Daily national Republican., 1862-12-13
THE POSITION.

THE POSITION.
AT this present writing, we have no later dis
patch from Fredericksburg than the one dated
at 10 O'Clock yesterday forenoon. We may
get something later before we 60 to press.
The feat Of the men, about one hundred in
number, who, volunteering for that purpose,
crossed over from Falmouth in boats on Thurs
day, and successfully dislodged the rebels from
their rife pits, capturing Q number equal 10
their own, is among the most daring and i'm
portant exploits Of the war. It is not TO be
doubted that the President will reward these
gallant heroes with all the promotion which the
usages Of the service permit. He cannot 90
90 far in that direction.
The rebels seem to have made very little use
Of their artillery, to prevent the crossing Of the
river, seeming rather to rely upon their riaemen
and infantry, who were posted in Fredericks-
burg for that purpose, and who, in fact, would
have been able 10 protract the resistance to the
crossing much longer, but for the bravery and
good fortune of the little band by whom they
were dislodged. .F
The crossing Of Gen. Franklin's division was
only three miles below Fredericksburg, instead
of fifteen miles below, as the public had been
induced to expect by previous accounts.
The whole army has thus crossed at substan-
TALLY one point, and the enemy seems equal
ly to have concentrated his strength within n
small space. II for battle at Fredericksburg
we shall have 1t at once, and IL may already
have commenced.
In the Mississippi Valley, 1t is settled that
Gan Grapt Mill Apd m, a,,y With ,ha
and strength to give him battle. No name car
ries such terror with 1t TO the rebels as that OF
Gen. Grant, and 1t is doubtful IL any disparity
of numbers would embolden them TO fight him.
The rebel General Pemberton has turned of
towards the East, substantially abandoning
Vicksburg to its fate, and thus insuring the
early opening of the Mississippi river.
By avoiding battle with Gen. Grant, the
rebels avoid defeat, but they yield the whole
left bank of the lower Mississippi to our ad
vance, and this advance will be fatal to them.
in connection with the coming into operation
on the 1st Of January, of the Presidents pro.
clamation. The left bank Of the Mississippi
from Memphis down, contains the densest bod,
OF negro slaves In rebeldom, and their libera
tion will be ruinous blow to the patriarchsl
Institution. That has been the great market
for the negro venders of Maryland, Virginia
and Kentucky, and once lost by the emancipa
tion of slaves, ii. can never be recovered. Tn,
event will demonstrate, within a few DAYS, tha,
the Presidents proclamation is no brutuD, fil.
men, but stern and effective reality.
1t is rumored, or suspected, that Gen. Penn
berton has gone to the support of Gen. Bragg
or whoever the rebel commander may be, who
Is confronting Gen. Rosecrans in Middle Ten
nessee. The belligerents are at close quarter.
in the vicinity Of Nashville, and We may have
accounts of battle at any moment. The stu
alton of affairs there is critical. Ii certainl,
is go for the rebels, If It be true, as reported
that the Unionists of East Tennessee haV,
broken out in open revolt against them in theii
rear. If Gen. Rosecrsns is able to win q yicto
ry between Nashville and Murfreesboro', tn
consequences cannot fail to be most important
The battle at Fayetteville, between the force
of Generals Heron and Bruce and those o
Gen. Hindman, appears to have been as des
perate and bloody as those of Wilson's sprin,
and Pea Ridge, heretofore fought In the sam
quarter. Gen. Heron and Gen. Bruce are
neither Of them, educated military men, bu
they evidently know how TO fight, and thei
troops are unsurpassed in bravery. Those O
Gen. Heron are principally from Illinois. Gen
Bruce's force consists chiefly of Kansas regl
msnts, with asprinkling of Indians and (shock
ing as 1t may be to the nerves of some people
negroes.
No survey Of the position would be complet
without some notice of the depredations of tn
Alabama, called by courtesy a rebel privateel
but which is nothing more or less than Britls
armed steamer, manned by Englishmen, an
built and fitted out at an English port and b
subscription of English capitalists. If W
must have war with Great Britain, we are Il
favor Of a war on both sides, and not on one sid
only. The same British policy which allowe
the Alabama to get TO sea TO prey upon ou
commerce, may follow it with twenty others o
the same errand, If not checked by energeti
and menscing remonstrance.