, 1862-12-27
Correspondence Of the New York 1riba8c.1
HE4DQu4KTER R1GErs GRAsDDgrs1oS,

Correspondence Of the New orkTribane1
HEADQt4HTEa R1cHrs GaAsD1DErs1oS,
Dec. q. 1862
The ofHcial returns Of killed, wounded and
missing are nearly in. In the battle Of Satur-
day, we lost no prisoners, and but very few
lre missing Between 500 and AGO in the en-
tire army stole away during the fight and the
subjects for the hospital, and most Of them
have since been found there The bodies Of |
nearly i'll the commissioned officers, and many |
Of the non-conl1nissioned, whose friends are |
able to bear the expense, are being enaba1med !
beneath tents near the railroad depot, erected
for the purpose Almost the first object that |
arrests the attention Of visitors to the Army
Of the Potomac, who are fastening here to
see their wounded friends, is vast pile Of
coflns standing before the elnbaluers quar-
ters.
The list Of officers Killed and wounded is 4
most fearful one. Many companies age being
commanded by nOn-comniissioned officers,
regiments BY Captains, br1ggades by Majors,
and divisions By Colonels.
The rebel sllarpshooteTs in almost every bat
tic We fight, devote themselves entirely to the
brilliant uniforms Of our officers, who still
persist in going upon the battle field as richly
dressed as if they were entering 4 ball room.
It is difficult, on the contrary. with the most
powerful glass, to distinguish rebel officer.
Nearly all have seen are as meanly dressed
only he discovered by the superior intelll-
gence they exhibit, OF the Difference and obe-
dience paid to them By tic common soldiers.
Through several letters you have already
learned that We took on Saturday nearly LOGO
rebel prisoners, but that Instead Of being cap
tnTed by the superior skill Of our officers,
they threw down their arms and came over to
us when there was not the least necessity for
their doing so, and when it would have been
almost impossible for US to have taken them.
Nearly all Of these soldiers we're from North
Carolina, and expressed themselves tired Of
the war and at heart friends Of the Union.
Since recrossing the Rappahannock be have
heard. Of course, much about going into viii
ter quarters, and strangers visiting the army
think, from the great activity in building huts
and digging cellars, that it is absolutely Ger
tain that we are to make no further offensive
tion, ssN hen shall we be ready to move
again ?'' Gen. Burnside answered this NOR
| ming, stWe are ready to move now, and
nothing il wanting to commence another CAM
paign." I believe this to be literally true
| The evacuation of Fredericksburg was SO well
| conducted, and the amount Of stores and am
| munitiou On hand so immense, in anticipation
! Of march upon RicAuaon6, that tho battle Of
| Saturday, and tic tremendous cannonade Of
| Thursday, hardly made pcrccptlble i1npres-
ordnance departments. I AM informad that
| three such battles could have been fought, and
then there would have been enough shot and
shell Oh hand 10 have routed On army and de-
| u,olished Richmond
Great as was our loss before the nights o1
Frcdcrieksbur, so large is the army Of the
Potomac, that in riding through the different
corps one can scarcely miss the number. II
is only when visiting Individual divisions and
brigades that great gaps can bc seen, and stout
forms and brave faces are missed.
Gen. Doubleday, to the lasting shame and
disgrace Of those who Issued the orleT, from
the command Of division has been reEaandeG
back to a brigade. Considering thu services
The culture, and the ability Of Gen. Double
! day, this act is an outrage. In branding it Il:
such, no eensure should rest upon Gencrl
Walsworth, who succeeds him in the com
uand Of tile division. He, believe, lea<
nothing whatever to do with it. Had Gen
Doubleday hut bowed his knee 10 the domi
nant pro-elayery faction in the regular army
not word would ever hare been heard abou
his incompetency. It is the grossest absur
dily to say that he is not competent to CON
) mand division, when so many dolts, VIII
have not sufficient culture to maneuycr
: ! Company, arc in the command Of brfSadcs IN
y divisions a highly eanerted gentlemen an
! soldier, and Il thoroughly loyal man, III is r.
duced in command, while men much his II
feriors, are elevated above him.
: Since The battle the rebels have been pre-
! found1y quiet, and but for the camp fires on
would hardly know there was an army III trou