Daily State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis, Ind.) 1861-1865, 1863-01-01

= ~ tNH'NA"NS ~ @Ht - '6N.
have the power to do it. and they will be un-
worthy of the name of men and of Christians. il
they do not.
Especial Correspondence of the Chicago Times
From Washington.
BuRNsrpE's owx DEMONSTRATION or HIS ISc0M.
PETENcE AND USFITSEss TO COMMAND a
LARGE ARMY-THE ARMY or THE PoroMAC
CAN GAIN NOTHING But DEFEATs UNDER HIS
LEADERSHIP.
WASHINGTON, Dec. 81.
If there ever was any doubt in regard to the
fitness OF Gen. Burnside to command the Army
of the Potomac. that doubt is now removed His
report to Gen. Halleck OF the battle of Freder-
icksburg, and his evidence and that OF Gen. Sum
ner before the committee OF Congress, dispel all
uncertainty on that point. The friends oil the
Administration are s~trainiug every nerve in order
to make it appear from these two statements of
Gen. Burnside that the Administration, and the
authorities at Washington, nre not in the least to
bla me for the massacre at Fredertksburg. But
a whole volume of sophistrym nl never convince
intelligent mel that in crosssps the river when
and where he did. and in making his rash assault
upon the enemy's works, Burnside acted without
the know edge and approval of that wretched tri
bfhf VI ibh hbhI - lWt orS EhtidHt u
mulishness- Lincoln, Stanton and Halleck. Ii
we were to believe that our Generals in the field
are to act in violation of the orders of the Gen
eral- in Chief. then the sooner the war is aban
doned the better; for such a course will invariably
result in defeat and disaster. as this did.
We are informed by Burnside. in his report.
that his main idea was, that, if he crossed at
fredericksburg. it would surprise the enemy.
Does he really think any intelligent man can be
Lave fhisf Whv IN ralp.ht ~ all tho world
for three weeks before, the Z AfFould cross there
and at no other spot. Genfte may be a rebel
and "a traitor. But are we to believe that he is
such a ninny that he did not know positively that.
when Burnside crossed, it would be at Freder.
icksburgI There was not a corporal in the rebel
army that did not know it. If Burnside thinks
he can catch the rebel birds by putting salt on
their tails in that manner. il shows that he has
such a misconception of the military character of
the rebel leaders as will always prevent his sue
cess Burnside says he would have succeeded
but tor the fog, and the delay in building the
bridges. 4 good General would have toreseen
both, and provided against the effects of both.
He had seen the fog every morning Tor three
weeks. Did he expect il would obligingly absent
itself on that morning alOnel Ordinary Gener
ais, like Napoleon and Wellington, used to take
advantage OF fogs, under the cover of which TO
carry under such operations. The delay in lay
lux Vic Ohtl. & 0OiVCC ~ nC OoH IAllt. U1UIt
than that, two thirds of the loss sustained by the
engineer corps while doing the work was owing
TO him. The engineer corps, under the direction
of Gen. Woodbury., worked steadily. quickly,
and bravely. But they were slaughtered like
sheep by. the enemy 5 sharpshooters on the other
side of the river mot in the city of Fredericks-
burg. The bridges could not be built till these
sharpshooters should be diSlOdged, A good
General would have done il in thirty minu.es, by
-ant.,- nxar =, Hrfna4a ~ bn.s- 10 |r,,-a 10.
away at the point OF the bayouet. Burnside un
dertook to DO il 10y bombarding the ethyl The
internal fusilade, from l43 guns, was kept up for
ten hours. At the end of that time the town
was destroyed, but the sharpshooters were un-
hurt. They retained their position. Ii WAS then
that another officer Gen. Woodbury. suggested
the plan which never occurred to Burnside. and
which was successful. The sharpshooters were
driven away AT the point OF the bayonet in nj
teen minutes, Burnside himself SAYS this. ana
in half an beur more the bridges were built
Burnside says that this delay in laying the
bridges across gave the enemy twenty four
hours in which TO concentrate his forces That
is true; ami 1 have shown that this delay was
owing To Burnside's lack OF that military knowl-
edge which would have enabled him TO avoid
the delay, by driving away the sharpshooters in
thirty minutes.
There is n remarkable omission in his report
ne 4Otc "a sly a WOid dDDuN II udtilt on sat
urday. All that be says OF that useless slaugh
ter of ~ 600 brave Union soldiers is. in one
place. Failing in accomplishing the main Oh
iect:' and in another place, For the failure in
the attack. | am responsible" That is all. Is
that a reDor, To be expected from the General
commanding such an army in relation to the
gr latest battle OF the WARP \ detailed report Is
promised. however, aud tor tins the public will
look with interest
L. bss saeffnaux haf,ra the n rp rpsffaa If o.,
gress, Gen. Burnside SAYS: Il hed said over aud
over again To the President and Secretary OF War
that | was not competent 70 mman such a
large army as this y la saying this, Gen. Burn
side frankly tells the truth. and the country will
honor him Tor il. As a General of Division, lie
il an e~xceileut officer; but events have shown
that he cannot plan 4 battle. much less a cam,
paign. In this testimony. Gen. Burnside frankly
admits that he was aware OF the absolute neces
sity Of having the pontoons At. fredericksburg
at the time that the head OF las column reached
there. and tha; he could have sent officers OF his
own 60 Washington TO see that the pOntoons were
started properly. He did not do this. IL IS very
true that il Was Gen. Halleck's business to see
that the pontoons reached him IN time, and that
Burnside had no reason 10 believe thar Halleck
would neglect so plain and ImDortant a duty.
Still, that does mol excuse burnside. \ good
General Is one Who not only gives the proper or
der, but he who sends officer after officer 10 see
that the order i being properly executed.
Perhaps the most striking proof, alter all, OF
Barnside's incapacity 10 direct the movements of
a large army aud conduct a campaign Is his deter
mination, avowed by him sell IN his testimony. of
making a second days assault on the enemy's
works. on Sunday. after the terrible slaughter of
Saturday. This determination be would have
really carried into effect had i not been for brave
old sumner. who came 10 him after he had aetu-
sllV isSuef the onierS for the Secoul DAYS a.
sault, and said TO him. Gen. Burnside. | hope
YOU will desist from this attack. | do not know
Of any general officer Who approves of il. and
shink it will prove disastrous To the army" That
Gen. Burnside accepted Gen. Summers advice
and acted ona. desisting irom hs cash intention.
. a fsct gresfs IN his favor.