New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1862-12-24
TUE BATTLE OF FREDERICKSBURG.
Report Of the Committee on the Con-
duct Of thu War.
Testimony Of Gen. Burnside and Others
All tho Operations Of the Army
Clearly Stated.
GENERAL DvRNsDES PLAN or THE CAMPAIGN.
How the attack at Fredericksburg was
Decided Upon.
THE CAUSES OF THE REPULSE.

l.
facts relating to the recent battle at Fredericksburg
Va, and particularly IS to what officer or officers
are responsible for the assault, that they had pro.
ceeded to the Headquarters Of he Army Of til
Potomac and taken the dcposi,ions of Major &c 8.
Burnside, Sumner, Franklin, and Hooker, and Brig.
Gems. Woodbury. aud Haupt, and on their return t.
Washington thoss Of Major. Gen. Hallerk ana Brig.
Gen. Meigs. All the facts relating to the move
;non,s Of the army under Gen. Burnside, the for
ygardiug Of pontoons and supplies, the recent baltic
at fredericksburg, are fully and clearly stated 10
the dApoeiIions herewith submitted that the Com.
uiitee report the testimony without comment
| NJ or.GeD. Ambrose Z. Burnside, sworn by the
Chairman. a.
! O. You have seen the resolution Of the Senate
under which the Committee is now acting. VIII
you now 20 on, and Ia your own way withoos
queFioniug, give such accounts OF the meters en-.
Draced Ia thai resolution as You may consider ne
cessary and proper.
! A. In order that the whole matter my be On.
tirely understood, it may be well to 81 back
/ little. .I
Q. Very well. Make your statement in you, O~n
way.
| A. When, after the battle of Antietam Gen. No
Clelan decided TO cross the Potomac, said 10 INN
that ia my opinion he would never he able TO take
tbs army on that route beyond the Kappa anuock,
unless lie succeeded 10 lighting the eueny O. some
IGoui by land he would have TO go by wsy OF Fred
erickshurg, ard 10 tsat he partially agreed with
NE; after we bad started we had another CONVERSE
tiCn on that subject and several ether officers wero
present.; on tie 6tb OF November, after tais
sa,on, Gen. Mcclellan gave an order TO Capt.
Drum, bis Chief Engineer, TO have all the poaIoon
bridges 1t y rim aud liz that neigibothood that
couli le spared taken up and sen. Gown to Wash.
ing;cn, with view OF getting them down
to tiis town, in Gaze he cecided 20 go BY
the Way of Fredericksburg; the letter convey:
ing that order written on tho 9th OF
November. but as | understand, was not received
until the 2ih OF November, On the 9TH or sth OF
November received an order from tue President
of tie United States, directing LIE 70 take COMMAND
OF tue Aruy of the Potomac, ard also copy OF tie
order relieving Gen. Mcclellan from th2t command.
This order was conveyed to me by Gen. Bucsirg.
Lam, who was attached 10 the War Dsparcens.f
Aft,r getting over my surprise, told Gen Backinz
ham that 1t matter tnst required very serioas
thought that did not wan. thu command; that y
had been offered to twice before, aud tnat did
not feel could take it, consulted with two OF my
staff officers In regard 10 IL for, should tnink,,
an hour AMI half; they urged upon ns
tIst | had 10 right as a soldier TO discbey the
order and that had already expressed 10 the Gov
eminent my unwil iugness 10 take the command.
told them what my yi5wa were win rsersnee 10
my ability t. exercise such command, winch views
wee those ! bad always unrescrVejly expressed,
that wac not competent 10 command sncn largo
army as this. bad said ths same over aud over
again 10 the PRECEDENT aud Secretary Ok War, and.
also that Il matters could be satisfactorily arganged
with Gen. Mcclellan, thought ne could command
tie Army Of The Potomac better than any other Gen.
srsl in 1t; bat they bad studied the sabjec6
more than | had. and kuew more abcu. tho.E
obligations 10 Gen. Mcclellan than | oid.
There bad been some conversation with re-
gard 70 tie removal Of Gen. Mcclellan whom
F. was bringing away his army from before kict-
uond; the first Of these conversations With the.
Pres.!eng ana Secretary OF War occurred et that
tioe, and then, after Gen. Mcclellan had g., back
10 Washington and before The CONNIE nceDent cf The
Mary l4Ud mpaign, there was ano'ner ecnYef%uoa
OF lie same kiud and on both OF these ceea4tous 1
EXPRESSED 70 the President the o4ui-a ta&t otd
no. thiuk there was any one who could Dc IS Ilucd
with thai army as Gen. Mcclellan could, If rat.
tiers would be 70 arranged az 30 remove th-g oOjece
tions to him; after had conyegsed WIZ M SAX
odieers went TO see Gen. Mcclellan hiinsslf, Snd
he agreed with rs that tbis wac IN order which |, -
soldier Lad II obey; he said tna' he ccdlc nos
retain the command, for he, as solder, would hayo
10 obey tie ocer directing him 10 give ~ that cons
maud IN TIE uds o. a violent snow storm, wlt1 Ia
amy ir O 10 iion that knew but little Of; tai
IRE tionsly commanded but one corR, upon the exc
tr-ue riga,, aud bad been upon the eAtEeile nsit
and IN the advance since that campaign nai Ie<hat
! probably knew less than any o!he' corps Co,af
n9Haer II tie positions and relative "rength oil 'he
,svsryl corps oil tie army Gen. Mcclellan TeiiSiGsd
conc two cs three Gays 10 arrange bIs alhlTS, ana
came with ne az "a as Wa sn'oo, ana inca reg,
be,in given pe al tie Information he could IN ref.
elan.s 10 the army; Gen. Haiec6 cane down 70
ssc me an ~ Hi Of November; toe 9TH L2io
ont n plan of operations, III Gocordancs Win 10
order OF Gen. EaiiecA, Taicl directed me not CnY
TO lie command, Dat also 10 state VIVA. pro- osed
20 do with T.; that planl wrote on tue morning OF
r. . OH Of November and sent 10 b. SPECIAL uessen-
COR 10 Washington; 1 cue furnish The Committee O
o5py OF ta.t plan II tAey desire ~ co not have i
nere now.
10. Ss,e tho substance OF il, il you pleassl That
may do Gs well.
bic 20 concentrate Inc arny ia .ne uesaOorAosa u
Warteuton, 10 maze d Gllali mOt smtrt across az
lRsppah2nnOc as Z fent. with view 20 ei'oIt 'he
artsltion ci the eOemy auj lead tie ~ 20 lieNe We
were goiUg 10 move IN Tie eiiecsloh q NV'eYiS
villa, aud then 10 make rapid nOVeMSl. Q, .ae
whole army ID fredericksburg on .i.5 s!de 81 tae
! r. npahnunock, A my reasons f1f WAT stated
thatthe fartl or g0t into tie lA,ciicr 81 virginia
The lonqer Ngoali be Our Inc ot COMA A@ic"4os G.u
IN, greater wogid BE- tue o4lcn.iy W ~oull nave
/ l., - aiming them open, Us tie enemy bad upon oGf
1c1t '6ssk a corps that az almost any time
r.1l3 by a rapid movsuer, seriously emoarrlss -.
/ II WA were canghI by tue elements 30 in
from our base OF EG.pAeSj ara " Tue sums
| time IN Tie euemys country, Were tney hs' neans
81 retting information that we bad nos, AZ might,
Itlnuy5t. prove disastrous N the army, as We hid
bu, one lue Of railway ~ which to supply il, Ia
moving upon Freaegl ksoorg, We would al ne tiGd
! b. as near Washington 20 would the enemy au9
alter arriving at Fredericksburg Wa would 10 Nc
point nearer Richmond Than We would be even *
We should e. ke GOrdOAsvllle; on toe GoIdonsyn.3
line, the enemy, ia uy opinion, would not give as
decisive battle at any place tins side o. RiclmoDd;
they sould deield Gofdonsvllle until sacI tlne 80
they felt they had gwen us check, anc then, Win
20 many lines OF railroad open to them, ICY
would move upon Richmond or byBchoursi
and IN either case the uiDlculty OF following ~
would be very great; In connection WIZ us
uovement 4 reanssted that baIges hiled Win Pio>