The Cadiz Democratic sentinel. [volume] (Cadiz, Ohio) 1854-1864, 1861-08-07

'uo ictteE VI tho Sen VI may IN tuat iott0l
Secretary Cameron declares he appreciates my
zeal, long, able. faithful. and loyal services t.
the country, with the assurance that in saying
what be did he intended no reflection on any
thing that had heretoiore done. In the letter
of The 9TH of June, the Secretary says that
was ordered to return to my headquarters a
Troy, because the issuing Of orders by me, OF
the application OF the various Governors FOL
arms, ammunition, etc, without consultation
detailed account Of which gave in my letter
seriously embarrassed the prompt..and prop.
er administration Of his department, and could
not be permitted to be continued without q dis.
regard oflaw, as we'll as the dissrrangement o.
its operations. "This alone was sufficient to
order your return to headquarters" He, how
ever, believes was prompted by patriotic mo
tives, and that did nothing but what |, at the
time, was fully pursuaded was necessary, and,
under the circumstances, proper. The Secre'
tsry, whilst penning the causes which sent me
to my headquarters, must have overlooked the
iact that, at the time was issuing orders to
supply the various Governors with arms and
ammunition, no communication could be had
with the authorities at Washington and there.
fore he could not be consulted, Nevertheless,
| made efforts to consult him, by reporting
what was doinr to Lieutenant. General Scott,
at the same time writing to him, anxious to
know the wishes and desires Of the Admins
tration. sent special messenger to Wash
ington, who returned without obtaining any in
| formation on the subject. But the Secretary
says seriously embarras ed the prompt and,
proper administration Of its ordinary course Of
business, attending to the same matters, thro'
its properly authorized officers How could
kthis be, when all communications between
Washington and the Northern States were pre-
vented by the rebels in Baltimore? II, how
ever, arrangements were made in relation to the
movements Of troops, or Of arming the militia
with reference to future operations in the field,
or the protection Of Washington, as indicated
by the Secretary, |, as commander oftho East
ern Department, next in rank to Lieutenant
General Scott, ought to have been notified Of
the fact. This would have been no less in ac-
cordance with the general practice than it was
due to the high characters so frankly awarded to
me in the several communications Of the Secre-
tary. Again, my experience 10 organizing and
preparing volunteers tor the field would ofitsel
have been sufficient to have designated me for
Al tbo otn IN oF
tai seemed to demand. !, however, received
no orders in the case. "To hurry troops to
! Washington" was not sent to me, but, as it
would appear, to the Union Defense Committee
Of New York, and the Governors of States. .---
! The emergency demanded protant action, 1t
was called for by the free States of the North,
| frofn apprehension that, not only the Federal
capital, but the Union, was in danger Of total
dissolution. The servicts which | performed
were in accordance with the wishes and desires
OF the people Of the States North of the border
States, and approved and urged by Vice Presi-
| President Hamln, Governor Morgan, Senator
| Sherman, OF Ohio; Senator Chandler, OF Mich.
igan; Senator Foot, Of Vermont; Senator Baker
OF Oregon; to which / might ado all the Gov
ernors o the Northern free States. The requ.
sition on me of the various Governors were in
consequence Of not being able TO communicate
with the authorities at Washington. If had
failed or hesitated to perform what the whole
country required, would have been denounc-
ed for wanting IN zeal and firmness, if not as
an enemy OF the country.
received no instructions from the Secretary
of War, and heard Of none, except in the dis
patch of Thurlow Weed, dated the 31st OF
April, and what will be found in the following
letter.
WAR DEPARTMENT, April 81, 1861.
ALEXANDER CUMMINGS, Esq.-Thls Depart
ment needs at this moment, an intelligent, ex.
perienced and energetic man, in whom it can
rely to assist in pushing forward troops, muni
tions and supplies. You are acquainted with
the internal arrangements and connections oi
the railroads in Pennsylvania over which for
the present they will have to come; and while
am aware that your privae affairs may demand
your time, am sure your patriotism will in.
duce YOU to aid me even at some loss to your.
self
With this viaw, I will thank you, in consul
tatou with the officers Of the army and navy,
to assist in getting vessels, arranging with the
railroad companies ior the accommodation of the
troops as fast as they are ready to march to
their destination, and also to assist them in
tmaking purchases or other arrangements, and
to communicate at the earliest moment any in
formation of service TO this department
Very respectfully,
SIMON CAMERON, Secretary of War.
The above letter was lndorSed by me as fol.
lows:
/ Alexander Cummings will confer with Col
Tompkins and Major Eaton. who will give such
instructions as will enable him to carry out the
intentions OF the Secretary Of War. He viii
also confer wits the Union Defense Committee
who will employ him in the capacity and in
the discharge of the duties indicated in the in
structions Of the Secretary OF War.
BY examination Of Secretary Cameron's let
ter to Alexander Cummings, Esq, it will bs
perceived that civilian was charged with the
execution Of duties that properly belonged To
the staff officers stationed in the city Of New
York, viz: Col D. D. Tompkns. Assistant
ouartsrmsster. General, Major Eaton, Commits
sary Of Subsistence, and Major Thornton, o
Ordnance; all capable, efficient and prompt II
the discharge Of every duty required Of them
and under my orders performed the duties as
signed to Mr.. Cummings. The railroads I,
Washington could not be used for the transpor
tation Of troops or supplies, owing to the de
strue,ion OF bridges, etc., by rebels from Balti
more. Hence they we're sent by the way o
tho Potomac, and the Chesapeake bay. order