order is issued subject to the approval of the President of the United States.

Second. Brig. Gen. W. T. H. Brooks, commanding First Division, Sixth Army Corps, for complaining of the policy of the Government, and for using language tending to demoralize his command, is, subject to the approval of the President of the United States, dismissed from the military service of the United States.

Third. Brig. Gen. John Newton, commanding Third Division, Sixth Army Corps, and Brig.-Gen. John Cochrane, commanding First Brigade, Third Division, Sixth Army Corps, for going to the President of the United States with criticisms upon the plans of their commanding officer, are, subject to the approval of the President, dismissed from the military service of the United States.

Fourth. It being evident that the following named officers can be of no further service to this army, they are hereby relieved from duty, and will report in person without delay to the Adjutant-General of the United States Army:

Maj. Gen. W. B. Franklin, commanding Left Grand Division.

Maj. Gen. W. F. Smith, commanding Sixth Army Corps.

Brig. Gen. Sam. D. Sturgis, commanding Second Division, Ninth Army Corps.

Brig. Gen. Edward Ferrero, commanding Second Brigade, Second Division, Ninth Army Corps. Brig. Gen. John Cochrane, commanding First Brigade, Third Division, Sixth Army Corps.

Lieut.-Col. J. H. Taylor, Acting Adjutant-General Right Grand Division.

By command of Maj.-Gen. A. E. BURNSIDE. LEWIS RICHMOND, Assistant Adjutant-General. The testimony of Gen. Burnside, in relation to this order, from which the committee condensed their abstract, was as follows:

I went to my adjutant-general's office, and issued an order, which I termed General Order No. 8. That order dismissed some officers from service, subject to the approval of the President, and relieved others from duty with the Army of the Potomac. I also had three sentences of death upon privates for desertion, which I had reviewed and approved, subject, of course, to the approval of the President, as I had no right to do any of these things without that approval. I had sent my own body guard over into Maryland, and had succeeded in capturing a large number of deserters. I had organized a court martial, the one which is now in session down there trying some two hundred and fifty deserters.

I told my adjutant-general to issue that order (No. 8) at once. One of my advisers-only two persons knew of this-one of them, who is a very cool, sensible man, and a firm friend, told me that, in his opinion, the order was a just one, and ought to be issued; but he said that he knew my views with reference to endeavoring to make myself useful to the Government of the United States instead of placing myself in opposition to it; that all of these things had to be approved by the President of the United States, at any rate, before they could be put in force; that he did not think I intended to place the President in a position where he either had to assume the responsibility of becoming my enemy before the public, at any rate, thereby enabling a certain portion of my friends to make a martyr of me to some extent, or he had to take the responsibility of carrying out the order, which would be against the views of a great many of the most influential men in the country, particularly that portion of the order in reference to the officers I proposed to have dismissed the service. I told the staff officer that I had no desire to place myself in opposition to the President of the United States in any way; that I thought his (my staff officer's) view of the matter was the correct one; but that I had indicated in that order the only way in which I could command the Army of

the Potomac. I accordingly took this order, already signed and issued in due form, with the exception of being made public, to the President of the United States, and handed him the order, together with my resignation of my commission as a major-general. I told him that he knew my views upon the subject; that I had never sought any command, more particularly that of the Army of the Potomac; that my wish was to go into civil life, after it was determined that I could no longer be of any use in the army; that I desired no public position of any kind whatever. At the same time I said that I desired not to place myself in opposition to him in any way, or to do anything to weaken the Government. I said he could now say to me, "You may take the responsibility of issuing this order, and I will approve it;" and I would take that responsibility, if he would say that it would be sustained after it was issued, because he would have to approve of it, for I had no right to dismiss a man or condemn a man to death without his approval. In case that order (No. 8) could not be approved by him, there was my resignation, which he could accept, and that would end the matter forever, so far as I was concerned; that nothing more would be said in reference to it. I told him he could be sure that my wish was to have that done which was best for the public service, and that was the only way in which I could command the Army of the Potomac. The President replied to me, "I think you are right. ** [The suppressions here, in the body of Gen. Burnside's report of the President's answer, are made by the committee.] But I must consult with some of my advisers about this." I said to him, "If you consult with anybody you will not do it, in my opinion." He said, "I cannot help that; I must consult with them." I replied that he was the judge, and I would not question his right to do what he pleased.

The President asked me to remain all that day. I replied that I could not remain away from my command; that he knew my views, and I was fixed and determined in them. He then asked me to come up that night again. I returned to my command, and came up again that night, and got here at six o'clock in the morning. I went to the President's, but did not see him. I went again after breakfast, and the Presi dent told me that he had concluded to relieve me from the command of the Army of the Potomac, and place Gen. Hooker in command. I told him that I was willing to accept that, as the best solution of the problem; and that neither he nor Gen. Hooker would be a happier man than I would be if Gen. Hooker gained a victory there. The President also said that he intended to relieve Gen. Sumner and Gen. Franklin. I said that I thought it would be wise to do so, if he made the change he proposed to make. Gen. Sumner was a much older officer than Gen. Hooker, and ought not to be asked to serve under him.

On the 26th of April Gen. Burnside assumed the command of the Department of the Ohio. An invasion of Kentucky was at that time threatened by the Confederate forces.

The inclemency of the season was such that no movements could now be attempted by the Army of the Potomac or its adversary on the opposite side of the Rappahannock at Fredericksburg. Some raids by the enemy and some movements of cavalry were the only operations.

On the 12th of March a bold and successful raid was made by the enemy as far within the Federal lines as Fairfax Court House in Virginia. Brig.-Gen. Stoughton was taken from his bed and carried off, and a detachment from his brigade, with guards, horses, &c., captured.

On the 17th of March a sharp conflict took place between a body of cavalry, under Gen. Averill, and a similar force of the enemy near

Kelly's Ford.

About forty of Gen. Averill's force were disabled, and about eighty of the enemy made prisoners.

On the 13th of April, an expedition of cavalry, infantry, and artillery, under Major-Gen. Stoneman, proceeded in detachments to Warrenton, Bealton, Rappahannock bridge, and Liberty. Small bodies of Partisan Rangers were met with, but no opposition was encountered. Thence he moved to the fords of the Rapidan and took possession of them. These operations were made in advance of a general movement of the army across the Rappahannock to attack Gen. Lee. The stormy weather which ensued delayed this movement until the 27th of April. The army of Gen. Lee, in its encampments near Fredericksburg, held a line running from northwest to southeast; its right wing was extended as far down as Port Royal on the Rappahannock, and its left wing rested above Fredericksburg on the same river. In this position it had only two main lines of retreat, one toward Richmond by railroad, and the other toward Gordonsville. The strength of this army was about seventy thousand men.

The army of Gen. Hooker consisted of seven corps, and numbered about one hundred and twenty thousand men. Under his plan of at tack three corps were massed below Fredericksburg, to cross there and make a feint attack on the enemy, when two of the corps were to

return immediately after crossing and join the other four corps, meanwhile crossing at several fords ten and twenty miles above Fredericksburg. The object of Gen. Hooker by moving down on the left of the enemy, was to force him to fight outside of his intrenchments, or to fall back on Richmond.

Falmouth, the position occupied by Gen. Hooker's army, is nearly opposite Fredericksburg, on the north bank of the Rappahannock. About twelve miles above, the Rapidan, a small river, unites with a stream heretofore called the North Fork, to form the Rappahannock. Lately, however, the North Fork has been called Rappahannock, and the Rapidan has been spoken of as a tributary. The United States Ford is abont one mile below the mouth of the Rapidan. Banks's Ford is about midway between the United States Ford and Falmouth. Kelly's Ford, where the four corps crossed the North Fork, or the Rappahannock as it is now called, is about twenty miles above Falmouth. Germania Ford, where the same force crossed the Rapidan, is about twelve miles south of Kelly's Ford, at a place called Germania Mills. The troops crossed here by wading. The water was up to the armpits, and with a rapid current. The bottom of the river was rocky.

On Monday morning, April 27th, the elev enth corps, under Maj.-Gen. Howard, the twelfth, under Maj.-Gen. Slocum, and the fifth,

under Maj.-Gen. Meade, marched westward on the several roads leading to Kelly's Ford, which the advance under Gen. Howard reached on Tuesday forenoon. A brigade of this corps had been guarding the ford since the movement of cavalry under Gen. Stoneman. The pontoon boats had been moved into a creek behind the bluff at the Ford. About two hundred and fifty men of the 73d Pennsylvania and 154th New York immediately crossed in boats and occupied the bank of the river. Skirmishers were deployed to the right and left, but no enemy, excepting a few pickets who retired, was to be found. The remainder of the two regiments crossed in boats whilst the bridge was building. That evening the eleventh corps crossed, and the twelfth bivouacked on the shore.

Early on Wednesday morning, the twelfth corps crossed over, followed by Gen. Stoneman's cavalry force and the fifth corps. The wagon trains were sent back from Kelly's Ford and parked near Banks's Ford. The advance moved directly to Germania Ford on the Rapidan. The fifth corps, under Gen. Meade, crossed the Rapidan in the afternoon, a little lower down. On the next morning, Thursday, an advance was made to Chancellorsville, at the junction of the Orange Court House road with a road to Culpepper, between five and ten miles distant from the ford. The three corps were massed at this place at night, and Gen. Hooker arrived and made it his headquarters. On Wednesday, the second corps, under Gen. Couch, took a position at Banks's Ford, five miles above Fredericksburg. Some skirmishing had occurred with small bodies of the enemy, which retired. The cavalry force of Gen. Stoneman was sent to cut the communication of Gen. Lee's army by railroad with Richmond. Meanwhile the remaining three corps of the army had been put in motion. The first corps, under Maj.-Gen. Reynolds, the third, under Maj.-Gen. Sickles, and the sixth, under Maj. Gen. Sedgwick, moved from their camps on Monday night and took a position two miles below Fredericksburg. Early on the next morning, one division of the sixth corps crossed two miles below Fredericksburg, and one division of the first corps about one mile farther down. Some skirmishing took place, and the enemy held their position; at the same time bridges were thrown over and demonstrations made as if the intention was to cross a large force over. On the next day, Wednesday, the third corps, under Gen. Sickles, was detached and ordered to cross at United States Ford and join Gen. Hooker at Chancellorsville. On the next day Gen.Hooker issued the following order:

General Order No. 47.

HEADQUARTERS ARMY OF THE POTOMAC, CAMP NEAR FALMOUTH, VA., April 30th, 1863. It is with heartfelt satisfaction that the Commanding General announces to the army that the operations of the last three days have determined that our enemy must either ingloriously fly or come out from behind his defences and give us battle on our own ground, where certain destruction awaits him. The operations of the VOL. III.-6 A

fifth, eleventh, and twelfth corps have been a succession of splendid achievements. By command of Major-Gen. HOOKER. S. WILLIAMS, Ass't Adj't-Gen.

Such was the position of Gen. Hooker's forces on Friday morning. About noon, the fifth and twelfth corps, under Gens. Meade and Slocum, were advanced by separate roads toward Fredericksburg. The former moved to the left and the latter to the right. The advance of Gen. Meade's corps was led by the second division under Gen. Sykes. In about an hour it encountered the enemy, and heavy firing ensued, which continued for three fourths of an hour, gradually extending toward the right wing. Orders were then sent by Gen. Hooker, whose headquarters were in the large house known as Chancellorsville, for the two columns to fall slowly back. This order was systematically obeyed, and everything became quiet until about four o'clock, when the enemy appeared in line of battle, in an open field fronting a dense wood, on the right of Gen. Hooker, and about a mile from Chancellorsville. A vigorous fire of artillery was opened on both sides, which continued until night, when the enemy retired. This movement was regarded as indicating a disposition on the part of Gen. Lee to feel the Federal lines and ascertain the strength of their position and force. Meanwhile Gen. Hooker had caused intrenchments to be thrown up by his army. On the next day, Saturday, the first corps, under Gen. Reynolds, was ordered to join Gen. Hooker at Chancellorsville. It arrived in the afternoon at United States Ford, and was ordered into position on the right.

During Friday night the enemy were observed cutting a road past the Federal picket line on the right, and wagons were seen passing up the road on Saturday. As no attack was made during the forenoon, it was deter mined to ascertain the nature of the movement on the right, by a reconnoissance in force under Gen. Sickles. The divisions of Gens. Birney and Whipple, with Gen. Barlow's brigade from Gen. Howard's corps, were pushed to the front. This force soon became more or less engaged, especially with the artillery and the sharpshooters as skirmishers. Prisoners who were taken reported that the wagon train which had been seen was composed mainly of ordnance wagons and ambulances, following a column of troops under the command of Gen. Jackson. It was perceived at once that the object of Gen. Jackson was to make a sudden and fierce attack upon the extreme right. To defeat this object Gen. Sickles was ordered to push forward, and Gen. Birney advanced with great vigor, cutting in twain a column of the enemy still moving up the road. Gen. Williams's division of Gen. Slocum's corps, which had been ordered to cooperate, then commenced a flank movement on the enemy's right, which promised great success. It was supposed that in consequence of this movement, Gen. Jackson would endeavor to retreat to escape a capture,

or, if he made an attack on the right, that the eleventh corps would be sufficient to resist him. On the contrary, about five o'clock, a terrific volley of musketry on the extreme right announced that he had commenced his operations. The division of Gen. Schurz, which he first assailed, almost instantly gave way. Thousands threw down their arms and streamed down the road toward headquarters. The enemy pressed his advantage. The division of Gen. Devens, infected by the demoralization in front, soon followed the fugitives. Gen. Howard, the commander of the corps, with all his vigor and resolution could not stem the retreating torrent. The brigades of Cols. Bush, Beck, and McLean maintained themselves as long as possible, but finally gave way in good order before superior numbers.

Gen. Hooker now sent to the aid of Gen. Howard the second division of the third corps, under Maj.-Gen. Berry. Their batteries, under Capt. Best, were moved on a ridge running across the road, and after a short but sanguinary contest, the advance of the enemy was checked. This disaster compelled the recall of Gens. Sickles and Slocum. Gen. Williams's division found a portion of their works filled with the enemy, and Gen. Sickles could not communicate with the rest of the army by the way he had advanced, and only at great risk by any other route. This was the state of affairs at dark. A bright moon soon appeared, and a night attack was ordered to restore the communications. Gen. Wood's brigade of Gen. Birney's division made the attack at eleven o'clock, aided by the guns massed on the ridge in front of the enemy. This attack was successful and restored the communications. The enemy fell back nearly half a mile. The effect of the enemy's movement was to compel Gen. Hooker to contract his lines and assume the defensive, protected by breastworks and intrenchments.

During the night, the first corps, under Maj.Gen. Reynolds, and the fifth corps, under Maj.Gen. Meade, were transferred to Gen. Hooker's right, and set to work vigorously to intrench themselves. The position of the latter corps on the left was taken by the eleventh corps, which was reorganized during the night, and then assigned to a point where but little fighting was anticipated, and where they were protected by the work made on the previous day by the fifth corps. At the same time the force of Gen. Lee opposite the Federal right was strongly reënforced.

At 5 o'clock on Sunday morning, the enemy could be seen up the plank road about a mile and a half from the Chancellor House, which was still retained as the headquarters of Gen. Hooker. The Federal line was formed with the division of Gen. Berry on the right, that of Gen. Birney next on the left, and Gens. Whipple and Williams supporting. By half past five, Gen. Berry became engaged, and a terrible conflict ensued. The infantry of the en

emy were advanced in overwhelming numbers for the purpose of crushing the Federal line, but the forces of Gens. Sickles and Slocum held them in check. The struggle became desperate, hand to hand, and the carnage great. It continued until 8.45 A. M., without the slightest intermission, when there was a temporary suspension on the Federal side, occasioned by getting out of ammunition. The position was, however, held by the bayonet for nearly an hour, until a supply was received, and an order was given to fall back to the vicinity of the Chancellor House. The contest now raged in this vicinity. Gen. Hooker's headquarters were withdrawn at ten o'clock. The house was burned by a shell of the enemy. The engagement continued until 11.30 A. M., when the musketry fire ceased. Gen. Hooker, acting on the defensive, had been compelled to contract his lines still further, and would perhaps have recrossed the Rappahannock that day except for the advantages expected to be gained by the movement of Gen. Sedgwick below Fredericksburg, and that of the cavalry force under Gen. Stoneman.

Several attempts were made by the enemy during the afternoon to force the lines of Gen. Hooker, but without success.

The following despatch, relative to the operations of Saturday and Sunday, was sent to Richmond by Gen. Lee:

Yesterday Gen. Jackson penetrated to the rear of the enemy. We drove him from all his positions from He was engaged at the same time in front by two of the Wilderness to within one mile of Chancellorsville. Longstreet's divisions. Many prisoners were taken, and the enemy's loss in killed and wounded is large. This morning the battle was renewed. He was dislodged from all his positions around Chancellorsville, which he is now retreating. We have again to thank and driven back toward the Rappahannock, over Almighty God for a great victory. I regret to state that Gen. Paxton was killed, Gen. Jackson severely and Gens. Heth and A. P. Hill slightly wounded.

R. E. LEE, General Commanding.

On Saturday, May 2d, Gen. Sedgwick was ordered to cross the Rappahannock, move upon Fredericksburg, and march out on the plank road toward Chancellorsville, until he connected with the right under Gen. Hooker, and to destroy any force he might meet on the road. By twelve o'clock that night, the three divisions composing the sixth corps were all across, and waiting orders. The main force of the enemy had been concentrated on their own left to resist Gen. Hooker. The first division, under Gen. Brooks, was left to guard the crossing and occupy the enemy in front. At four o'clock A. M., on Sunday, the head of the corps was in motion toward Fredericksburg. At the edge of the town it was halted, the batteries brought into position, and the first line of the enemy's intrenchments in the rear carried with considerable loss. At noon the division of Gen. Howe was scattered over the heights, looking out for and pursuing the enemy, when orders were re

ceived to move on and join the other divisions, which had gone through the city. The height and the city were thus abandoned, to be occupied soon after by the enemy. About five o'clock, the advance was overtaken a few miles out of Fredericksburg, engaged in a brisk fight with the enemy. The division of Gen. Howe was deployed to the left of the road over a broken country, with the left wing to the rear, so as to confront the enemy reoccupying the heights and massing in the rear. In this position Gen. Sedgwick's force remained in line of battle during the night, distant about six or seven miles from Gen. Hooker. By morning of the 4th, the enemy appeared in strong force in front and on the hills to his left. About 4 P. M. they moved up to attack, and Gen. Sedgwick's artillery opened fire on every quarter, but could not check their slow and steady advance, before which he gradually fell back toward Banks's Ford. The engagement was hot, and lasted until 9 P. M., with a loss to Gen. Sedgwick of nearly four thousand. That Monday night he recrossed the Rappahannock. The crossing was effected in good order, with the camp equipage, mule trains, etc., except a few of the latter, which were taken when the enemy first appeared in rear at Fredericksburg. All the work on the left was performed by this corps of Gen. Sedgwick. It built three bridges, constantly skirmished with the enemy, stormed the heights of Fredericksburg, and advanced to support the right, when it was flanked by a heavy force of the enemy and forced to retreat across the river.

The movements of the enemy in this affair were thus reported by Gen. Lee: To His Excellency President Davis:

At the close of the battle of Chancellorsville on Sunday, the enemy was reported advancing from Fredericksburg on our rear. Gen. McLaws was sent to arrest bis progress, and repulsed him handsomely.

That afternoon, learning that his forces consisted of two corps, under Gen. Sedgwick, I determined to attack him, and marched back yesterday with Gen. Anderson, and united with MeLaws early in the afternoon, and succeeded, by the blessing of Heaven, in driving

Sedgwick over the river.

We have reoccupied Fredericksburg, and no enemy remains south of the Rappahannock or in the vicinity. R. E. LEE, General Commanding.

While these operations were going on under Gen. Sedgwick, the enemy made no serious attack upon Gen. Hooker. On Monday, at daylight, they placed guns on the heights, which commanded the ground north of United States Ford, and began shelling the trains of Gen. Hooker. These guns were soon silenced by the twelfth corps, which relieved the eleventh, and now occupied the extreme left. During the day, the enemy continued to feel the lines of Gen. Hooker from the extreme left to right, making vigorous feints, driving in pickets, picking off artillery horses and officers on horseback. It was in one of these forays that Gen. Whipple was mortally wounded in the spine, while standing against a tree in his own camp, supposing himself to be in perfect security. Gen.

Hooker continued during the day to strengthen his position with a second line of rifle pits. During Monday night slight skirmishing continued along the lines, with frequent volleys of musketry from some portion of the rifle pits. Batteries of flying artillery were used to shell the camps, which changed position as often as guns were brought to bear upon them. Thus the Federal troops were harassed and exhausted during the night.

Early on Tuesday all the pioneers and men, with extra tools, were employed on the roads leading from the army back to United States Ford. Old roads were repaired and new ones cut through the woods. The trains and artillery commenced moving toward the river early in the evening. The rain then was falling rapidly, and the night became quite dark. The crossing commenced at ten o'clock, and at three o'clock on Wednesday morning all the wagons and mule trains and artillery had passed the bridges, and the passage of the infantry commenced. The second corps, under Gen. Couch, led the advance. The fifth corps, under Gen. Meade, formed the rear guard, with Gen. Sykes's division of regulars to cover the retreat. The passage of the river was effected without any disturbance from the enemy. The dead on the battle field of Tuesday were left unburied, and many of the wounded remained behind. The rapid rise of the river prevented the immediate advance of Gen. Lee.

The movements of the cavalry force, under Gen. Stoneman, do not appear to have produced any advantage in favor of Gen. Hooker. As has been stated, the storms which ensued prevented active movements by Gen. Stoneman until the 29th of April. On that day he crossed at Kelly's Ford. The division of Gen. Averill moved to the Orange and Alexandria railroad, and encountered two regiments of the enemy, who retired toward Gordonsville. Thence he proceeded to Culpepper, and dispersed a force of the rebels there, capturing their rear guard, and seizing a large amount of flour, salt, and bacon. The enemy were pursued by way of Cedar mountain toward the Rapidan. Here he received a despatch from Gen. Stoneman, desiring him to push the enemy as vigorously as possible, and keep him occupied. On the 1st, scouting parties were sent up and down on both sides of the Rapidan. On the 2d, orders were received by him to join Gen. Hooker at United States Ford at once.

Gen. Stoneman, after crossing at Kelly's Ford, moved the main body of his command across Fleshman's creek, and encamped for the night in an open field. On the next day, the 3d, Gen. Buford crossed the Rapidan, two miles below Racoon Ford, and drove a body of infantry from the ford, where Gen. Gregg crossed later in the day. A lieutenant and thirteen privates of an artillery company were captured here. At night the whole force bivouacked one mile from the river. On the next day the march was commenced, and at Orange Spring a