Daily State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis, Ind.) 1861-1865, 1862-12-23

hid thrown large portion of his force down the
river and elsewhere. thus weakening his deien-es
IL front. discovered also that be did not antici
pate the crossing Of our hole force "a Frelericks
burg; and hoped. By rapidly throwing the y hole
Command over az that place. 10 separate. by
vigorous attack. the forces OF the enemy on the
river below from the forces behind and OF the
crest in the rear o. the town, In which case We
could tight him With great advantage IL our
favor
To DO this we bad 70 gain hight on the ex-
IRENE RI ght Of the crest. which hight ccmmandei
the nes road lately used by the enemy
tor the purpose OF more rapid communic.-
ZION along their lines which point gained. bis %
siiion along the righ. Irest would have been
scarcely tensble. and he could have been driven
from them early by an attack on bic front In con
nection with a movement on the rear Of the crest
How near We came 10 accomplishing our object
future reports will show But for the fault and
unexpected and unavoidable delay in building the
bridges which gave the enemy twenty four hours
more 10 concentrate bis force IN bis strong posi-
tions. would most certainly have succeeded,
in which case the battle would have been, in NV
opinion. more decisive than if We had crossed at
the places first selected.
As il was we came verv near success Failing
in accomplishing the main object remained in
order of battle two days, long enough 10 decide
that the enemy would not come out of his strong
holds 90 fight Us With his infantry. after which
We crossed 10 this side OF the river, unmolested
and without the loss OF men property. As the
day broke our long lines of troops were seen
marching to their different positions if going
on parade. Not the least decentralization or dis
organization existed. To the brave officers and
soldiers who accomplished the feat Of rec.,Dssing
the river, in the face OF the enemy. owe every
thing, aud for the failure in the attack am re-
spOnsible, a. the extreme gallantry, courage and
endurance shown BY them, was never exce'led.
and would have carried the points had il been
possible
To the families and friends Of the dead. can
only offer nv heartfelt sympathies but for the
wounded | can offer my earnest hope for their
comfortable aud final recovery.
The fact that decided to move from Warren
ton ON this line rather against the opinion of the
President, the Secretary of War and yourself. and
that YOU left the whole movement in my hanGs
without giving me orders, make me responsible.
will visit you very soon and give YOU more
definite iniormal0n and finally will send YOU INV
detailed report n which special acknow ledge
ment will ne made of the services OF the different
grand divisions, division corps and NV Gener
ais and staff departments of the Army OF the Pc
tomac, to whom am soJnuch indebted for their
support and hearty CO operation. ! will add here
that the movement was earlier than YOU expected
and after the President Secretary and yourself
requested me not TO he IN haste for reasons that
were supplied much sooner by the different staff
departments than were anticipated when | saw
you.
Our killed amounted to l52; our wounded TO
about 3 900; and our prisoners, TO about 100
which last have been paroled and exchanged for
about the same number taken.
As the wounded were all removed TO this side
OF the river and are being well cared for and the
dead being all buried under flag OF truce, the
surgeons report much larger proportion of
slight wounds than usual, only ,632 being
treated i'm hospitals
| am glad to represent the army at the present
time in good condition.
Thanking the Government for that entire snp-
port and confidence which have always received
from them,
| remain. General, respectfully,
Your obedlent servant.
Signedl A. L. BURNSIDE.
FORTRESS MONROE. Dec 2O--The Richmond
Dispatch of the l7th inst. says:
On Monday General Evans fell back across the
Neuse river and burned the bridge. He retrested
seven miles before overwhelming force of the
enemy. The Yankees have possession of the
Charleston road on the south side of the river,
whilst our troops occupy the north side. Every
mile of the advance OF the enemy was strongly
contested. Gen. Evans will wait for reinforce
ments and will then probably drive the invaders
back to Newberne.
New YORK. Dec p The Commercial has a
Washington special hs. there will be no change
in the Cabinet Those who sent in their resigna
tons will withhold or Withdraw them.
The steamship Union has arrived from Havana
on the 18th. No later news from Mexico.
The new Captain General Dulce had arrived
at Havana, and Gen. Harrano left for SPAIN
The secessionists intended joining in
ton to him by accompanying him to the entrance
of the harbor ia a steamer, but be requested
them not. and Gen Dulce forbade it.
There are some 40 900 boxes old crop sugar
on hand. Unusually heavy rains have injured
and retarded the new crop, which will be small
There were but two arrivals of rebel vessels
with cotton-one from Matanzas.
WASHINGTON, Dec 22-The President has ac-
knowledged the reception of the designations of
the Secretary of State, Mr. Seward. and the Sec
rotary OF the Treasury, Mr. Chase. and has in
formed them that after due deliberation he has
come 20 the conclusion that the acceptance Of
their res gnation would be incompatible with the
public welfare. The President has. therefore
requested both 10 resume their respective func
tions. They have resumed their places as heads
of their respective Departments
NEwBLRSE. n. O., December l6 Recent
North Carolina papers are full of complaints
hDOut All OIutr IIOm Icoci
French directing the burning of all the cotton in
the counties bordering on the Roanoke river
which is not moved west of the Wilmington r. r.
by the 18th inst.
The Richmond Examiner, of the 18th, states
that the small pox prevails there epidemic.
The Richmond Dispatch says:
At the Summit to-day. ranged side by side
with our wounded, was the Yankee wounded. re
ceiving the same and enjoying like kind
treatment with our unfortunate defenders.
CAIRO, Dec 22-Eye witnesses 20 the taking
of Trenton. say Colonel Fry commanded 300 men,
half sick. the main part of the garrison having
been previously sent to Jackson, that place
anticipated a rebel menace which proved 20 be
only feint to draw the troops from Trenton.
When Colonel Fry heard that the rebels were ap
preaching the latter place. he made breastworks
of cotton bales around the depot and placed his
mend behind them The rebels attacking with
three pieces of artillery. Thirty rounds we're
fired when the Fedcrais surrendered. During
the skrmish several rebel saddles were cmptei.
Colonel TAYLOR Of the 5th Ohio, with Colonel
Hawkins Of a Tennessee regiment, went on a re
connoissance to Lexington. Tennessee, where
Il e. met large rebel cavalry fCrce, and were
badly cut up and had number taken priso ners.
Col. Hawkins escaped and reached Trenton in
time to be captured there
Dyers Station, this side of Trenton. evsc
uated yesterday, aud there was skirmishing at
Ruthford. the first station this side.
Yesterday the rebels under command of Gen.
Davis started tor Columbus.
Gen Harrison's division is reported 20 have EN-
barked on transports at Memphis Saturday.
Thai u ~, ho Vel stur0 mr.