Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1863-05-07

therefore he could not have intended H acted upon the
order - once nearly according TO its literal directions
" The attack was ordered to be led by Gen Meade,
OF tho ablest officers in service supported BY Gen
Gibbon on his right aud Gen. Doubleday in reserve
These three divisions formed of the two corps (Gen
Reynoldss) under my command the south side OF the
river. Shortly after Meade advanced the eDemys cavalry
appeared the left accompanied by artillery and Dou-
beday was ordered drive them away Soon after these
troops advanced finding that the enemy IN force
all Sides sent to (an Stoneman to cross with one OF
his divisions and before that had entirely crossed ms SO
cond division also ordered The crossing OF these
divisions (Which should have been made during the pre-
night had attack in force been contemplated oc
cuped least three hours While this was going on one
Of Gen Smiths divisions was also ordered 10 report to
Gen Reynolds OF these several movements Gen burn
side was kept informed by reports made by Gen Hardle
to him at intervals during the day and between Az M
and $40 p M il reported to him, by an officer of his
staff that of the eight divisions composing my en-
tire command including tho divisions that had been
ordered To cross the river divisions had been employed
in making the effort to seize Hamons hill keeping the
attacking supported and checking the advance OF
the enemy while but two divisions left to protect the
bridges the right and the centre and to keep the line OF
retreat cpen and which two divisions were actually at
tackled during the day"
SUPPRESSION OF EVIDENCE.
Gen Franklin proceeds to say that after the committee
had taken his testimony and declined TO call Gen. Harde
Witness he asked permission to hand them copies of
the reports made by that officer to Gen Burnside during
the day. This request granted aud although it
impossible to overstate the value of the testimony
tanned in there dispatches fourteen in number sent from
the field of battle by officer of the staff of Gen. Burn
side who could have motive at the time to state
thing but the exact truth the events were ranspring
under his own eyes yet mention of reference to
these dispatches is made by the committee in their report
OF these dispatches Gen. Franklin says:
As they present statement of the transactions of the
day upon the left, by competent and impartial
Witness present them in full in the order in which they
sent 1t will be noticed that the first despatch is
dated 40 A. M. This despatch is as follows
HEADQUARTERS FRAsKLIs's GRAND DIvrsroS
q December 13-7.4l A. M
Gen. Burnside. Gen Meades division is to mai . the
from left but it is reported that the enemys
sition on the left JAMES A. HARDIE
"Brig. Gen Vols, Assist Inspect General"
The telegraph station connecting with Gen Burnsdes
headquarters about third of mile from my head
quarters that by eight o'clock OF that morning Gen
Burnside informed by his Assistant Inspector General
of the fact that had Gen. Meades division to make
the movement directed by HIM i submit, with entire
confidence that had Gen Burnside upon the receipt of
Gen Hardies first despatch discovered that had either
inexperienced his order was sending too small force
its execution he would Mt the moment have corrected
my misapprehension. So far from that, Gen. Burnside
did not communicate with in any manner from that
time until 25 P. M of that day, when he sent me
der in writing which it stated that my instructions
Of this morning far modified to require ad
upon the heights Immediately in my front Gen.
Hardie's despatch upon the receipt of this order
follows:
"HrADauARrIRs LEFT GRAND DIVISION,
December 1925 y. NJ
"Gen BURNSIDE Despatch received. Franklin will do his
best. New troops gone in Will report soon again.
JAS. A. HARDIE, Brig Gen Vols"
Later in the day, and after three o'clock, when every
regiment that could spare engaged in various parts
of the field. Gas will appear BY referring to Hardies
ports and Gen Burnsides testimony hereafter gven
with enemy that greatly outnumbered and when
all my energies directed to the wing from
being overpowered, and lis line of retreat cut off,
.iuad from, hp
of his staff that Gen Summers troops being hard
pressed with request to make diversion in his favor if
| could. To this also responded that would do my
best
For the details of what was done by me during the
day leave Gen. Hardis dispatches to speak for them
selves He at my side from shortly after sunrise until
He not only knew of every order aud movement
rnade by under my direction, but pcraeily
competent judge Of their wisdom and suicency In the
performance of act of justice he has placed
these dispatches at my disposal In addition to the forces
referred in these dispatches division from General
Wcoxs corps reported TO late 10 the afternoon and
put in the vicinity of the bridges too late however
TO aid in any of the operations the extreme left
All the dispatches of Gen Harde to Gen Burnside are
next given full in view of the contents of which Gen.
Franklin says: Il willing to abide by this testimony,
to determine whether lost the battle Of Fredericksburg
in consequence Of my dsobedence of order directing
me to attack with division at least and to keep well
supported"
bUhNsIDE 'ONflDENtE IN FHhNk IIN-OHDER NO. ..
Gen Franklin next aludes to what took place after the
failure Of the attack showing that Gen Burnside did not
then evnce any dsapprobston Of the formers conduct or
any lack Of confienc in him soldier On this point
Gen. Franklin says:
On the night following was with Gen Burnside at
bis headquarters, when he informed that he intended
to the attack from the right and 10 lead the Ninth
Corps in person At two interviews during that night
(Which lasted at east two hours be did not intimate to me
disappointment conduct of that Of officers
aud men during that day Again urged upon him that il
the attack to be renewed to il from the left
but with such force and preparations would command
An order however for attack from the right
gwen by him. On the following day had another in
tervew with Gen Burnside, at his request r which he
informed me that strong protests made against re-
newa Of the attack by g. neras Sumner aud Hooker and
he abandoned the plan OF another attack with
OF the greatest reluctance. with him for two or
three hours that occasion and during that
he did not express or intimate in his language depor
ment toward that he not entirely satisfied with
my conduct and that Of my officers and On the We'd
nesday or Thursday following bad another interview with
him, IN which far from expressing
with he stated very distinctly that alone of his gene
rals had held up hs hands, he expressed that he
had fully determined TO resign his command and 10 recon-
mend me as bis successor the commanding general Of
the Army OF the Potomac. From that time until was re-
eved from the command Of the left grand division although
frequently called into consultation by GEN Burpside he
never told me TO understand that had either
dsobey ed his orders i'm any way m
sponsibe for the disaster of the 18Th had in the least
lost bis confidence Indeed, had ho believed that had
dsobeyed his orders the l3h he could not have dis
charged his duty to the country without prerng charges
against me to that effect
1t during the period Of time last referred to that
the General Order No. g. which the coumittaa bara