The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1863-01-01

GEN. HOOKER ON THE STAND. fs
The following is a portion of Gen.
Rockers testimony:
He did not know why they did not
take possession of Fredericksburg,
but the feeling seems to be that they
could take possession of Fredericks.
bnrg at any time.
| think it 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
at Culpepper and Gordonsville; bat in
stead Of that we withdrew every man,
ond even burned the bridges, thus ex-
posing our plans to the enemy. The
moment that we did so, if Gen, Sum-
ner's corps had come down here and
left one up the threatening to advance
on that line, it would have led them to
believe we were going to advance on
both lines. 1t would have been better
but the enemy saw at Ouce what we
were at, and came right on here and
they were nearer than we were, and
this country is such that whenever
you give them two ar three weeks to
fortity 100000 men can make any
place impregnable to any other 100,
900 men.
CIV there have been any
difficulty as TO supplies in your moving
down tn G other side of the river, as
you proposed?
Al had days -rations there. /
| to, fl,rA,lprI,
Caroline county, where the people
had just gathered their crops, and |
would have got plenty of forage and
provisions enough for week or fort
highs. At the time of the conversa-
between Halleck, Meigs and Burnside
there was some talk Of forwarding
some supplies up the Rappahannock.
said that at Bowling Green | could
draw supplies from Port Royal as ca
silly as l could get them.
When | was at HARDWOOD | knew
that l could take position with 40
900 men that the whole rebel army
could not move me.
CIV ould that movement have
been safe in view of the fact that the
army had not the means of crossing
here?
A.-Yes sir, because | could take
the nights with my command, and
then put them in a condition of def
ance; if had gone there not a man
of the enemy would have come to
Fredericksburg, they would have gone
to some other river and fortified
there if we had given them time, as
etfectually as they have here. l re-
gard the rebel position on the Kappa
hammock as n strong one. mean the
one they retired to from Manassas
They had the advantage Of two rails
roads to bring supplies from the west,
and the other, railroad from Rich>
mond to bring troops from there. 1t
is the strongest position they had in
Virginia. The advantages OF this po-
sition to hold against force wishing
to attack it are such as | have never
seen before.
WHAT GEN HALLECK TESTIFIED.
The following is from Gen. Halleck's
testimony.
Q.-Was there or was there not an
agreement or understanding between
you and Gen. Burnside that pontoons
and army stores, or either of them,
should be furnished to him by the au-
thorities here without looking after
them himself?
A.-No
Q.-l will say, any stores necessary
for him to cross the river and move
forward for Fredericksburg?
A.-Yes, | requested General Meigs
and Gen. Haupt, in charge of railroads
to 60 with me to consult with Burnside
and tell him everything was at his
disposition, and he must make hsi
own acquisitions and give his own
orders. that would not interfere, ex-
cept to assist in carrying his views
out as much as / could, whenever
anything was represented tn me as
not being done, that | would render
all the assistance in my power.
Q.-Do you recollect whether or no
there was any discussion when you
were there, as to the point that it was
necessary that pontoons and army
stores should arrive at Falmoth 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 men.
toned; this matter know was men.
TONED, that the pontoons should be
there as soon as they could after we
had got possession of the road.
Q.-At any time did Gen. Wood.
bury go to you and suggest that it
would be impossible to get pontoons
or stores at Falmoth as soon as expec-
ted, and that was the reason it would
be advisable that the movement of the
army of Burnside should be delayed.
A.-Not to my recollection. Gen.
| W oodbury, in conversation spoke of
the difficulty in getting sufficient
transportation to go down, and there>
fore that the train should 90 by land.
The transports were required to get
down provisions, and it was suggested
that as few as possible should be used
foI moving pontoon trains.
| Q.--Since Gen. Burnside has been
in command OF the army of the Poto-
mac, have all itsmovementS been made
according to his judgmena and discre-
ton, as far as you know?
Ayes, entirely. ..>
OIL understand you to say that
the delay in the bridges you think was
caused by the elements and the ineffi~
cheney OF men, and that there is no.
body to blame that yon know Of?
Al will not say inefficiency Of
men, but | will say this, that Gen.
Burnside reported to me that the offs
Ger in command of the land train had
not been as efficient as he ought to
have been, and he afterwards modified
that rnnnrt told hin, u nr,oct c.,I-