Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1863-01-01


The Battle of fredericksburg.
Mr.. Richardson, the army correspondent
Of the New York Tribune, writes from the
Army Of the Potomac, Dec. 2lst, as follows;
The general tone Of the army is good
far better than could be expected. There
is regret for our failure, sympathy for our
wounded, mourning for our honored dead;
but l find little disbursement aud no de.
moralzation. t..y4s~
This is largely l6wins to the splendid con
duct of all our troops. The men are hope
full because thefo arc few Of the usual jeal-
ousies and hearthnrninss. No one is able
to say: ''Ifthis division had not broken, +"
or "1f that regimen. had done its duty, we
might have won" The concurrence Of tcs-
timony is universal. that our men ia 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
dishonor. sstl t.5,f.a..
Iumany 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 sue
cessfully were splendidly done, and re.
dound alike to the skill of the General aud
the heroism Of the troops. .ls.e.re.
And those men and officers OF the 7th
Michigan, the 10Th aud Doth Massachusetts,,
and spth New York. who eagerly crossed the
river in open boats, in the teeth of that pit.
iless rain ofbullets. and ddislodged the sharp.
shooters who we're hkldisg our whole army
at bay--what shall be said for them2 Let
the name ofevery man Of them be secured
now, and preserved in roll Of honor: let
Congress see to it that by medal or ribbon
to each, the Republic gives token of graft.
tude to all who do such royal deeds in its
defense. To the living at least We can be
just. The fallen, who were left by hun
dreds in line OF battle dead Oh the field o
honor" we cannot reward; but He who per
mits no sparrow to fall to the ground un
heeded, will see to it that M drop of theil
precious blood has been shed in vain.
The Committee on the Conduct of tho
War has returned to Washington, and will
report upon this whole matter. They will
report that Burnside was ordered to eros:
the river, but that the place and mode Of
crossing were left to him. Now, we all know
that crossing here was q mistake; but tn,
reasons for not crossing eithor above or be
low were fully given in tho preliminary
council OF war. In view of possible future
operations it would be wrong to make then
public now. s>sss 81 --,..f --fti -r
Through the army [ hear little censure o
Burnside. Were there disposition TO con
dunn him, the rare fitness and magnanimt,
of his department. since the battle woult
disarm it. When he speaks of the fallen
his voice breaks with emotion. When ask
ed ii slowness on the part Of one of hi
! Grand Division commanders did not caus,
the defeat, he replies: mo. under
stand perfectly well that when Genera
\ meets with disaster, he alone is responsi
ble and will not attempt to.shlft that re
sponsibilty upon any one else." Such
man may not be Napoleon; but he is a
least great in hiymoral courage and his in
tegrity. This man, too, is great in hi
enrnestness. His whole heart, his Who'll
life, Is in the Cause. liaa i5dji VI
. when our troops, rank anil file, and off
GERS up to Corps Commanders, marched in
to the jaws of death, on Saturday, they fu
ly believed that another column was coop
Grating with this. They knew they Nigh
fall but could ut least hold tho eneDny here
while Another Natioual army, from anothe
seG'ss Ess sss !sss sasiss ss ass
4 and denounce The Cause oft in no measure
ternSs!, .fS,h ~ ,hi sif ssa0l
!, Bitter words cannot recall the dead; bu
they may save the living. The army de
nands, and 1t expects the country to doman
in tones which cannot fail to be heard, thu
, We have no moro Of this cruel aud wicke
policy. qs ge 49,
As far as Bnrnsi}slis concerned, he doubt
| less made mistake; but it was a mistnk
iu tho right direction. The press and tn
country are wont to be unjust in ihcs
matters. II a commander loses his men il
an Unsuccessful fight, hei denounced with
out stint. But he may sqnander the
lives by hundreds In tavers aud dysentar
through tho hospitals, also squanlerin
months OF priceless, time, and yet rccicv
no rcbuke. Better soldiers death on tn
enemy's guns, th,n nlneless grave in tn
swamps Of the Ch.ckuhpniny, ,oi the trensl
o. before Corinth. .GtsN lrf