New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1863-01-26
The Forward Movement Abnndoned-Tbe
Grand Army staiied-Reasons for Con-
Rra,ulation-Pieket pIen.anfries--Im-
portnnf Services Of the Engineers.
From Oar Special Correspondent.
HEADQrARTKRs ARsvI % =

From Our specisl Correspondent.
HKADQrARTRRs AVN % THE PoroNlc.l
| Saturday, Jan. a. 1863.
! To-day we bring unwslcOme tdings from the
Army Of the Potomac. The grand movement which
was TO have given "great and mortal blow" to
the enemy has failed and has been abandoned. Not
for lack Of skill in planning not for want Of unrns
labor and energy IL execution but for the faure Of
fortune to smile upon and cooperate in our under
taking The elements have fought against us and
have trumphed. The heavens have irownod upon
the effort, and tie wind and storm have been fight
ing upon the side Of the enemy. An immense ar
nv, good Generals, an abundance Of the best art-
lery, plentiful supplies, bridges telegraph, aud oil
the appurtenances Of thoroughly furnished army
were rendered, by two days of continued rain, un'
able either to march against the enemy or iuImodi-
atey TO return to the position they occupied before
tho advance was commenced Even while six
miles only from their railroad communications they
were scarcely able TO receive their supplies, 30 i'm
passable for wagons had the roads become during
he 48 hours' rain.
Yet however unfortunate the present situation,
we have at least the satisfaction that 1t nigh, have
been far moro nauspicous than 1t Is at present The
movement YVES originally ordered 10 commence on
Sunday Had the crossing been successfully accom-
plished at that ue 80 it doubtless might have been,
the position Of the army would have been far more
critical than IL II at preSsnt iad the storm wDlch
/ has visited upon the north bank OF the RaIpahan-
mock and prevented the crossing overtaken us after
we had been thoroughly established upon the other
side Of the river, we should have been unable TO
maneuYer our artillery, furnish the army with sup
ulies or advance against the enemy. Fortunate for
US that the storm commenced before and not after
the crossing of the river.
/ I shall he unable 10 convey an adequate impress
sion of the dsorgsnizing effect OF the recent ram
EyerythinAis thrown INTO the most complete con-
fusion. Tie roads are no longer channels OF COM
muncation, and the luggage wagons and artillery
seek TO avoid them and pass through the fields and
even there the soil gives way, and terra tTiad be-
comes quagmire under your ieet. Inc wagons
sink in to tho axerees ana the horses slump ahi
founder in The muo. twenty HGut norhes nave
been repeatedly seen in u fiat open plain tagging and
milling al u single i2-pounder field piece An ohcer
! Of tho pontoon tram to-day informed Inc that one
huAdIed hnd fifty men had been employed Ia luihnH
al the ropes OF q single wagon 10 draw IL thr0ugn
the mud into which il had sunk by ITS own weight
Ona has onlv 10 ride half mile in IL TO lose much
of bis confidence In mother earth. ii 10 strange
and unpleasant sensation for one TO ride Tor seVca
miles and find bis horse continually SINKING 10 the
knee, not knowing but the next step VIII ma DOW,
beast aud rider loundering ~ a slough OF oesPonu
from which lie would gladly escape like Bun
vans Neighbor Pliable, but unfortunately there
Is no solid ground to retreat TO. All along
the road are TO be seen nearly buried IN tbe
mud horses which have fallen and were LEFT there,
unable 10 rise OF TO b extricated. The inelegant
but truthful expression Of the inhabitants IN regard
10 the soil is, that ii is rotten
Unable to supply the army with rations In the
usual way details Of men were sent 10 faimoutb,
some ON loot and some on horse back TO bring hard
bread 10 their companions =,
The most Of the infantry have returned to their old
encampments. The regiments still near the pom.
where Hooker and Franklin were TO cross VIII
doubtless remain TO repair the roads, or to build new
onos Of logs 90 that the artillery and baggage wag
ons may return with them. Should a sudden advent
of cold weather freeze the soil again. the movement
may be effected without the construction Of corduroy
roads There Is, however, danger In that case that
many ap artillery, pontoon, or baggage wagon may 10