Year: 1862

HEADQUARTERS ARMY OF PoToMACl


Falmouth Dec 49,


Major General H. w. Haueck, General in Chef
United States Army, Washington: General-I
have the honor TO offer the following reasons for
moving the army Of the Potomac across the Rap
pahannock sooner than was anticipated by the
president and secretary of war and yourself, and
for crossing at u point different from the one
Indicated TO you at our last meeting at the presi-
dents, During my preparations for crossing at
the place | had first selected l had discovered
that the enemy had thrown large portion of
his force down the river, and thus also weaken
ing his defenceS in front, and also | thought
discovered that he lid not anticipate the crossing
of our whole force at fredericksburg, and
hoped by rapidly throwing the whole command
over at that place, to separate by vigorous at
tack the forces Of the enemy on the river be-
low, from the forces behind and ON the crest in
the rear of the town, in which case we could
fight him with great advantage in our favor To
do this We had to gain height on the extreme
right of the crest, which height commanded
new road lately made by the enemy for purposes
of more rapid communication along his lines
which point gained, his positions along the crest
would have been scarcely tenable, and he could
have been driven from them easily by an attack
in front in connection with movement in the
rear of the crest.


How near we came to accomplishing our OBJ
ject future reports will show But for the fog and
the unexpected and unavoidable delay in build
ing the bridges, which gave the enemy twenty
four hours more to concentrate his forces in his
strong positions, we would almost certainly have
succeeded, in which case the battle would have
been, i'll my opinion, far more decisive than if
we had crossed at the places first selected AS it
was, we came very near success. Failing in ac-
compilshng the main object we remained in or
der Of battle Two days, long enough to decide
that the enemy would not come out of bis strong
holds 10 fight us with his infantry; after which
we recrossed TO this side of the river unmOlesed
without the loss OF men or property. AS the day
broke, our long lines of tr ops were seen march,
ing to tier different positions, as if going ON pa
rade.


Not the least decentralization or DISCRIMINATION
existed. To the brave officers and soldiers who
accomplished the feat of the recrossing of the
river in the face of the enemy owe everything.
For the failure i'll the attack | am responsible as
the extreme ga'lantry, courage and endurance
shown 10y them, was never exceeded, and would
have carried the points had il been possible To
the families and friends of the dead, | can offer
my heartfelt Sympathies, but for the wounded, |
can offer my earnest prayers for their comtora-
BILE and final recovery. The fact that decided
10 move from Warrenton on this line, was rather
against tho opinion of the president and secreta-
ry OF war and yourself; and you left the whole
movement in my hands, without giving me or
ders, making me responsible. | will give more
definite information aud finally will send you
my detailed report, in which a special aCknowl.
edgemeut will be made Of the services of the
different grand divisions, corps, and of my gen
erals, and staff department of the army of the
fotomac to whom am 50 much indebted for
their support and hearty cooperation.


viii add here that the movement was made
earlier than you expected, and after the pres
dent, secretary, and yourself, had requested me
not to be in haste, for the reason that we were
supplied much sooner by the different staff de-
partments than was anticipated when last saw
you Our killed amounts to eleven hundred and
htty-two, our wounded to about nine thousand,
and our prisoners to about seven hundred, which
last have been paroled and exchanged fol about
the same number taken by us. The wounded
were all removed to this side of the river, and
are being well cared for, and the dead were all
buried under flag of truce. The surgeons re-
port much larger proportion OF slight wounds
than usual, sixteen hundred and thirty.two only
being treated in hospitals. am glad to repre-
sent the army at The present time in good condi-
tion. Thanking the government for that entire
support and confidence which have always re
celyed from them, remain, General


Your very respectful and Obedent servant,


A. Z. burnside, Major General


Commanding the Army of the Potomac.