The New York herald., 1862-12-25
THE FREDERICKSBURG BATTLE.
Conclusion Of the Report Of the Committee On
the Conduct Of the War,
Ge.. kc., kA
TESTIMONY OF GENERAL rRANxLiH.

TESTIMONY OF GENERAL FRANKLIN.
Major General Franklin sworn and examined
BY the Chairman.
QusstionYou have seen the resolution Of the Senate
under which this Committee acting Will you
go on and state your way what you deem
sary to state.
Answer do no, rcccllect the precise time hut il was
just before semoved from warrencn, General Halleck
and General Mcigs down there and had conference
with General Burnside The result Of that confe
renee, as ] understand it, was that General Burn
side was to move this army from Narrenton
aud that vicinity to fredericksburg, aud not
across the river here an important part OF tina.
mcnt. understand from Gcncra Burnside thst when
the advance OF his army arrived in front OF Fredsricks
burg pentoon train, enough to build two bridges to
meet him there know the advance Of the army did
arrive at Fredericksburg at the proper time, but there
was pontoon train to meet 1t there and in conse-
aucnce OF that the army could not cross al the
time We expected 10 cross We werc therefore, delayed
several days in consequence Of the delay in the arrival of
the pontoon After arriving here accumulated
provisions Tor twelve days. Then General Burnside
called council in which Il tn, unanimous opinion
think, of all the generals present that II this river
could be crossed IL ought TO be crossed no
matter what might happen afterwards. The point
Of crossing not then definitely determined upon
thought at the time we were to cross several miles fur
ther down Afterwards General Burnside called US TO-
geher again. and informed that he had determined to
cross at the two points at which we finally did
cross. had no objection to that, but thoaght they
as good as the point further down. knew nothing
at all fact, about the defcnces the other side IL
was not my business to know anything about them.
think the arrangements Cor the crossing were all well
made at the doubted our power to cross aud
do not believe could have crossed had the enemy
chosen 70 prevent IT, And know from what have since
seep and what BEFORE suspected, that they i'd have
prevented crossing at those two points they had
chosen However as the committee know that the cross
my wing was concerned we get into position safely with
the LOGS Of very few Still in such po.i.
tonha the enemy had any momen, opened upon with
the guns they had bearing upon US think that In the
of hour would have been scattered
that IL would have been impossible to rally them. For
some unaecounabe reason they did not opcn their bat
teres. On the morning Of the 18Th instant made an
attack according TO the order Of General Burnside
ru. in all the troorss tina, J thought IL proper
OF my command as far az coiid and at the same time
keep communication with tho river open The reason
carry the points where The attack was made Under
the orders that were given, after we wcro press.
ed back, ] directed that position should
he held far advance as it possible 10 hold il
and brought p all the troops in reserve TO hold that
pOSs 9sa thai "a. pS.ioO un, was
! knew Of our want OF success on the right
and the demoraized condition OF the troops the right
and sentrc represented by their cornmanders
confess that believe the order TO recross was yery
proper We sed the night Of the 10Th without
the loss Of man, and with no treubeat all.
Question by Mr.. Gooch.-Ead the pontoons been here
at the time OF the arrival of the army what would
probably been the resur
Answcr---The probable result wouln have been that
the army much Of a General Burnside supposes
necessary, would have Immediately crossed the river,
driving away the enemy here, perhaps Ave hundred
Thousand men, and they would have occupied the
very heights which have since been obliged attack
and that crossing would have bssn permanent and
csssfu.
question. you know on whom rests the rcsponsi.
bli,y Of the delay in Che arrival Of .he pontoonsS
snsysr.-l do not, Officially.