Daily national Republican. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1862-1866, 1862-11-26


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THE POSITION. ,l. Ili
The indications are that the enemy intend
10 resist the passage Of the Rappahannock at
Fredericksburg by our army, without regard to
the destruction Of that ancient city, which
such resistance may involve. The topography
issaid TO be favorable TO disputing the passage
Of the river at that particular point, and our
forces may be obliged either to pass at some
other point, or to wait for the erection Of new
works to force passage at Fredericksburg.
Two causes Of delay are, however, no worse
than one, where either of them would be de-
cisye, and IL our army could not move upon
Richmond until the railroad from Aqua Creek
TO Fredericksburg is completed, II is of no con-
sequence, until that work Is done, that the
crossing Of the Rappahannock Is obstructed.
Our army at Falmouth, opposite Fredercks-
burg, is now supplied by teams from AQUA
Creek, and from Belle Plain, the last distance
being only seven miles. But even. so short a
haul as that becomes formidable, over a road
cut upan endless train OF heavily loaded army
wagons.
~ ." sees etsht"eh ""e"fc" "N'
LEFT the Valley, and that the enemy Is concen-
trating all his forces to resist the march Of
Gen. Burnside upon Richmond.
The public here manifest no impatience
upon the subject. Confidence In the strength
and bravery oil the Army of the Potomac Is
universal, and so also Is the belief that II will
oe pushed forward with all the speed which is
COuaisfenf with prudanae In the m m
the movements and preparations for move
mems upon the Southwest, where the most effi-
eient blows can be struck, are going on with
vigof. Inc Navy Department, too, is believed
10 DC ABOUT 70 ADD TO the already large List OF
victories In this war by the capture of more
southern cities. There have been amazing de-
lays In the completion OF some OF the IRON
CLAUS, ou' not more perhaps, than was 10 oeex-
Pec'eu, IN such large contracts, ana Where
'ne vessels wanted were oil class, In respect
10 Which our snip builders had very little expe-
renee' ana, arter all, the navy wiil prooaoly
oe resoy quite as soon as II can nave the neces-
sary cooperation OF the land forces.
The arrival from Europe, announced yester-
day, brought intelligence Of a formal PROPOSE
'a'As hiom ~'aPoicoh " SONeIu
ment, to unite in an offer of mediation between
the contending parties in our civil war, and of
the rejection Of this proposition by the English
ministers. II is not to be supposed that Napo
leon made such proposition in form without
first informally ascertaining how 1t would be
received in London, and the question then is,
from what motive he made proposition for a
Joint proffer of mediation which he knew would
be rejected. 1t may have been done as pre-
liminsry to such profTer on the part of France
alone, or to satisfy some parties at home with
show Of doing something, or to concilate the
favor OF the South, IL its independence should
at last be achieved by its own efforts. We
shall find out what ii really means, as events
develope themselves, and not before. In the
meantime, IL is consoling to know that the
twenty-five millions, still loyal to the American
Union, are able TO resist all interference on this
continent from across the Atlantic.
Cotton is being purchased in Tennessee and
Mississippi, in the rear of our army, at from
forty-eight TO fifty cents per pound. At this
price, the cotton on hand at the South, esti-
mated uncludlng the current crop at four
miii'ohs oi pales, VIII realize to the producers
III nrt ~