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

he strength Of the enelnys position such that our
frees compelled e. retire
MTEarEaRNcE WITH GEN. DuRNsDE's PLANS.
On tho 26h day of January, 1853. the following resolu'
ton was adopted by the Senate and referred 70 jour
committee;
Resolved That the Compse on tho Condact of the War
be instructed qure whether Maj. Gen Burnside
has the battle Of Fredericksburg formed any plans io
the tho Army of the potomac, any portion OF
the same and 60 whether sub dnae general oil
said have written 70 or Wis ted washington TO pposs
whether prop have been arrested or In
tsrfered with, anu II a., by what authority
Under that resolution your committee proceeded u ake
the testimony Of Major Generals r. Burnside and John
G. Parke, and Brgadier Generals John Newton, John
Cochrane, and William w. Averil That testimony brings
to light the following facts
Shorty NJ or the bat e Of fredericksburg Gen. Burn
side devised plan for attacking the enemy in his trent
The main army to at place some ak or seven
miles below -rickrburg The positious Tor the arm
ery to protect the crossing were all seectedi the ROADS
Ill surveyed aud tho cordu oy was cut Tor preparing
the roads, At the time eint OF crossing was To- Oh
made dis ance above Fla mouth which eint could Do
turned ntp positive att ck should the IN my al cover
the movement below; otherwise the main attack was o.
DO made below.
In .onuex on with this movement Of the main army.
cavalry exued organized consisting twenty-five
hundred # he best cavalry IN the Amy IT he Poom1c
one thousand 4 whom w. rs picked meu Tho plan Of
that expcdl follow, Accompanied by brigade
Of nfantry detail to prot tn ossng al tho ha pa
H.
thoua pck to aud to proceed to the
pdan and that river at RaccOon Frd on to 20
onward aud the Virginia Central raj road Louisa
Courthouse; the James Tv-r ut Gooch AID o. Carriers,
BLOWN, up the locks Of thu James rSe canal 1t the place
Of crossings the Richmond and Lynchburg railroad
at point ruth Of there blowing up the iron bridge at the
place Of crssng the Richmond. Petersburg, aud
Weldon railroad where 1t or ssrd the Nottoway river de-
sroyng the railroad bridge there ard then proceed on b
Gen Pry0r's command aud efec junction with General
Peck ut Suffolk where steamers t. be in waiting to
ke ham In A0ui 20
the enemy and deceive thin IN regard to which D"dy OF
cavalry the attacking column the time the thousand
picked crssed tho Rappahaunock portion OF tine re-
maii fifteen hundred proceed ,o~nrds Warren.
ton another portion towards Culpeper Court house ana
The remainder were to accompany the thousand picked
far RaccOon Ford and then return While TINS
country expedition in progress the general movement
IT, be ma 70 the
On thu 26th Of December order issued for the
entire command prepare three vs. coked ratons ~
have their wagons filled with ten days small ratons,
pssbe 10 have from ten twelve days supply OF beet
cattle with Them to take forage for ther teams th'ir
artillery and cavalry horses and the requisite amount OF
ammunion-in fact, to be In q condition to move at
twelve hours notice.
Shor ly after that order issued Gen John Newton
and Gen. John Cochrane-the commanding division
and the other brgad. In the left grand division, under
Grn. William b. Franklin-came up to Washington on
leave Of absence Previous to obtaining leave OF absenc.
from Gen Franklin. they Informed him aud Gen. William r.
Smith that when they to WashDgon they should take
the opportunity to represent to in authority here
the dspred condition Of the army, and the danger there
was in attempting apy movement fganst the enemy at
that time.
When they reached Washington, Gen Cocsrane, a be
states endeavored to nd certain members OF Congress-
to whom to make the desired communication. Failing +"
find them, he dete rmned to seek interview with the
President for the purpose Of making the communication
directly to him On proceeding to the Presidents Huse,
he there met Secretary Seward TO whom be explained the
OBJ ct OF his being there and the general purport OF his
proposed commun cation to tie Peiet and requested
him procure interview for them, which Mr. Seward
promised to do, and which be did do.
Auv,t yfnak NJ.
opened the subj ct to the Preside At fret the Prrs-
dent Gen. Newton expresses it, very naturally
cesed that ht had come there for the purpose Ut nur
ing Gen. Burnside, and suggesting other person fill
his place" Gea Newton states that, while he firmly be-
l.vrd that the prucip of the dspred condition
of The he want Of confidence the military
pac ty OF Gen Burnside he dem j. improper say
to tn Pres dent fright qusre out" and therefore rndes
vorrd to convey the idea indirectly When asked if
he cnsidered n any e improper 10 d. snch thing nd
rrcty than 10 10 do it directly h qinif pre-
vous ss-rt by saying that bis o ct infrm the
Prs dent OF what be considered IL b, the coud, i'm #
army, 10 the hope that the Presi ent make inquiry
and learn the true for himself Upn percrivns
impr sion upon the mind Ut the President Genera New
aud CochraUe state that they hasend to assure be
President that he was rely mistaken and so fr
ceeded that at the close OF the he President said
to them he glad they had called upon him. and that
hoped that good would result from tho interview
To return to Gen. Burnside Tha cav,lry expedition
had tarted the brigade Of infantry deted to accompany
it bad crossed the Rappahanaock Richards Ford aud
returned by way Of Ess Ford, lesviog the way for
the cavalry to at Keys Ford. The day tn had
arranged 10 make the CRUISING Gen Burnside received
from the President the following telegram: have gd
for say ing that you not make general
ment without let ing me know Of It."
Gen. Burn de states h he 'uli not imagine, at thu
time what the President cold have ,eudiog
him Telegram Nome the officers 4 h, com md
except two of his staff who hid remained in camp
had be told any thing of his plan beyond the simple fact
that movement was be made He could only pose
that the despatch related way TO important ita
movements Ia other parts OF the country ia which IL
was nec-sssry tn have cooperation
Upon the receipt Of that telegram steps were imme-
datry takea to ha,I tn ry xpedton wh It then
Was Ia hrHys FOrd) til further orders. p0r ion OF
it wa sh ty aterward of to intercept Stuart WIN
had just made AID ~ Dumfri-s TIE ghborhood Of
| Farfa1 Court house. VIII ch 1t fatd 10 do
Gen Burnside rme t. Washington 10 acsrain from the
President the true state of the He informed by
the Precedent that General cers from The army
the Potomac whose be dec nd to give hal called
upon him aud represented that Gen Burnsd nten
soon making movement aud that the army disp
ted and demo,alzed that any tempt to make
ment nt that time must esult 10 dsastrr that pTom
nent ocers In the army Of the Potomac in favor Of
| any movement at that time.
Gen. Burns de informed the President that Of his
officers bad BEEN informed what hs pa aud then pro-
cerded to explain In tail to the President He urged
upon the President TO grant him permission to carry It
OUT but the Pr's lent declined to d. at that time.
Hall Ok and Secretary Stanton ere tent for aud then
learned, Tor the hst time of tn Presdns action stop
ping the movement; although Gen aeck was previously
aware that NOV meut mpla ed by Gen. Burn
| side Gen. Hnlleck with Gen Burns de, held hat thu
officers VII had made thos- representations to the Pr ST.
| dent should be ut once dismissed the service
Gen Burnside Rename here 1T that time for two days,
Il k..t. a>I..nw -