North Branch democrat. [volume] (Tunkhannock, Pa.) 1854-1867, 1862-12-17
TUNKHANNoCK, PA.
tdnesday. Dec. II. 1862.
Late Wholesale Slaughter, and the
Reasons Assigned for it.

paper, leave no room for doubt as to he
pit. Disguise and conceal it as they may
the fact that our brave troops were driv-
CA back, with loss in killed and wounded of
III haps tenth of their Number, stares us in
face The abolition "On to Richmond,
"a Irnals, labor 70 make the affair apsear as
of the necessary and inevitable steps to-
y frds the " crushing out of the rebellion.n
Il The Tribune says it was necessary in or
ir 10 find out the position and strength of
lie rebel army; and congratulates the army
fd the country that this information has
bw been obtained. The Philadelphia In
lirer, which has, under the influence lately
rought to Scar upon it, (the appointment of
Is editor 10 the colectorship of the internal
cvenues of the first congressional district, J
become one of the most truculent ard syco-
phantic of all this class Of lickspittle journals
In its issue of Tuesday last, four DAYS after
the battle; gives the following &c SIX good and
sufficient reasons for this movement" That
our readers may judge themselves of the suf.
81 cheney OF these reasons, we copy them, with
n the Introductory remarks, entire
II "Ihere are some men who cannot under
stand why Burnside crossed the Rappahan,
mock. Let us try to enlighten them
/. To determine the positions, force and
purposes of the Rebels by actual contact the
only sure way in which it can be DONE And
he has done it effectually. lie now knows as
exactly what he has to do, and how to do it.
Ill. To keep them from running away Sc
cretly, and leaving him in the lurch, while
they were erecting new Gibralters, and labv
rinthine traps in the may country about the
head waters of the Pamunkey, 1t is only by
attacking that he can tell whether they are
there or not
Ill. To aid any diversions which were be-
ing made in his favor, and to hurry them up
making haste and energy necessary to useful
cooperation. AS he delayed subordinate
movements would drag. His movement is the
torch to fire the whole train
Nv. To take advantage of this God-send
of good weather, in which men can fight
without freezing, and keep warm without Es
quimaux shelters. A few days, and the win
'er-wind god, frowning through murky SHES
may bind, and nature hand and foot, and put
an end to attack or defence Every days fine
weather should be used vigorously, for its
continuance cannot be counted on.
V. To employ eager troops, who would be
disgusted at delay disheartened by want of
system and energy denorazed by ir,action.
Had they gone into winter quarters, with all
their work still before them to be done, be-
fore the spring that army might be more dan
gerous to itself, and, indirectly. to its cause.
than to the enemy. The way to make SOL
ders good, is to put them under fire the
way to keep them SO, is to keep them con-
ssantly fighting.
VI. To take Richmond or at least to do all
that can be done to that end. Yes, that was
the reason why he crossed the Rappahannock.
and which he never could have done had he
Temancd on this bank. As simple as it may
seem. there are some men who do not under |
stand it yet.
These are, in our judgment, SIX good and
sufficient reasons for Burnside's movement. |
To find them caused US little thought and no
trouble. IF any of our readers are not salts
fed with them, we have six more still more
cegent in reserve. But if, as we hope, Burn
side moves forward successfully and trium-
phantly, no reasons will be needed. His |
movement will transcend them all, and new
subjects for discussion"
We confess this attempt to 'snlighten'' us |
has failed. As the phrase goes, eve don't
see it,"
First to determine the positions, force |
and purposes of the rebels" Was there no |
safer il not surer way than to sacrifice ten |
thousand of our brave fathers, brothers and |
sons? We think, with the editor of the IN
sairer, that the information las been obtain
ed, effectually," though we regard it as
rather expensive information, ''ITe now
knows exactly what to do, and how to do H."
Yes, he knows that the best thing for him to
do is to retreat, and he has done it.
Second, " To keepthem from running away
secretly and leaving him in the larch, &c"
II had been better, by far, If the enemy had
"run away" secretly, before they forced our
zrny to adopt that disagreeable and humili-
sting alternative. The thousands of the now
crippled MANNED and dying would leap for
Joy, and thousands Of widowed mothcrs and |
orphaned children would bless the day.
Third, =" to aid dvers ions, to hurry up su-
bordinate movements, &C. Is it necessary t
to d6cimate an army, in order to infuse encr-
gy into it2
Fourth, "To take advantage of the God |
send of good weather &C." Is it taking any
advantage" of the weather, or any thing else
- slaep. forth 70 be sacrific-