by the most exposed route, up an even
slope, every foot Of which was exposed to
raking, enfilading, and cross firing Of the
enc,ny's cannon. aud the concentrated fire
Of the best sl,arpshooters in the rebel army
posted in rife pits, behind stone walls, ETC.
supported by heavy masses Of infantry,
every intelligent reader who has ever read
any accounts Of military engagements will
at once perceive that Burnside either at
tempted an experiment, or displayed the
most culpable imbecility. When we add
in addition that the slope up which our
men charged was not large enough to
permit the handling Of our field artillery,
and that our siege guns on the north bank
Of the Rappahannock actually threw shells
among our own en-. the bloody scene be-.
comes intensified with horrors, before
which humanity stands aghast.
We observe that most of our cotempo.
raries are saddling this terrible disaster
upon the powers at Washington. For the
credit of one who has heretofore achieved
renown in the work assigned him, we might
wish it were so. But since the succession
Of reports that Burnside now had the lar.
gest freedom, and that his plans would not
be interfered with, We are forced to the be-
lief that the attack upon the rebel Sebasto
pol was made in accordance with his wishes.
How bravely his men fought, how molly
they attested their devotion to the cause Of
the Union, let the record Of the slain testi.
fy. The commanding General had the most
hearty support of the officers and men of
the army Of the Potomac, yet it is doubtful,
from the light Of facts, If five hundred
thousand men could have taken the rebel
position held by enc hundred thousand
men.
Hallcck, with an apparent foreboding Of
disaster, on hearing that Burnside had
crossed into Fredericksburg, is reported to
have said that were he Burnside he should
now use the spade, but Burnside should do
as he thought best This is additional ties
timony which goes to fix the responsibility
upon the commanding General.
The patriots heart must bleed in view Of
this great and useless libation of loyal
blood, and the renewed hope and vigor
which will consequently be infused into the
rebellion. 1t has set us back months, per.
haps year, and for aught we know may
be the die which has sealed our hopes of a
re union Of the states
We cannot forecast the future till this
pail is lifted.
We.arc now more than ever convinced
that there is no man in the nation fit to
command the army of the Potomac but
Geo. B. Mcclellan, the man who has never
yet lost battle. And we are quite as
satisfied that no other man can circumvent
the strategic Lee, and the vigilant Jackson.