The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1862-12-12
From the Seventh OF November 60 the
Fourth OF December.


Army of the Potomac on the seventh of
November. At that date his whole army
was in motion and for fortnight previ-
ously, on the march from the Upper Poto-
mac to the Upper Rappahannock, he had
everywhere driven the rebels before him
having been engaged in a succession Of
brilliant skirmishes, without retreat, or
even reverse. He had taken possession
of Smokers, Ashby's, Thoroughfare, and
Manassas Gaps, and so closed every ave-
nue. by which the rebels could precipitate
themselves from the Lower Valley of the
Shenandoah upon Washington while the
rise of the Upper Potomac protected Ma
ryland and Pennsylvania from invasion.
His advance on the right wing, under Gen.
BAYARD, at Flint Hill, at the eastern base
of the Blue Ridge, short distance south
of Front Royal, threatened the Shenan-
doah, where, at that time, large portion
of the rebel army remained; while his
advance on the left wing, under Gen. PLEAS
ANTON, at the crossing of the Orange and
Alexandria Railroad over the Rappahan-
mock, threatened both Gordonsville and
Fredericksburg, and was distant only about
thirty miles from either point. Washing
ton was fortified, as it now is, and other
wise as strongly protected and mo appre-
hension as to its safety was INDUCED in,
under any conceivable adverse circumstan
ces. He could have taken Gordonsville,
or Fredericksburg, or both, before the
twelfth of November, in spite of any oppo-
sition which it was in the power of the
rebels to bring against him. Even at the
slow rate of "six miles day." he could
have done this; and he was actually NOV
ing at double that speed, when he was de-
prived of command. "Six miles a day +"
would have brought him to Fredericksburg
on the twelfth; he would have been there
on the tenth, and found no force that could
have withstood him a single hour.
McCIELLAN's control ceased with the
seventh, and BURNSIDE took command on
the eighth. The Army of the Potomac
stood still from the seventh to the seven
teenth-ten days. This was no fault of
BURNsDE's. He required that length of
time to acquaint himself with the position
of the forces placed under him-the orders
in accordance with which they were act
ing-in word, with ''the situation. - He
doubtless moved forward as soon as it
would have been possible for any General
in the service, under like circumstances.
But, ten days were lost. BURNslDE's adj
vance arrived opposite Fredericksburg on
the twentieth demanded the surrender of
the place on the twenty-frst, which was
refused; and from that date to this fourth
of December, according to the news re-
ceived, BURNSIDE has been working to
place himself in condition to'enforce his de-
mand. He is working to place himself,
with the CHASTITY certainty of immense sac
riice, in the same position which MoCLEL-
LAM would have occupied three weeks
ago, with the probable loss of ten men, and
the possible loss of hundred. And, for
the dead who are to die before Fredericks-
burg, if the dread, anticipated slaughter
shall ensue there, who will be responsible?
Not MCCLELLAN not BURNSIDE. But,
who Fl Daily Pioneer, All. .,;-..aaa