Daily Ohio statesman. [volume] (Columbus, Ohio) 1855-1870, 1862-12-19
The Rlght mt Rreas rielzsbdrE awful
RdabonsibIIily ~ the war Depart.

~ meUt N5ir NH
The news which We publIshed yesterday and
publish to-day from the Rappahanncck 10 highly
creditable 10. our able generals and gallant
troops, hut Gar from honorable 70 the War De-
partment or hopeful for the country The truth
may az we'll be told. The finest army that ever
trod the earthr posaeseing superior arms, large
and email, and with all the appliances and re-
sources Of war o. command, has suffered Q de-
cided repulse at tho hands Of half naked, half
starved, half armed foe.
The easy crossing Of the river on Thursday
was suspicious circumstance, which The, sub
seuuent eyenta have only too well explained.
The rebel General In Chief saw the advantage
Of the position which the authorities at WASH
ington threw into his hands, and he made good
use of the opportunity. The route 10 Richmond
was the very one which the insurgent chiefs
desired our Government to select. Il abounds
with natural difficulties, snj the War Depart
ment has sspetmitted the enemy toiadd 60 many
artificial obstructione, that the campaign In
Virginia this winter is likely to prove failure
The story of this campign is the story Of the
Chickahominy, Harrison's Landing and Antie-
tam repeated. Reinforcements we're deliber.
ately and peftinaciously withheld from McClel-
Ian previous to the seven days battle before
Richmond which reiniOrcements would have
placed him in possession Of that city 10 few
days and saved thousands of lives. The same
Ia true of the situation at Harrison'e Landing.
After the terrib battle OF Antietam, which,
won BY his skill, saved Washington aud caused
the enemy 10 retreat over the Potomac, needful
supplies we're withheld from him, which pre-
vented the rapid pHreuit OF Lee; and when he
was at length in close proximity to the foe, and
would have compelled him 20 fight or abandon
IT, L. .,Hdan1u al fHota khsn
command Of the army. The strong probability
is that, had he been permitted TO continue his
own course, he would have been In possession
of the rebel capital Withinh week. But he was
stripped of his command for political reasons
BY the imbeciles at Washington, and the base
Of operations was changed to Aqua Creek--a
course betraying the same vacillation and blind
CROPPING in the dark which had been previously
exhibited In the case OF McDoWell's army. Mo
Clellan was ordered TO advance by the valley of
Virginia toward GordOnsville. That plan is
abandoned, and another is substituted which 10
etill worse, and which no military man of abill-
~ would have ever recommended. McClellan's
own plan was the route of the James rivera
plan which will probably yet have to be adopted
II Richmond Is ever 10 be taken. c.
Burnside was appointed M Clellan's success
sor, and was directed to proceed 60 Falmouth,
oppoaite Ffedefieksburg The bridges had
been burned down Iustead of having the ma
terials for the repair of the railroad from Aqua
Creek to Fredericksburg ready, In order for the
speedy transportation OF supplies,9 nothing had
been done when General Burnside arrived, and,
worse still, the pontoons for crossing the river
were not there This red tape neglect was 30
Aagrsnt as TO cause General Burnside himself
to repair TO Washington to demonstrate with
"the powers that be-" For ten days. their
arrival was delayed, which gave the enemy
ample time to concentrate his forces and to
erect strong Notifications on the hills behind
FsederiOksburg. Had the ponloons been at
hand when Burnside reached Falmouth he
would have captured Fredericksburg without Q
struggle, occupied the heights beyond without
any difficulty, and probably would have been in
Richmond before now, had supporting move
ment Of the same time been made on the James
river. The ground behind Fredericksburg was
then unfortfed, and the city was held only by
handful Of rebels. The delay was fatal
The result ia repulse, great loss Of life, aud
probably greater loss in the future, The War
Department is accountable, The country ID
thoroughly aroused, and, In view Of the direct
and fearful responsibilities of the Government
to the people, We trust Mr.. Lincoln will lose
no time In putting an end 10 q career of imbe-
cili.y which is ruling the nation and bringing Il
into contempt with the civilized world.-N Y.
Herald, 18th. ts.f -..l Aid