The Burlington weekly hawk-eye., 1863-01-03
JUNE, 1899

made up of platitudes, absurdities and iueons;s.
tencies. 1t sdds Mr. Lincoln ought to knov
that If the Coufederates we're not allowed belize
erents' rights the blockade of the Southern
ports and the search of British ships could not
be tolerated.
The London Daily News says Mr.. Lincoln,s
but it has no faith in It and believes that the
liberation OF the slaves can only be accomplish
ei by war.
The London Morning Post cannot imagine
how the Federal Government arrived at the
conclusion that Great Britain, after once recog.
Dizing the belligerent character of the South,
would recede from the position taken.
The London Star says that Mr. Liucoln's
emancipation scheme may fail to break in
pieces the corner stone of slavery.
London. Dec ls.-Evening-Consols closed
at 924@92f for money. Ill Cen. 420424 dis
count. Erie 4sA@4sa
The Tuscsrora overhauled the steamer Thistle
while leaving Madeira for Nassau. sos
The British war steamer Leopard tried to stop
the Thistle to zee what the Tuscsrora did, but
tie Thistle would not stop, The Tuscarora OIL
GERS stated that they had not taken the Thistle,
but 1t was considered strange that she ran away
from British vessel.
The Tuscarora left Madeira on the 30tn Nov.
to return in few days
The London Globe defends the British Gov
ernment sgainst blame in oil the Alabama's af-
fairs The Federal agents could not get evidence
sufficient against her, and the Government,
could not possibly interfere. The Times has an
editorial to the same effect.
1t is reported Mr.. Slidel, has had another in
terviev with Napoleon, and that Drouyn del
Huys and Persigny favor the South -
England offers with the consent Of the other
powers to cede the Ionisn Islands to Greece.
The Troops I'm Good Condition ana
Spirits.
Correspondents Of The N. Y. Tribune.
ARMY OF THE PoToMAC,i
Sunday, Dec. 81.
The general tone Of the army is good-far
better than could be expected. There is res
gret for our failure, sympathy for our wound
ed. mourning for our honored dead; but I
find little encouragement and no demoraliza-
ton. 80
This is largely owing to the splendid con-
duct of all our troops. The men are hopeful
because there are few of the usual jealousies
and heartburnings. No one is able to say
If this division had not broken" or "If this
division had not broken" or s'If that regi-
ment had done its duty, we might have won."
The concurrence Of testimony is universal,
that our men in every division did better than
they ever did before, and made good their
claim to being the best troops in the world
We have had victories without merit; but this
was defeat without dishoLor. "
In many respects-in all respects but the
failure Of its vital object-the battle of Fred-
ericksburg was the finest thing of the war
Laying the bridges, pushing the army across,
and after the defeat, Withdrawing it success
R.,n- ~
alike 10 the skill of the General and the hero
ism Of the troops.
And those men and officers of the 7th Mlchi::
gan, the 10th and Goth Massachusetts, and the
seth New York, who eagerly crossed the river
in open boats in the teeth of that pittiless rain
of bullets, and dislodged the sharpshoo:ers
who were holding our whole army at bay
what shall be said of them ? Let the name of
every man Of them be secured now, and pre-.
served in q roll Of honor; let Congress see to-.
to it that by medal or ribbon to each. the Be-
public gives token Of gratitude to all who do
such royal deeds in its defense. To the living
at least We can be just. Tie fallen, who
were left by hundreds in line of battle dead
on the field of honor" We cannot reward but
He who permits no sparrow to fall to the
ground unheeded, will see TO it that no drop Of
their precious blood has been shed in vain.
The Committee on the Conduct of the War
has returned to Washington, and will report
upon this whole matter. They will report that
Burnside was ordered to cross the river, but
that the place and mode Of crossing were left
to him. Now, we all know that crossing here
was mistake but the reasons for not CROSSE
ing either above or below were fully given in
the preliminary council of war In view Of
possible future operations it would be wrong
t, ovo p..h1;c INV
Through the army hear little censure Of
Burnside. Were there disposition to condemn
him, the rare fitness and magnanimitv of his de-
pertinent since the battle would disarrn it,
When he speaks of the fallen, bis voice breaks
with emotion. When asked if slowness on the
part of one of his Grand Division commanders
did not cause the defeat, he replies .'No. un-
derstsnd perfectly we'll that when a General
meets with disaster, he alone is responsible; and
will not attempt to shift that responsibility up
on any one else" Such a man may not be Z
Napoleon; bu: he is a; least great in his moral
courage and his integrity. This man, too, is
great in his earnestness His whole heart, his
whole life, is in the Cause.
When our troops, rank and file, and officers
up to Corps Commanders, m arched into the jaws
Of death, on Saturday, they fully believed that
another column was CO operating with this
They knew they might fall; but could at least
hold the enemy here, while another National
army, from smother point, would move up and
capture the Rebel Capital Now, they see the
! delusion, and depounee the cause OF it in no
measured terms. ...ts
Bitter words cannot recall the dead; but they
may save the living. The army demands, and
itexpects the country to demand In tones which
capuot fail to be heard, that We have no more of
| this cruel and wicked policy.
Az far us Burnside is concerned be doubtless
made mistake; but it was q mistake in tho
| right direction. The press and the country are
wont to be unjust in these mattera If a CON-
| msnder loses bis men in An unsuccessful feht,
he is denounced without stint. But be may
aqusnder their lives by hundreds in fevers aud
dysentery through the hospitals, also sauander-
ing months of priceless time, and yet receive no
rebuke. Better soldiers death on the enemy's
guns, than nameless grave in the swamps Of
the Ohickahominy, or the trenches before Cor
inth.
Burnside was ordered to move on the enemy.
Without ouihhlinr mr. hesitatiug. he Obeyed the