Daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, Va. [W. Va.]) 1859-1865, 1862-12-23
Gen. Bafnsid9SRsasOnSf for the Bat.
tie ut fredericksburg. g-JI.
HEADQuARIERs AsNr o. THE PoTouAc,

:
| .h8gs.fls December 18th, 1851.
To Major General ". Il. Haleek, Geasral.
4 a-CAiJ u. s.. H., Hashi19toa:
Z GENERAL-I have the honor 70 offer the
following reasons for moving the army Of
the Potomac across the Rappahanuock
sooner than was anticipated by the Presi-
dent, Secretary or yourself, aud for cross
log at point different from the one indi-
Gated to you NJ our last meeting at the Pre-.
sidents.
During my preparations for crossing at
! the place had first selected, discovered
that the enemy had thrown q large portion
ofhis force down the river aud elsewhere,
thus Weakening his defenses in front; and
also thought discovered that be did not
anticipate the crossing Of our whole force at
fredericksburg, aud hoped ~ rapidly
throwing the whole command over at that
place to separate by vigorous attack the
forces Of the enemy on the river below from
the forces behind and on the crest and in
the rear OF the town, in which case We
could fght him With great advantage in our
favor
To do this we had TO gain height in the
extreme right of the crest which height
commanded q new road lately made by the
enemy for the purpose Of more rapid COM
munication along his lines, which point
gained, his position along the crest would
have been scarcely tenabIe and he could
have been driven from there entirely by an
attack on his front in connection with the
movement in the rear of the crest.
How near we came to accomplishing our
object future reports will show, bat for the
fog and unexpected aud unayOidabIy delay
in building the bridges which gave the en-
envy seventy-four hours more to cOuceu.
trAte his forces in his strong position or 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 1t was, we came very near success
Failing in accomplishing the main object,
We remained in order OF battle two DAYS,
long enough 10 decide that the enemy
would not come out of his stronghoIds to
tight us With his infantry, after which we
re.crossed to this side Of the river unmo
Tested without the loss of a man or prop.
erty. ir't 90 t"'1 eta EsilrFrft7 :
AS the day broke our long lines of troops
were seen marching to their different posi-
tions as If going on parade, not the least
decentralization or disorgauizotiou existed.
The brave officers and soldiers who accom-
plished the feat of thus recrossiug in the
face of the enemy ] owe everything in the
future. In the attack am responsible as
the extreme gallantry, courage and endu
rance shown by them WAS never excelled,
and would have carried the points had 1t
been accessible.
To the families aud frieuds OF the dead
can only offer my heartfelt sympathy; but
for the wounded can offer nv earnust
prayers for their comfort and inaI recov-
cry.
The fact that decided to move from
WaFPAn0nn 10 III.
the optnion of the PresidenI, Secretary and
yourself. and that you have left the whole
movement IN my hands without giving me
orders, makes me the more responsible. j
will visit you very soon and give you more
definite information, and finRily will send
you my detailed,repOrt in which special
acknowledgement will be made OF the serV-
ices of the different grand division corps
aud my general and personal staff depaat-
menis ofthe army Of the Potomac, to whom
am so much Indebted for their support
and hearty cooperation.
q i will add here that the movement was
made earlier than you expected, and after
the President, Secretary and yourself re-
quested me not TO be In haste, for the rea-
son that We were supplied much sooner by
the different staff departments, than was
anticipated when last saw you.
Our killed amounts to 1882 and our
wounded about 1000, our prisoners to
about 300, which have been paroled and
exchanged for about the same number Ia
ken by US. The wounded were all reno
we'd to this side of the river before the
evacuation, aud are being well cared for
The dead were all buried under flag Of
truee4 The surgeons report much larger
proportion than usual, of slight wounds,
LOGO only being treated in the hospitals
lam glad to represent the army at the
present time iu good condition.
Thanking the Government for that en-
tire support aud confidence which I have
always received from them,
[ remain Gen. very respectfully, your ODE.
dent servant, A. &. BURHs1DR,
Maj. Gen. oom'dg Army Of Potomae.
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