The Tiffin weekly tribune. (Tiffin, Ohio) 1859-1868, 1862-12-26
G,u. Lurnsid, q Letter.
lIRADQrARTrRs ARMY OF poTuMAo.)
Fa mouth, bcc,mb.r 10.
To II. w. llALLAoK,

liRADorARTrRs ARMY OF pOToMAo)
Fa mouth, Bcc,mb. 10.
To II. w. HALLAoK,
GenerG'-fa- chief, Washington
GENERAL: | have tha honor to oilSr
tic following reasons for moving the Ar.
my Of the Potomac across the Rnppahar.
mock sooner than was anticipated by the
President, Secretary Of War, or Yourself
and lur cross.ng NJ point different from
the one indicated TO you at our last meet
ing at the presiients. During my pre-.
purations for crossing at the place | had
first selected, discovered tha, the enc.
my had thrown alaggc portion Of his
force down the river und elsewhere, thus
weakening his dcfcnccs In front aud
also that | discovered that he lid not an.
t'cipate tho crossing of our whole force
nj FrcdoIicksburg, aud hoped by rapid.
~ throwing the whole command over at
that place TO separate by Il vigorous at
tack the forces of the enemy ON the rv-
or below lrem the forces behiad aud on
Tie Greet in the rear OF the town, in which
Case We could f. sht him with grea, ptvla.
ta.o in our luy r. To DO this We had T.
gain hight on tho extreme right of the
crest, which hight commanded the new
road lately nude BY the enemy for the
purposes vi more rapid communication
aloag his lin e, which point gained, his
positions along the right crtst would
huvo been scarcely tenable and could
have been driven from them easily by an
attack ON his front, in coming in with a
movement in the rear Of the crest.
How ncnr Nc -amo to accomplishing
our objcct, future rep rts will show but
for the hult and unavoidable delay in
building the bridges, which gave tho enc-
my tweny-lour hours more 90 concentrate
his forces in his strong positions, we
wonld almost certainly have succeeded,
In which case the battle would have been
IN my opinion, tar more decisive than il
VS. had CROSSED at the places FIRST select.
CD AS Il was, we came very near sue
Cas-. Failing in accomplishing the
main object, we remained in order OF
battle twO days-iong enough to d,crdc
that the enemy would not come out Of
his strongholds TO H. ht us with his inluu.
try. Alter which, we crossed TO this
side Of tho riyor unmolested, without the
loss of men or properly. As he day
broke, our long liues of troops were seen
nldcAng 10 their different positions, as
IL going on parade. Not the least dc.
monsTation of Disqualification existed.
To the brave Ufieers aud soldiers who
accomplished the feat OF re-crossiug the
river in the laeo OF tho enemy, ! owe eve
Iything !, for the failure in the attack |
um responsible, as the eXtrrme gallantry
courage aud endurance shown by them
Was never exceeded and would hays
earned the points had il been possible.
To tie families aud hiends OF the dead
Lean orly offer my heartl,l sympathics;
but for the wounded can offer my earn.
est prayers for their comfort and final re-
eOvcry. The fact thai decided to NOV,
EOm Warrenton on 10 this lino, rathel
ngainst the opinion Of the President, See
rctary Of War aud yourself, and that yo,
left the xhole movement in my hand
without giving mo orders; makes mo re
Kponsille. will visit you very soon an,
glv. you more definite Information and I'm
ally will send you my dctsiiod report, "a
which special acknow odgnsnt will bC
made OF the services OF the diltre nj
ssana divisions, division corps, aud m,
general pnG staff departments OF the Ar
my Of the Potomac, 20 whom ! am s,
much indebted for theirsupport and hear
e. cooperation.
4 will add here that the movement wa,
made earlier than you expected and after
the President, Secretary aud yourself re.
questcd me net to be in haste, for the rea,
son that we we're supplied much soone,
by the different sisff departments than
was anticipated when saw you.
Our killed amounts TO i,i52; our woun-
dsd TO about 5000. and our prisoners 4