The Buchanan County guardian. (Independence, Buchanan County, Iowa) 1858-1864, 1863-02-03
CAMP ON SroNE RIVER, NEAR MuRFEEEsBoRo,|
Tenn, Jan. god, 1863

| "'HSD hiSh = nc iueo'lou Has
doubtless arisen in the minds of your
readers, whether the recent contest o.
Stone River will be productive of results
OF such a positively satisfactory charac
ter as to atone for lis immense cost o.
lie and energy. After any great sacri
lice The mind inslnctively asks, did il
pay
In such an enlarged struggle as the
present, a single victory may be product.
I'VE OF as much evil as good, on either
side, more especially when that victor,
is not absolute but only relative Were
the armies Of each contestant combined
and he question left to the result of one
great bal,le. the effect OF real victory
would necessarily be decisive. Such a
combination in The present war is oil
course impraclicable hence the condi
lions Of success are of a vastly varied
nature, as great advantages often being
gained by a timely retr"grade, as by a
forward movement +; or by Il truly mas
lerly inactivity" as by indomitable en-.
ergy. None understand this SO well as
those who have the conduct of the war
Immediately in charge. and many Of the
good people of The North little imagine
how fearIullv they too often wrong our
best generals in accusing them Of slug.
gishness, incapacily and lack of zeal.
Do these people expect Grant, or Rose
Grams. or Burnside, 10 kill the hideous
monster, rebellion, at a single blow? Ii
is like certain creation of The animal
kingdom cut it into score Of parts,
still each will gather new vitality and
live on as defanlly as the original whole
II is only by the most, scientific and well
timed approaches and attacks, that the
rebellion can be effectually DESTROYED
TO offer these, co. operation is absolutely
indispensable, and this cooperation must
be directed by single master mind l.
AS long as Halleck's generals execute
faithfully his commands, to the extent al
the means afforded them. he alone is re-
spon>ible for the results Should either
OF the generals remain inactive. we NAV
rest assured hat such is the will or The
Commander III Chief; otherwise The de-
linquent would certainly be superseded
1t would then be time enough for the
public TO condemn. Could the attend
ants of the blindiolded Morphy Justly be
held accountable for the results of his
games OF chess as long as they moved
the figures faithfully by his direction d?
How many of those. surrounding the
board would be capable Of expressing a
just opinion Of the effect Of this or that
move on the final result ? Are ace not
mostly lockers on, dear public. at this
great game Of war-a game Of which we
know but lillle-and shall we proclaim
that this movement is i'll judged, or that
inactivity discouraging Let US with.
hold our judgments until the game is
played ont.
In this light the question suggested a,
the opening of this letter. though nat.
ural one. is not at The present time capa.
BILE of entire solution. We may notice
the more immediate facts and effects of
The recent battle Of Stone River, although
W" cannot Judge of its general influence
on the war. Ii WAS not decisive veto.
~. There was no hastv and di>orderlv
retreat of The enemy, followed by har.
assing and successful pursuit. Bragg
simply found his position unlenable. and
discreetly fell back to new one. The
result on the 31sl ult. was a drawn bat.
tie. Only the indeIaigable will of Gen
Rosecrans saved as an entire defeat he
,couid not be whipped. That night the
foe occupied the ground held by our
right in the morning. We had contract.
ed and established new lines. Both sides
built breasrworks The next morning. Ii,
cannot be denied that feeling of uneas.
mess, uncertainty, became almost uni
versal among our troops. and when, on
the afternoon Of the Cd inst, the thunder
Of cannon announced an attack on our
left, we OF the centre and right almost
held our breath in the awful suspense.
Sill we felt confidence in our noble com.
mander, and it was not misplaced. A fter
first falling back before the terrible on.
set of the enemy, our ballalions rallied
and turned upon them with irresistible
power. Their retreat soon became q
rout. and but for the darkness, which
now overlook them. our boys would that
night have made the battle OF Stone Riv.
er most signal victory. This days
work caused far more repidaIon among
the rebels than did that oil Saturday,