The daily Green Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1861-1865, 1863-04-10

November Mcclellan informed the Presiden
that the last of the army crossed the third of M
vember. On the same day-the 9th of Septem
berthe President issued an order supersedlng
him, and turning over TIE command to Gen. Burn
side, Gen. Mcclellan to report at Trenton, N. J..
where his family resided. Thus ended McCle l.
lan's connection with the army Of the Potomac
The Committee do not give much new light or
Burnside's campaign. The failure of the pom
toons to arrive in time is lief. in much doubt, and
seems to have resulted as much from misappre-
hension and unforeseen difficulties, as any culpa
bic omission of duty on the part of any enc. O.
the battle of Fredericksburg the Committee say
The testimony OF all the witnesses before your
Committee proves most concusiv9ly that, had the
attack been made upon the left with all the force
which Gen. Franklin could have used for that
purpose, the plan nf Gen. Burnside would have
been completely successful, and our army would
have achieved most brilliant victory.
Gen. Franklin, however, insisted before the
Committee that he did all that Gen. Burnside's
order called upon him to do; and, standing upon;
the literal Interpretation Of the order, he seems to
be right. Shortly after this battle Gen. Burnside
devised another plan for attacking the enemy in
bis front: and in connection with it planned a
grand cavalry expedition, consisting of $500 Of
his best cavalry, OF whom 1000 we're picked men.
The plan of that expedition was as follows: Ac-
companied by brigade Of infantry, detailed to
protect the crossing of the Rappahannock, it was
to proceed up to Keey'S Ford there the 1000
picked men were to cross, aud to proceed to the
Rapdan and cross that river at R4ccoon Ford
then 10 90 onward and cross the Virginia Central
Railroad at Louisa Court House the James Riy-
eT at Goochland or Carer's, blowing up the locks
OF the James River at the place Of crossing cross
the Richmond and Lybchburg Railroad at point
south Of there, blowing up the iron bridge at the
place OF crossing; cross me Richmond Peters
aurg and Weldon Railroad where it crossed the
Aottoway River, destroying the railroad bridge
there; and tken proceed oa by General Pryor's
command, and effect junction with General r. elk
at Suffolk, where steamers were TO be ia waiting
to take them to Acquia Creek. To distract the
attention Of the enemy, and deceive them in re-
gard to which body of cavalry was the attacking
column, at the time the thousand picked men
crossed the Rap9ahannock portion of the re-
manning 1900 was to proceed toward Warrenton
another portion seward CuIpepper Court House;
and the remainder were to accompan, the thous-
and picked men as far as Raccoon Ford, and then
return. While this country expedition was in
progress, the gensral movement was TO be made
across the river.
Everything was in readiness for this attack, and
the cavalry had actually started, when Burnside
received from the President the following:
&" | have good reason for saying that you must
not make general movement without letting me
know Of it,"
This message was sent in consequence of repre-
sensations made to the President by Gen. John
Cochrane and Gen. Newton, with the know ledge
Of Gems. Franklin and Smith, that the army was
IN too disprlted condition to attempt move.
nent with any hope Of success. Gen. Burnside
immediately halted his cavalry expedition, and
went to Washington to learn the cause of the Or
ir. The President refused to give him the
names OF his intormants, but said he had mt the
'rder on account OF representations made to him
BY general officers; aud declined to give Burn.
'de permission to proceed with his expedition.
After this, Burnside planned another move
nent' which was frustrated by terrible storm.
N the almost universal feeling among his gene.
al officers against it. In consequence of this
ceiling IN the army, and also what bad taken
place at Fredericksburg, Burnside had become