Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1863-01-01
hands without giving me orders, makes

more definite Information, and finally
will send you detailed report in
which special acknowledgment will be
made of the services of the different Grand
Divisions Corps and my Generals and
Staff officers of the departments of the
Army OF the Potomac, to whom am so
much indebted Tor their support and hear
ty cooperation.
| Will add here, that the movement was
made earlier than you expected, after the
President, Secretary and yourself re-
quested me not to be in haste, for the
reason that we were supplied much earlier
by the different staff departments than
was anticipated when | saw you.
Our killed amounts to 1852, our wound.
ed to about 5000, and our prisoners to
about 700, which last have been paroled
and exchanged for about the same number
taken by Us. The wounded were all re
moved 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
1852 only being treated in the hospitals.
| am glad to represent that the army at
the present time is in good condition.
Thanking the Government for that entire
support and confidence which l have al
ways received from them, l remain, Gen.
eral, Very respectfully,
Your obedient servant,
A. @. BURNSIDE,
Maj. Gen, Com'd'g.
Fort Monroe, Dec. 20.-The Richmond
Dispatch of the 18th inst, says on Monday
Gen. Evans fell back across the Neuzs
river and burnt the bridge. He retrested
seven miles uefore an overwhelming force
of the enemy. The Yankees have posses
sion of the Clinton road on the south side
of the river, whilst our troops occupy the
north side. Every mile of the advance of
the enemy was strongly contested. Gen.
Evans will wait for reinforcements and
will then probably drive the invaders back
TO Newbern.
Advices from Newborn of the 10th
state that recent North Carolina paper,
are full of complsin about an order en-
anatng from rebel Mai Gen. French, d.
recting the burning of all cotton in coun-
ties bordering on Roanoke river which is
not moved west of Wilmington railroad
by the 18Th inst.
The Richmond Examiner of the 18th
states that the small pox prevails there as
an epidemic.
The Richmond Dispatch states that at
the Summit to day, ranged side by side
with our wounded, were the Yankee
wounded, receiving the same care aud en-
joying like kind treatment with our own
unfortunate defenders.
New York, Dec. 22-The steamship
Union has arrived here, from Havana the
18th. There is no later news from Mex
leo.
The new Capt. General Dulce had ar
rived at Havana, and Gen Serrano left for
Spain. The secessionists intended joining
IN an ovation to him by accompanying b i'm
70 the entrance of the harbor in a steamer,
but he requested them not to do it. and
Gen Dalce forbade il.
4 W York, Dec. 23-Later dispatches
to North Carolina Standard states the
enemy had disappeared south of Colds
boro.
An official dispatch was received at the
War Department yesterday from Gen.
Lee stating there were symptoms of the
enemy falling back to the Potomac.
Two squadrohs of Banks expedition
passed Key West on the 9th and 10Th
Gen. Fremont left for St. Louis yester-
day.
New York, Dec. 23-A Philadelphia
coming report of the Committee on the
Conduct of the War. 1t appears that
Burneside's original plan was to move
suddenly to Neutrality-suspicious. there
open a base of supplies from Acqiua
Greek, and push rapidly to Richmond.
He expected to get 80 or 40 miles south
OF the Rappahannock before the rebels
came up, and felt confident of his ability
to crush them. He was promised pom
toons and supplies at Falmouth. This was
the fatal omission, giving a delay of teu
days, enabling the rebels to fortify ano
concentrate.
Burnside's plan was to carry the first
line Of works by storm, then follow them
so rapidly that they could not make a
stand, and their retreating columns to be
driven by reserves and scattered
The plan was approved by all the lead.
ing Generals except Hooker, and endorsed
by Halleck, who had previously written
Meigs blames the engineers for the non
arrival of the pontoons, but Halleck exon
crates Gen. Woodbury., and says the delay
was caused by their not being started in
time and bad roads,
The President and Stanton are entirely
free from blame, and the censure falls on
military men.
Washington, Dec. 22-Tke Senate has
confirmed the nomination of Caleb B.
Smith for District Judge of the District of
Indiana. No nomination is yet made tc
supply the vacancy in the Department of
the Interior.
The Times special says statement ed.
itorially made here that Gov. Curtin,
during his late visit, stated that any at
tempt to remove Seward from the Cabi.
net would place Pennsylvania in opposi-
ton to the adm Distration. is authorita-
lively denied. Immediately after the bat
tie of Fredericksburg, Gov. Curtin tele-
graphed Secretary Stanton, offering on
the part of Pennsylvania any possible aid,
and while here stating that nothing in
a time of such peril could array Penn.
sylvania against the administration.
Special to the HeraM.-The committee
on the conduct of the war examined to-
day Halleck, Meigs, Woodbury. CT the En-.
gineers, and Haupt of the transportation
department., upon matters connected with
the battle at Fredericksburg. Their tes-
timony was mainly eoBfrmatory of that
given by Burnside and the commanders
of the three grand divisions. Halleck
stated to the committee that the bridges
were not sent forward in advance for fear
they would be captured before the army