The New York herald., 1862-12-24
THU SITUATION.

4x1A STU AX1ONs
No Gring has occurred On the Rsppahanock for
several days. The pickets on the river banks con.
tnue to exhibit friendly disposition towards each
other. flag Of truce was sent across yesterday
with . communication to General Lee, but the
object Of 1t had not transpired. Intelligence from
Che posts down the river is to the effect that the
rebels have considerably sire ngthened their forces
near Front Royal, and that they maintain con-
trAband communication with their Northern
friends via the Potomac and Mattapony creek,
crossing the peninsuls and Rappahanock at Leeds,
about thirty miles below.
The Congressional Committee on the Conduct OF
che War entrusted to report upon the late disaster
at Fredericksburg, presented their statement Of
the affair in the Senate yesterday. It carries out
In . great measure the history which General
Burnside gives In his official letter to General
Haleok, and confirms the assertion that no one
q responsible except General Burnside himself,
who admitted TO the committee that he
acted on his own Judgment entirely.
that he believed he would capture the
0nemy's works; but On attempting il
found 1t impossible. He stated also, II appears,
that be took command Of the army against his dc.
sire, and had previously refused the positions but,
on consultation with General Mcclellan and the
OaBoses sf his swn staff, who advised him that il
Wa his dnty asa soldier to accept it. he fnally
didse. We give the report Of the committee and
the Testimony they elected very fully in our
columns to-day. 1t embraces the evidence Of
Generals Burnside. Hooker, Sumner Franklin
Woodbury.. Haupt, Hslleck and Meigs.
The President has issued al address to General
Burnside's army congratuating them on the yslor
displayed at the late battle of Fredericksburg.
He assures them that, although they were not sue.
cessful, the attempt was not an error nor was the
failure anything but an accident This does not
accord exactly with General Burnsidc's admission
Ia his Official statement though the concluding por.
ton is entirely consonant with that officers report,
when the President says, "Condoling with the
pourners for the dead and sympathizing with the
severely wounded. congratulate you that the
number Of both is comparatively so smsll.n
General Burnside takes on opportunity TO cor
rect several errors In the printed form of his de-
spatch. The most important Is In reference TO the
wounded. He says:-"The number Of our wound
Cd was stated at about nine thousand, and the
uumber receiving hospital treatment ct sixteen
aandred and thirty. Both Of these amounts arc
wrsag. On the authority Of DR.. Lsttermsn, our
e(sdlcal Director, the whole number Of wounded
b between six and seven thousand. About one
half Of thsss are receiving treatment in the hos.
pitais.u
General Foster sends . cheering despatch from
North Carolina 70 General Halieck, reporting the
euccessfal progress Of his expedition. He states
that he fought four engagements, and each time
with triumph-one ct Southwest Creek, Kinston.
whitehall and Goldsboro.-snd that he burned the
railroad bridge at Coldsboro and Mount Olive, and
tore up several mlesof the track Of the Wilmington
and Weldon Railroad.
Our sNewbern correspondence to-day contains
N interesting account OF the fight at Kinston
One Of our new iron.clads-thc Nontauk- left
5hs Brooklyn Navy Yard yesterday, and proceeded
70 ssa, on her way TO some scene Of future use.
ln'asaa and glory. She was commanded by Com.
kandsr worden. the gallant officer who led tho
Nenstor ie;o action ssains, the rebel Nerrimac