The Alleghanian. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1859-1865, 1863-02-05

.. The affair at ErederIcks burg, and the
Investigations that followed it, were no
sooner over than General Burnside prepar-
| ed for another aggressive movement. 1t
embraced an attack in front, at point Sc
lected with care, and q formidable raid OF
cavalry and artillery, which was to threaten
the enemy's communication, and divert
his attention from the main attack 1t
was a bold plan, but, If vigorously execu-
ted, was reasonably certain of success
Every preparation had been made for it.
A picked force of cavalry and artillery
was got ready, under the command of
that dashing and most competent Off
Ger, General Averill, and the execution
Of the movement was fixed for the Slst of
December The column destined to make
the raid was actually Iii motion, when a
telegram from President Lincoln announ-
ced TO General Burnside that he must
make no movement without FIRST consult
ing htn. The General at once arrested
the march of his troops, and repaired to
WashEgton. The President fJrmed
him that the reason of his dispatch was
that some OF General Burnside's subordin-
ate officers had protested vchemently
against the movement. Thus failed the
third attempt, through the interference
and insubordination of officers of the
army.
4. The fourth and latest of these at
tcmpts was the one Of last Wednesday,
Gen. Burnside had prepared it with care
lie had examined personS 8 aud repeat
edly the ground on which it was to be
executed. He had fixed the position
which each division was TO occupy on
crossing the river. He had ascertamed
by spies Tho movements OF the enemy,
whom he had completely deceived by
feiHts as to the point OF crossing, and
counted, with the utmost confidence, on
taking him by surprise. How this move
ment came to fail, | have already endeav-
ored to show.
Before closing this long letter, desire
to correct animpression which has become
gUite current, that General Burnside,s
letter to General lIalleek, avowine the
entire responsibility Of the battle of
Frederick sburg, was written under some
kind Of pressure from the Government, or
at least at the instance, and in some sort
with conniyanee 81 some among its officers
| have taken very great pains to ascertain
all the facts connected with that transac-
ton, and | know this impression to be
without the slightest foundation. The
letter was wholly General Burnside's
own-in the original purpose of writing
it, in lis actual composition, and in It's
final publication. After the battle, Gen.
IIallcck paid Gen. Burnside brief visit ;
but during his stay not ole syllable was
said by either concerning the "responsi- |
biHty" for the said battle Of Fredericks- |
burg. On the 10Th Of December, Dr. |
Church, one Of Cen Burnside's staff, went /
to Washington on business and returned |
The next day, bringing with him sundfy |
In the evening, General I,
being in his tent with several |
Of the gentlemen of his staff, and reading !
-hcse papers, fell upon paragraphs in them /
severely assailins the Secretary of War
lnd Gen. iIalleck for having ordered him
% make the attack, contrary to his own |
Judgment. He asked DR.. Church if that
vas the general impression Mt Washington, |
lnd was told that it was. He at once |
aid he would soon put that right and on
he spot wrote brief despatch intended
for the Associated Press, and enibodying /
lie substance Of his letter. Some Of his |
staff demonstrated against his noticing the i
natter at all but he answered all their OBJ /
ections by saying that no man should /
)ear an ounce ofresponsibility that belonged /
o him He did yioli, however, so far as
o change the form OF his letter, and ad-
lressed it TO Gen. lIalleck instead Of the /
Press. lie came to Washington next
lay re-wrote the letter in his own ioom,
iad it copied by his private secretary and
entit tothe Press before he had exchanged
word with any member of the Govern
nent on the subject. These Amo,0 TO be
he facts of the case and in Justice to
len. Burnside, whose noble hearted mag
ianinlity is among the most conspicuous
rats of his character, as well as to the
members Of The Government, they ought
o be generally known -Eiitorid Cor.
" 7. Times.
ROY A small juvenile was lately at his