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


the column to make a direct attack up
on the enemy's works. l thought that
these regiments by arriving quickly up
after each other, would be able to carry
the stone wall and batteries in front
forcing the enemy on their next line,
and by going in with them, they would
not be able to fire upon US to any great
extent. left Gen. Sumner with that
understanding, and directed him to
give the orders. The order was given,
and the column of attack was formed
The next morning, just before the col
umn was to have started, General Sum-
ner came TO me, and said, 81 hope you
will desist from this attack. l do not
know of any General officer who ap-
proves of it, and think it will prove
disastrous to the army" Advice of that
kind from Sumner, who has always been
in favor of our advance, whenever it
was possible, caused me to hesitate.
kept the column of attack forward, and
sent over for the division and corps
commanders, and consulted with them
They unanimously voted against the at
tack. l then went over to see the other
officers of the commands on the other
side, and found that the same opinion
prevailed among them. Then l sent
for General Franklin, who was on the
left, and he was of the same opinion
This caused me to decide that 1 ought
not to make the attack I had contem.
plated, and besides, the President had
. told me not to be in haste in making
this attack; that he would give me all
F.. the support he could, but he did not
. want the Army Of tho Potomac destroy
ed. felt that [ could not take the
responsibility Of ordering an attack
10 Notwithstanding my own belief at the
I time that the works of the enemy could
! be carried While on his way here
It Hooker, on the morning of the 20tl
d November, wrote me note, which was
e received on the 21st, in which he sug
s. Gested that he should cross his force
o over the Rappahanuock, at the fore
ot nearest the town, Richards Ford, anG
is move rapidly down to Saxton's Station
d and take position there He stated tha
h he had three days provisions, and coulc
Is meet any force of the enemy in from
20 of him. | replied that was Away
# very glad to take the advice Of my gen
eral officers, and should be 10th to max
ia a move without consulting them, but
rs could not approve of the move he ha
OF suggested Because, in tho first place
o. he would have to march somo thirty. ST
t. miles to Sazton Station. 1t was rain
re ing, and he would have to ford two riv
n, ers, which might rise and cut him of
RS from the main body of the commant
at and as I had no means of crossing Q
ID, Fredericksburg, 1 would be prevente
he from sending him supplies and ASST.
ly tance, and although he might reac
il Saxton Station, and not meet any fore
he of the enemy at that time, yet it woul
'at be very hazardous movement to thro
he a column like that beyond the reach O
ow its proper support. Hooker thanke
re me, and said he only made it as su,
ne gestion, and the weather., as it W;
IS. raining, rendered it, Of course, imposs
to BILE to make the movement he sugges
We ed. u-r go s..-r.. .r t.-t...r .
% Quos.-In answer to question VIII
ps reason do you assign for the failure G
nc your attack o.. .
lot Aus,-It was found impossible
tat get the men up to the works. The et
at emy's fire was too hot. The who
DC command fought calamity. The en-
'as my themselves say they never saw o,
re men fghtsO hard as they fought on tn
81 day.
'e- Ques.-Wcrc the enemy's works vel
ed strong?
'ss Ans.-Their works we're not stror
works, but they held strong position
to II is possible the points of attack we
II wrongly ordered IF such is the cas-
ng can only say l did to the best of n
&C. ability. 1t is also possible that '
would have done better to have orosst
ny at SINNERS Neck, but for what l su
ny posed to be good reasons l felt we h,
nd better cross here, that we would have
on more decisive engagement here, al
nut that, if we succeeded in defeating thel
,ht We would break up the whole of 4
Id, army here, which think now is t
EN- most desirable thing, not even secol
ng to the taking of Richmond. For,
my this army was broken up, though th
on might defend Richmond for a viii
to they could not make any protracted q
lily fence there. aH'Et Ia
ng . QucS, by Mr.. Gooch, DO I und,
II stand you to say that it was your u