Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1863-01-02
REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE ON THE
CONDuCT OF TIE WAR.


This committee, instructed by a resolu-
ton of Congress to inquire into the causes
which led to the disaster at fredericksburg,
and to ascertain what officer or officers were
responsible, present, without comment, as
their report, the testimony Of the various Off
GERS concerned These are so long we can
only give brief synopsis of the testimony
of Gen Burnside. After stating the circum-
stances attending his assumption Of the COM
mand, he gave his plan, as submitted to Gen.
Halleck, in substance as follows:
81 stated in substance that thought it advisable TO
concentrate the army in the neghbnrhood Of Warenioh
u make a small movement across the RappahannocE N
ftint with view divert the attention of tne enemy
and lead them 20 believe were going 20 move in the
direction Of Cord nsviuc, and then 20 make rapid
movement NJ the whole army FrcderoksburR ON this
side of the Rappalauuuck. As my reasons for that
ss5 that tbc krbrr we got uto the interior OF Nifgiu.
la the longer would be- line 0i communications, aud
greater would be- the difficulty would have IN keeping
them open. the enemy had moved upon our right hau
and corps, thar AZ almost amy time DE- could by rapid
movement seriously embarass us. li We were cA4sht
by the elements fr from our base OF supplies md a.
the same time la the cuenys country where incy htd
means Of getting Information thn we had npt % n.thl
thought prove disastrous 90 the army. as we had hut
one line Of railway by which 90 supply IT,
In moving upon Frederckshurg would ail the time
be as Washington as would the enemy, and aier
arriving at FreHcksburg We would be Al point nearer
/ 20 Richmond than would be II we should take Cor
dousvie. On the Gord1nssile line, the 'ucny, in nay
opinion, wod not give us decisive battle at any place
this side Of ichmunn. They would defend HordonsNle
until such time As they eit they had given u' o1ee.
aud then with many lines of railroad open 20 them
move upon Richmond or Lynohburg andi either case,
the difficulty Of following them would be very great
/ In connection with this movement he re-
quested that barges, filed with provisions
and forage, should be floated to Aqua Creek,
where they could be easily landed that
materials should be collected for the recon.
strucuou Of the wharves there, and that al
the wagons in Washington that could 90
spared should be filled wthhard bread
and small commissary stores, and win
a large number OF beef cattle started down
to Fredericksburg, preceded by a ponloor
train large enough to span the Rappahannocs
twice On the 4th Of November, feeling
uneasy about the pontoons, he telegraphed tC
Gen Woodbury. with reference to them, bat
IL afterwards appears that this was the first
intimation he had received that Gen. Burn
side desired them sent to Fredericksburg
Gen Burnside says:
I
which required 90 be attended 20 10 Washington w0ul
be carried ont there once. could have sent officer
NJ my own there attend % these matters. and perbap
made mistake in not doing so, Gen, Haeck after
wards told that on gt not 10 have trusted to thea
in Washington FOR the details In reply the Telegram
had ordered 20 bc sent, Gen. Woodbury. telegfaphc
back that the ponoons would start Sunday motniu
probably, and certainly Monday, which would hav
been ou the Is or ,7th OF November aud would hay
been in time They did not however start until the 18Th
and that day il commenced raining, which delaye
them s much and the roads became 80 bad that whe
they got Duufres they hpated the puntoons ofI th
wagons sent 10 Washington for steamer and carrie
them down 10 Acquia Irek by water, sending the WAp
ous around by land. Inc poutpons did here
tl the ed or 23d II November. On The 1871 II No'
started the column down the road % Fredericksburg
NOT knowing anythug ABOUT the delay u the starting
the pontoons, becaust the telegram announcing the de
lay did not reach Mauentou Junction until had lcft
come down here with the troops aud that Telegram dc
not reach until arrived here the morning Of th
9h. After the ast delay IN starting the pontoons thin
ihey sent qu,ckly they could have been an
the supplies and QutrermasteT's stores have alway
been n great ahund tuce c1Ild have expected
for after the 1911 Of November the weather and the road
were particularly bad.
With regard to other matters, the follow