Daily Ohio statesman. [volume] (Columbus, Ohio) 1855-1870, 1861-07-30


mouth in a state of defense, without incurring |
any unnecessary expense.
also gave Governor Andrew permission TO |
occupy the forts in Boston harbor for the pur-
pose Of drilling and disciplining volunteers in.
tended for Washington.
gave authority to the Mayor aud Common
Council of New Bedford to erect delenses on
Clark's Point for the protection and defense Of
the city and hGtbor at the cost of the city, but
to be surrendered up TO the United States when
T ever required By proper authority. approved
Of placing into Fort Adams volunteers for the
, protection Of the harbor and town Of Newport
/ by Gov Spraguc, of Rhode leland.
In order to ascertain if my services in con-
nection with the Union Defense Committee met
the appreciation of the General-in- Chief as we'll
as the Secretary of War, reported to Lieuten-
{ ant General Scott on the 23d and 25th of April,
what had done and was doing On the 25th /
, also wrote to the Secretary Of War, when I in
/ formed him that l had transmitted to Lieuten-
ant General Scott several dispatches of what
was doing, without receiving any reply, and
|, concluded my letter by saying: III am exceed
ingly anxious to know the views of the Admin
istration and what it desires; | am running
, without rudder or compass" By this express
sion, intended to be understood that | was
executing high and important functions without
orders, but which the emergency required-the
capital Of the Union being in imminent peril of
being captured by Southern rebels.
Receiving no acknowledgment, and anxious
: to know how my conduct was viewed by the au-
: thorities in Washington, sent a special mes
! senger, Col. Schuyler, volunteer aid-de-camp,
a to call upon Lieutenant General Scott, the See
retary of War and the President, and inform
f each and all Of the part was performing, and
: to obtain their replies. He was unsuccessful
/, and returned, after much trouble and delay on
o the road, on ihe morning of the lst Of May,
! and reported to me that he had been unable to
o obtain any information on the subject of his
q mission.
/ To all which it may not be inappropriate to
o add that whilst receiving, by request, q passing
n review Of Col Ellsworth's regiment Of Zouaves,
on the route to embark for Washington, Major
General Sandford with one of bis staff, in hur-
i ried and excited manner, presented me with AN
" order from Gov. Morgan, forbidding the en-
/. barkaton Of the regiment unless reduced to
the number prescribed-seventy-seve to O COM
pany-and urged me to order the whole to en-
,d bark, as no part Of the regiment would 20 un-
w less all we're included. The order of the Gov
ld ernor produced intense excitement. replied
az a. to the General that would not be the first TO
is check the noble and patriotic enthusiasm of the
citizens of New York, The regiment as it was
t. should embark. This announcement caused the
most enthusiastic cheering of the regiment, the
firemen and the tens of thousands OF spectators
n. which continued long after the imposing specta
n Gle had passed in review.
raj have thus detailed the most essential par
y" of the services which performed in conjunct
a. ion with the Union Defense Committee from
nv the 23i of April to the lst of May, inclusive
j.. when, late in the evening of the latter day,
,rs received a communication from Lieutenant
"a General Scott, through his Assistant Adiutan
- II n Toupcap1 in uvb;ob ba
- meuded that should "return to Troy to con
~ duct the ordinary routine duties of my depart
"a ment and for the recovery of my health, knowI
80 o to be feeble," when at the time my health wat
.. perfect, as it has been ever since. No sick Oh
~ feeble person could have performed the servi
4 ces demanded by the universal uprising of tn,
- people of the free States north of the border
- States, in consequence of the threatened DANCE
of OF the federal capital by rebels from Virgins
and Maryland.
- The loss of the capital would have led to tn
" breaking up permanently Of the Union and Il
49, - the immediate and willing recognition OF tn
m Southern Confederacy by every European Pow
na er. Ii was this that caused an excitement tina
40 could not be restrained. The people rose i
bo their majesty, determined, no matter wha
n might be the sacrifice, to save the capital an
Ius with it the Union. Believing, what every pei
oS son believed, that the capital was in danger
!, -, and without being able to communicate wit
ha- the authorities at Washington, assumed tn
Sot responsibility of carrying out, not only th
s;s ~ views and wishes of the Union Defense Con
=, ~ mittee, but those of the whole people of th
III North, which embraced no less the federal cap
- tai than the whole Union.
-. On the 7th of May, after had left New
Ia York for my headquarters, as required B.
-" Lieutenant General Scott, received from tn
ho Secretary OF War, the following letter-not
sst however, in reply to any letter from myself:
nm WAR DEPARTMENT WASHINGTON, May 6, 1861.
,Id To MAJOR GENERAL JOHN II. Wool, Troy N. Y:
liu Ny DEAR sIR-Appreciatng, as do your long, alb
th; and faithful services and loyalty to the Of Il
to country, write merely to request that requsitio
for troops orders for their removal be hereafter issue
- without first communicating with this department
You will my lear sir, not consider this any refs
lth ton anything you may have heretofore done, b
ons merely to avoid conflict OF orders confusion
arrangements and that the department may at all tim
know the number Of troops called out and how they
raj be made available at the shortest notice. without int
as fering with any pre- vous orders.
Ad With sentiments OF the highest personal regard al
for the strongest appreciation OF your vslor and parC
1 have the honor to be very truly yours
I'M. SIMON CAMERON, Secretary Of War.
the This letter acknowledged in the:folowir
the words:
ant HEADQUARTERS, DEPARTMENT OF THE EAST
md. Troy, N. Y, May 9, 1851. !
,ery Hon. SIMON CAMERON, Secretary Of War;
,r6 My DEAR sIR-Be pleased to accept my grateful
the yrafvng 10 learn that INV conduct hi
ting in relation to the affairs Of the Union meets
to high appreciation.
Although am aware that with the press OF busin
lis IN Connection with the Union Defense Committee Of
citizens Of New York not be perfectly understood
ers, appreciated oy all IN authority az washington av
IT of eI ~ " ,h Uot nsrf rmsd n ,he sorwSrSng
as troops aud supplies for the protection and defense
cas- Washington which at the time reported to be In
the minent peril.
we're To which l added history OF my actl
for with the Union Defense Committee, as rep
ing sented in this communication, with the omissi
Bay OF ordering Col. Ellsworth's regiment to e
,tect bark, and few others of no Importance, Q
,ort- concluded my letter as follows, viz:
wing It's reported In New York that was engaged
ing contracts supplies Of various kinds further
; objects Of the Union Defense Committee, and that
reports have reached Washington 1t is duet to myse
,om say that made contracts Of any kind whatever
Cty the Committee or in behalf OF the Government. At
or request Of the Committee however, signed two cha
ond parties for the ships understood the Committee
auu .u the expense out OF the city funds.
lint ,,Sn To this letter received from the Secret
,nos of War the following reply:
oo. WAR DEpARTMEsr WASHINGTON. June 4, 1856
o. MAJOR. GENERAL JOHN Il. Wool, Troy N. Y;
DEAR sR-I have the honor to acknowledge the
der cept Of your letter OF the 9th ut and beg you e
lple leve that nothing but desire to give 1t that careful
sideraton, which found myself unable to do at an
lier moment, has delayed my acknowledgment OF Its
SVou ceipt
atom You state that Is reported New York that you
vile engaged in making Tor oi
All 70 asshel .ne have teachsd washipgton and
FULLY, explain the extent Of your participation in the proc
ted nes Of that committee in regard to the contnc
from beg to assure you unnecessary on your part
reached ueD0rm