Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1863-01-08
THE PONTOONS.
DR.. Jarvis.

The public have all a.ong been anxious to
know who was to blame in the matter of the
pontoon train, which so delayed operations be-
fore Fredericksburg. A committee appointed
| by congress has investigated the whole circum-
stances connected with the movement 10 the
Rappahannock, and the testimony of Gen. Burn
side in reference to the pontoon train w,s as
follows =
On the 9TH or Sth of November, Gen. Burn
side received an order from the president direc.
ting him to the command of the army of the Po-
tomac. He was surprised and did not wish to
assume the responsibility Two of his staff Off
GERS, with whom he held long deliberation,
urged it was his duty as a soldier to comply.
He assured them, as he had before repeatedly
assured the president and secretary OF war, that
he considered himself incompetent to command
so large an army and that Gen. Mcclellan
could command the army Of the Potomac bet
ter than any other general in it," On deber-
ating with Cen Mcclellan, that officer told him
it was his duty 10 obey the orders from the War
Department. General Burnside accordingly
took command.
Shortly after, he made out plan of opera
tions, in accordance with the order of Gen. Hal
eck. lie proposed to make ieint movement
toward Gordonsville, to deceive the enemy, and
then march the whole army rapidly to Freder-
ticksburg, keeping on the north side of the Rap
paha, mock. He desired that barges loaded
with provisions and forage might be floated to
Aqua Greek, and that all the wagons which
could be spared from Washington should be
filled with supplies and with pontoon train
large enough 10 span the Rappahannock twice,
and sent to Falmouth. 1t could move safely.
as it would move between the federel army and
the Potomac. On the 18th. feeling uneasy
about the ponoons. he directed his chief engi-
neer to telegraph to Washington. The dis.
patch was sent to Gen. Woodbury. or Major
Spaulding. This was the first intimaton they
had received that Gen. Burnside designed to
have the pontoon train started for Fredercks-
burg, although the plan had been sent 10 Wash
ington November 9th, and discussed by Gems
Haeck and Meigs at Burnside's headquarters,
on the nights of the llth and l2h. lie sup
posed the matter would be promptly attended
to. On the contrary, the pontoon train did not
start till Nov 10Th, when it began to rain, which
damaged the road so much that they were float
ed off at Dumfries and sent to Aquia Creek by
water, while the wagons went around by land
The pontoons did not get to Fredericksburg till
November ODD or ODD.
The other essential points in the testimony
-tHe crossing Ol Tue river, lne OTuc1lNp OF tHe
battle, &C., will be found in Gen. Burnsdes re-
port, printed on the first page of to-days pa
per.
The result of this investigation would seem 10
be that no particular censure is deserved by any
one in consequence of the non-arriva of the
pontoons. Gen. Halleck, on receiving the let
ter of Gen, burnside relative to changing the
line of march to Fredericksburg, visited Gen.
Burnside in company with Gen. Meigs, at War
rPnton. The whole matter was here discussed
and the necessity OF having the pontoons and
supplies at the crossing before Frederick sburg,
as soon as the army should arrive, was acknowl-
edged by all. That same evening, Nov. 10, an
order was issued to Ger. Woodbury. of the en-
gineer brigade, to transport all his pontoons and
bridge materials to Aqua Creek. This order
Gen. Woodbury. received on the morning of the
18th. On the 10Th he sent three companies to
build temporary wharves at Aquia-and on the
leth, Uhree days after the receipt of the order,)
As pontoons were started from Washington by
water, and arrived at the mouth of Aqua Creek
on the 18th. On the 10Th, thirty more were
sent, which reached the same place on the 22d,
and on the 21h, portion of them reached Fal
mouth.
Gen. Burnside Immediately put the army in
motion, without waiting to know whether the
pontoons and supplies had been started, but re-
wing implicitly and without inquiry on the ex-
ecntion of Gen Hallecks order. And it is at
this point that the complications begin. Gen.
Burnside testified that he supposed the tele-
grams sent from Warrenton by Gen. Halleok,
would secure the starting Of the pontoons at
once,"-and that "those portions of the plan
which required to he attended to at Washing
ton, would be carried out there at once" II he
had not supposed so, he says, he "could have
sent officers of his own TO attend to them"
Gen Halleck. on the other hand, states that,
while at Warrenton, he told Gen Burnside that
everything was at his disposition, but that he
must make his own acquisitions and give his
own orders ;'-and he adds, ~ told, him not to
send me any acquisitions, but to make them to
the proper heads of Departments, and If they
did not do their duty, then immediately to re-