Dayton daily empire. [volume] (Dayton [Ohio]) 1850-1865, 1862-12-23
Omclal Report from burnside,
HEADQUARTERS ARMY OF THE PoToMAc,
FAfNouTH. Dec 10

To H. W. Halleck, General.in-C Chief, Wash
ington-General . | have the horror to offer
the following reasons for moving the army Of
the Potomac Hcross the Rappahaunoek sooner
than was anticipated by the President Secre-
tary of War and yourself, and for crossing at
"a point different from the one indicated
to You at our last meeting at the Presidents f:
During my preparations for crossing at the
place ] had first selected, | discovered that
| the enemy had thrown a large portion of ahis
| forces down the river and elsewhere, thus
weakening his defenses in front; and alse,
| that | discovered that he did not anticipate
the crossing Of our whole force at Fredericks-
burg, and | hoped, by rapidly throwing the
| whole command over at that place, 10 separate
BY vigorous attack the forces Of the enemy
Ion the river below from the forces behind or
on the crest in the rear OF the town-in which
case we could fight him with great advantage
in our favor. To do this, we had to gain O
height on the extreme right Of the crest,
which height commanded the new road lately
made by the enemy for purposes of more
rapid communication along his lines-which
point gained, his positions along the right
crest would have been scarcely tenabls, and
he could have beenidtiyeu from them easily
by an attack on his front, in connection with
a movement,on the feaeof tha crest. .gr.
How near we came to accomplishing our
object, future reports will show; but for the
fault and unexpected and unavoidable delay
in building the bridges, which gave the enemy
"a hours more to concentrate his forces in hi
strong positions, we would almost certainly
succeeded, in which case the battle would haVI
been, in my opinion, far more decisive than |
we had crossed at the places first selected.
Il As it was we came very near success. Fail
ling in accomplishing the main object, we re
NAMED in order Of battle two days, lonJ
enough to decide that the enemy wonld no
come out of his strong holds to fight rs witt
: his infantry, and after which we crossed 10 thi
side Of the river unmolested, without the los
OF men or property. "a ,,d
As the day broke, our long knes Of troop
, we're seen marching to the different position
as IL goipg on pAfsde, not the least demoraI
l~ization or ~disorgauixation existed 80 s3n
To tbs brave officers and soldlefsl who. ~
p complished the feat of recrossing the river i
the face Of the enemy, / owe everything.
Q For the failure in the attack, l am FespoT
n sible, as the extreme gallantry, courage an
O endurance shown by them was never exceeded
and would have carried the points had
q been possible H{lHDaD.
To the families and friends Of the dead,
can only offer my heartfelt sympathies, bl
c for the wounded, l can offer my earne
prayers for their comfort and final recover
The fact that i deeided to move from Wa
%renton on to this line, rather against the OPT
ion of the President, Secretary Of War, Al
yourself and that you left the whole meE
re- ment 10 my bands without giving me order
makes me responsible.
: will visit you very soon and give -
ID more definite. information, aud will final
" send you Ny detailed report, in which a 81
> cial acknds~ ledgment will be made Of the 81
+, vices of To- differeph Grand Divisions, Div
d ion Cogpskand MY General and Staff Depa
ments D Tie A3A5 a thN Aaomae to who
y | am sd much indebted for heir support al
" coopssetIon. EMnbHdd Aese shat The mo.
n mest Nes madA saEisl Aan you jexpecte
and the HgesiAerk Secretary and Vol
NJ self requested hqe not 10 be in haste, for I
IS reas6s lhnt we Wera lupplied much sooner
the different Staff pepartrnents than was i
" ticipatOd when I say yop. wtH.
se, Our killed AMOUNTS tol,ab s.our wound
abent e,e0o audAear Prisnnors to abS
I IT0D, which last have been paroled, and
ie' changed for about the same number taken
nd Ius, The wounded were all removed to /
40 side of the river, and are being well eaEedi
- and the dead were all buried under a aag
'hfledca4 aAMIclHHO i.
I'M The surgeons report q much larger proT
F, lion of slieht:wohnda than uauai, ,632 o
WI beingtreatsd in the hOapitalssaIruo Do sdHi
am glad to- fepresent the army at
The present time, 10 good condition Vhank
,av the Government for that entire support
~ confidence which LhAyel always Receiyed5I
tbehi.I remain Gkberaf verS kesDeetfnlly Y