New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1866-03-07

cross large bodies OF troops at that place III was uF
ward nscertaned that they could not have crossed
On nv arrival at Falmouth the lUh, dispatched
to Gen Hallecks Chief Of staff report which eI'
planned the movements of troops up to mat date ana
who stated the fact of the nOnarrva OF the pontoon
trains These pontoon trains and supplies which were
expected 10 meet us arrival at falinonth coud
have been readily moved overland IN tlue loi our puI'
poses perfect safety they would all the line nave
been between our army and the Potomac River, ana
| had they started from Washington at the promised
time they would have certainly reached stafford Sourl
House soon the advance Of Cen lranEln uihhu
Division and lOm that point they could have been Tor
varded by his teams TO Falmouth, II the teams from
Washington had needed rest -
On the odd not hearing from these trains, sent a
reDort 10 zen Halleck. IL appeared aerward that no
supplies had been started or,rard suggested In my
plan of operations aud the pOntOon train ud not eaNe
Washington until the afternoon Of the l9n two DAYS
after the arrival Of the advance OF the army Mt raj
mouth and fire DAYS after the arrival Of the pontoons
in Washington from the Upper Potomac.
From the report OF Col Spaulding, who had charge
f tho nontcons and from other sources Of information
learned that the order Of the 9th OF November from
CAPT Duane Of the staff Of Gen. Mcclellan, TO move
from Berlin 10 Washington with his train. not
ceiyed by Col Spauding until the 10Th inst that he
then az once gave the necessary directions for carrying
ont the order after which he proceeded 20 Washing
ton. arriving there AZ 0 on the 18TH and report
cd TO Gen Woodbury. az his residence IN the city the
night. and was requested to call nc the General
Office the next morning, the l4h. Col SpgudinG called
upon Cen Woodbury. at the hour appointed on the morn
Ing OF the litl and requested by the General 10
wait until be called upon Gen Ialleck In about one
hour Gen Woodbury. returned and directed Col Spau-
ding 10 put his pontOon material IN depot at the brigade
shops on the Anacost River, near Washington fast
II arrived from Berlin and go INFO camp there with
lis Tho Colonel considered this conntermand-
nc his order 90 make up the overland pontoon tram
and knowing that Gen. Mcclellan had been relieved
after the order had been issued inferred that the plan
for the campaign had been changed with the change OF
commanders; and thai the land train was not yet re-
CURED.
He visited Gen. woodburys Office again the morn.
ING OF the l5th' dd not fnd Lm m bat was informed
that he had gone to Cen Hallccb but while wait
iBG FOR bis return was told that dispatch had been
received from Leut. COmst0ck. my Chief Engineer
wishing 10 know If he col Spauldlug) with his pom
toon train had been heard from. After some time
Gen. Woodbury. came in and in the conrse of CONVEX
sation rptG'ed he order 10 put the poHioon trans "
depot fast they arrived. IL should be Iemen'
bered that this was on the 18th. one pon'oOn tram.
which would have been sufficient for our purposes
having arrived in Washington on The evening oil TIE
ih The second train arrived the day after the inter
view. Later this day Ole lJ.h) or the day aiicr
Gen Woodbury. directed Col Spaulding 10 make up
two trains RATS 20 by water and 10 organize tie
necessary transportation for 40 pontoons by land
Due diligence was no doubt made by Col. Spaulding
in prosecuting his WORK. but he was not Impressed with
the importance OF speed; neither Was he empowered
with special authority thai would hasten the Issuing
OF the necessary transportation.
The pont oons which started for Belle Plain raft
arrived there on the 18th but no Wagons Tor their
transportation from that place were sent WITH them,
nor was any intimation given TO C. Sp.r.dng that
any would be needed; neither. 10 lG kioWledlH iad
any information of that kind bCcl given TO Htr
Woodbury.. Had ills information al en- given 10 'ol
Spauding, the necessary wagons CtIld have i0cr
placed on the RATS and Aoaied 20 Il 'lc PLAIN, l;o
which point the pontoODs could have been hauled %
Falmouth by teams from the army, before the cLeiny
had Accumulated sufficient force 70 resist re crossing
ibis not, however TIE method 10y which II was er
eced the pontoons would arrive IN time 10 cross the
river before The enemy could concentrate 10 prevent H.
ANcr arranging ilf ihesc tT0r6 10 go by water, Col
Spaulding proceeded % 20 make MP the overland
train but was no' allcd 10 start with II unit! the
afternoon Of the yth. Ga Gus dag i commenced rain
Ing, ~ Consequence 81 Wneh he roads became very
bad Great exCitiors were made by Col 10 push his
train forward but before his arrival Of the Occoquan
he decided raft his boats when he reached that river
and have them flowed 20 Belle Plain for which purpose
he sent officer bacl for steamer 10 meet him AZ the
mouth OF the river. The animals were sent overland
He arrived az Belle Plain with his pont0ons on the 2tb
and by tie night Of the 2j'h he was eIcGmred near
general headquarters.
Bv this time tie enemy had concentrated large
force on the opposite sdc Of the river so that became
necessary 10 make cIrangeuen;s % cross IN the iace OF
a yirlont and formidable force. These arrangements
were not completed until about the 10th OF December
In the meantime the troops were stationed with view
TO accommodating suppiea and getting IN reAdinsss Tor
the movement.
I omitted TO say that on the 10Th inst. received
through Col. Richmond. my Assistant AdJuignt-Gcn
cral a communication from Gen. Hooker. suggesting
the crossing OF force ~ the fords above Falmouth
This letter appears IN Rs Gen HO0ker'l report.
determined 90 make preparations 10 cross TIE rirer
at Smokers Neck abnut u miles below fredericks
bur and IL tie movements az the enemy favored the
crossing AZ That point 20 avail myself Of sucn prepafn
lions: otherwise 90 adopt such course az his move
Inents rendered necessary.
The ground Of this movement was favorable ioi
crossing but preparations attracted the attention
Of the enemy nfer which he made formidable arrange
ueuts 10 meet u ai tins place.
The necess ~ orders BON written ana yerbhl, had
been given for the troops 20 be IN readiness IN move
with the requisite amount 81 ammunition and supplies
Before issuing final orders couendcd that Tie enemy
would be more surprised by crossing a ar near red
ercksburg. where were mixing no preparations
than by a crossing at "Sniclers Neck aud deter
mined 20 make the attempt al the former place.
IL was decided 20 iEIOw four or i've pOnioon bridges
scross the river Two at point near the - Lacey
House opposite tie upper part 81 the town; one ieAf
the steam boat landing the lower part Of the town.
and one about mile below and II there were PORTIONS
sufficient, two at the latter point.
Final orders were DOW given 70 the commanders OF
the three grand divisions 10 concentrate Their troops
near the places for the proposed bridges; 10 the Chief
Engineer 10 make arrangements 20 throw the bridges
10 the Chief Quirermaster 10 have the trans OF TIE
army in such positions rs not 10 impede the move
ments Of the troops. and 40 the same time to be IA
readiness IN case Of success, To follow iher sepaIa"
commands ith supplies Of subsistence stores forage
and ammunition; 10 the Cliei OF Artillery 20 posi- lls
batteries 80 as 30 the working parties while they
we're constructing the bridges, and TIE army WINE
crossing q,
In speaking Of the movements Of the troops shall
as nearly possible cOnfine myself 10 the movements
Of the grand division and must refer to the reports
Of the Commanders for more detailed statements.
The night grand division Gen. Summer was directed
Ia concentrate near the upper and middle bridges; the
lef Grand division Gen. ETankin) near the bridges
below the town; the center grand division Gen.
UooEe,) near 10 and in iegr Of Gen Sumuer.
These arranccmcnlg were made with view tothroW'
ing the bridges on the morning Of the nth OF Dccem
bor The enemy held possession OF the City OF ffde
rcksburc and The crest or ridge running from point
on the river lust above Falmouth 10 the MnsssponnI,
some four miles below. This ridge was Ia rear 81 the
CITY foi ming an angle win the Rsppahannoct. Be
tween the ridge and the there In plain, narrow
Of the point wheie Ffede cksburg stands but widening
out as II approaches the MGssnponaS. On The north
side OF the Ivcr the high bluffs gave us good opporu
mites for placing the batteries which were TO command