Cedar Falls gazette. [volume] (Cedar Falls, Iowa) 1860-1895, 1862-12-26
THEGAZETTE.
CEDAR FALLS. IOWA.
FRIDAY, DECEMBER &c, 1862.
BURNSIDE ASSUMES THE REsPON.
SIBHLETK.

By Gen. Burnsides official report, publish
ed in this paper, it may be seen that he as
sumes the responsibility of our recent reverse
at Fredericksburg. The country e nerally
demanded scape-goat on which to charge
the cause Of our non-success. Some of the
New York papers, Chicago Tribune, and 9th
crs Of smaller degree, solcmnly declared that
Gen. IIaleck was the evil genius, and wisely
declared that he would be removed forthwith.
The New York Times in its issue OF the 22st
said that ave have high authority for the
statement that the President himself wrote
dispatch to General Burnside to use his own
| Judgment in crossing to make an attach, and
the despatch uas suppressed by General Nal-
leck"
The qaid nuncs then go on to show that
Gen. Halcck peremptorily ordered General
Burnside to attack the enemy when and
where he did that the latter fought under
protest, and consequently the blame all rests
with Haleck
Gen. Burnside has published his official re-
port, addressed to Gen. Halleck, and the first
thing he does is to explain why he crossed
the Rappahannock sooner, and at different
point than was anticipated by the General-ln.
chief, (Halleck.) In another portion of his
report he explains the reasons that induced
him to move " against the opinion Of the
President, Secretary of War and YOURSELF
and still again tells why he moved a! the time
he did, after the President, Secretary of War
and Gen. Halleck, had unitedly requested
him not to be in haste. Thus it is shown by
General Burnside himself that there was no
diversity of opinion among his superiors at
Washington that the opinions of the Presi.
dent, Secretary of War and Gen. Hallcck har-
monized, and that on Gen. Burnside alone
rests the responsibility, and he, in manner
that does him credit, shoulders the whole
load, and does not endeavor to fasten any
portion of the burden upon any other than
his own shoulders.
The truth of the whole matter is prob
ably this: While the President, Secretary
of War and General Ealleck gave General
Burnside their united opinions as to the best
course to be pursued, they did not hamper
him with instructions that he was bound to
follow at all hazards, but left him free to ex-
ercise his judgment in the matter. General
Burnside through lack of information, or a
interpretation of the magnitude of the work
to be done, thought he could successfully
battle with the Confederate forces on Fred
ericksburg Heights, and so led his army
| against the enemy,-and we all know with
what success. In this affair General Burn
side probably acted imprudenty, but there
is one thing to be urged in extenuation o.
his course. Popular clamor demanded a
battle, and Mcclellan was removed and Burn
side given the command, because he was
said to be fighting man, and even before
he had the reins fairly in his own hands,
from all quarters came the cry "forward."-
He was there to fight and fight he must
What we blame Burnside for is his having
yielded to the outside pressure, and fighting
battle against insuperable difficulties, when
it might have been avoided. In all but the
attack he has shown the qualifications of a
good..general, having extricated his armyfrom
perlous position in a mastery manner, and
sustained only reverse where others might
have experienced disastrous defeat. The
terrible loss of human life is the one great