The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1863-01-29
ARMY NEWS.
Letter from the Rappahannock.

Our correspondent, whose letter is printed
below, has already given the reason for de-
lay In crossing the Rappahannock, which first
divested the movement of that element of sue
cess which belongs to surprise, and finally
resulted in sheer failure through the impossi-
bility OF pushing forward over Virginia roads
during prolonged rainstorm. When the or
der to march was first given, the roads were
dry and hard. That order was countermand-
ed from Washington, through the influence, it
is alleged, of generals in the army then COM
generals are not yet known.
On Monday, the 10th, after weeks wait
ing, the arrangements for crossing the river
were again complete. Franklin, commanding
the center, was to cross at Banks's ford; Hoo
ker, with the right grand division, was to cross
a mile above; Sumner, with the left, at point
below Franklin and about two miles above
Falmouth.
Hooker and Franklin moved on Tuesday,
and detachment Of engineers began to cut
road through dense pine forest to the cross
ing selected for Sumner. Franklin reached
point on the Warrenton road opposite Banks's
ford, and about two miles from the river. The
roads were good, and Hooker also reached his
destination. There were no signs of vigor-
Gus opposition by the enemy.
Sumner was to move at o'clock Wednes-
day morning; but at 8 o'clock Tuesday even
ing the weather grew warmer, the wind blew
gale, rain began to fall heavily, and as the
storm increased in violence till midnight, or
ders were issued to his division to be ready to
march at a moments notice, bat not to break
camp for the time being. That division new
er stirred. The storm lasted till Friday.
On Wednesday, the 2lst, Hooker was order
ed back to Banks's ford. 1t was impossible to
bring up the trains in season to cross above
At two o'clock they were all stuck fast in the
mud, and men were detailed with drag ropes
TO help the famshed mules and horses. Ne-
ther pontoons nor artillery could get forward
in season to be of any service that night.
On Thursday the further advance Of troops
and trains not then up was countermanded,
and the marching orders of Summers grand
division were indefinitely postponed. The cav
airy and light artillery began to return to their
old camps.
After three days and nights of exposure the
troops marched back to their former quarters
through mud kneedeep, on Friday, the 23d.
On the Fredericksburg side of the Rappahan-
mock, near the railroad bridge, the rebel pick
cts stuck up large board, on which was writ
ten with charcoal letters a foot long-"Burn-
side stuck in the mud" Gen. Burnside went
to Washington. The following letter, it will
be seen, was written on Thursday:
HowARD's DIVISION, % Corps, ARMY)
OF THE PoToMAC, Near Falmouth,
Va, January p, 1868.
To the Editors of the Press
The long expected moment commenced on
Tuesday the 20th inst. Franklin's and Hook
er's grand divisions marched up the river,
arriving at the point selected for crossing soon
after dark. They were to cross in two places,
where pontoon bridges were to be thrown a.
cross, about a mile apart-Hooker above. IL
is in the vicinity of Banks's ford.where the riv-
er bends in the form OF a horseshoe, we hav-
ing the inside, almost peninsula, to operate
from.
Very unfortunately for the success of the
plan, it began to rain the evening of the Goth,
and the storm, which became quite furious,
is not yet over.
The pontoon trains got on the wrong road,
were delayed also by other causes, espe-
cially by the storm and the bad roads result
ing therefrom, aud at daylight yesterday
morning, when all was ready for crossing 1.-THE
bridges down and the artillery In position to
cover the movemeat) the head of the leading
train had not yet come up and the other end
was OF course far back. The artillery was most
ly up and in position. The troops had a tedi-
Gus night OF 1t, but were ready and expecting
to cross. Gen. Burnsde's order to encourage
and incite to strenuous, patriotic endeavor
was read to them when they halted that day,
on the march. They received it with enthI-
siastic cheers.
All day yesterday was spent in gathering
up those trains, and 1t was anticipated that the
bridges would be put across last night, and
the movement go on this morning.
A messenger comes back, however with
the word that nothing has been done. II
rained hard last night, but though misty the
storm is not violent this morning.
All hope of surprising the army must b,
abandoned; and If they choose to meet u
there, dispute the crossing, or hurl their en-
tire mass upon US, once over, all we can hop,
is that we outnumber them and can carry ev
erything before us by main strength.
1t seems to be the intention to have th
grand division cross in this vicinity. if /
crosses at all. Perhaps it is to make a fein
about mile above Falmouth where artiller,