Daily Ohio statesman. [volume] (Columbus, Ohio) 1855-1870, 1862-12-25
Report OF tho Committee on the Com
duct OF the War.

uuCt ehO war
WAsHINeToN, Dec. 23.-The report of the
Committee on the Conduct of the War embra
ces depositions Of Generals Burnside. Sumner
franklin, Hooker, Woodbury., Houpt, Hallecl
and Meiga. The committee report the testi
mony without comment. Burnside said: When
after the battle of Antietam, Mcclellan decided
to cross the Potomac, l said to him, in nv
opinion, he would never be able to take the
army on that route beyond the Rappahannock
unless he succeeded in fighting the enemy al
some place on this side. That if he proposed
to 90 to Richmond by land he would have to 20
to Fredericksburgh, and in that he partially
agreed with me. On the 9Th of Nov, after thit
conversation, Mcclellan gave an order to Capt
Drum, Chief of Engineers, to have all the
Pontoon Bridges at Berlin, and in that neigh
borhood that could be spared, taken I'D and sen
down TO w ashington, with view of getting them
down to this town in case he decided to 20 by the
way of Fredericksburg. The letter conveying
that order was written on the 9Th OF November
but, as understand, was not received until the
Il2th of November. Burnside speaks of tht
surprise with which he received the President't
order to take command of the Army of the
Potomac, and tina. he had repeatedly express
ed the opinion he (Burnside) was not compe
tent to command 80 large an army, and tha,
Mcclellan was the fttest person. He then
says ..Halleck came to see me on November
llth. On the 9Th made out plan of opera.
tions, in accordance with Halleck's order, and
sent It to Washington. He gives detailed
account Of this plan, and speaks of the disas
trous delay in receiving pontoons, and says
that on the 18th he started column to Freder.
icksburg, not knowing of the delay. The pom.
toons did not, however, start till the 18th, and
that day it commenced raining, which delayed
them go much and the roads became no bad that
when they got to Dunfries they hoated the
pontoons off the wagons. They sent to.Wssh-
iugton for steamer and carried them to Aquia
Creek by water, sending the wagons round BY
land. The pontoons did not get there nntil the
22d or 23d Of November. After the first de-
| sent as quickly as they could have been, anG
the supplies and Quartermsster stores have al
ways been in as great abundance az we coulC
have expected, for after the 10Th of Nov. tn,
weather and roads were particularly bad. Afte
reaching Fredericksburg, saw at ono,
there was no crossing the Rappahannock will
the army at that time, as il commenced rain
ing and the river began to rise. did mol
know how much it might rise. There were nc
means of crossing, except going up to the
fords, and ID would be impossible to do that
because Of inability to supply tho troops after
they should have crossed Sumner arrived
here with his troops in advance. He sent tc
me, asking If he should cross the river. did
not think 1t advisable that he should at thai
time. II was first decided to cross at Skinner'f
Neck, about twelve miles below here, but our
demonstration was simply for the purpose Of
drawing there as large force of the enemy
| as possible. then decided to cross here, be-
cause, In the first place, felt satisfied thai
they did not expect US to cross here, but below
In the next place, felt satisfied that this va.
the place to fight the most decisive battle, be
cause, if we could divide their forces by pier
cling their lines at one or two points, separating
their left from their right, then vigorous at
tack with the whole army would succeed in
breaking their army In pieces. Two attacks
were made, and we were repulsed, still hold
Ing q portion of the ground we had fought
upon, but not our extreme advance. That nigh,
went over the field on our right and in fact
Ii was with the officers and men till nearly
daylight. I.found the batting against an attack
| retired to my headquarters, and after q con-
yersation with Sumner told him wanted
him to order the 9Th Army Corps, which |
originally commanded, to form the next morn
ing q column of attack by regiments. Ii con-
sisted of some l8 old regiments and some new
ones, and desired the column to make d-
rect attack upon the enemy's works. Thought
that these regiments by arriving quickly up
after each other would be able to carry the
atone wall and batteries in front, forcing the
enemy on their next line, and by going in with
them they would not be able to fire upon US to
apy great extent left Sumner with that un.
derstanding, and directed him to give the Or
ders. The order was given and the order Of
attack was formed. The next morning, just
before the column was to have started, Sumner
came TO me and said, l hope you will desist
from this attack. lido not know of any gene.
raj officer who approves Of IL, and think il will
prove disastrous to the Army. Advice Of that
kind from Sumner, who has always been
In favor of our advance whenever ii
| was possible, caused me, to hesitate
kept the column of attack formed, and sent
over for the division and corps commanders
and consulted with them. They unanimously
voted against the attack. then went over to
see the other officers Of the command on the
other side, and found shat the same opinion pre-
vailed among them. ! then sent for Gen.
franklin, who was on the left, and he was Of
Az an,oa ion;nion Thia cauaad mo to a ao;d a