The Portland daily press., 1862-12-23
Gen. Burnside's Official Report of the Bat
tie of Fredericksburg.
HEADQUARTERS ARMY OF Potomac,
E..l,ro,,.th W, No.

hEADpU AhIEHS ARMY Ot lOIoMAC, [
falmouth. Va, Dec. 10.
To Mqj. Gen. Halleck, Generdl-in- Chief U.
s. Army :-Generdl Il have the honor to Of
fer the following reasons for moving the army
OF the Potomac across the Rappahannoch
sooner than was anticipated by the President,
Secretary of War and yourself, and for cross
ing at point different from the one indicated
to you at our last meeting at the Presidents.
During my preparations for crossing at the
place had first selected discovered that the
enemy had thrown large portion Of his force
down the river and elsewhere, thus weakening
his defences in front, aud | also thought dis
covered that he did not anticipate the crossing
of our whole force at Fredericksburg. and |
hoped by rapidly throwing the whole COM
mand over at that place, to separate by Wig
orous attack the forces of the enemy on the
river below from the forces behind and on the
rest in the rear of the town, in which case we
could fight him with great advantage in our
iavor.
To do this we had to gain height on the
,Xtreme right of the crest, which height com
handed new road lately made by the enemy
or the purpose of more rapid communication
long his lines, which point gained, his positions
llong the crest would have been scarcely tena-
ole, and he could have been driven from them
'asily by an attack on his front, in connection
with movement in the rear of the crest.
We ouOuiu nave Jul OuJcCt DuJ
!or the fog and unexpected and unavoidable
ielay in building the bridge which gave the
enemy twenty-iour hours more to concentrate
his forces in his strong position in which case
he battle would have been more decisive, in
ny opinion, than if we had crossed at the
place first selected. As it was, we came very
aear success. Failing in accomplishing the
main object, we remained in order of battle
two days, long enough to decide that the enc
.,f lrtl
fight us with his infantry, after which we cross
ed to this side of the river, unmolested and
without the loss of men or property.
As the day broke our long line of troops
were seen marching to their different positions,
as If going on parade; not the least demorali-
zation or disorganization existed.
TO the brave officers and soldiers who ac-
complished the feat OF recrossing the river in
the face of the enemy, owe everything-for
the failure in attack | am Responsibilities the
extreme gallantry, courage and endurance
shown by them was never exceeded, and would
have carried the points had it been possible.
To the families and friends of the dead / can
only offer my heartfelt sympathies, but for the
wounded can offer my earnest prayers for
their comfort and final recovery.
The fact that decided to move from War
renton to this line, rather against the opinion
of the President. Secretary of War, and your
sell, anu tHdJ YOU lclt lHc Wnolt movement
my hands, without giving me orders, makes
me responsible.
| will visit you very soon, and give you
more definite information, and finally will
send you my detailed report. in which special
acknowledgment will be made of the services
of the different grand divisions, corps, and
general and staff departments of the army of
the Potomac to whom am so much indebted
for their hearty support and hearty co-opera-
ton.
/ will add here. that the movement was
made earlier than you expected, and after the
President. Secretary of War, and yourself, re-
quested me not to be in haste, for the reason
that we were supplied much sooner by the diff
ierent staff departments than was anticipated
when last saw you.
Our killed amounts to ,l52; our wounded
to about 5000, and our prisoners TO 100, which
last have been paroled, and exchanged for
about the same number taken by us.
The wounded were all removed To this side
of the river, and are being well cared for, and
the dead were all buried under flag of truce.
The surgeons report much larger proportion
of slight wounds than usual, 1872 only being
treated in hospital.
am glad to represent the army at present
time in good condition. Thanking the Gov
ernment for that entire support and conf
dence which l have always received from
them, remain, General,
Very resp'y your ob't servant,
A. E. BURNSIDE,
Maj. Gen. Cong Army of Potomac.