Fremont journal. [volume] (Fremont, Sandusky County [Ohio]) 1853-1866, 1862-02-07
The Burnside Expeditlon-mOre swlnd-
lfs,a nv Traaaon.

ling or TreasOfls
From the Chicago Tribune, Jan. 81.
Those who remember the long, slow weeks
through which VIC continued TO hear that
the gteat Expedition was still at Annapolis,
win believe that whatever it mightllack Of
ofoui6l. could not be charged
to the haste Of preparation. Time enough
was occupied, aud that, too, by an officer
whom many Of our Chicago readers will
no. need 10 be told has few equals in des-
patching business, as Gen. Burnside's rail
road experiences in this city prove. The
Expedition left after unexpected detentions.
With,the facts already in the possession Of
the public twill not be easy 10 persuade
US that Greachery had no hand in this delay
that traitors did not do all thcy could
coycrtly to postpone tho hour of starting.
And with. the traitors who acted from sym
pathy with the rebels, there operated q
class Of men who were actuated by far
meaner principle, whose operations 10 this
war have kept, practically, if not in intent,
very even pace with the most active enemies
of the Goyernment-th contractors.
Between these two classes, were il posi-
bic to mete out strict justice, some very
heavy penalties would fall. We have an
instance already, and that before the sailing
Of the Expedition, the Enfield rifle cartrid-
ges, solidly built up of coarse paper, and, in
proportion of more than two-ffths, entire
ly quiltless of potUderi Some of them
now lie before us, taken from the atnmuni-
ton chests, at random, by one of the princi-
al officers. Was this treachery or was il
the act of some soulless contractor9 There
can be no doubt that it comes under the
former head. But from Hatteras, where
tho fleet are just recovering from the effects
of fearful storm, there comes back mes
sage from Gen. Burnside himself shocked,
sickened but not dismayed by the needless
evils inflicted upon bim--"Ihe contractors
have rarned me-" We know already what
some of these evils were. He was deceived
in too many of his transports. Old and
unseaworthy vessels, too large for the pecul-
ar purposes of the Expedition, were infa-
mously thrust upon him. One old steamer
falls to pieces at sea. Others are run ashore
by their commanders. The water casks
provo to have been formerly used for kerr
osepe, oils, and whisky, and their contents
arc worthless. The commander sees about
him the representatives. Of soulless sharks
moro eager to recover from the Government
the price of their transports, than far the
human life they bear, and the purpose for
which this expedition has sailed. General
Burnside is not disheartened, nor must the
country be in his behalf. The actual per-
of loss is small, less than that which
was suffered by Commodore Dupont
Enough material, and that, too, Of tho best
character, yet remains in Gen. Burnside's
command to accomplish its errand, and the
worstis passed. But should not these ex-
periences, this thwarting of the Government
purposes, this cruel trifling with the lives of
our soldiers, awaken the last of the good
easy men both at Washington and through
out the land to the immineuce Of the pub
lie perill Is it not time to testify that
public Justice bears a sword, and not in vain
Is it not time that examples be made, and
that, too, irrespective ofrankor connections