Daily Ohio statesman. [volume] (Columbus, Ohio) 1855-1870, 1862-12-23
The Reverse at Fredericksburs.

We have again to report disastrous reverse
to our arms. Defeated with great slaughter In
the battle OF the 18th, General Burnside has
nov Withdrawn the Army of the Potomac TO the
nortn eide OF the Rappahannock, where the
people congratulate themselves that it ia at
laaat IN safety. And now, who ia reepousible
for this terrible repulse?
Generel Burnside was appointed To the
command of the Army of the Potomac on the
9sh November, and began at once to prepare TO
shift the base and line of march of bis army
toward Fredericksburg. In view of such a
movement, General Mcclellan had, before his
removal, suggested the propriety of rebuilding
and occupying the railroad from Auuia Creek
70 falmonth; but, for some reason not apparent,
tne war Department had not acted upon the
suggestion. About the 18th of November
General Burnside notified the Department that
he would arrive at Fredericksburg in about a
week, and that pontoons must be there BY that
tlmc, IN order to enable him to cross and occupy
Ine hllis on the south side of the river. On the
Slst Henerai Sumner arrived at Fredericksburg,
ana iouno 'nat there was not pontoon there,
anu tne railroad between Aqua Creek and
falmoutn being out of order, there was no
means OF getting any, and no means Of procur.
lns supplies IL was absolutely impossible to
oross tne river and the enemy were already
ARRIVING on the south side and throwing up
earth-works. "r
General Burnside, on discovering this state
Of things, repaired instantly to Washington 10
ascertain why he was being sacrificed. What
satisfaction he obtained no one knows. But a
general officer, one of the most distinguished
In the service, not in the Army of the Potomac,
as early as Esd November, made no secret of
his opinion that the movement pis Frederick.
purg "'oas failure" because Burnside had
0een unable to occupy the south bank Of the
Kappahannock in time.
IN tne course of two weeks pontoops were
lIrnis9ed 20 the army, the railroad was repair
eu, ana supplies were forthcoming But, on Nh,
0tner hand, Lee, with $50, 900 men, was Strong
" insrenched on the opposite side of the river
on Two ranges of hills which command tht
Slope at the foot of which the Rappshsnnock
runs ana fredericksburg lies. The question was
wnat was to be done7 A council of war wal
nelo on the night of the lIth. At that council
IL Is understood that Generals Sumner, Frank.
iin, nooker, and all the corps commanders who
naa oeen invited were decidedly opposed to a
Moyemens =. across the river and up the slope
~ 70 TumoTed that Burnside then said that he aOa.
cTaerea 10 oross the yiuer and attack the batteyis.
" Jronf' ana that he 'could do il, no matter whal
tne oos'. This of course closed the discussion
enu sne generals made their preparations ac.
coraingly' On the 18th the river was crossed
without serious resistance. On the 18th the
tepei batteries were attacked in front by the
puik OF bornside's army, and our troops YER,
repuised with loss which is now variously ca
timated at from twelve to seventeen thousand
men. ihe rebel loss is not known, but the,
can NOS nave lost many score of men. On III.
night OF the l5-l6th, General Bunrnside with
dreM his army to the north side of the river.
we are indulging In no hyperbole when ",
say tnat these events are rapidly filling th,
neert OF the loyal North with sickness, disgust
and despair. Party lines are becoming effacet
Dy such unequivocal evidences of administra
tive inoeoility; 1t Is the men who have giyeI
ana trusted the most, who now feel most keen
" that the Government is unfit for its Office
ana that the most gallant efforts ever made b,
cruelty tried people are being neu,ralized bi
sne obstinacy and irospacity of their leaders. :
where this will all end no one can see. But /
must end soon. The people have shewn pa
tience, during the past year, quite unexmaplet
In history. They have borne, silently apt
grimly, imbeeility, treachery, failure, privation
1883 OF friends and means, almost every suffer
Ing which can afilot brave people. But the,
can not be expected to suffer that such maesa
cres as this at fredericksburg shall be repeat
ca. Walters are rapidly ripening for miiitar
dictatorshipv-Haper's Weekly. l'