, 1862-12-20

InGI Nu:tL AOA lille 1@CAtC44Nu[N14A3t
take the works, if at all, by charging up a
difficult hill, in the face Of obstacles and Of
fire that would increase in intensity at every
step. We knew that the troops had very
scanty supplies Of provisions and Of ammu.
milton. LII word, we knew that if the
bridges were gone our brave army, weakened
and lemoralized by Saturdays defeat, suffer
ing from prolonged exposure and fatigue, and
from want Of food, must, under most disad-
yantageous circumstances, make another ut
tack aud that that desperate Increment must
be successful or the army would be-not de-
fe,tcd-but de=troyed-fuined beyond the
hope Of Tecoycry-anrihllated is IN army. A
few hundred good swimmers might swim
the river; u few thousand men might succeed
i'll escaping singly and by squads, By follow
bulk, death, wounds OF captivity were tile al
ternatiyes. And the consequences to the IA
tio,l-who could dare to think Of them:
But ever if the bridges survived the storm,
The outlook was far from encouraging. The
cnemy's guns, as observers positively stated,
commanded two Of three bridges opposite the
town, and commanded the approaches to
them. The passage, if ahectedin the daytime,
must be made under fire; III tile night, accu-
racy Of aim Was less practicable for the enc
my's gunners to be sure, but the peril Of
panic more than made up fur the difference
n
rising on The other side Of the army and not
on this side. We rejoice that 1, very lazar-
lous movement was effected under cover Of
the stolnl, and We are grateful to those who
planned and successfully executed it.
But thankful as ne are for the small favor
| boon Of victory is denied us- Gloom in view
| Of the fact that another campaign has ended
| di:astrous1y, and of the apprehension that the
army Of the East must wait till spring for tile
word q forward, march, II that be the worst
OF it; if the troops be not again marched On
| ton,'' there will be a feeling Of relief.
The history which the loyal people Of Wash
| ington have lived through during the last
three days will be lived through in every ham.
lei in the North. Eyerywhere the same grief,
tic same anxiety, the same lifting Of Il load
from the heart and the brain, the same appre'
hcnsiye Unlocking and the came indignation
"Nho is to blame - will be asked in more
ominous tones than the question has beer
uttered in since the war began. ''Off with
the heads Of all, who contributed to the dis
as1er,'' cannot but be the general wish.
Did Burnside plan the attack or H:llcck
Did the latter order or merely assent to tht
movement? If either is he not the guilt,
party-in-chicf, the responsible oflccr3 HI
It was Moreover who refused permission II
Sigel to flank Gen. Lees position. He il was
who refused to order Il cooperating advanc
up the james. Heit WAS who allowed-unde
tic influence Of Seward, but against his judg
,ncnt, I know-Gen. Banks to be sent to til
Gulf, when his presence in Virginia was, q
:: the event has proved, indispensable. VINO
. to be blamed, if not he-
, AS to Gen. Burnside, he knew the country
having been stationed at Fredericksburg fn
: weeks last fall; lie knew or should hse
known the strength Of the enemy b
: knew, or should have known til
| fearful hazards be ran. Did he do an,
thing more than obey orders from Hener:
Hallecks If he did, if he planned the NOV.
mcnt, he too should be court-mar rtialed witt
ont delay. Let US have no more dali ying Wit
: incapablcs. Mcclellan and Buell. are enoug
, the servants Of the people is the only thin
: that will finally give us brains at the head {
| the administration Of our af1airs-
| It seems that after tile river had been eros
j ed the was a council Of generals, befol
which Burnside laid his plan Of attack, All
Hooker, protested against. it, But Of who:
5 plan was the crossing Of the river at til
!. Voin, part3 After the passage was mad
: an advance would appear to have BEEN 4 ne
: essity. Did Hallecl1 or Burnside form that
r How is the blame to be distributcd9 a eou
; Of inquiry should be convened without deli
10 determine. Aud such court should also
= empowered to investigate the cause or caus
/ Of the delay on the northern side OF the rive
:, to see why it was that Summers advance d
! ! not, immediately upon its arrival at +:
mouth, ford the river, then fordable, take T.
Town and the nights which command tt
approaches to it. Then there were but $
A. rebels in the place, and Longstrects adyan
!e did not arrive till the subsequent day.
If The adjournment Of the Illinois Ship Can
II bill till the second Tuesday in January, wa:
Is necessity, in consequence of tue absence
10 some Of its most steadflst supporters,
q eluding Washburne, in New York on the b1
IF mess Of his committee, and Olin, The frien
r. Of :he meaeure are confident that it will
,e carried, and none are more confident than
- Arnold and other Illinois members, II
= onenine of the session. There is some st
Se port from New England for thebill, and }
&c Dawes will speak for it. On the other hal
s, the Naval Committee incincs the other ";
II and Will, it is thought, report against 1t.