THE ARMY OF THE POTOMAC: An Address to the Army by President Lincoln; The Inquiry Into the Fredericksburgh Disaster (12/24/1862)

New York Times - Times Machine ^ | 12/24/1862

[Homer_J_Simpson]

EXECUTIVE MANSION, WASHINGTON, Dec. 22, 1862.

To the Army of the Potomac:

I have just read your Commanding General's preliminary report of the battle of Fredericksburgh. Although you were not successful, the attempt was not an error, nor the failure other than an accident. The courage with which you, in an open field, maintained the contest against an intrenched foe, and the consummate skill and success with which you crossed and recrossed the river in the face of the enemy, show that you possess all the qualities of a great army, which will yet give victory to the cause of the country and of popular government. Condoling with the mourners for the dead, and sympathizing with the severely wounded, I congratulate you that the number of both is comparatively so small. I tender to you, officers and soldiers, the thanks of the nation.

(Signed) ABRAHAM LINCOLN.

REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE ON THE CONDUCT OF THE WAR.

WASHINGTON, Tuesday, Dec. 23.

The Joint Committee on the Conduct of the War, reported, in answer to a Senate resolution of the 18th inst., calling on that Committee to inquire into the facts relative to the recent battle at Fredericksburgh, Va., and particularly as to what officer or officers are responsible for the assault, that they had proceeded to the Headquarters of the Army of the Potomac, and taken the depositions of Major-Generals BURNSIDE, SUMNER, FRANKLIN and HOOKER, and Brigadier-Generals WOODBURY and HAUPT, and on their return to Washington, that of Major-General HALLECK and Brigadier-General MEIGS. All the facts relating to the movements of the army under Gen. BURNSIDE, the forwarding of pontoons and supplies, the recent battle at Fredericksburgh, are so fully and clearly stated in the depositions herewith submitted, that the Committee report the testimony without comment.

[Homer_J_Simpson]

Free Republic University, Department of History presents U.S. History, 1861-1865: Seminar and Discussion Forum
The American Civil War, as seen through news reports of the time and later historical accounts

First session: November 21, 2015. Last date to add: May 2025.
Reading: Self-assigned. Recommendations made and welcomed.

Posting history, in reverse order

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Link to previous New York Times thread

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[Homer_J_Simpson]

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[Homer_J_Simpson]

The Army of the Potomac: An Address to the Army by President Lincoln – 2
Report of the Committee on the Conduct of the War – 2-6
Latest Reports from Headquarters – 6
Another Statement of Our Wounded – 6
Inspection of Army Horses: The Report of Mr. Rarey – 6
Personals – 6
Victory in North Carolina: A Model Dispatch from Gen. Foster – 6-7
News from Washington: Our Special Washington Dispatches – 7
Editorial: Goldsboro Captured – Four Battles and Four Victories in One Week – 7
The Nation to Its Army – 7-8
Editorial: Grant’s Army – 8
The Battle of Fredericksburgh – 8

[Segovia]

FAKE NEWS!

[M Kehoe]

Merry Christmas Professor.

Happy Hanukkah too.

I’m dumbfounded. From all of the NYT’s reporting, I thought Fredericksburg was a victory for the Union. What about Bull Run/Manassas 1? I was so naive.

Amazing the Confederacy lasted four years from the Time’s reporting.

5.56mm