Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1863-05-07
NATIONAL INTELLIGENCER
THE CONDUCT OF THE WAR.
GEN FRANKLlNs REPLY TO THE COMMITTEE

GEN FRANKLlNs REPLY TO THE COMMIT Tee
Having published in our issue OF the oh OF Apf on na'
norton Of the Report Of Congressional Committee ON
~. cooarot If the War which charges Major General
WILLIAM b. FRANKLIN with the chief responsibility LOT
a. SHIRE or Gen Burnside attack on Fredericksburg
j. n..ambsr last il is proper that We should also place
brs our readers so much of the reply OF Gen Franklin
- ,b allegation as the limited space at our command will
enable AS TO do
This Reply which has been given to the public in pamph
lar form not only exposes the partial nature OF the pro-
ceedngs of the War Committee Of Congress- but ap
pears to us to be complete vindicaon OF the accused
against the charges preferred by that committee II also
discoses some interesting information in regard 10 the pat
tie Of Fredericksburg and other acts OF Gen. Burnside
while in command Of the Army OF the Potomac which has
not heretofore obtained publicity and all of which Will IN
terest many of our readers
We commence our abridgement OF this pamphlet py
citing the annexed passages from its opening pages;
f. The committee have not devoted much space TO me-
either in citations of testimony or IN statements OF tnr
oun but ia that limited space they have presented s PEI
fore the country responsible for the loss OF the oao
Fredericksburg in consequence OF my @ ~ 1
orders of Gen Burnside If this be true nave oeen guy
~ the highest crime known to the military law LOT the
commission of which my life is forfeit ana my nse COL
signed to infamy ,a;;trst;on which
La ;van ma important commands in its armies, and 10
mvseif demands that meet these grave aiegaliohs as
promptly possibe while, from inc pecunat
Stances Of the case The mode adopt the only one open
4, me- Since the publication OF the report nave received
an answer to an inquiry at the once
informing that there are no charges on pie
a. tho aenarment to which, COLDER am Hmehaoe.
am not ut liberty TO ignore report Which mas aleauy
reached the hands Of majority OF the ioya o ne
United States, emanating from comme'ee " my, ~
a.sntat;ves in Congress because the legislative DEPART
ent of the Government has taken upon Itself duties lha
belong TO The Executive. cannot shut my eyes 10 ae
magnitude Of the question in lis immediate pupno a'P
m Il affected only myself might be well cohtented Win
the verdict which history viii pass upon Inc transaco
nnder the sacred law which governs the ultimate triumph
Of the truth" !, ,;o;ntoa condition
IS th , that 1t the very moment when the nation 10
arnp its blood and treasure WI hout cum ~ Tue eo "
preserye inyioate the principles oil cSi liberty ciAen
If that nation however humble, shall Dc acchsea' eu'
ma CONDEMNED of an Infamous crime before tribunal SIT
ting in secret session. without notice, or even an inta
oS Of the charges made against him. without the oppo
tnty IN confront or examine the witnesses Drought
oanst him to be himself called and Intercepted 10 utter
that he under trial and hnay 10 De dehed
permission to produce witnesses when the TACT became
apparent to him that he was for some
In aanoar of conds mnation. Since the time when the
oruer-stone of all civil liberty was ad UNDER
ment from which we derive laws which gives 10 tne
uhect or the greatest criminal the right 10 meet
bs face face and to confront his witnesses no
parallel can be found in the history uoV
aruments so startling it's violations OF all that Is sacred
in personal rights as are the proceeaipgs OF ne
ORDER OF BATTLE AT FREDERICKSBURG.
Cen Franklin complains that the Report OF the Com
mttee on the Conduct of the War given to the public
without the evidence which purports TO De founded
except such extracts thereof the committee saw mt 10
embody in the report itself OF hs own testimony before
the committee only small part is printed, aud he there
fore submits the public facts stated by him 10 the
committee which they have not published and some OF the
evidence which he requested the committee to take but
which they declined upon the ground that they had not
time Among the facts submitted by him to the committee
which tb-y have not noticed which be repeats in
substance, as follows:
aon tbs 10Th dsy Of December last when crossed the
Rannsbannock was in command Of the left grand divi
sion Of the Army of the Potomac which numbered about
forty thousand men 1t was entirely crossed ana posted
in by three o'clock OF that day My command
eonsised If two corps of three divisions each AT i've
O'Clock Gen Burnside to my headquarters where be
met with me, Gems William Smith and John r. Key
nods eorps commanders The subject If conversation
WAS proposed attack upon the enemy on the following
morning when strongly advised Gen Burnside to make
an attack from my division upon the enemys right win
column of at least thirty thousand men, to be sent in at
daylight IN the morning At that time two divisions Of
Gen Hookers command on the north side OF the ver
near the bridges that had crossed In order to make
.nch an attack as advised, informed Gen. Burnside that
tbese two divisions must be crossed during the night
reiterated my request that should receive my orders
early possible that might make the necessary dspo.
stons of the troops before daylight He stated at
time that should my orders in any event before mid
n;aht snd A. another that should have them two or
three hours He lett my headquarters about six o'clock p
M and awaited his orders during the night None reached
me until half past seven o'clock in the morning At mid
night cent aid ask for them and received the reply
that they were being prepared and would be sent forth
with The order which received was brought by Gen.
Hnrdie OF Gen Burnsdes staff well known IN the service
as an able and jealous officer. Ii reached my hands at
thirty minutes past the morning OF the 18th My
command then in the position as when General
Burnside left my headquarters the evening previous The
night had passed without orders and Gen Hookers two
divisions were It'll the other side OF the river With
the light furnished by this state OF facts Gen Bunsdss
order though nconguous and contradictory on it's ace
admitted of interpretation viz that he intended tn
make an armed observation from the left TO ascertain the
strength Of the enemyau Interpretation also given 10 1t
by both Of my corps commanders The order as follows
"HKlpauARTERs ARMY OF POTOMAC,
" December Bliss A. M.
major General FRAsKLIs,
Comman ling Left Grand Division, Army of Potomac
Gen Hardie will carry this despatch to You and remsin
during day The general commanding directs
that your phoie command portion for rapid
at dUsion ut least 70 pass below Smithfed 10
seize, IL possible the heights Capt Hamions on this
aide of the Massapopax taking keep IL well support
ed and ITS He Of retreat He hae ordered another
the Plank road TO is Intersection with the Tele
graph road where they will divide with view seznp
the heights both of those roads Ho ding these heights
with heights Capt Hamiltons will he
the enemy 10 evacnate whole ridge between points
makes by columns distant from each
with the view Of avoiding the disability OF collision Of
which might IN general movement during
the fog Two Gen Hookere divisions are IN your
the bridge will remain there supports Copies of in
structons Generals Sumner and Hooker will be for
warded to you by orderly You will keep
fog fs The wachword which, possible should be given