The New York herald., 1862-12-16

made by them as afforded to the party fav0ra-
BILE to the foreign interest an opportunity OF
insisting upon a relaxation Of the restrictions
imposed upon trade. The news will be receiv-
ed with satisfaction by all who have an interest
present or prospective, in opening up the re-
sources Of this exclusive empire
The Fight At Fredericksburg-Awsu
Responsibility or the War Depart.
mcnt.
The news which we published yesterday and
publish to-day from the Rappahannock is highly
creditable to our able generals and gallant
troops, but far from honorable to the War De-
partment or hopeful for the country. With
brilliant deeds Of arms, and with the most ter
rife fighting, the enemy is still in possession of
his strongholds, and we have failed to dislodge
him. Burnside has done all that skilfnl COM
mander could do, the subordinate officers have
acquitted themselves like heroes, and the rank
and file of our army have fought with an OBJ
stinacy and determination almost without
parallel in tue history of war. Yet, from
the advantages possessed by the enemy, the
assault upon his works has been unsuccessful,
and thousands of braves have fallen in vain.
The truth may as we'll be told-the finest army
that ever trod the earth, possessing superior
arms, large and small, and with all the appli-
ances and resources of war at command, has
suffered decided repulse at the hands of half
naked, half starved half armed foe.
The easy crossing of the river on Thursday
was suspicious circumstance, which the subse
quent events have only too well explained.
The rebel Generals Chief saw the advantage Of
the position which the authorities at Washing
of the opportunity. This route to Richmond
was the very one which the insurgent chiefs de-
sired our government to select. 1t abounds
with natural difficulties, and the War Depart
ment has permitted the enemy to add 80 many
artificial Instructions that the campaign in Vir-
ginia this winter is likely to prove failure.
The story of this campaign is the story of the
Chickahominy, Harrison's Landing and Antie-
tam repeated. Reinforcements were delibe-
rately and pertinaciously withheld from McClel-
Ian previous to the seven days battles before
Richmond which reinforcements would have
placed him in possession Of that city in few
days and saved thousands of lives. The same
is true of the situation at Harrison's Landing
After the terrible battle of Antietam, which
won by his skill, saved Washington and caused
the enemy to retreat over the Potomac, needful
supplies were withheld from him, which pre-
vented the rapid pursuit Of Lee; and when he
was at length in close proximity to the foe, and
would have compelled him to fight or abandon
Richmond, he was suddenly removed from the
command of the army. The strong probability
is that. had he been permitted to continue his
own course, he would have been in possession
of the rebel capital within week. But
he was stripped of his command for
political reasons by the imbeciles at
Washington, and the base Of operations was
changed to Aqua Creek-a course betraying
the same vacillation and blind cropping in the
dark which had been previously exhibited in
the case OF McDowells army. Mcclellan was
ordered to advance by the valley Of Virginia
towards Gordonsville. That plan is aban-
doned, and another is substituted which is still
worse and which no military man of ability
would have ever recommended. McClellan's
own plan was the route OF the James rivera
plan which will probably yet have to be adopt
ed if Richmond is ever to be taken.
Burnside was appointed McClellan's success
sor, and was directed to proceed to Falmouth,
opposite Fredericksburg The bridges had
been burned down. Instead of having the ma
terials for the repair of the railroad from Aqua
Creek to Fredericksburg ready, in order for the
speedy transportion of supplies, nothing had
been done when General Burnside arrived, and,
worse still, the pontoons for crossing the river
were not there. This red tape neglect was so
fragrant as to cause General Burnside himself
to repair to Washington to demonstrate with
"the powers that be- For ten days their
arrival was delayed, which gave the enemy
ample time to concentrate bis forces and
to erect strong Notifications on the hills
behind Fredericksburg. Had the pontoons
been at hand when Burnside reached Fal-
mouth he would have captured Fredericks-
burg without struggle, occupied the heights
beyond without any difficulty, and probably
would have been in Richmond before now, had
a supporting movement at the same time bccn
mRuc oh tDe caihos iVer- inc BIouIiu Dc1lnu
Fredericksburg was thea unfortifed and the
city was held only by handful Of rebels. The
delay was fatal; and Lee could AJAX no greater
advantage than the crossing Of our army in the
face Of his works-an army with river close
at its back to cut of its retreat in the event of
= disastrous defeat, and an enemy before it
which could either give battle or safely retreat,
according to circumstances The result is re.
pulse great loss Of lifc and probably
greater loss in the future. The War Depart
ment is accountable. The country is thorough
ly aroused, and, in view Of the direct and fear
full responsibilities Of the government to the
people, we trust Mr.. Lincoln will lose no time
in putting an end to a career of imbccility
=.,i.,;,1x 4L1a