Rutland weekly herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1859-1877, 1863-02-05
The Late Movements and the Causes
of Its Failure.

Henry J. Raymond, editor of the New York
Times, writes to that paper from Washington,
a letter in which he gives his views of the
causes which led to the failure of Gen. Burn
sides repeated attempts to move against the
enemy Mr. Raymond was with Gen. Burn
sides army during the late movement which
commenced on the 18th, and has had every ia
cility for informing himself of the facts of the
case. HIS statements and opinions are given
in clear and forcible manner, and carry with
them the evidence of their truth. The letter.
written prior to Gen. Burnsde's resignation,
satisfactorily accounts for that unexpected
event. After mentioning each movement, it's
failure and the particular therefor, he
sums up the whole matter as follows
Gen. Burnside has thus attempted four at
tacks upon the rebel army in his front since
he assumed command of the Army of the Po-
tomac. In each instance he has been embar-
rassed and thwarted by those who were bound
by every sentiment of military honor and of
patriotic duty to give him their cordial and
effective support. The inference is very clear.
He should either haze the posoer to dismiss these
officers, and put iaa their places Others pho wi1
second has plans, or should be reziered from
command. There ought 10 be no halfway
work about it. He will be very likely again
to tender his resignation. His personal wish
es will not keep him an hour in position
which he is not permitted to fill. He ought
not, in my Judgment, either to resign or to
ask to be relieved. He should at once use the
power which his position gives him, and re-
move every officer, high or low, who has failed
III hls duty, or attempted to thwart him in the
execution of his plans. If the President
should refuse to sustain him in so doing then
he would have a valid reason for withdrawing
from command. But | do not believe he
would refuse. Gen. Burnside has a perfect
right to issue such an order; and the country
would applaud the vigor and readiness TO meet
responsibility which it would imply. Such an
act, moreover would infuse heart and conf
dence into the army. The mass of the army
is thoroughly loyal and ready for service. |
saw thousands of them on the morning after
their terrible night march, through rain and
tempest and mud, and saw no symptoms of
dependency or of shrinking from duty. This
would not apply to all. Among some of the
troops Of the Generals most open in their OPP
position to the Commanding Generals plans,
there was much struggling on the march,
and heard of one corps of $4,000 men which
on arriving numbered but little over 5000
OF course this could only have occurred with
the connivance of their regimental and compa-
ny officers, and was due principally to the de
moralization at division and corps headquar-
1ers, of which have already spoken. If Gen.
burnside would take prompt and resolute
measures to arrest this evil by striking at its
ro,3t-by Furnishing insubordination in high
Pla ces as well as low-it would act upon the
army like an inspiration, and IN ten days
time he could WELD the whole power of that
army in the prompt and hearty execution of
any pl an which be might devise.