Maryland free press., 1862-12-19
Our Army-A Great Disaster.

To Since our last, important movements
with sad results have taken place in the Army
of the Potomac, full particulars of which will
be found elsewhere in our columns. The ex-
pertinent of an onward march to Richmond,
by way of Fredericksburg. has been made at
a sacrifice of at least ten thousand mcn. The
feelings and Impressions created throughout
tho country by this disaster, can best be OBJ
tanned through the press. We therefore ap-
pend the comments Of some of the NEST prom
inent of them.
CONNIE rs OF THE NEW YORK PRESS.
The New York Tribune, commenting on the
result of Saturdays battle, says:
It is evident that the whole of Burnsides
available forces were engaged, and that part
of them were SO severely handled as to be un-
fit to recommends the battle on Sunday morn.
ing Hooker, whose two corps acting as re-
serves came latest into actioa, and Franklin.
who had partial success on the left, were
probably in fighting condition next morning;
but Summers Grand Division, especially y
Couch's corps, was. exhausted by its efforts,
and sorely in need of rest, Burnside waits,
therefore, to collect and refresh his halting COL
umns. ....s.
To cross river in the face Of q powerful foe
is one of the most hazardous operations Of war
if he chooses to resist it. Lee could either
have prevented the passage of the Rappahan-
mock, or have so weakened Burnside as to
have seriously crippled him after he got his
army over. He probably judged that he could
prevent the crossing altogether, but this would
have interfered with his design of annihilating
Burnside's army. His plan was to weaken
the Union army by fighting it with great ad-
vantages Of ground, and then, by vigorous
onset, drive it into the Rappahannock As
near as we can judge from the present posture
of affairs at this distance. another fruitless at
tack like that Of Saturday would enable him
to accomplish his purpose.
The New York Times says:
Much astonishrhent has been expressed in
some quarters that Lee did not interposc n
more serious resistance to Burnside's crossing
of the Rappahannock. Save the covert efforts
of few hundred sharpshooters, and the oeca-
sinai firing ETA few batteries he kept his great
army absolutely idle during the twentyfour
hours occupied in the construction ofthe brid.
eAS PesSS"6o va VuA ttoVpS. ~ CdHhOb UC
said that he was taken by surprise, or in any
wise deceived by stratagem, Phe operation
was manly performed with great delibcration
IN his full view, and without any special mt.
ural advantages on the side of his foe. f,F
The explanation doubtless is that Lee belongs
to that class of military men who believe riv-
crs to be bad military line. lie prefers the
fortified ridges of hills in the raar 1,bosa ba
will dispute with tenacity of which he mad
no show near the banks of the stream.
The rebel Gen. Lee, whose military skill
and prudence all admit, has reserved his
strength for more defcnsiblc line than the
banks.of the Rappahannock. The reception
our forces have already met with on the ridges
beyond ia telling commentary upon the wis.
dom of his decision. 1t will be found that we
shall have to pay far more to dislodge him
the river would have cost us under anv cir.
cumstanees.