The New York herald., 1862-12-24

AhsWer-fo os sn, tney mad received their ORDERS ID
| time
QuesonDid the non arrival of these pon,oons at the
time you expected prevent your crossing when you
pected to cross and interfere with success your
plan7
Answer.-Yes, sir.
Question yon have ASSUMED the command Of tho
Army Of the Potomac have all its movements been made
by you according TO your own Judgment or have some
Of them been directed by the the secre
tary Of War tho President Of tho United Statesp
Answer.-They have all been made in accordance with
my own judgment. In some cases have submitted my
views, which have been approved.
Question nwho did you understand responsible for
the forwarding Of the pontoons to Falmouth
Answey-I understood that General allcck TO give
the necessary orders, and then the officers Ao should
receive the orders the responsible for the ron
toons coming here could have carried out that part of
my plan through officers Of my own But having just taken
command Of army with which ] but little
acquainted, u evident that much as could
attend with the assistance Of all my officers TO change
it's pontoons from Warrenton TO Fredericksburg; and
fet, indeed expected that all the parts Of tho plan
which were 10 be executed in Warrenton would bo at
tended by the officers of that place. under &he direction
the different departments to which those parts Of the
plan appertalned.
ouestionDd ycu or not understand that you were to
be responsible for seeing that these carried
outY
Answer.--l did not. I never imagined FOR mo-
that had carry out anything that required to be
done at Washington General Meigs told me distinctly
several days ago. in Washington that he never saw my
plan Of operations until showed II TO him on that day
ouestion-Do understand you 70 say in your stzenent
that you expected General Franklin to carry the pout At
the extreme left Of the ridge 10 the Of the town. and
thereby enable troops storm andcary their orh
cat ions?
Auswer-I did expect him 10 carry that point, which
being would have placed forces in the o.
their extreme left, and which ] thought AZ the time
would shake their forces the ridge TO such an oxtent
that position In front could easily be atormed and
carried.
Qucstion.-To what do you aitribge his failure to ac
complish that3
AnswerTo the great strength Of the position and the
accumulation OF the eneuy's forces there. expected
tho bridges would be built in two three hours after they
were unloadcd which at about daylight. Instead Of
that those on the right built until three O'Clock
In the afternoon and had only the OF getting
across one division the bridge the right Gen.
Franklin's bridges built about noon and wee hold
by our troops the opposite bank This the enemy
time to accumulate their forces, which stretched
along the rv r Port Royal up TO tho battle field b.
fore was able 20 order the attack Whilst the men
here were unloading the bridges and putting them into
a.
heavy Gre from the town, and batteries opened
the town with view 10 slencng thcm In this
the bridges built about twothrds Of their length
at which time the bridge builders driven OF and
had To take shelter under the bank. Repeated efforts
were made get these bridge builders out 80 the ends OF
the oidses with the necessary materials, bnt they all
failed Il was then reported that twas mlossble
TO build the bridges nnder that re and that the sharp
shooters could be driven out Of the town by the are
ry we nd hundred and forty three guns in position
the arssr portion Of which playing upon the town.
said TO the occrs who had reported TO that IT i'm
possbs 70 build the bridges that they must be built
sme Nm devised fov getting these sbarpshooters
out of the way SO that could get work. Upon
consulting with General Hunt Chief Of Artillery, and
General woodbury., Of the Engineers, was agreed to III
the boats with our own men, them quickly across
under fire. throw thcm the bank and let them go up
into the streets and houses and drive the shapshooers
away This plan was successfully carried out, and in
6teen minutes after the first detachment OF troops had
reached the opposite bank our men began building shs
bridges, and in han an hour they completed
ouestion.-what the conduct Of the officers and
men during The sttacsY ----.~s~
Answer.--With the exception Of single regiment IL
! was excellent.
| Question.-wil you state nearly as possible the
whole number Of our troops that engagedS
| Answer.-we had about - men on the other side Of
| the river.
Qaestion.-what part Of that number were actually
engaged in the battle2
| Answer.-Evcry single Of them under artil.
lcry fire. about half OF them different times
| formed in columns OF attack. Every man was put in
column Of attach that could DO got In.
Question.-ave you any knowledge TO the force Of
| the enemy hercs
Answer.-it Is estimated at all the way from 100 ooc
to 200 900. Think myself II was less than 100 ooo
Question.-what the extent or the casualties on eu
I side resulting from all the nshtipg2
Auswer.-lt VIII pot be far from ten thousand men
| killed, wounded and missing
Questionwhat is the present condition Of our troops
| heref
Answor-As far as my knowledge and information goes
| II Is good
demorazed, pr the efficiency Of yonr army impaired ex
cep so Gar o. MS been from the loss Of 90 many mem
Answer-I do nof would add bore that, although a.
the time ordered the ccaun OF attack to be formed on
the morning after the battle, thought the enemy's
works could be carried and adhered % that opinion
during that day. afterwards became convlsned that
that could not bo DONE owing to the great strength OF he
enemy she time given them for reinforcing and the be-
lief also Of officers that 10 could not be DONE &c.
cordinsly telographsd to the Presdsq, Of the unfed
States that withdrew army because felt thai ,he
enemy's nos!ilon could not 30 carried.
TESTIMONY Or GENERAL SUMNER.
Major General L. v. Sumner sworn and examined by
the Chairman
QucstIon.--wha, Is your position IN the Army OF The
Po,omact
Answor.-T command the right grand division OF that
army consisting Of the Second and Ninth corps darmee
Ques,ion.-of h,w many men docs your grand division
sonsistS
Answer Before the late action 1t consisted OF about
men. II Is being Increased by troops as they
come up II was originally intended to be someihiug
over - fnen
oueston-would II havo been better In your udg'
ment TO crossed the river and engaged the enemy
earlier thau you did, and II So why it not donor
Answcr.--when General Burnside ordered TO take
command Of this army he told mo what he proposed to
do-that h TO march on Fredericksburg, instead Of Cul.