Posted on 12/18/2022 5:43:50 AM PST by Homer_J_Simpson
HEADQUARTERS ARMY OF THE POTOMAC,
Dec. 16 -- 6 P.M.
Maj.-Gen. Halleck, Commander-in-Chief:
The Army of the Potomac was withdrawn to this side of the Rappahannock River, because I felt fully convinced that the position in front could not be carried, and it was a military necessity either to attack the enemy or retire. A repulse would have been disastrous to as under existing circumstances.
The army was withdrawn at night without the knowledge of the enemy, and without loss, either of property or men. AMBROSE E. BURNSIDE,
Major-General Commanding.
GEN. BURNSIDE'S SUNDAY DISPATCH.
The following is a copy of a dispatch from Gen. BURNSIDE to the President, sent and received on Sunday morning last, concerning the precise import and phraseology of which there has been some disputation in the newspapers:
HEADQUARTERS ARMY POTOMAC
Four o'clock A.M., 14th December.
THE PRESIDENT: I have just returned from the field. Our troops are all over the river, and hold the first ridge outside the town and three miles below. We hope to carry the crest to-day. Our loss is heavy--say five thousand. A.E. BURNSIDE,
Major-General Commanding.
LATEST REPORTS FROM HEADQUARTERS.
HEADQUARTERS OF THE ARMY OF THE POTOMAC, FALMOUTH, Wednesday, Dec. 17.
Yesterday morning when daylight appeared the enemy seemed to be, as they no doubt were, perfectly astonished that our army had succeeded in returning to this side of the Rappahannock River.
We returned without losing a single man or a gun in the retrograde movement.
A few soldiers, who had straggled off, made their appearance on the river bank, after the pontoon bridges had been removed, but they were subsequently brought over safely in small boats.
A few privates, who were guarding a house in habited by a private family, were not during the night aware
(Excerpt) Read more at nytimes.com ...
First session: November 21, 2015. Last date to add: May 2025.
Reading: Self-assigned. Recommendations made and welcomed.
Posting history, in reverse order
https://www.freerepublic.com/tag/by:homerjsimpson/index?tab=articles
To add this class to or drop it from your schedule notify Admissions and Records (Attn: Homer_J_Simpson) by reply or freepmail.
Link to previous New York Times thread
https://freerepublic.com/focus/f-chat/4117037/posts
From the Army of the Potomac: Gen. Burnside’s Reasons for Recrossing the Rappahannock – 2-7
The War in Mississippi: Details of the Expedition Under Gen. Hovey – 7-8
News from Washington: Our Special Washington Dispatches – 8-9
Editorial: The Existence of a State – How it is Known – 9
Editorial: Plans of the Campaign – 9-10
Improper Work for Congress – 10
Media and govt misinformation was the same the. As now. Fredericksburg was not a Union defeat just simply a repositioning of troops. Guess Gettysburg was not a defeat for the South they just went home to rest and because they were homesick.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.