Cleveland morning leader. [volume] (Cleveland [Ohio]) 1854-1865, 1863-01-29

z. eoWLEs Co,
Publishers Of Leader.
Gross CrimInaIIty and characterization.
HI. Raymond, Of the New York Times,
who was with the army Of the Potomac at
the time Of the late unsuccessful attempt
10 move across the RappahannOck, writes
to his paper statement which presents
the conduct of some of the officers of that
army in most disgraceful light. Hessys
that the weather is good surface reason
for the failure, but that the real cause lay
In the disafectiOn and and insubordina
ton Of some officers to whom responsible
parts were assigned. he says he asks 20
other evidence of this than the langdsge
openly held by them, in presence Of their
subOrdinates, of newspaper reporters aD d
Of all who chose to listen, before the move
ment, while it was in progress, and after
it had been Abandoned. Unless cOmmon
report, which receives the eountena.nce If
not the distinct confirmation of the officers
most concerned, is entirely at fs.uIt, the
commanding-G General was overwhelmed
Nth protests from bis subordinates against
his movements, after they had been decid-
cd upon, and with exaggerated and untrue
reports of the obstacles in his 0ay. The
sf8cers did not directly refuse to obey or
asrs, but did everything short of that to
thwart the plars Of the Generals. As an
example. it is said that one General was
SzDeoted 10 have pOntOOns enough for
Fo1r bridges-44 in aIl,-at the sp-
poiuted spot by daylight on Wednesday
1,ornipo. He had but eight or nine miles
IN %. and there was ne reason Why he
sbould not have had them there before the
rain. He spent good deal Of his time on
Tuesday in demonstrating that the chances
offsilure were 10 out of2O; on Wednesday
morning be had Is pontoOns placed in open
yisv of the enemy, and the rest were stuck
II Is stated that this IS the be- 5165,7if % IA time
General burnside has formed plans since
thgarted by the criminality Of his officers.
His first plan was to throw his army rap
idly upon Fredericksburg when he first
arrived at Falmouth; this was defeated
BY the delay in the arrivalOf the pOntOOn
trains.
Next came the crossing and the bat
tie Of Fredericksburg. This was lost
through something worse than misman-
agement. 1t was designed to make the
main attack upon the rebel right-that is,
by Franklin's division. That General led
his own division and two small corps from
Rockers. He was ordered to attack Wig
orously with at least one corps, and then
follow up the attack with prompt and heavy
support. He sent General Meade with
the smallest corps Of all. He having sue
ceeded in breaking the rebel line, and all
he wanted was prompt and efficient sup
port. This he did not receive. General
Franklin sent one small corps to his re-
lief, which arrived too late, and the day
Waslost.
The third plan was to be put in execu-
ton about month ago. It embraced an
attack with formidable force, while
cavalry force made raid to the rear. Or
ders were given to move upon the 31st of
December. The column designed to make
the raid was actually in motion, when
dispatch arrived from President Lincoln
saying that no movement must be made
without consulting him. General Barn
aide went to Washington to have the mat
ier explained, and learned that some Ofhis
subordinate officers had vigorously pro
tested against it.
The fourth attempt was the one just de-
festsd. How what punish can be too Sc
we're for such traitors and scOundrels who
would thus endanger,.n only the army,
but the country, to satisfy their personal
vanity or spite2 It is heartily to be hoped
that some Of those officers are included in
the list Of those who are to be dismissed
from service, or still better, reduced to the
ranks, for such conduct. We shall never
deserve success until military discipline
Is enforced and the offenders duly and
promptly punished.