New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1862-12-23

fearful one. Many companies are being commanded
by non-commissioned officers regiments by captains,
brigades by majors and divisions by colonels.
The Rebel sharpshooters in almost every battle
we fight devote themselves entirely to the brilliant
uniforms of our officers, who still persist In gong
mon the battle field as richly dressed as If they
were entering ball room. IL 10 difficult, on the
contrary, with the most powerful glass, to dstin'
guish Rebel officer. Nearly all have seen are az
rank can only be discovered by the superior ipteii'
gence they exhibit, or the Difference and opedience
paid to thom by the common soldiers.
Through several letters you have already learned
that we took on Saturday nearly ono thorsaud Rebel
prisoners, but that instead Of being captured by
The superior skill of our officers, they threw down
their arms and came TO US when there was not
the lens, necessity for their doing so, and when u
would have been almost impossible for US to have
taken them. Nearly oil of these soldiers were from
North Carona and expressed Themselves ;n 're' OIL
Since recrossing the Raprahsnnock we have
heard, OF course, much about going into Winter
quarters. aud strangers Wishing the army thnk,
from tue great activity in building huts snd dRkhg
cellars. that it is absolutely certain that we are to
In reply to the question, "When will We be ready
to noye again Z" Gen. Burnside answered This
morning, "We are ready to move now, aud nothing
is wanting 10 commence another campaign: l
believe this to be literally true. The evacuation OF
Fredericksburg was SO we'll conducted, ana inc
amount of stores aud ammunition on band 30 In
mense, in Anticipation Of march upon Richmond,
that the battle OF Saturday, and the tremendous
cannonade of Thursday, hardly made percePtible
impression upon the commissary, quartsrmaster,
or ordnance departments. l am Informed that three
such battles could have been fou, HI, and then there
would have been enough shot and shell on band 10
have routed an army and demolished Richmond.
Great as was our loss before the Nights OF Freder-
icksburg 20 large is the army OF the Potomac, that
in riding through the different corps one can scarcely
miss the number. 1t 10 only when Visiting indivi'
dual divisions aud brigades ths. great gaps can Dc
,eep. and stout forms and brave faces are IN ssed.
Massachusetts, New.YoIk, and Penney lvana have
been fe rfuI sufferers and the old regiments which
fought in all the battles on the Peninsula, and from
Sontb Mountain to Fredericksburg are now but
corporsls guards and IL il literally true that some
of them are so small that they have been Unsigned
10 The duty of special guards al headquarters
While at the head quarters of Gen. Meade, who
commands McCall's old dlvieion Of Pennsylvania
Reserves. to-day, to obtain an olfclai Lst OF Inc
killed and wounded was informed that false state
ments have been made IN me He'a,a WIN rse1 !,
20 the couduc; of those old troops on the battlefield
They are charged with having run after the hrs sc
we're yolley from the enemy. Instead Oh tbs oeine
true, every intelligent correspondent must Know o,
this time that Gen. Meades DIVISION was really ibs
only one that captured Rebel intrenchment alonl
tbat if 1t bad been properly REINFORCED II eeud have
held il. As it was II did not return until ifeer
hundred of its men were either killed or wounded.
| have known this Division Of Pennsy vanid
Reserves almost from the date Of hs formation. Las
Spring, when under Gen. Mcdowell, aud encauiIct
upoD this groand it was considered by that educated
soldier one OF the finest divisions in the Army OF tb'
Rappshannock, and IL was with deep regret tba' h'
learned. when be returned from that important cam
pacn TO the Valley VI the Shenandoah, that II hst
| been taken from his command, aud rent 10 Gen
Mcclellan. We all know how well It fought q
| south Mountain and Anlietam, aud TO cay that 1
won those laursls only to lose them upon auothe
field is libel upon the previous hsrdearned reeor'
of the division. 1 wa not upon the lett during th'
battle Of Saturday, but lelieve--ifom knowleog
81 its former his ory, and from the reports Of thos
,Yho ,,y the div,ion in aciion-that IT DID nothing
10 disgrace iiself but, on the contrary, penorme'
all that il was possible TO do under the circumstances
Gen. Doubleday 10 the lasting shame aud dis
grace OF those who Issued tie ordeF rom 'he eoui
naod OF a division has been remanded back to
brigade Considering the scrvicer the culture, ant
ths ability Of Gen. Doubleday this act IL an outrage
In branding il such, 10 oensure should fest upol
Cen Wads~oIth, who succeeds hm IN the CON
| maud of the division. lie, believe, lad nothiDi
1yhatev4r To do with il. Had Gen. Doubleday bu
bowed his knee 10 the dominant oSlayery iactio
in the regular army, not II word would ever lav
been heard about his incompetency IL Is the gross
es. absurdty 10 ray that lie ~ not competent 10 CON
tmand division, Wheh 20 hihii) uoiIs, "Ho nave 10
,nlf lent culture 10 Inancuver company, are IL IN
comraud Of briggdes and dyls.ons. a highly edu
Gated gentleman and solfier, and thoroughly loya
man, lie Is reduced III command, while mon muc
hi, Interiors are elevated above him.
Since the battle tue Rebels have been Profound
quiet aud but for the camp-ires one would hard
know there was an army ia front OF Us.
| Our pickets talk with them daily, In spite OF OF
ders TO the contrary, aud exchange papers as ofte
az possible. Inc Rebels admit their loss TO hav
been 900, and say hat nearly all Of It was on thei
right, in font Of Gen. Reynoidss corps. MI.