Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1862-12-22

The following has been received at Heal.
quariers:
HEADQUARTERS ARMY OF THE Potomac
deem Der L., 1852.
Gen. H. ". Halleck, GeneraI-in-Ckief, [. - A..
GENERAL: i have the honor to offer the fol.
lowing reasons for moving the Army OF the
Potomac across the Rappahannock sooner Oh IN
was anticipated by the President Secret .ry,
or yourself, and for crossing at point differ
eat from the one indicated by you At our last
met ting ut The Presidents.
Dining my preparations for crossing at the
place had at first selected, 4 discovered that
the enemy had thrown a large port on Of hi,
force down the river and elsew here, thus we tk-
eEIng his defence IN front; and also thought
discovered that he did not anticipate the cr, ,ss
ing OF cur whole force at Frederick sburg, and
hoped by rapidly throw ing the whole command
over a that place TO separate by a vigorou. AZ
tack The forces OF the enemy on the river below
from the forces behind and on the crest In rear
of tie town, in which case we could aght 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 COM
manded u new road lately m ade by the enemy
Tor purposes Of more rapid communication
alcng his lines; which point gained, his Do
sition along the crest would have been scarce.
~ ieHable, and he could have been dri ven
from 'hence easily by an attack on his front IN
conHec ion with movement in rear OF the
crest How near We came to accomplishing
our object. future reports will show.
But for the fog and unexpected and unavold.
able delay ia building the bridges, which gave
the ems my twent, Jour hours more to concen-
u ate his force in his strong positions, we
would almost certainly have succeeded An
which case the battle would have been in INV
opinion, far mere decisive that il we had
crossed Ii the place first selected.
As il vas, we came very near success Fail.
ing M >complishing the main object we re-
naintd i'll order OF battle two days, long enough
10 Of eide that the enemy would not come out
Of his strongbolds TO fight us with his in fanuy.
After which We crossed TO this side of the
rivtr unmolested and without the loss Of N N
or properly.
AS the day broke, and long lines OF troors
were seen marching 10 their different positions
as If getting on parade, not the least demoralI
zaticn OF Gisorganization existed.
To the brave officers and soldiers who A.
COMP lished the feat Of thus recross,ng In the
face OF the en- my, i owe everything; for the
failure in the attack am reeponri OLE as the
exlr'me galiantry, courage and endurance
shown by th,m were never exceeded, and
would have carried the POINT had 1t been DOS
sible.
To the families and friends OF the dead can
only offer my ht artfelt sympathies; but for the
Wounded 1 can offer my heartfelt prayers for
their comfort and final recovery.
The fact that decided to move from War
rentcH on TO this line, rather against tn. opinion
al the PRESIDENT, Secretary and yourself, and
that You have left the W hole movement In nv
ma
more responsible.
1 wall write you very soon, and rive Won
more definite information; and, finally, viii
s-rd you my detailed report, in which a special
acknowledgment mt will be made Of the service
OF the different grand division corps; and nv
general and personal stan departments.
To the army of the Potomac, to whom I am
SO much incetted for their support and hearty
cooperation, i will add here that the move.
ment " as made here earlier than you expected.
and aftsr the President, Secretary and yourself
req uested me net to be in haste, for the reason
that we were supplied much sooner by the dif
ieren' stan departments than was anticipated
VIXEN isst saw you. /.
Our killed amounts to eleven hundred and
ff;y-ivo; our wounded about nine thou.xnd
and orr prisoners about seven hundred. which
have been psroled and exchanged for ABOUT
he same numbsr taken by u.s. The wounded
We're all removed 70 this side Of the river be-
fore tie eNacu alton, and are being well cared
FOR, and ths G, ad wer- all buried under the
rag CT truce.
Th' surgeons report much larger proportion
tt an usual Of slight wounds, sixteen hundred
and thirty only being located in hos pitais.
lam glad to Represent this I'm y II the presen,
tine COO condition.
Thanking the Government for that eu,trs
supper, ard confid. nee which have alvavs
received from them, I remain, General. vour
obtd'ent servant, A. Z. BURssIDR
Mai. Gen. Comd'g Army OF Potomac.