Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1863-04-09


b. WADE, Chairman.
"Major General GRO MeCIELLAs,
General Commanding Army United States
While fully appreciatuR the dignity and power with
which they clothed by the action OF both
Houses OF Congress, they deemed bat just TO award "a
his position the consideration Of asking him to confer Wit
them in relation the beat method OF fulfilling those ex
pec,tions which he prople had right a. hope for from
Admins which they had through their keprese
tases, conferred such plenaty powers reference 70
ih1 Journal oil committee wall show that III hean
prevented Gen Mcclellan from immediately c"mi y ing
with this Invitation The urcess lea OF the case, 'wever
were pressing and urgent that your committee con
uded to proceed al once to the taking oil testimony
Here follows the committees view Of the operations Of
the Army of the Potomac and of Grn McClellans cam-
pagns, to which wa have before alluded
THE BATTLE OF FREDERICKSBURG.
On the l6h Of November Grn Blu inside started the
co uuns ,f his a. IN ir Warrenton 10 Fredencksburg,
not hay ~ heo I'd any thing f delay of the pontoons
rouI Washi gton. TIL telegram announcing tho delay
did IL re ch @ n. Barn id until IN IS OF November
Th- cop. OF Gen Sum was IN The ne, ma " !" :
ten la, thai rhould over 10 edrllck burg
aud ke pr srson Of the place. But the on-ar Iva" -
the p' time pr vented the movement which ad
bee" contemplated aud necels atrd the adoption - oher
measures
ecu Burnside then gan to make preparations for an
other movement bringing up the pontoons as rapidly as
possible, to enable his forces TO cross The river.
The plan determined upon to cross the river al TWO
points, the wing to cross opposite Frederick burg,
and the left wing from three to tour miles below
The city Tue left wing c'mP"sed OF tue irt grand
divi un, wi corps from tho cnre grand division,
me king force Of ire m So 900 $4,000 the whole
being under commar OF II Gsn. Franklin The cross
iug was mnde successfully both points, but with much
opposition FROM sharpshooters GU t1e rigot.
g. Bunde states the following IN regard to bis plan
Of attack;
1.-The enemy had cut a road along in the of the
line of hei hts where we made attack, by means of
which they connected the two wings OF their ar a"G
avoided a loig deour around through a bad county
obtained from coursd man. from the other dc OF inc
town information in regard TO this road which proved
be wanted to obtain possession OF that n-w
rood that reason T max az an attack on tne
extreme left did not ntnd 10 make the atnck on the
rio BIT until that post had been taken which supposed
would ssgger tbs enemy cutting their line in two and
u proposed TO make direct attack on Their front and
drive them out of their works"
The following is the order to Gen Franklin, who com
manded the left:
"HEApoUARTERs ARMY OF THE Potomac.
a December l3, 5. IS A. NJ.
General Harde will AIRY this despatch to you and re-.
directs that you keep your whole command in oson for
rap down the old Richmond road and you will
send DIVISION least 10 pass below Smithhed
t. seize if pos ble the heights Captain Hami tons
this side of the Masaponax taking care T. keep well
column Of division or be oved from Gen Summers
command the plank road It's OF the tie
be S @ both Il hose roads Hold these heights with
heights plain HAmihous will hope, compel the
enemy evacuae he whole ridge bstwe.n these points he
m these by columns distant from each other, with
view of avoiding the POSSIBLE of collision OF our own
which might ur in general movement curing the
fog Two of Gene locker divisions are IN your re at
bridges and will remain there supports Co les OF in,
stucios Generals sumner ami Hooker will be forwarded
you by ord-ry very soon will keep your hole
command In readiness The lifts
The wstchwod which possible should be given to every
We the honor be- General very respectfully your
obedient servant, JONI @ PARKE,
" Chief Of stat.
major General FRAsKLIs,
'Commaad'ng DIP 4rtment, GRIND DirisiOn Army \
Potomac"
General Franklin ates, when LIST examined thst he
ceved the above order at about 80 M AMI that h1 at
once took carry out Mat he considered To be-
the ng of the order that Is armed observation
t. ascertain where the enemy vas In his testimony gwen
wh-n your Committee at Falmouth, he says: put
in all The troops that thought it proper and prudent TO
put in fought the whole strength of my command as
far could aud at the same tine keep my connection
With the river OPEN.
From the testimony it would appear thit the attack
in reality ,de by of he smallest divisions ia Gen
Frabkln's command-the division If Gen. Meade, NUN
bering about 500 men. Tbs division supported
lis right by Gen Gibbons division of about 5000
On the left GtD Doubedays division, flrming the
TX RENE left OF line, nearly at right angles with Gen
Mead-s division and extending to the river. just
Gen Meades division ad, anced the attack Gen Br
neys division, Ut Gen Stonemans corps, numbering 40 u
1000. up and took position immediately in rear Of
Gen. Meade.
The division Of Cen Meade succeeded ia piercing the
fret line of The enemy, and gaining the crest # the bill
Gen Gbbon seeing Grn Maad- advancing to the attack
ordered his division forward After his last brigade had
advanced driving tho enemy with The bayonet, aud be
preparing his batteries 10 upon rebel regiment tina
/ made their appearance his left Gen Gibbon wa
uud and taken fr, IN he Id Gen. Meades division
wing reached the crest OF the HILL formed thrm elves
he presence II the reserves of the enemy, Vhnup-net
hre hem in 'front.' aud they also received FIRE upor
| b II flank The sUp-r ory of the emmy was so over
| wn-lung that Ma, es vision forced back, WA
Gibbons div The emmy pursued un II corckc'
ny Is rneJ's dvt-un. Our rc.s nned to held ihri
pst,n, without renewing the attack, un II they wer
| urd, red IT, withdraw rcr g. The river.
The loss d in the attack, Ia killed, wounded,
missing were follows: Mehds's division, l,760; Glib
| bons division, l,2a9; BuDeys drv,ion, SOL
Gen Burnside, upon hearing Of tue small force ordere
| to attack the enemy sent order TO Cen Franklin
make vigor,u. tack with his whole force. Several
the witnesses testify that bad the attack been renrwe
with all the available under Gen. Frankn's com
m,rd it would have been sslul Gen. Franklin es
fes that not order but request, and that whe
b. received 10 IL too late 10 the attack,
| therefore be dill not do IL.
| Gen Frank lin test fees IS follows
The order under which actrg directed that th
line OF en- uld be kept open II ako directed TIA
chou bold my troops ia ~ su"n Tor rap march dow
the Richmond road / never dresus cd that this
siderd as stroc z attack unul the ,ts
tack, but supposed it armed observation 10
tain VIII r. the emmy wa. ..... was stieDg hrDe
10 this opinion by the staff Officer who brought it 9TH
| order
| Question Did you not understand from this order
that were 10 AL the troops necessary to seize an
hold the heights near Cap ain Hamiltons and that ID
Grners commanding lsdered that that was
1 TO be done ia order " secure SUGGEST
/ Answer. No; did MT should suppose that th
order would not have limited me IT, at least division,