New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1863-12-12
THE WAR IN 1863.
The Official Report Of the
Commanler.in- Chief.
HIGHLY IMPORTANT REVIEW.
GysN. HAEEECIx's REPORT.
HEADQUARTERS OF THE Army.
w D. ~. 90.


my last annual report
DfI AhTmLNr OF WEST VIRGINIA AND ARMY OF TIE
POTOMAC.
When Gen. Burnside relieved Gen. Mcclellan from
LIS and, the It'll of November OF last year the
Arns Of the Potomac the south side Of the Po
,onac, under instructions TO pursue Gen. lee by a
flank march The interior Ere TO Richmond. hrGging
elosey 81 the Blue Ridge observe its passes,
and 10 give battle to the enemy whenever an oppor-
trnty occurred. On reaching Warcnton, however,
Gen Burnside proposed to give up this pursuit OF Lees
army toward Richmond and 10 move down the north
sjde Of the Rappahannoek 20 Falmouth, and establish
new base Of supplies at Acquia Greek or FBoile Pam
This proposed change Of base not apr royed by
nc, and in personal interview at WarTenton. /
strongly urged him 10 retain his present base and
time his march toward Richmond in the manner pointed
cut the Presidents letter Of October IL to Gen.
Mcclellan. Gen. Burnside did not fully concur in The
Presidents views but finally consented to 30 modify
has pan 10 his army by the iords Of the Upper
Rsppahaunock and then down and seize the birls
south Of Fredericksburg while small force was 70 ho
cent north Of the river to enable Gen. Haup to reopen
the ralsrcad and TO rebuild the bridges the materials
Scr which were nearly ready in Alexandria. L. how
refused give any OFFICIAL approval Of tits dc' ia
ton from the Presidents instructions until his assent
was obtained.
On my return TO Washington. The 18th, sub
Htted 70 this proposed change in the plan Of can
paigD and its receiving HE assent. rather than ep
provo autographed on the l4th authority TO Gen.
Burnside TO adopt it. here refer not TO Gen. Barn
sdes written plan 10 go to Falmouth but TO that Of
crossing the RsppahGanock above s junction with the
Ka.dan. 1t has been inferred from the testimony Of
Gen Burnside before the Congressional Committee on
the Conduct Of the War that his plain of marching bis
whole army the north Of the Rappahannook, from
warrenton 10 Falmouth. hal been approved by the
thorties In Washington and that lie expected on bis
arrival there to find supplies and ponloons with gun
boats his crossing. In the first place. that
plan approved was he ever authorized 20
adopt il, In the second place he could not possibly
have expected supplies and pcnoons 10 be landed st
points then occupied in force by the enemy. Again he
was repeatedly informed that gunboats could not at
that time ascend the EappahGnnock Fred erckshure
Gen. Burnside did not commence bis movement from
Warrenoa until the 18TH and then instead OF crossing
the Rappahannock by the fords, he VAS expected TO
do he marched his whole frHy down on TIE north Dslk
Of that river his adv 3ehng Falmouth on the 18th
Lees army in the mean time moved down the south
aide II the river but had not occupied fredreksbnig
op the DIST The river was - this time ioTdabie lew
miles above the town. and Gen sumner asked peiuls'
10 and occupy the highs; oct Was Ieilssd
and no attempt made t. effect the passage until tic
nth Of December by which time lees army bad heea
concentrated and strongly intTenci"d 1nie passage,
boyever was effected without serious opposition by the
right wing and center. under sumner and Hooker m
Frdncksburg. and the lefi wing. under frankAn' GA
bridges established some miles below.
II intended that Franshns grand di'iNion' con-
st.ng OF The corps Of Reynolds and smith should al
tael the enenys rigt and turn he position on tie
nights in the Of fredericksburg vhle sumner ana
Hooker attacked Lin in 'front.' but - some Hisnndef
standing OF orders Franklins operations "fIe Lniieu
70 mere reconnaissance, and The direct attacks Of ,n-
per and Hooker unsupported. The contest On the
night wing during The 18th was continued tn .; ococH
m m when our men forced ~ faL h0ck, after fui
hlc fofl ~ ~ 4
ton i'll the night o. the 18TH when Gen. Burnside with
49,, 80 frc's 70 the north side of the HappalulOc.
GEN Burnside has been frequently REQ aested 10 make
an official report OF these operations but hos frfiH'
no information beyond that contened in liz brief tee
grams sent from the field in OF which be uses Tie
following language The fact that dee ded o. laoNc
from Warrenon this line. rather against the opinion
Of the President. the Secretary Of "r and !opr IN
and that you have left the whole movement IN my hands
without giving orders, mai e. ne tie more TO-
The loss of the Pcbels IN Ills battle IL not known ns
thew were sheltered BY tLeir Publications Il wss
probaby less than ours, which, as officially reported.
Was J. lss killed, slCJ wounded an I'VE missing.
Mot OF the missing and many Of the shrhy wounded
soon reioined their regiments and reported ir dut
7, Vas alleged at the time that the loss 81 his battle
resulted from the neglect 70 order forward me ponloon
train from Washir RtOn- ids ofder Eas u-hsunlted
from Warrenton 10 Brsader-Gcnela a. WOODBURY., then
in Washington, on the 12th Of November, aud ives
r-orrrtly acted on by him. General Lgnsde bad ftp
iosed that tie JoDtoon train wss then IN Washington
or Alexandria while 1t still on ne Potomac NJ
Berlin AID at UsrpeI's Perry. Gen. fnrns!des ORDER
In /
,lcials len in charge there. Cen burnside had only
allowed time for transportation o. ns pontochs non
Alexandria, whereas they had h,sl - DC poiisa 10
tirIy unavoidable and investigation of The matter
by Gen Burnside Gen. woodbury. was cxoleraied r9-l
OF blame. -, -.
nand on Tie 25h ~ anuary bat advance movement
Was stte pied until near the end Of Air whom large
cavalry force under Gen. Soneiqan Was kent across
the Upper Rappahsnnock toward Richmond TO deaiICy
The eneioys communications, willie Cen Hooker, WITH
b, main army crossed tie koppahanpock and the
Espidan above their junction, and took position ut
Charlottesville. At the same tine, Gen. ScdgWieA
crossed near Fredericksburg and carried the nights
severe battle took place on iae "a and 81 oi May
ana on d tss ~ 1T army ns OF sa data
unable 10 give any detailed account OF these oltl1tong
II Of our losses II IN also proper 10 remark III ths
place that from the time he placed in tie command
X the Army Of the Potomac till he reached Fairfax
Station the 10th Of June. few days before ne "3s
released from the command Gen. iooaer reported III
.ectly the President and received instructions dITcct
from him. received official information Of his
,lans Of tbeir execution.
In tie early part Of June Lees ermy moved up the
,outh bank Of the RsppsbannOek occupied The gaps OF
he Blus Ridge. and threatened the Neey Of the shen
,ndoah. Gen Hooker followed on an interior line by
Werrenten Junction ThOroughfare Gap, and Leesburg;
ot The operations Of both armies were 20 masked b.
Ne Intervening mountains that neither could obtain
ysye Information Of the force aud movements OF the
ssl,r Winchester and Martinsburg were at ms time
oecied by us simply outposts. Neither place was
susceptible Of q good defense. Directions were there
fore ky On the 18th Of Jgne 10 withdraw those gar
rsonsoyarpers Feyi but these oaeei, %el1 not
IL smaggt and part Of the garrison captured.
Lee povyroescd the Potomac near NJhamhp0it. and
s sgssd march upon harrsDurs Gs mo1 aed
fsnnor On reaching Frederick. haryiahd on iho
Ih u Jie he was. at his own request relieved from
TIE eonad. and MsjorGen. Meade appointed IN BIZ
During The movements cayslry skirmsbes took
psee q beysy FORD Brady Station, BeIry,n,e ana