Year: 1862


T. FALMOUTH. Dec. le.


To H. W. HALIsck, Commander-in-C Chief
Washington. Te
GEHERAL: have the honor to offer the fol
lowing reasons for moving the Army of the Po'
tomac across the Rappahannock sooner than Wal
anticipated by the President, Secretary Of War
or yourself, and for crossing at point different
from the ono indicated to you at our last meet
ing at the Presidents. During my proportions
for crossing at the place had at first selected,
discovered that the enemy had thrown large
portion OF his force down the river elsewhere
thus weakening his defenses in front, and also
discovered that he did not anticipate the cross
ing of our whole force at Fredericksburg, and
l 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 below
from the forces behind and on the crest in the
rear of the town, in which case We could fight
him with great avantage in our favor.


20 To do this We had to gain hight on the e1-
treme right Of the crest, which hight command
ed the new road lately made by the enemy, fol
the purpose of . more rapid communication along
his lines which point gained, bis positions along
the right crest wouldhave been scarcely tensble,
and he could have been driven from them easily
BY an attack on his front, in connection with q
movement in the rear Of the crest. How near
We came to accomplishing our object, future re-
ports will show. But for the failure and unex-
pected and unavoidable delay In building the
bridges, which gave the enemy 2b hours more to
concentrate bis forces in bis strong position, We
would almost certainly have succeeded; in which
case the battle would have been, in my opinion,
for more decisive than II we had crossed at the
places first selected. As it was, we came very
near succesa


Failing in accomplishing the main object. We
remained in order Of battle two days, long
enough to decide that the enemy would not
come out of his stronghold to fight US With bis
infantry, after which We crossed to this side oi
the river unmolested, without the loss of men OF
property. As the day broke, our long lines Of
troops were seen marching to their different po'
sitions as if going on parade. Not the least
decentralization or disorganization existed.
To the brave officers and soldiers who accom-
plished the feat Of recrossing the river in the
face Of the enemy, owe everything; for the
failure in the attack alone am responsible, az
the extreme gallantry, courage and endurance
shown by them was never exceeded, and would
To the families and friends of the dead, car
only offer my heartfelt sympathies; but for the
wounded can offer my earnest prayers for their
comfortable and final recovery.
The fact that decided to move from War
renton on to this line rather against the opinion
of the President, Secretary Of War, and your
self, and that left the whole movement in my
hands, without giving me orders, makes me re-
sponsible. will visit you very soon, and givt
you more definite information, and will finally
send you my detailed report, in which . specis
acknowledgment will be made of the services o
the different Grand Divisions, division corps
and my general and staff departments of th'
Army of the Potomac, to whom / am so mucl
indebted for their support and hearty co-opers
ton


| will add here that the movement was mad
earlier than you expected, and after the Presi-
dent, Secretary and yourself requested me no
to be in haste, for the reason that we were sup
piled much sooner by the different staff Depart
ments than was anticipated when saw you.
| Our killed amounts to ,l52; our wounded
about 5000; our prisoners, about 700, which
last have been paroled and exchanged for abou
the same number taken by US. The wounded
were all removed to this side of the river and are
being we'll cared for. The dead were all buriet
under flag of truce. Surgeons report a mucl
larger proportion of slight wounds than usual
1882 only being treated in hospitals


am glad to represent that the army at tn
present time is in good condition.


Thanking the Government for that entir
support and confdsnce which have always re
ceived from them,


remain, General, your very ob't servant,


A. G. BURNSIDE,
Major Cen Comic