New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1862-12-25
He requested Il, and subsequently orders St.re

i
Burpsides letter, containing bis plan OF the cam.
paigu. When he last visi ed this city, be converted
WITH me on tbs subject and expressed some surprise
that had not seen IL. He thought had, and then
read il 70 me. do rot rene nber how the question
oil the pontoon trsin came up at Wanenton. My
own recollection of the circumstance is that 1t oc-
CURED TO me that If he going to Fredcricksburg
he won,d want pontoons. remember that wrote
in pencil an order to Gen. Woodbury. 10 call at the
Quartz masters al Washington fortransporraon for
his pontoops TO Acquia Creek, being under the im-
preston at the time that the bridges were NJ
near Harper's Ferry, and that they would have 10
be Transported from that place. thought he might
need canal boats, and perhaps borses to tow them
down the canal, and steamers to teke them from
Washington to Acquia Creek. handed the order
to Gen. Halleck, ssying, "Gec: Woodbury. l. an
Engineer, and it is not proper therefore '9E me to
you to sign it." Hesgned it, and it was seut of to
the telegraph Office. ! also wrote dispatch myself
20 the Quartermaster in Baltimore, who was uuder
NY orders, directing copy to be handed, H trdns'tu
to the Quarierua ster here, calling OH hm to send
s sSs to %assnggsn for The poraSss
Of taking supplies to Acqnia Creek,
and Belle Plain. These bsrges draw but little
water, and are available in the river where larger
vessels cannot approach the shore. Gen. Hsnt
was with us lie required no direc;ions, for 10 was
in CONSULTATION with Gen. Burnside and Gen.
Halleck. He had everything ready. 1t was per-
fectly well understood by him and myself, and
l think, also, by Gen. Hallsck and Gen. Burn
side although I do not think it was a subject
Of special nversator-thst nothing could be done
at Acqna Creek until we bad possession II 1t. The
supplier, under protection Of the gunboats could lie
of in the harbor but could not land. thought the
Engineer brigade able to drive of the enemys pick.
els and land, and believe it was done. think the
Engineer brigade lauded at Acquia Creek before Gen.
Burnside reached Falmouth, and on their landing,
the encmys Iickets ran away, and then OPERATIONS
commenced was Of opinion, and suppose ex-
pre- ssed it 20 Gen. aleek that the best way to get
pontoone aud p0ntoon trains from Washington would
be 10 pack The flooring and ropes, and anchors, &C.,
of the bridges in the pontoon boats, and tow them
down the river by steamers, while the wagons Oh
" ch they are ordinarily transported when moving
by land with their horses and harness. should ma ch,
uoder guard from Alexandra 10 Acquia Greek,
there TO take I'D the ponto0ns and transport them 10
Falmouth by the common road: BY this means
supposed the wagons would 60 light and would go
rapidly and with lee; WS.hGs sna tear on
the l3b with Gen. Balleck, and l do not
think l had any discussion with him on
that subject after returned. do not think saw
Gen. Halleck again. or spoke with him about the
transfer Of the pontoon train. did see Gen. wood
bury. He called At my office, and we bad some con-
give any orders or do anything, and ! presumed
everything was going on satisfactorily. asked him
when he would 90 down, and he said he would 60
on Sunday. ] do not remember the date, but II was
the Sunday following our visit to Watrenton on the
10th OF November. He with Col. Ingalls, and,
think, Gen. Haupt went down in steamer on
Thursdsy 10 look ut the place. A small portion OF
the Engineer Brigade had gone before. as under.
stood. have since asked the Chief Quartermaster
here, since the complaint which has been made on
the tubject what was done by him, and be tells me
hat be received one evening request from Gen.
IA tay fuO
companies 0: the Engineer Brigade to Acquia Greek,
think, and some to Belle Plain, and TO tow down
some pontoons the next morning. He answered
that the steamers should be in ths Eastern
Branch, ready for him. by daylight mkt morn
ing, and they were there ct the time appointed.
The preparation of the position, am told, occupied
all that day; and the next day was dark and iosgy,
70 that the steamers did not SAIL think. until the
next morning; and one Of them got aground at the
mouth Of the river, and lay there some time before
fhsy succeeded In getting her of l have since In
ruired whether he bad heard anything In regard TO
Ihe march of the pontoon train and wagons, and he
Told me that the wagon train had started across the
country, but rain coming ON had raised the streams
The wagons were long, unwieldy, and difhcut to
turn, and they failed to get through and that me
boat to Acquia Creek. That is all hesrsay, but
presume that it is all correct. The supplies were
sent DOWN. the barges were sen: here from Baltimore
aud Philadelphia. We could not get enough IN
Tered from the want Of any supplies. As soon Is
The army reached Falmouth and protected the line,
and [ think even before II opened communication |
With Acquia Creek, work was commenced on the
.airoad and the railroad was repaired. That large
wharf OF 1000 feet in length has been entirely
constructed, and we have made preparations for
building other wharves, extending the railroad
Town along the river, and giving increased facilities
or landing. When Gen. Burnside showed NE bis
Ian of campaign, found, as remember row, that
here was provision that the pontoons themselves
hould march by land to meet him, exactly at what
line am unable to say; but any expectations that
pontoon train should be at Falmouth when the
.rmy arrived there would necessarily be disap-
,ointed, IN my opinion. No pontoon train could
10 to Falmouth without sufficient guard to
would have captured it. What all the army
tself did not do il not to be expected that the
.uard Of the pontoOn train should do. Hearing,
hen Gen. Burnside last III this city, there were
complaints on this subject land here allow me to
ay that the Quartermaster's Department, which
Toes great deal for the army is apt to be held re-
ponsible for everything that is not done), hearing
hat &c was blamed for the failure 10 get the pom
oons to Falmouth by the time the army ached that
lace, replied to my informant, who was con-
lsc,ed with the press that the Quar'ermasters De.
,artment was no more responsible for the march of
lie pontoon train than for the march OF battery OF
rtillery. or a regiment of infantry-that its bust
css was to provide material for the transportation
4 the army, and it had done so--hsd filled every
equsition, and had heard 10 complaints on tia.
ONT. Gen. Burnside came TO see me- u
sw minutes after this gentleman left my
Dom, and I mentioned to him that had
ast been told that public opinion WAS censuring
he Department. He laughed, aud said DC lad not
MY no COMPLIANT To make agans, The officers OF the
,uartermasters Department or Comnissary Depart
aent, but lie was surprised that they had been able
0 accomplish so much.
O. Who would he responsible for that particular
uty Of getting tie ponoons over thereI-Gen " ocd-
nryi
Gen. Megs answered if Gen. Woodbury. had or
l. L.. ,,si, for