The daily Evansville journal. (Evansville, Ind.) 1862-1863, 1862-12-23
Heads Rs ARMY or TIE PoToNAc,
FALMOUTH, Va, Dec. 49,

HEAD'oRs ARMY OF THE PoToMAc,
FALMOUTH, Va, Dec. 10.
To FL ". HaEeck, GeneraEin- Chief,
Washington:
General, have the honor to offer the
following reasons for moving the Army
of the Potomac across the Rappahan-
mock sooner than was expected by the
President, Secretary of War or yourself,
and for crossing at point different from
the one indicated to you at our last
meeting at the Presidents
Dnring my preparations for crossing
at the place had first selected, l dis
covered that the enemy had thrown a
large portion of his force down the river
and else where thus weakening his de-
lenses in front, and / also discovered that
he did not anticipate the crossing of our
whole force at Fredericksburg, and |
hoped by rapidly throwing the whole
! command over at that place to separate
1 BY a vigorous attack, the forces of the en-
emy on the river below from the forces
| behind. and 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 height on
the extreme right of the crest, which
height commanded a new road lately
made by the enemy for the purpose of
more rapid communication along this
line, which point gained his position
along the crest would have been scarcely
tenable, and he could have been easily
driven from them, by an attack on his
front in connection with movement on
the rear of the crest
How near we come to accomplishing
our object, future reports will show. But
for the fault and unexpected and una
voidable delay in building the bridges
which gave the enemy "A hours more to
concentrate his forces III his strong posi-
tons, we would almost certainly have
succeeded, in which case the battle would
have been, in my opinion IA rmOre decis-
i've than if we had crossed at the place
first selected As it was we came very
near success. Failing in accomplishing
the main object, we re manned in order Of
battle two days, long enough to decide
that the enemy would not come out of
his strong hold to fight US with his in
fantry, after which We crossed to this
the loss of a man or any property
AS the day broke our long lines of
troops were seen marching to their diff
ferent positions as if going onto parade.
Not the least decentralization, or disOr
ganization existed.
To the brave officers and soldiers who
accomplished the feat of recrossing the
river in the face of the enemy | owe
everything.
For the failure in the attack, | am re-
E sponsible, as the extreme gallantry, cour
age anA endurance shown by them were
never exceeded, and would have carried
the points had it been possible.
To the families and friends of the deaC
l can only offer my heartfelt sympathies
But for the wounded / can offer my earn
est prayers for their comfort and fna
recovery.
The fact that decided to move from
Warrenton on this line rather agains
the opinion of the President, Secretary
of War and yourself, and that you LET
l the whole movement in my hands with
out giving me orders, makes me respon
t sible
VIII NislC you very sOoH anu give w
e more definite information, and 6nall,
!, will send you my detailed report in whicl
: a special acknowledgment will be mad
n of the services of the different grand di
s visions, division corps, Generals ant
C staff departments of the army of the Pc
tomac, to whom l am so much indebte,
d for tn If support and hearty co-opera
T. ton. / will add here that the movemen
s was made earlier than you expected, an
J. after the President, Secretary and your
self requested me not to be in haste, 70
the reason that we were supplied muc
: sooner by the different staff department
than was anticipated when | saw you.