, 1862-12-25

[spccial Correspondence Of the Chicago Tribune.l
WAsHEaToS, Dec. =, 1861
THE DEPARTMENT OF TIE soUTH-MoRE
CHANGES
The government has countermanded the
orders BY which Gen. Saxton is relieved by
Gen. Seymour, and haa determined TO recall
Gen. Brannan, the pro-slaycry superior Of
Gen. Eaxton, between whom and himself war
Isrc was continuous. This change would
seem to render the return Of Gen. Hunter to
the Department Of the South more probable;
although it is impossible to predict what
| course the War Department may finally con-
clude to lake, Great surprise has long been
expressed in Republican circles ut the reten-
| ton Of Gen. Brar1an as acting commander
Of O department, which more than any other,
] unless it be the department Of the Gull, re-
| orircs that the General in charge be anti
secesh to the core.
/ GEN BURNSIDE ALONE HEsroSsfBzE FOR THE
FREpER1CKsBCRG AFFAIR
| Through several channels, learned last
/ evening, arlthoritatively, that Gen. Burnside
acted, and does not hesitate to say that be
acted upon Ills own responsibility in the
| fredericksburg movement. Hc assumes all
the blame that deseryedly attaches to
| him who selected the points Of cross
ing, and arranged The attack. He says that
il the plan WAS rash and ill-adVi6ed one,
it was made SO by his desire to get Mt the enc
| nv, and his resolution to 'smoye Immediately
on their works." as Grant proposed to do at
/ DoncIson, as he himself did at Sewbern. He
int1mates That if his plan had been IN all re-
spccts energctically carried out, it might hare
heen successful, and blame is imputed to Gen.
franklin and other officers in this regard.
Such understood to be some points in his
testimony before the Committee On tue Con
duct of the War, who have returned from
these statements rs embodying the snbstan-
tial truth of the case. The Journals which
| have charged the disaster upon Secretary Stan
; ton and Cen Halleck, whose imperative or.
ders'' to assault they have taken for granted
I | Burnside was legged on'' from Washington
r | and presently will have to sing smaller still
That The reverse is happily much less dlsas
trous than was at first believed; that the as
! sauit was all but successful, and might hay'
!, and that the army is in excellent condition
J. and eager to meet ihe enemy again, are fact
Il believed to b. well established, and PARTIAL
+ confirmed by Gen. Lees official testimony.
j, TIE BANKS ExpEDIT1oN-pRos AND cons.
The leader in last Thursdays TR1BrSE O
the Banks Expedition, in which You suggeS
G | that, although it is to be regretted that ii
L River, where, as the event proved. its arrivs
II might have been of efcctdal assistance
is Gen. Burnside in his Fredericksburg moy,
r. ,ncnt; and that although there is cause for r
grct that it could moi have been at the rigl
place in Virginia at the right moment, stj
:. Tie thirty or forty thousand men whom Gc
y Banks commands are not to be thrown ava
i'll hut arc to arrive, at or about the LIST of Jan
t. | arr, in section Of country where an AMI
"a slavery General at the head Of body
workshops Of New England, can deal thc.r
bcllion deadly blow il its most vital pal
r. set people who read it to thinking, and ope
g, cd their eyes to certain corroborating circu,
I'd / stances. Many will rejoice to see our armit
under leaders Who sympathize with the eau
for which VIC are fighting, penetrating ter
r. tory thick1y populated with slaves, welco
We inc their aid, giving them arms and chargi
els them with garrison and defensive respon
til bilitics, at least. Few will be sorry to see
er, WHO lave earRed BY the sweat Of their bro
ct. they have titled without pay FRI
a;- infancy But some will ask whetl
-. Gen. Butler is not now, whatever his form
.pe m views may have been, As ready TO to strike iS
lie not have been more economical as well
~. more appropriate to entrust the work in
1e' Weet to Western men, rather than III part
Eastern ones, at least so long rs the REBEL
| holds Eastern Virginia III lis cons; Nneth
in word, it was necessary or wise to SC
asee taouEands Of troops hundreds Of miles beyt
ino ! O. the point at which the enemy was most
~ Ius, 1iant and powerful, to achieve objects
Tr. ward the achievement Of which other :
ETY. sufficient armies were advancing; or to 81
the o General, for whom there was plenty
our | work fitted to his powers nearer home,
ter ernI1nrt nna VIM tad rnycrred 4 areat rc
Tue city to The satisfaction Of The nation, and '
All NJ had not done more, only because the +
lsm forccments for which he often begged H
de- | ncrsjsfcntIy withheld from him.