The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1863-02-07

| where 1T was weakest, turn them. aro
then-wiih the cooperation of Sumne,
attacking in front-to complete the victor,
ana convert II into rout. Gen. Franklir
ied the main attack with his own grand
aivislon andi.wo small corps from Hook er s
Ills orders orders were to attack with a
FEAST one corps vigorously, and then to fol
low up the attack with prompt and heavy
supports. He sent Gen Meade to the at,
tack, commanding the smallest cops of all
uen. Meade attacked with great vgor
0rohe ne rebet dne, aad actually pushed HI.
nayanne INTO Msnidstcf Medmn.un,tion uaqoas
ana oagoye tram IN Meir rear. He had com.
pietely succeeded in the appointed work
the forces opposed to him Were utterly
routed, and all ne needed was prompt and
| effective support THIS he did not reeeiye.
zen Franklin sent another small corps to
| his aid, but it arrived too late The enemy
seeing Meade come to a stand, had rallied ;
relnforcen'ents were pushed forward, and
before Meades supports came up his force
vas driven back and it became impossible
to re-establiyh the line Gen. franklin
gave rs . reason for net sending forward
heavier and prompter supports, that he
was AFRAID the enemy would ssi=e las Gidges
and cm Of has nsG,4s Of retreat. Gen Sumner.
meantime, had opened the fight to retain
IS much of the rebel forces in front as Dos
sible, for the relierof Franklin; and as he
never does anything but with TIE utmost
impetuosity, he had pushed the movement
I'll it had assumed the proportirns of a
terrible engagement This shows how
near the battle came TO being a success.
j. The affair at fredericksburg. and
The investigations that followed it, were no
sooner over, than Gen. Burnside prepared
Ter another aggressive LloycHent. 1t en-
traced an attack III front, at Il point select.
ed with care, and a formidable raid of
cavalry aad light artillery. which was 10
threaten the eGemy > communication and
dlT~! A.s Alteration from the main attack
Ii Was BOLD pan, hat, if vigorously exc
cuted, vas reasonably certain Of success
Every preparation had meen made for i
picked force oi cavaify aud artillery wa.
got ready, uHder the command OF that
d2shlng and most competent officer Gen
Ave,iu and the execution of the movement
was fixed for the 3lst Of December. The
column destined TO mai" the raid
ectually IN motion, when telegram from
President Lincoln announced to Gen
Burnside tia. he must make no movement
without first consulting him The General
% once arrested the march of his troops,
and repaired to Washington. The Presi- (
dent informed him that the reas7a OF his
dispatch was that s0iA- o: Gep. Burrsides F..
subordinate officers has protested yeEe-
raeatly azainss the movement Thus .
failed the .hird attempt, through the IN
reference and iusordinati,- If officers of I.
the army.
T. The fourth and latest OF these at /
teGnpis was the one Of last Wednesday. !
- Z. = -.
II had examined personally and repeated /
ly the ground on which i was TO be exc /
cuted. lie had f.cd the position which /.
each division was to occupy on crossing I
the river. He had s.certained by spies .
the movements Of tie enemr. WHOM he /
hal completely deceived bv teiSt. aS %
the point of crossing. and counted with The
utmost confidence on taking him by sur
prise How this movement came TO fail /
have already endeavored 10 show.
Gc1eral Buras;s!.s has thus attempted +
f5ts attacks upon the rebel army in his I
front since he assumed command OF the /
Array of the Potomac In each instance .
he has been embarrassed and thwafted by I
those who "sse boand BY every sea;imest
Of rlliitarP honor and Of patriotic outy to /
give hiEl tnrir rordia. and effective sUp- ,
port The Inference is worry clear II,
'ioV'f eid-r Isre IT, po,eer p eTs,nisf bess ,
.f'csr', and PIT u. neir pi,r>s otisrs ,ri2 riI .
,--oaf lis 5isas or ie s1oH1f D. rel,sycf from
rsr.marE There ought TO ne no halfway
work about it. He will be very likely
again 10 tender his resignation. HIS per-
sonai wishes will not keep h!m an hour in
= position which he il not pr unlimited to
fill lie ought not. in my judgment,
either 10 resiga or 10 ask TO be relieved ,
He should at once use the power which .
bis position gives him, and remove every {
officer, h gt, or low, who has filled in il .
hutv, or attempted to thwart h3 in the /
execution of his plans. IF the President ,
should refuse 30 sustain him in SO doing /
then he would have valid reason for 1
from commane lie night /
hesitate ta authorize il in advance, but he |
ought not TO be asked TO 60 so General I
Burnside hes perfect right to issue such I
an order; and the country would applaud /
the vigor and reodiness to meet responsible /
lity which it wonli imply Such an act,
would infuse heart ard conf
ierce into the army