Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1862-12-19
W o R c f S T f R:
FRIDAY. DEC. 10. 1869.
The Disaster at Fredericksburx.

1t is stated that our whole loss in the battle of
Fredericksburg is not less than 10 sos, killed,
wounded, and missing, most of the missing hav-
ing been taken prisoners, probably. All this
suffered by our army and nothing gained. 1t
seems to have been the bloodest battle of the
war, end, in its result, the most discouraging to
the country. Our men fought at every disad-
vantage; they had neither room to display and
use their whole strength, nor position for their
artillery, while the rebels were entrenched on
higher ground, and had every possible advantage
for successful resistance; and the result was
what we all see and feel.
Why was the attack made from Fredericksburg
under such circumstances Ger. Burnside went
there intending TO occupy the city and nights
beyond it before the rebels could prepare such
resistance; and he would have done it if the
pontoon bridges had been sent down as General
Halleck promised. But they were not sent down,
aud did not leave Washington for ten days after
the time when they should have left, according
to the agreement. 1t is stated, On what authori-
ty we do not know, that Gen. Halleck forgot
TO give the order to send them. We hope this is
not true; we do not like to believe it; but some
body is responsible for the failure; and why are
not the guilty parties exposed and punished2
By their management, the purpose with which
Gen. Burnside went to Fredericksburg was de-
feated; the rebels had time to make all the pre-
paration they needed; ami then the attack was
made in obedience, it is said, TO an express or
der from Gen. Halleck.
Is it wonderful that the people are depressed
and troubled by such "generalship"? 1t may be
surprising that some men and some newspapers
are capable of using this disaster TO advance
their mischievous partizan aims but it is natu-
raj and necessary that the loyal people of the
country should cry out in grief and anger against
such villanous mismanagement of the war
such useless butchery of our men, such
imbecility, if not something worse, at head
quarters. How is it possible for such mis-
management to crush out this rebellion?
great many earnest people are asking
this question; and We hope the president will
consider it faithfully as the urgent needs
of the country and his own great responsible.
ties demand. Is it not high time that every i'm
beetle semi-traitorous man should be expelled
from association with his military and civil SUBJ
ordinates?
1t is not the brave Gen. Burnside who should
bear the blame of what has been done and suf-
fered at Fredericksburg. 1t is Gen. Halleck, the
commander in chief He is allowed TO be SUI
preme in all matters relating to the army and its
movements Nobody has presumed to interfere
with his plans. 1t lay with him TO say whether
that battle should be fought under such circum-
stances; and it was fought by his order, we are
told Most likely the retreat across the river was
do ,r.tb o,t o1Ia Il.
ment has been made in congress for an nvestiga-
ton. This may not be amiss; but we should like
to see congress declare, in series of clear and
unequivocal resolves, the popular Judgment of
the mismanagement, imbecility, and shallow
Drained West-Pointism, which are costing us so
dear and threatening TO make the war n failure
And these resolves should be very emphatic on
the policy at headquarters that divides our forces
so unnecessarily and sends the Banks expedition
to the Gulf of Mexico, when it is SO much needed
in aid of the operations against the rebellion in
Virginia.