The Burlington weekly hawk-eye., 1863-04-18

WHY THBATTACk WAS NOI RENEW 0Os o.
In relation to the policy of renewing the
attack on the day after the battle, Gen. Nc
CIellan testifies: A2iA l3
"The next morning {the 1Sth) found that
our loss had been 30 great, and there was 80
much Decentralization in some of the COM
mands, that did not consider it proper to
renew the attack that day, especially as
was sure of the arrival that day of two fresh
divisions, amounting to about $1,000 men.
AS an instance of the condition of some OF
the troops that morning, happened to re-
collect the returns Of the First Corps-Gen.
Hooker s-made the morning of the 18th,
by which there were about $500 men re-
ported present for duty. Four DAYS after
that the returns of the same corps showed
1850. sd
THE REBELS ELUDE M'CLELLAN.
had arranged, however, to renew the
attack on the 10Th, but learned some time
that the enemy had abandoned his position.
It afterward proved that he moved with
great rapidity, and, not being incumbered
by wagons, was enabled to get his troops
across theriver before we could do him any
serious injury. I think that, taking into
consideration what the the troops had gone
through, we got as much out of them in this
would bear" s a
@n WHAT BURNSIDE THOUGHT.
The testimony of Gen. Burnside, on the
subject of renewing the attack upon the en-
lemy the day after the battle, is as follows:
Question. Did you express any opinion
to Gen. Mcclellan, or to any one at head
quarters, in relation to renewing the attack
the next day; and if SO, what opinion did
you express?
"Answer. did express an opinion to
Gen. Mcclellan on the subject. After my
command was all in position-say $50
o'clock at night went over to Gen. Nc
Clellan's headquarters, at Cadysville, and
expressed the opinion to Gen. Marcy, his
chief of staff, that the attack ought to be
renewed the next morning at O'clock. I
also expressed the same opinion to other
Marcy told me that 1 ought to see Gen. Nc
Clellan and tell him what thought of the
matter. 1 went into Gen. McClellan's tent,
and in the course Of the conversation ex-
pressed the same opinion to him, and told
him that if could have 5000 fresh troops
to pass in advance of mine I would be will
ling to commence the attack on the next
morning. He said that he had been think
ing the matter over and would make up his
mind during the night, and if would send
a staff officer to his headquarters, to remain
there over night, he would send me orders
early in the morning; and if helconcluded
to renew the attack, he would send me the
necessary men. 1 did send the staff officer
over, but Gen. Mcclellan concluded not to
renew the attack the next day. 153H
"Question. Would there have been any
difficulty in furnishing the S, 600 fresh troops
which you desired, as the corps Of Gen. Fitz
John Porter, some Is, coo or 10000 men, had
not been engaged?
Answer. There would have been no
difficulty in furnishing the 5000 fresh
troops. In fact, Gen. Mcclellan did send
~ Nnv,n ral Sc n -
strength to report to me, but not with or
ders to me to renew the attack
FRANKLIN's OPINION.
Gen. Franklin testifies:
"Question. Were YOU consulted in rela-
ton to renewing the attack the next day?
Answer. When Gen. Mcclellan visited
the right in the afternoon, showed him
position on the right of this wood I have
mentioned, in which was the Dun
ker Church, which 1 thought commanded
the wood, and that if it could be taken, we
could drive the enemy from the wood by
merely holding this point. advised that
we should make the attack on that place
the next morning, from Gen. Summers po-
sition. I thought there was no doubt
about our being able to carry it. We had
plenty OF artillery bearing upon it. We
drove the enemy from there that afternoon,
and had no doubt that we could take that
place the next morning, and I thought that
would uncover the whole left of the enemy.
"Quesdon. If that had been made, and
that point had been carried, what would
have been the effect upon the enemy?
Answer: 1t would have been very dis
astrous to them.
"Question. What reasons were given for
not making the attack the next morning?
Answer. did not hear the direct rea-
son of the General Commanding, but have
understood that the reason was, that he
expected some fifteen thousand new troops
those Which soould make the thing certain
thing he preferred to wait to make this
attack on the right, until these new troops
came.
"Question. And that delay gave the enemy
an opportunity to escdpes
"Answer. Think It did,
On the night Of the 18th of September the
enemy abandoned their position and retired
across the Potomac into Virginia, without
molestation. Our army slowly followed,
and took up . position along the Potomac,
Heights on the Doth, and Harper Ferry on
the 23d. -
LOSSES ON BOTH SIDES.
Gen. Mcclellan, on the 18th of Septem-
Der, reports our losses at South Mountain
at 1925; at Antietam, IL, ,469-total losses in.
both battles, 14,794. In relation to the losses
Of the enemy in both these battles, in kill
WouANSOs pIlcOIAcl0 dL1u SLfdXXl0IS. SI60s
Mcclellan says: 9 n15rl-ir = 'IE .-l15l1
''It may be safely concluded, therefore.
that the Rebel army lost at least 80, 900 of
their best troops in their brief campaign in
Maryland"
WANTS MORE REINFORCE
~ MENTS.
After the battle of Antietam Gen, Nc
Clellan called for reinforcements, and an
his determination to fortify Mary
land flights, making requisition on Gen.
Wadsworth, then in Washington, for 1000
for that purpose. On the 9th
Of September he writes to Gen. Halleck:
AND PROPOSES TO FORM MILITARY
SCHOOL.
''My present purpose is to hold the enc
my about as it now is, rendering Harper's
Ferry secure, and watching the river close
ly, intending to attack the enemy should he
attempt to cross to this side. Our possess
sion Of Harper's Ferry gives us the great
advantage of a secure debouche; but we
cannot avail ourselves of it until the rail-
road bridge is finished, because we cannot
otherwise supply a greater number of
troops than we now have on the Virginia
side at that point. When the river rises so
that the enemy cannot cross in force, pur-
pose concentrating the army somewhere