The daily Evansville journal. (Evansville, Ind.) 1862-1863, 1862-12-16
pS- See first and fourth pages for
Interesting reading matter.-6a
Great News.


with much more stirring news than we
have been furnishing them for several
weeks past The great struggle on the
Rappahannock has commenced in ear
nest, and Saturday last was day of
blood and carnage. 1t will fill many
homes with mourning. Our liberties and
fee; still greater is required to pre-
serve them. Our fathers, who achieved
our independence, have no reason to be
ashamed of their sons, who are battling
to preserve it. This is the issue in the
struggle. Shall a majority of the citizens
of the United States dictate the charac-
ter of the Government, under the Consti-
tuition, or shall an aristocratical minor
ity, because they hold property in slaves,
have control, is the question causing
this great sacrifice of life and treasure
Gen. Burnside seems to have met with
bloody repulse in his effort to storm
the rebel entertainments on Saturday.
His brave soldiers fought with wonder
full tenacity, and without panic or dis
enlargement They drove the rebels
from their advanced positions and car
ried their rihe-pits on the right, but were
unable to storm the high embankments,
behind which were posted heavy batter
les, supported by rebel infantry in large
numbers. On the left of our line, Gen.
Franklin is reported to have been more
successful He drove the rebels back
distance of mile, and held his position
With the exception of this advance, the
relative positions of the two armies were
little different at night from what they
we're in the morning before the fight
began.
Sunday, though a bright, clear day,
passed off quietly, there being no fight
ing beyond few skirmishes Most of
the time was occupied in taking care of
the wounded and in burying the dead
The Army of the Potomac is reported
TO be in excellent spirits and in no de-
gree discouraged. The soldiers have
great confidence in their commander,
and bis subordinate officers. The loss
of the Union army is not stated, but must
have been quite severe Among other
officers, Gen. Kimball was wounded, in
the thigh His Gibralter brigade bore
m important part in the attack upon the
intrenchments. Our noble Fourteenth
is always where the battle RACES fercest
But our greatest news, and that calcu-
lated to arouse the tagging hopes of
patriots, is, that Gen Banks has landed
at Winton, N. c., formed junction with
the forces in and about Newbern and
Suffolk, and is marching upon Weldon,
n c., at the junction of the Great South
ern Road from Richmond with another
road leading to Suffolk. Its possession
efectually cuts off communications be-
tween Richmond and the great cotton
States We are confident Gen. Banks
will not stop at Weldon. He has large
army and will Immediately push for
Richmond. OF this we feel quite GER
tain. Weldon is only fifty miles from
Petersburg-a two days march-and
seventy-fve from Richmond. If our
Surmises are correct the rebel Generals
in front of Burnside will have to begin
TO look after their communications.
When they conclude to leave Fredericks-
burg they will have to gain that officer S
consent. We do not think he will per
nit them to go without exacting heavy
pay for the damage they have already
done him We cannot think he will
allow another undisturbed evacuation to
take place. If he does, he is not the Off
Ger we have supposed him to be.
At Nashville and vicinity things are
briskly moving If it be true that JEFF
Davis was at Murfreesboro receiving
troops, it would look as though mischief
is brewing for General Rosecrans. We
cannot regard "the army of the Ohio .
as in any serious peril 1t is quite
likely Davis will combine the armies Of
Pemberton, Van Dorm and Price with
those under Bragg, Buckner and Polk
but even then we feel satisfied that Gen
Rosecrans, with his splendid body Of
trained veterans will be full match fol
the rebel horde.
The present week is pregnant with the
fate Of the Republic. If the present com
binations of the Union armies and The
designs of their leaders fail, it will be
hard to prevent the people from despair
ing of success. On the other hand, i
they terminate well, the people of tht
rebel States will consider their cause
hopeless, and cease their struggle.
A HEAVY CoNTRAoT. Our enterpris
Wy. NJ Il.