Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1862-12-26

HEADQUARTERS ARMY or The PoToMAo, !
Falmouth, December IL ! |
~ Majo~ General Haliock. Gcnerat-,n- CHEF
II. y. Army, Washington;
tseneral--l have the honor 10 offer the fol- !
lowing reasons for moving the army Of the
Potomac across the Rappahannock sooner
than was anticipated 10y the President, Secre-
tary Of War, and yourself, and for ToSsing AZ
point different from the QUO indicated TO
you at our last meeting At the Presidents
During my preparations ION crossing at the
plaee | had frst selected, discovered that
The enemy had thrown urge portion of his
force down the river and elsewhere, thus
weakening BIS defences in front, and also
thought | discovered that be did not antici-
pate the crossing OF our whole force at Fred
erieksbufg, and hoped by rapidly throwing
The whole command over at that place to sep
arete by vigorous attack the forces Of She
enemy on the river below from the forces be-
hind 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 hight on the
extreme right Of the crest, which hight COM
manded a new road lately made by the enc
my for the purpose Of more rapid communi-
cation along his lines, which point gained, his
positions along the crest would have been
scarcely tenable, and he could have been driv-
en- from them easily oy an attack on MS 'front.',
in connection with a movement in the rear Of
the crest How near we came Of accomplish
ing our object future reports will show.
But for the fog and unexpected and UNI
avoidable delay in building the bridges,
which gave the enemy twenty-four hours
more to concentrate his !Urces in his
strong positions, we would almost certainly
have succeeded. In which case the battle
would have been. in my opinion lar more de-
cisive than II we had crossed al the places
first selected. As II was we came very near
success. Failing IN accomplishing inc man
object, we remained IN order oil battle TWO
days, long enough to decide that the enemy
would not come out OF his stronghoids 10
hight us with MS infantry, alter whlch we
reerossed to this SIDE OF The riVer unmoie't'o'
and without the loss OF men or property
As The day broke, our long ines oil troops
were seen marching To tneH u,ueteh' Posl-
tons as II gong on parnde' NOT the ieast
decentralization or disorgarl zanon existed
10 the brave officers ana ao'uiers VINO ac-
complished the feat OF 'hus recrosslng the
river IN the face OF the enemy owe every
thing. For the failure IN attack am respon-
sible, as the extreme galantry' courage ana
endurance shown oy them was never eHceeu'
ed and would nave catfleu tne points hau
oeon poss,o'e: J,r
can orI, otfe, INV HEARTH svmpatbies. bnt
tor ,bc wounded 7 can oger NV earnest
rra,ers 70, ,heit confort and final recovery.
Tba t.c, H., 7 doc;dcd T., move from war
ne iact tuet oec'uou ~ "o'e no"n
renton on TO TINS line rather az INST ,ne opln1
ION oil Tue rresiuen'' seer. OF '" anu
ma IN NV bands without giving me orders
mics me- yesuons;blo
wilI vis;, YOU yerv soon and give YOU
more definite inflammation and finally will
sord yon INV detailed report in which spe !
c;ai ,csrovI.dgment viii bo made of the ser |
Co., ~ tho disa,ent arand divis;ons cora
nj ms, onno,,I snd stsT donartm.n,s NJ tho |
arnar n Tho Potomac ,o ,,hom am go mucb
;ndch,ed fo, their ,unoort and hearty co -oper- |
49,,
made earlier than you expected ana aitet the
President, Secretary OF war and yourself re-