The Highland weekly news. [volume] (Hillsborough [Hillsboro], Highland County, Ohio) 1853-1886, 1863-01-01

Warrenton, and before you commenced
the movement of your army, sent or.
ders to Washingtonifor the pontoons to
be Immediately forwarded to FalmouthP
'Aus.-That was my understanding,
certainly.
Ques.-In your Judgment, could the
pontoons be forwarded in time for YOU
to cross the Rappahannock when you
expected, if all possible efforts had beer
made by those charged with that dutyP
Ans.-Yes, if they had received their
orders in time.
Ques.--Did the uon.arrival of these
pontoons at the time you expected, pre-
vent your crossing when you expected
to cross, and interfere with the success
of your plans7
Ans.--Yes.
Ques.--Siuce you have assumed com.
mnnd of the Army of the Potomac,
have all its movements been made by
you, according to your own judgment,
or have some of them been directed by
the General-in.chief, the Secretary of
War; or the President of the United
Statesf
Ans.-1hey Gave all been made in
accordance with my own judgment. In
some cases have submitted my views,
which have been approved.
Ques.-Who did you understand was
responsible for the forwarding of the
pontoons to Falmouth?
Ans.-I understand that Gen. Hal.
eck was to give the necessary orders.
and then the officers who should receive
the orders were only responsible for the
pOntoons coming here. l could have
carried out that part Of my plan through
officers of my own, but having just ta
ken command of an army with which ]
was but little acquainted, it was evident
that it was as much as l could attenc
to, with the assistance of all my off
GERS, to change its position from War
renton to Fredericksb sburg, and | felt
indeed expected, that all the parts of
the plan which were to be executed i,
Washington would be attended to b
, the officers at that place, under direc
tion of the different departments t
! which those parts of my plan apper
t tanned.
s Ques.-Did you or not understan n
: that you were to be responsible for see
e ing that these orders were to be carrie
out?
Ans.--I did not. 1 never imagine
), for moment that I had to carry ou
K anything that was required to be don
i in Washington. General Meigs tol
= me distinctly, several days ago, i
f Washington, that he never saw my pla
] of operations until 1 showed it to hi
It that day. r-a
d Quss.--Do I understand you to sa
). in your statement that you cxpectc
h General Franklin to carry the point
&c the extreme left of the ridge in the rel
ID of the town, and thereby enable o,
W troops to storm and carry their forth
e cations? . ..r ..... .# ... .
ID Ans.-l did expect him to carry tn
8 point, which, being done, would ha,
as placed our forces in the rear Of the
IL extreme left, and which, l thought
t. the time, would shake their forces
the ridge to such an extent that Il
at position in front could be easily storr
# ed and carried. Hrer1
Ques.-To what do you attribute t
to failure to accomplish that?I 1a
n Ans.-To the great strength of t
lie position, and the accumulation of t
E. enemy's forces there. L expected tn
ar the bridges would be built in two
at three hours after they were unloade
which was about daylight. Instead I
~ that, those on the right werc not bu
until three o'clock in the afternoon, a,
lg had only the means of getting aero
s. one division over the bridges in t
re night. Gen. Franklin's bridges we
10, built about noon, andswere held by o
~ troops on the opposite bank. I'll
We gave the enemy time to accumulate th
od forces, which were stretched along t
p river from Port Royal up to the bait
nd field, before Lwas able to order the
a tack. There had been a great deal
ld division of opinion among the col
m, commanders as to the place of crossir
he but after all the discussion upon
he subject, the decision to cross over he
nd was we'll received and understood
If all of them. a.e f... ..
ey Ques.--What was the conduct of
10, fcers and men during the attack
le- Ans.--With the exception of s
gle regiment, it was excellent.
Or Ques. = Have you any knowledge
IN to the force Of the snemye