The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1862-12-27
WAR NEWS.
Despatch from General Burnside.
His Rs"so"sJo- Crossing The RuppahaanGcl:
lie assumes the ITLOie RespJssibi,TU.

His Reasons Jo- Crossing The RuppahannGcI:-
He .3smOres The Uhoie Responsibility.
HEADQrARTEEs OF THE ARMY OF rrE Poro-
MAc, Pee. 10, lSG2.-Tu Major General Hal
! icck General n.Chiri - Grnrrll--l have. the
honor To offer the following reasons for mny-
ing the Army OF the Potion &c across the K ~
lii!ni'i"Ck sooner than WAS Hnlriimtcd by
| the President, Secretary or yourself. and for
crossing at point different from the one
! Indicated 10 YOU at our last meeting at the
/ PrrSilrnl's:
During my i'rrparati ms r crossing at the
place had first selected. | discovered that
! the enemy had lhruwn larg. portion of his
! force down The river and elsewhere thus
breaking his d,icnces i'll front, and also
thought discrrncd that he did not anticipate
The crossing of our whole force AZ Frrdriicks-
! burg. and hoped, by rapidly thowing the
whole command over at that place. to srpar-
| ate. by u vigorous attack. the forces of the
enemy on the river below from the forces
behind, and ON the crest. and in III, rear of
the town ; in which cisc cuni light him
with great advantage in our favor.
To do this We had to g,in height on the
extreme rig It OF the crest. which height com
inand' q il new road Lately made 10y rl,. enemy
Tor the purp'sr of more rapid communication
along his lines which point gained. his posi-
tlun along the cicst would have been scarcely
tcnahlc, and he could have been driven from
there easily ly an attack on his front in con
hcction with movement in the rear Of the
crest.
How near we came to accomplishing onr
| object, future reports will show. But Tor the
| fog and unexpected and unavoidable delay IN
| in building the bridges, which gave the
enemy tWenty-four hours more to concentrate
his forces in his strong positions. VT would
almost certainly have succeeded. in Which
case the battle would have BEEN in my opiu-
| ION, lar NOR" decisive than if we had crossed
at the places first selected. As it was. we
came near success.
Failing in accomplishing the main object. we
/, remained in order OF battle two DAYS long
cno#Sh to decide that the enemy would not
come out of his s'ronghu!ds to fight us with
his infantry. after which We rccrossed to this
side OF the river unmolestcd without the loss
OF men or property.
| AS the day broke, our long lines Of troops
were seen marching to their different posi-
| tons, as If going on parade. Not the least
decentralization or DISCRIMINATION existed.
| 1" the brave officers aud soldiers who ac-
c"'np'IShrd The feat Of thus recrusSing in the
face of the enemy owe everything. For the
| failure IN the attack am Responsible as the
! extreme gtl'antry, courage and endurance
| shown by them WAS never excel Il, and
| possible.
| To the families and friends of the dead. |
can only oil, r my heartfelt sympathy; but for
the wounded can offer my earnest prayers
| Tor their comfort and final recovery.
The fact that decided to move from War
| rchton on to this line rather against the opin-
ion OF the resident, Secretary and y. III self.
and that y"n have left the whole movement IN
my hands, without giving me orders, makes
me more responsible.
| VIII visit you very soon and give you
more definite information, and finally will
send You my detailed report. in which a
| special acknoM lrdgm nj will be nude Of the
service Of the different Grand Divisions
Corps, and my general and personal Staff
Departments of The Army of the Potomac. to
whom am so much indebted for their sup
port and hearty operation
l VIII add here that the movement was
made earlier than you expected, and after
the President, Secretary and yourself re-
qncstcd me not to be in haste, for the reason
that we were supplied much sooner by the
different Stall Departments than was antici-
ra'rd when last saw you.
Our killed ammuuntcd to lll2 our wound
ed 5000, onr prisoners about 900, winch have
been parolrd aud exchanged for about the
same number taken by us.
The wounded were all removed to this side
OF the liver before the evacuation. and are
being well cared for. The dead were buried
under flag Of truce.
The surgeons report much larger proper
tion than usual of slight wounds lG3J ouly
being treated IN the hospitals.
| ain glad to represent the army at the
present time in good condition.
Thanking the Government for that entire
support and confidence which | have always
received from them.
| remain, General. very respectfully,
Your obGdient servant,
(Sign"d) L. A. BURNSIDE.
Maj. Gen. Com. Army of the Potomac