Western Reserve chronicle. [volume] (Warren, Ohio) 1855-1921, 1862-12-31
Washington Correspondence.
WAsuLNGroN. Dec. 2Oth. 1


The exciting and chief topic of CONVEX
sation at the Capital. Just at the present
time is the late repulse of the Army o
the Potomac, at Fredericksburg,
Ii Is very evident that some one ha0
Numbered" but who, the facts outside oi
military circles. will not at this writing
allow one to determine. The COMMITTEES
ON the Conduct of the war;" are now
making a thorough and minute investi-
CATION, and the responsibility of this
blunder. will trust be traced to It's prop
er source. If it were the purpose ol
Gen. Burnside. orthe Commando Chief
Gen. Halleek, 10 cross the Potomac al
Fredericksburg, the crossing should have
been made when the army reached Fal
mouth, which | have reason to know, wa:
the original plan. If the pontoon bridge:
were not IN readiness, the army should
not have been marched then, until every
thing was prepared for the crossing. II
is a conceded fact, as am informed, thai
when the army reached Falmouth the
rebels had no Notifications OF apystrength
on the hills above fredericksburg. and
but few troops near.
Cen. Sumner made demand upon thC
Mayor of the City for its surrender with
in "a hours, threatening to shell the elty
unless the demand should be compiled
with within the time given. The Mayo
responded that the time proposed was to'
short for the removal of non-combatantS
and that the Confederate AuthorltIe'
would resist the occupation OF the city by
our forces, When the time allowed fol
the consideration of the demand, hat
expired. Gen. Burnside should have beer
prepared TO commence the bombardmen
with vigor. The delay which followed
was strange and demands explanation
Let us not, however, pass judgement
upon any one until all the factsare known
For | fear that great injustice has beer
done during this Wai, 10 many
brave and patriotic General, simply be
cause we have allowed ourselves
hastily to form opinions. of them, before
we have known what the real facts IN the
case weFeZS Nothing but mistakes ano
disasters have occurred to the Grand Ar
my of the Potomac" since the commence
ment of the war. No army of the Unior
has been better cared for than this. The
men are as brave and true as any tha
fought the great battles of history. MeT
never displayed more undaunted cour
are or reckless daring than this same un
fortunate army manifested at tue late re
pulse. There was no panic. no route
these men faced danger and death with
out flinching. They walked steadily t
the very mouths of the cannons which
were vomiting shot and shell, and stood
under an enfilading fire unmoved but Il
fall. ...e-
Such men deserve success, and not re
!, .ated disasters. All honor to their self
sacrificing devotion, their energy an5
pElck. May they yet be led victorious,
into Richmond, the goal after which al
our energies should be bent. Fhe arm,
was admirably handled in crossing, IN tn
attack, and in recrossing the Rappahan
mock. The error was not IN teclnlca
military skill. in drill or maneuver, bu
in leading troops upon such strong WORKS
where the enemy was concealed amt sc
cure. and the attacking force 50 exposed. :
The rebels had chosen their position, am
were allowed ample time to make 1T a
strong and impregnable as they wished
But uneducated military men must no
criticise and therefore | Will only tndS.-
If were a General, would say, that
the management of the Army OF the 10
tomac from.frst to last, under Mcdowell
Pope. Mcclellan. Halleck, and Burnside
be evidence of military strategy or militia
nv science and skill, ! would prefer a lit
tie exhibition of good common sense am
a little common sagacity to all OF them.
| have talked with many of the wound
ell officers and men, and they all asre
that they had very little hope of climb
ing the hills, protected as they were, b,
rifle pits and embankments. The position
was such that they could not not tlanl
the enemy, they must carry his works o
1 fail If the first line of works had beel
carried, our brave men would have bee
Eexposed to a still more CALLING and mul
derous fire from the 2nd line beyond
Our loss in killed and wounded Is not ye
| fully ascertained the estimates are iron
eioht TO ten thousand. about I'D bein
killed. For some cause, the proportion
killed is not as great as usual. and man
are but slightly wounded. The Wounds
are now mostly in comfortable hospital
in and near Washington. where they or
provided for. -.
The Ohio relief association Is doing
noble work for the Ohio sick and wound
ed in Washington. 1t is worthy OF g.
confidence and support.
Secretaries Seward and Chase have tel
| dered their designations to the Presiden
but whether or not they will be aecepte
] by him. is not at this writing KNOWN
There will be much regret il Mr.. Chas
! leaves his present position. which he ha
filed so ably and well.
II is rumored on the streets that tn
! Renublican Senators held caucus :
which resolution was passed that som
change in the cabinet was necessary
Lunity of counsel, and that Mr.. Seward II
/ earded the movement as rejecting upo
! him. and therefore rendered his resign;
tion. For some reason, whether JUST
or not. Mr.. Seward is regarded as being
| favor of the SLOW and tender conduct
4 the war. and rs wanting in that resolI
ton and pluck necessary for the storm
present.
Why Mr.. Chase has resigned, all are at
loss TO determine. am inclined to thin
that something very important. as to- Tia
! cabinet, isabout to otransplre; but lew day
will probably give the public tire de''o'
meBt The army ~ preparation bill, ~
propriating over sc, en- hundred million
of dollars. passed the House without d'
bate and with little opposition The DO
der state men and democrats essayed I
embarrass it with a proviso, touching tn
negro question, but did not succeed. Th
debate has finally commenced on the Pre-
ident's Proclamation. The member irol
your District made the iilst speech upo
| it, which was listened to with marked a
tention both by the democrats and DO
der-state men of the school of Wickh