The Cass County Republican. [volume] (Dowagiac, Mich.) 18??-1880, 1863-01-01
Letter From Gen. Burnsides.

icks6arg, and gives Reasons.
HArror.rrers ARMY OF TIE PoToMAc, =
FALMOUTH. December 10. !
To H. W Balleck Gen.-in- Chief Washington:
GENERAL: | have the honor to OF
fer the following reasons for moving
the Army of the Potomac. across the
Rappahannock sooner than was antici.
paied by .he President, Secretary of
War, or yourself, and tor crossing at
point different from the one indicated
to you at our last meeting at the Pres
ident's.
During my preparations for crossing
at the place had at first selected,
discovered that the enemy had thrown
large portion of his force down the
river aud elsewhere, thus weakening
his defenses i'm 'front.' also discovered
that he did not anticipate the crossing
of our whole force at Fredericksburg,
and hoped, by rapidly throwing the
whole command over at that place, to-
seperate, by vigorous attack, the
forces of the enemy on the river below
from the forces behind and on the crest
in the rear of the town, in which case
we could fight him with great advan-
tage in our favor. TO do this we had
to gain height on the extreme right
of the crest, which height commanded
the new road lately made by the enc
my for purposes of more rapid COM
munication along his lines, which poin.
gained, his positions along the right
crest would have been scarcely tenable,
and he could have been driven from
them easily by All attack on his front,
ia connection with movement OH the
rear of the crest. How near we came
to accomplishing our object future re-
ports will show. But for the unex-
pected and unavoidable delay in build
ing the bridges, which gave the enemy
twenty-four hours more to concentrate
his forces in his strong position, We
would almost certainly have succeeded,
in which case the battle would have
been, in my opinion, far more decisive
than ii we had crossed at the places
first selected. As it was, we came
very near the success.
Failing in accomplishing the main
object, We remained III order of battle
two days-enough 10 decide that the
enemy would not come ont of their
strongholds to fight us with their inian-
try after which we crossed to this side
of The river unmolesled, without the
loss of men or property. As the day
broke, our long lines of troops were
seen marching to their different posi-
tions rs if going on parade. Not the
least decentralization or disOrganiZation
existed.
To the brave officers and soldiers
who accomplished the feat of recross
ing the river, in the face oil the enemy,
Love everything. For the failure in
the attack am responsible, AS the ex-
IRENE gallantry, courage and endurance
shown by them were never excelied,
and would have carried the points had
it been possible. TO the families and
friends of the dead can only offer my
earnest prayers for their comfortable
and final recovery.
The fact that decided to move from
Warrenton on to this line, rather
aginst the opinion of the President,
Secretary of War, and youself, and
that you left the whole movement i'll
my hands, without giving me orders,
makes me responsible.
| will visit you very soon, and give
you more definite information, and Fl
nally will send you my detailed report,
in which special acknowledgement
will be made of Tie services of the diff
ferent grand divisions, corps, and gen
eral and staff departments of the Army
OF the Potomac, 10 whom am SO much
indebted for their support and hearty
co operation.
l will add here that the movement
was made earlier than you expected,
and after the President, and Secretary,
and yourself, requested me not to be
in haste, for the reason that we were
supplied much sooner by the different
staff departments than was anticipated
when | saw you.
Our killed amount to 1,152, our
wounded to abou, 5000, and our pris-
oners TO about 700, which last have
been paroled and exchanged for about
re sanle Number taken 10y US. The
wounded were all removed to this side
of the river, and are being well cared
for, and the dead were all buried under
flag of truce. The surgeons report a
much larger proportion Of slight
wounds than usual, 1922 only being
treated in hospitals. l am glad to rep
resent the army at the present time in
good condition.
Thanking the Government for tina,
entire support and confidence which i
have always received from them.
i remain, General, very respectfully
your obedient servant,
A. Z. BURNSIDE.