The daily Green Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1861-1865, 1863-01-28
The Cause Of Gen. Burnside Failure at
Fredericksburg.

what appears to be an authoritative statement
of the causes which have been working against
Gen. Burnside from the moment he took oom.
'nnand Of Whe Army Of the Potomac, and which
finally compelled him to resign his position.
The letter was written before the recent change
IN commanders, and tarowe Eauch light upon
,she reasons for that change, which ne generally
states as follows
Gen Burnside has thus attempted four at
,acks upon the rebel army in his front since be
assumed command Of the army of the Potomac.
In each instance he has been embarrassed and
thwarted by those who were bound by every
sentiment of military honor and patriotic duty
80 give him their cordial and effective support.
she inference is very clea-. He should either
fsve the power TO dismiss these officers, and put
in their places Others who will second his plans,
or h should be relisvsd from command. There
ought to be no half way work about it.
In regard to the battle OF fredericksburg, and
she blame for the failure then, the letter makes
the following statement
Next came the crossing and the battle at
fredericksburgh -wtlCh was certainly failure.
and which the country generally brands as
blundar. think it was in Gen. Barnsidc's
power to have corrected that opinion in his tes-
tlmony before the Congressional Committee.
de did not avail himself of that opportunity.
bat said that the country would never know
how near the movement came to being sue
cess. see no reason why this country should
not know it-and | cannot help believing that
when the official reports of that battle are per-
naltted to see the light the grounds of General
6urnstde'S opinion will be evident to all IL is
generally assumed that the main attack on that
occasion was against the rebel front, posted and
'ehtreRched on the crest i'm the rear Of
tFederickeburgh. This is mistake which was
corrected by the General in his testimony. The
,sna'n attack f0aS designed 10 be upon ihe rebel
.~egh, and the object of it was to break their
line there, where it was weakest, turn them.
and then--with the cooperation Of Samncy at
taeklng IN front--to complete the victory and
'cenvert it into rout. Gen. Franklin led the
MAIN attack with his own Grand Division and
two small corps from Hooker's His orders
wese 70 attack with at least enc cayps vigor-
'ousiy, and then to follow up the attack with
prompt and heavy supports, He sent Gen. Meade
10 the attack, commanding he smallest corps
of all. Gen. Meade attacked with great vigor.
broke the rebsIIine, and octucLg pushed has I'D.
aGncc into HE midst of an,mnnition ,eeqons asd
ta9Sagc,trasn in Mesr rear. He had com rle,ely
succeeded in the appointed work the forces
opposed to him were utterly routed, and all he
needed was prompt and effective support
Ihat .le did mol TeceiUe' Gen. FrankHa sent
anol5er small cerPs to his aid, but they arrived
too late. The enemy, seeing McCde come to a
stand, had rallied reinforcemsnts were push
ed G4fw rd and before Mcade'S supports came
Qrp his force was driven back and it became i'm
possible to reestablish the line. Gen. -ErG1sk-
lin gave u req on tor not sending forward heavi
En- and prompter supports, that be was afraid
the enemy would seize his bridges and cut off
hi. means of retreat. Gen. S4mner meantime,
had opened the fight to retain as much of the
rebel force in front possible, for the relief of
Franklin and as he never does anything but
With the utmost impetuosity, he had pushed
Inc movement till it had assn med the proportions
Of d terrible engagement. This shows how
near " the battle came to being success.
MIR. Raymond also distinctly charges the fail
are Of the last tempt of Burnside to attack
the ,rehsls to the practical characterization of
some OF bis officers. A movement ordered by
Burnside, and actually commenced, not long Of
ter the battle oil fredericksburg, also failed by
being practically countsrmanded by President
Lincoln, after the troops were actually in mo-
zion the reason given by the President for 50
doing being the representation of some OF Burn
sides inferior officers respecting its practicable
aty. yGen. Burnside having found il impossible
to succeed against these adverse Influences, at
aast psremptoriy resigned =, ,,-,o..,7 ro7
~ . .aallan2A .-1.- !. -. !, 70,
Ng&HtgtR bNA
Ths Presidents Emancipation Proclamation
nas been issued as General Orders No. /, and