Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1862-12-26
THE AFFAIR AT FREDERICKS
BURG.
Burlington, Vt, Nov. IS.

THE AR AK A 4 XXI III nv n
BURG.
Nothing succeeds SO well as success. -
Had the attack on the rebel position a
Fredericksburgh succeeded had ten o
twenty thousand prisoners and fifty gun
been taken, five thousand rebels been lef
dead on the field, and the rebel army driver
from its Qualifications and dispersed, even a
cost of twice the Union loss which actually
occurred, how different wonld have been th,
tone Of many of the newspapers from wha
we have heard. What praises Of the decision
and energy Of the generals-Of the daring
and skill Of the attack, and Of the courag,
of the soldiers, would have been heard on
every side. True-it would have been said
some thousands Of noble and gallant mel
lost their lives in the attack, and three Oh
four times as many were more or less severely
the loss of such heroes, and honor those who
bear through life the marks Of the terrible
battle at Fre1ericksburgh. War is bloody
business at best, and we must take the evil
with the good Even the most determined
oppossrs Of the Administration, the most
malignant railers at 1.-THE radicals the
heartiest sympathizsrs with the cause Of the
rebellion, would have for the time held then
breath, and waited for a more propitious
time to give vent 10 their enmities. But the
attack failed, as in every war some attacks
and some deiences fail.
Though the generalship which planned
the attack and carried the troops successfully
over river in face of powerful enemy and
led them to the assault, was the slme-though
officers and men pressed on tor hours in face
Of storm Of leaden and iron hail Of unsur-
passed fury from an enemy which had select
ed their own position, and had made il
strong By every device in their power, the
result at night fall was cessation Of the
attack, and speedy decision from the gen.
erals in command, that it was not prudent
TO renew it-;hat tie only STE course was
to withdraw the army. This decision was
made aud carried out with q wisdom and
success which in like circum tancas was new
q exceeded in the whole history Of war. The
discipline Of the soldiers in the retreat was
equal to their yalor in the attack.
But though the army was saved, the
attack had failed Forthwith there arises
an outburst of wrath and maligni;y from
the pro-slayery and rebel sympa:hizns
In0uih-pieces that is almost de4iening. All
sorts of assertions are made on no sort 0.
authority, as to the responsibility of this and
that officer. Ye.ls against Lincoln, yelis
agains, Halleck, yells against Stanton. yeils
against Meigs, yells against radicals and alb
olitionists, yells against Cabinet Ministers.
yells against Members Of Congress, yells
against all who have not been ready to swear
that Mcclellan is the greatest general since
Hannibal, have filed the columns Of the New
York World, the New York Herald, and the
whole pack Of ye'pers in their train in city
and country. Every wounded soldier was
counted by them as q dead man, JlEchered on
the field by the radical and incompetent gen
erals, and uuprincipled politicians. Il the
gallant dead were lauded and the bravery OF
the soldiers generally praisei, i; was done
10 give point and force to the fury Of the
onslaught on those who were accused Of be-
ing guilty of little less than wiliul murder.
This demoniac raving Is DO more than
might be expected in such case. Those
who Indulge in il are carrying cut tie object
%. their Mission. They live to attack all in
the service Of tie Government, except such
as they believe and hope viii work for it only
in sd0seryience to the desires Of those who
hate every principle on which the Republi-
can Administration came into power. To
create distrust, 10 excite jealousies, to give
no support to the Government but in such
a way as shall tend to destroy the influence
of all who are IN high authority, t. find
fault with every plan, whether they know
what it was or not to say, whatever Is
done, that something else ought to have been
done; if a general is sent any where to say
that be ought to have been sent somewhere
else-in short to din into the public ear that
nothing is done for the lest, or can be done
FOX the best til men Of their principles. sym
pathies AMI aims are brought into power,
and all Others driven from all positions of
authority and inAuence,-is their unceasng
aim. What they say and do about the af-
fair at Fredericksburgh is in harmony with
their whole course for years past, and they
will continue to do as they have done as long
as they dare.
But there are many who have no part or
lot with these revilers but who give way
to unmanly and despoading thoughts, of an
injurious though not unpatriOtic character.
Ihe5 tax as if somehow a rebellion-.he |
like Of which the world never saw,-ought
TO be put down, and could be, if the right
Plan was hit upon, without any great losses
on the side Of the righttul authority, that
somehow, when armies Of $4,000 and l00,-
900 men on side are arrayed against each
other, it is altogether inexcusable in mill
tary point Of view, if our generals have not
such thorough knowledge Of the forces and
devices Of the enemy as to insure the victory