Darius N. Couch to Brigadier-General WILLIAMS, February 21, 1863

Brigadier-General WILLIAMS:

DEAR Sir: I telegraphed you last evening that the pickets had reported that sixteen pieces of artillery and eleven pontoons were seen passing through Fredericksburg down the river. The information did not get to me until twenty-four hours or more after the movement was observed—as stupid a thing as ever occurred in military history. It is but a specimen of how military duties are done by a great many officers in my corps. Higher officers spend their time in reading newspapers or books, playing cards or the politician, drinking whisky, and grumbling. Of course, this charge does not include all by a long way, for it contains some of the finest officers that ever drew sword, from majorgeneral down. ,

Upon a personal investigation, I fiud that the movement of pontoons and artillery was seen by so many that nobody reported the faet. The general officer of the day was Colonel Frank, one of our most sterling officers.

very respectfully,