The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1862-12-27
The Battle of Fredericksburg.
Official Repart Of Gen. Burnside.
HEADQUARTERS ARMY OF THE PoroMac,
Falmouth, Dec 10.

HEADQUARTERS Army THE PoroMac,
| FALMorTH, Dec. 10. I
| To H. w Haleck, General iu- Chief, W shing.on
| GENERAL have the honor to offer the
following reasons for moving the Army OF
the Potomac across the Rappahannock
sooner than was anticipated by the Presi-
dent, Secretary of War, or yourself, and
for crossing at a point different from the
one indicated to you at our last meeting at
the Presidentss
During my preparations for crossing at
the place | had at first selected discov-
cred, that, the enemy had thrown large
portion OF his force down the river and
elsewhere, thus weakening his defences in
'front.' 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 seperate by vigorous attack the
the forces of the enemy 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 a
height on the extreme right of the crest,
which height commanded the new road
| lately made by the enemy for purporses of
mora rapid communication along his lines,
which point gained, his positions along the
right crest would have been scarcely ten.-
| BILE, and he could have been driven from
| them easily by an attack on his front. in
| connection with movement on the rear
| of the crest. Aow near we came to accom-.
! plishIng our object future reports will show
| But for the unexpected and unavoidable
| delay in building the bridges which gave
! the enemy twenty four hours more to con
! ccn.rate his forces in his strong position
we would almost certainly have succeeded
! in which case the battle would have been
| in my opinion, far more decisive than If
we had crossed at the places first selected
! As il was, we came very near success
! Failing in accomplishing the main object
we remained in order Of battle two DAYS
long enough to decide that the enemy
| would not come out of his strongholds to
fight Us with their infantry after which
we crossed to this side of the river unmo-
Tested, without the loss Of man or property.
As the day broke, our loag lines of trooos
were seen marching to their different po>
stions as if going on parade Not the
least decentralization or di,organiza:ion ex
isted
To the brave officers and soldier, who
accomplished the feat Of r-cros.ing the
river IN the face OF the enemy. | owe
everything | am responsible, a. the ex-
IRENE gailantry, courage, and endurance
shown by them were never excalled and
would have carried the points had it been
possible. To the families and friends Of
the dead can only offer my heartfelt
smpathies; but, for the wounded I can
offer my earnest prayers for their comforta-
bic and final recovery
The fact that decided to move to War
rcnton on 10 this line rather against the
opinion of the President Secretary of War,
and yourself and that YOU left the whole
movement in my hands, without giving
me orders, makes me responsible
| will visit yoI very soon, and give YOU
more definite information, and finally " II
send YOU my detailed report. in which
special ack nowled -nent will be made OF
the services Of the different grand divisions,
divisions, corps, and general and staff de-
partments of the Army Of the Potomac, TO
whom ! ana so much indebted for their
support and cooperation.
! will add here that the movement was
made earlier than you expected and after
the President and Secretary and yourself
requested me not TO to be in haste, for
the reason that we were supplied mnch
sooner by the different staff departments
than was anticipated when | saw you.
Our killed amount to ,l52, our wound
ed TO about 5000, and our prisoners TO
abrut 200, which last have been parolled
and exchanged for abouttiIe same number
taken by us The wounded were all re-
moved TO this side of the river. and are
being well cared Tor and the dead were
all buried under flag of truce The Sur
geons report a much larger proportion of
slight wounds than usual, 1852 only being
treated in hospitals | am glad to repre-
sent'the army at the represent time in good
condition.
Thanking the eay crfIi EFT for-si,at entire
ways received from tlfsm.
ITeman, General, very respectively yours CIT SERVE
A. +. Burnside
ia,es S-neral Commanding
NV ToEE, Dec D.
The official returns of the loss at the
battle of Fredericksburg foot up, killed,
], lbs, webnded, 9,l05, missing, 2,O1S.
The Uerai( { army iettersays igel' forces
are on the WAY to Fairfax Court House