The Hillsdale standard. [volume] (Hillsdale, Mich.) 1851-1909, 1863-01-06

at the time you expected, prevent your cross
ing when you expected TO cross, and interfere
with the success Of your plaos
A Yes.
GEN. HOOKER ON THE STAND.
The following is portion Of Gen. Hooker's
testimony:
He did not know why they did not take
pos session of Fredericksburg, but the feeling
seems to be that tboy could take posses.
sion of Fredericksburg at any time.
think il would have been better to have
held the lines where we were, by sparing a
sufficient force to threaten the enemy, and
keep them up to their works at Culpepper and
Cor rdonsvlle; but instead Of that we withdrew
every man, and even buraed the bridges, thus
exposing our plans to the enemy. The mo-
meot that we did so, il Gen. Summers corps
had come down here and left one up there 10
threaten to advance on that line, it would
have led them 10 believe we were goirg to ad-
vance on both lines. 1t would have been bet.
ter, but the enemy saw at once what we were
at, and came right on here and they were near
or than we were, sud this country is such that
whenever you give them two or three weeks
to fortify, 100000 men can make any place
impregnable to any 100000 men.
Q-Would there have been any difficulty
as to supplies in your moving down the Other
side Of the river as you proposed!
Al bad days ra;ons there. waspr
pairing to march down through Caroline coun.
ty, where the people had just gathered their
crops and would have got plenty OF forage,
and provisions enough for week or fortnight.
At the time Of the conversation between Hal
lock, Megs and Burnside, there was some talk
of forwarding supplies up the Rappaaannock.
said 4 at at Bowling Green could draw
supplies from Port Royal as easily as could
get them.
When was at HARDWOOD knew could
take position with 100000 men that the reb.
el army could Lot move me.
Q-Would that movement have been safe
in view Of the fact that the army had not the
means Of crossing herea
Ayes sir, because could take the nights
with my command, and then put them in con-
dition Of defiance; il l had gone there not a
man of the enemy would lave come to Frede-
ricksburg. they woull have gone to some otter
river aud fortified there il we had given them
tine as tGsaacc....sllv as they have here. l re-
gard the rebel position on the Rappabapnock,
as a strong one. / mean q one they retired
to from Manassas. They had the advantage
of two railroads 10 bring supplies from the west
aud another railroad from Richmond TO bring
their TIC ops FROM there. 1t is the strongest
position they have in Virginia. The advan.
iages Of this position TO hold against force
wishing TO attack it are such as have never
seen eqnalled,
WHAT GEN. HALLEcK TESTIFIED.
The following is from Gen. Halleck's testi-
mony:
O. Was there or was there not an under.
standing or agreement between you and Gen.
Burnside that pontoous and army stores, or
either Of them. should be furnished to him by
the autborilis here without looking after
them himself?
A-No.
OIL will say, any stores necessary for him
to cross the river and move forward TO Frede
ricksburgl
Ayes. requested General Megs and
General Haupt, in charge OF railroads to GO
with me 10 consult with Burnside, and tel
him everything was at his disposition, and he
must make his own requis,ions and give his
owr orders, that would not interfere, except
assist in carrying bis views out as much as l
could, whenever anything wa, represented to
me as not being done, that would render all
the assistance 10 my power.
Q-Do you rccolect whether or no there
was any discussion when you were there as
to the point that ii was necessary that pom
toons and army stores should arrive at Fal
mouth at the same period of time, so that the
enemy should not know the point designated
for the crossing?
Al do not think that was mentioned |;
this matter know was mentioned, that the
pontoous should be there "a soon as possible
after We had got possession Of the road.
Q-At any time did Gen. Woodbury. 60 to
you and suggest that it would be impossible
to get pontoons or stores at Falmouth as soon
as expected, and that was the reason it would
be advisable that the movement Of tho army
of Burnside should be felayed9
A-Not TO my recollection. Gen. Wood
bury, in conversation spoke of the difficulty in
getting sufficient transportation TO 60 down,
and therefore that the train should go by land.
The transports were required to get down
provisions, and was suggested that as few as
possible should be used for moving ponioou
trains.
Q-Sincc Gen. Burnside has been in com.
maDJ of the army Of the Potomac, have all
its movements been made according to his
own judgment and discretion, as far as you
know?
Ayes, enti,ely.
OIL understand you 10 say that the delay
in the bridges you think was caused by the
elem ants, and By the iueficiency Of the men,
and that there is nobody to blamo that you
know Of?
Al will not say ioefficicncy of men, but l
will say this, that Burnside reported TO me
that the officer in command of the land train
bad not been as efficient as he ought TO have
been, and he afterwards modified that report.
told him to arrest any person who had neg
lec,ed his duty, and send him TO Washington
and h. said TO me that be did not think il
necessary.
Gen. Woodbury's testimony is to the effscl
that in bis opinion there was a mistake in ex.
pectiug the pontcons which he believed we're
at the time a Berlin, waiting to be brought to
Falmouth, while the army made two and a