Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1862-12-25
The Pontoon Train AFFAIR.


In his testimony before the investigating COM
mittee, Gen. Burnside stated that Gen Halleck
and Gen. Meigs were at his headquarters at War
renton, on the nights of the 18th and 18th of No
vember, when his plan of marching on Frcder-
icksburg was fully discussed He said
"In connection with this movement, request
ed that barges, filled with provisions and forage,
should be hoated t. Aqua Creek where they
could be easily landed; that materials be collect
ed for the reconstruction of the wharves there,
and that all the wagons in Washington, that
could possibly be spared, should be filled with
hard bread and small commisSary stores, and
with large number of beef cattle, started down
TO fredericksburg on the road by way of Dunn
fries and that this wagon train and herd of cattle
should be preceded by pontoOn bridge large
enough to span the Rappahannock twice. stated
that this wagon train could move in perfect safe
ty, because it would be all the time between our
army and the Potomac, or, in other words, our
army would be all the time between the enemy
and that train; but at the same time, l said that
if a cavalry escort could not be furnished from
Washington, would send some of my cavalry
to guard the train On the morning of the 18th
of November, feeling uneasy with reference to
the pontoons, as had not heard of their start
ing, directed my chief engineer to telegraph
again with reference to them.
"Q-To whom did he telegraph?
Ale telegraphed to Gen. Woodbury. or to
Mi. Spaulding. 1t subsequently appeared that
that was the first they had ever heard of nv
wish 10 have the pOntoon train started down to
fredericksburg, although the authorities ut
WaShingt' had had my plan sent to item on
the 9th Of November, and it had also been dis
cussed by, Gen. Halleck and Gen. Meigs, at my
headquarters, on the night of the 18th and
18th OF November, and, after discussing it
fully there, they sat down and sent kilograms
to Washington, which, as | supposed fully
covered the whole case, and would secure
the starting of the pontOon trains at once.
| supposed, of course, that those portions of the
plan which required to be attended TO in Wash
ington, would be carried out there at once |
could have sent officers of my own there to at
tend to those matters; and perhaps | made Il
mistake in not doing so, as General Halleck af-
terward told me that ought not to have trust
ed TO them in Washington for the details In re-
ply to The telegram had ordered to be sent Gen
Woodbury. telegraphed back that the pontoons
would start on Sunday morning, probably, and
certainly on Monday morning, which would
have been on the 10th or 18th of November, and
would have been in time. They did not, howev-
er, start until The l9th and on that day ii COM
menced raining, which delayed them so much,
and the roads became so bad, that when they
got TO Dumfries they hOaed the pontoons off
the wagons, sent to Washington for steamer,
and carried them down to Aqua Creek by wa
ter, sending the wagons around by land The
pontoons did not get here till the 22d or 2}d of
November"
The following passage from the report of his
testimony relates to the same matter
"Q.-Do understand you to say that it was
your understanding that Gen. Halleck and Gen
Mcigs, while at your headquarters in War;, nton,
aud before you commenced the movement of
your army, rent orders to Washington for the
pontoons TO be Immediately forwarded to Fall
mouth?
A.-That was my understanding, certainly
Q-lnyour judgment, could the pontoons have
been forwarded in time for you to have crossed
the Rappahannock when you expected, if all pos
sible efforts had been made by those charged
with that duty?
Ayes, sir, if they had received their orders
in time.
Odd the non-arrival of these pontoons at
the time you expected prevent your crossing
when you expected TO cross, and interfere with
the success of your plan?
Ayes, sir.
Q-Since you have assumed the command of
the army of the Potomac, have all its move
ments been made by you according to your own
Judgment, or have some Of them been directed
by the general in chief, The secretary of war, or
the president of the United States?
A.-They have all been made in accordance
with my own Judgment In some cases have
submitted my views, which have been approved
Q.-Who did you understand was responsible
for the forwarding of the ponfoons to Falmouth.
Al understand that Gen. Haeck was to give
| the orders, and then the officers who should re-
ceive the orders, were the ones responsible for
| The pontoons coming here. I could have car
ried out that part of my plan through Of
fcers of my own; but having Just taken
command of an army with which was but little
acquainted, it was evident that it was as much
as | could attend TO, with the assistance of all
my officers, to change its position from Warren
ton to Fredericksburg; and | felt indeed ex-
pected-that all the parts Of the plan which were
TO be executed in Washington would be ut.
tended to by the officers of that place, under the
direction of the different departments to which
those parts of the plan appertained.
Odd you, or not, understand that you were
to be responsible for seeing that these orders
were carried out?
Al did not. | never imagined for mo-
ment that had to carry out anything that re-
quired to be done at Washington. Gen. Meigs
told me distinctly several days ago 10 WASH e
ton, that he never saw my plan OF operations
until showed it to him on that day"
PERSONAL.
Mrs Lincoln notifies the hospitals throuph