Clearfield Republican. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1851-1937, 1862-12-31
BATTLE OF FREDERICKSBURG.
DESPATCH FROM GEN BURNSIDE
TO GEN. HAELECE.
Particulars of the Engagement

Particulars Of the Engagement
uEApQuARErs Army OF THR PoToMAC,
December 10.
TO Major General IT, w. HaHcck, General,
ia~ChiT u. s. A., Washington;
Gmr@:--I have the honor to offer
the following reasons for moving the Ar.
my OF the Potomac across the Rappahan~
mock sooner than was anticipated by the
President, Secretary Of War or yourself.
and for crossing ot o point different from
the one indicated to you at our last meet
ing at the Presidents:
During my preparations for crossing at
the place had frs. .ola ed, discag red
that the enemy had thrown a large portion
Of his force down the river aud elsewhere,
thus weakening his defences in front and
/ also thought 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 pace to seperate, by & Vi igol,
Gus attack the forces of the enemy on the
river below from the forces behind and Oh
the crest, and in the rear Of .he town, in
which case we could fight him with great
advantage in our favor To do this we
had to gain q height on the extreme right
Of the crest, which height conn, ,udcd
new road lately made by the onemy ior
the purpose O more rapid communication
along his lines, which point gairod, his
position along The crest would have been
scarcely tenable, and be could have been
driven from them e.,ily by ao .ttack on
hi front in connection with q movement
in the rnng Of the crest.
HoH near we came to accomplishments
object future reports viii snow. But for
the fog and unexpected and unavoidable
delay Of building the bridges, which gave
the enemy twenty>four hours moro to
concentrate his forces 10 his strong posi-,
tor, We could certainly have succeeded,
in which case the battle would have been,
in my opinion, far more decisive han if
we had crossed at the place selected; as it
was, we came very near success.
Failing in accomplishing the main OBJ
ject, we remained in order Of battle two
days, long enough to decide that the cne-
my would not come out of his slrongholds
to fight us with his infantry, after which
we recrossed to this side Of the river un,
molested, without the loss Of men or
property.
As the day broke our long lines of
troops were seen marching to their diff
ferent positions as if going on parade
Not the least decentralization or dsorgan,
ization existed
To the brave officers and soldiers who
accomplished the feat Of thus recrossing in
the face Of the enemy, owe everything.
For the failure in the attack am respon.
sible, as the extreme gallantry, courage
and endurance shown by them was never
eXcelIed, and would have carried the
points had it been possible.
10 the families and friends of the dead
can only offer my heartfelt sympathy.
but for the wounded can offer my earn.
est prayers for their comfort and final re
covery.
The fact that decided to move from
Washington on to this line rather asains,
the opinion of the President, Secretary
and yourself, aud that you have l.rt the
whole movement in my hands aithou,
giving me orders, makes me the .aore re.
sronsible.
will visit you very soon and give you
more definite information, and Grp,y wil
send YOU my detailed report, in which a
special acknowledgment will be made @,
the services Of the different grand diyis
ions corps, and my general and persona,
staff departments of the Army Of the Pc,
tomac, to whom | am much indebted 70.
their support and hearty corporation.
will add here that the movement W..
made earlier than you expected and al
ter the President, Secretary and yoursc'
requested me not to be "a haste, for tho
reason that we were supplied much soon
or by the different staff departments than
was anticipated when last saw you.
Our killed amount 10 l,I52, our wound
ed about 6 .o0 our prisoners about 900
which have been paroled ond exchange
for about the same number taken by u
The wounded were al removed to thi
side Of the river before the agacuatiou
and are being well cared '.r The dea
we're al buried under flag of truce.
The lrgeons report a much more lar.
ger proportion of slight wounds. 1859
only being treatc in the hospitals.
am glad 70 yepresent the army at IT,,
present tmo in CoUd condition. thankir.
the government for that entire suppor
and conf1ouce which have always ro
ceivcd i.am them.
remain, General, very respectfully,