Daily Ohio statesman. [volume] (Columbus, Ohio) 1855-1870, 1861-07-30
Gbe Obio 9tatesma,r
General Wool TO the Union Defense
Committee.


General Wool 20 the Union Defense
Committee.
HEADQUARTERS, Troy, N. Y, July "a, 1861.
To the Union Defense Committee, Neto York:
Hon. S. DRAPER, Vice Chairman--I herewith
present you with statement of the doings Of
your Committee, and the part performed In
connection, which led to my being placed in my
present position. l hope that you will give il
an attentive perusal.
The causes may be found in the following
condensed history of the services rendered
in the execution of important and responsible
duties, assumed on my part at moment Of
great peril to the country, and when the Fed
eral Capital was in imminent danger of being
taken possession of by rebels from Virginia and
Maryland.
You will recollect the attack upon Massa-
chusetts regiment paseing through Baltimore
which resulted in destroying several long bridges
between Baltimore and Philadelphia, OF divers
railroad tracks, and cutting the telegraph
wires leading from Washington to the North
preventing for six days any communication with
the latter city and the Northern States. 1t was
under these circumstances | visited Governor
Morgan. / found him in state of alarm fol
the safety of the capital, which he was appre
hensive would be taken possession Of by the Sc
cessionists While with him he received tel
egraphic dispatch to hurry troops with all posi-
BILE haste to Washington. lie also received d
dispatch rendering the services Of Colonel Ellis
worth's Regiment, with q request to accept ol
1t, which he complied with at my earnest recon
mendation, when Igave orders to Col. Tomkpins
United States Quartermaster at New York, tt
furnish transportation, and Major Eaton, Com
missarY OF Subsistence, thirty days rations tC
ponh uOl6ipr fnra ao;t oh b.
ordered by the Governor to Washington.
ordered that number OF rations because th,
troops could only reach Washington by eithe
the Potomac or Chesapeake Bay.
Gov Morgan left the same evening, Saturday
April 90, for New York. / informed him
would follow on Monday. On the next da
che Governor transmitted by telegraph the fol
lowing letter:
NKw YORK, April 81, lsGl.
General JoHE E. Wool, Troy, New YoTk-I am gla
to learn that you will proceed to New York tomorro
to supetintend the forwarding Of troops from this an
other States, mustered into the service of the 0ener
Government. 1t is eminently proper that high Office
Of the army Of the United States should discharge tn
| important duty. E. D. MORGAN.
On the same day received the following le
ter by telegraph from Thurlow Weed:
NEw YoRK, April 81 lsGl
General john E. Wool, Troy, New York:-Unde
Standing you are 10 De neTe deem IL advisable, from
structions have from the Secretary Of War, Gener
Cameron, that you should be at the Astor House wi
me. THURL0W WEED.
By Mr.. Weeds letter you will perceive th
| was expected to be with him at the Asst
House, which could not assent to from the ci
cumstance that had already engaged qnarte
ut the ST Nicholas Hotel, to which place | ba
directed all letters, dispatches, etc intended f
me, to be sent.
On Monday, 22i April, proceeded to Ne
York and took quarters at the st. Nichola
Soon after my arrival Mr.. Weed called on n
and urged me to take quarters at the Asst
House, previous to which had been earnest
requested to do 80 by Mr.. Stetson, to which
declined, and from the fact that it would produt
confusion, as telegraphic dispatches were CO
stantly being received from the Governors
States and other persons.
On the 23d the Union Defense Commits
called on me, among whom were General Di
Chairman; Mr.. Draper, Vice Chairman; Ex-Go
ernor Fish, Messrs. Evsrts, Wetmore, Deho
Grinnel, Blatchford, Marshall, Sloan and Other
They desired to know what was prepared to
in this hour OF great peril to the country-t
capital being in imminent danger of bell
taken by the rebels2 replied, anything th
would save the capital, for the preservation
Tue OHlUu u6peuueu Ol It's ehltbys II pTORTd
was soon arranged, which | approved of in
half of the United States, and Immediately {
4 about carrying it into effect. In this place
, may be proper to say that reminded the col
: mittee that had assumed fearful responsib
ity, and that probably would be the only VI
tim, but under the circumstances l was preps
ed to make the sacrifice, ifby it the capital cou
be saved
It must not be forgotten that at this time I
citizens of the whole North, East and We
were in the high hest state of excitemenG, fro
apprehension that the capital Of the Union wou
fall into possession of the rebels of the Sout
and in the city of New York they were ready
denounce the Administration, and eveA threl
, ened to overturn the government and elect
} Dictator, because of the loss of Norfolk, wi
the navy depot-which had cost many millio
and Harper's Ferry, where we had an armo
for the manufacture of arms, and the fede
capital in danger of q similar fate; and all,
was asserted, from the gross neglect Of the
ministration to provide the necessary means
0 their protection.
Il was under such circumstances, with all co
munications closed between Washington and
, North, that entered, in conjunction with
Union Defense Committee, upon the import
duties which the.emergency seemed to dema
No time was to be lost, as it appeared to ev
: one with whom l held conversation, in forwa
ing troops for the defense and protection of
capital. The whole country was organic
aud arming with determination to march
Washington.
On my arrival at New York l found requ
tions from the Governors of nine States for al
and ammunition, all of whom, by my ord
were furnished with greater or less numbe
arms, and as many rounds of ammunition
could be spared. Prompt and energetic m,
ures were adopted by myself, as well as
committee, to secure the capital. Ships "
chartered, supplies furnished and troops
warded with the utmost dispatch to WASH
ton via the Potomac River and Chesapeake
to Annapolis. Steamers were sent to pro
r the ships from capture by two privateers rep
ed to be off Cape Henry. All vessels carry
troops and supplies were either armed or {
veyed to their place of destination--in all wi
we were supported and greatly aided by c
modore Breese. The steamship Quaker C
after landing her troops at Annapolis, was
dered to report to Colonel Dlmmick, commG
ing Fortress Monroe, to prevent the transpo
:, tion of cannon, etc., from Norfolk to Old p,
" Comfort to besiege that fortress, and also to
~ out for privateers and to protect our vessels
q ing up the Potomac and Chesapeake Bay.
On the requisition of Col. Dimmick, or
ed provisions, carriages, ammunitions and i'm
ments to Fortress Monroe.
Being informed that the troops at Washing
were short of provisions, ordered Major Ea
until otherwise directed, to send by Perry
to Annapolis thirty thousand rations daily.
which was promptly, efficiently, successf
and, without any accident whatever, execu
=. and, as was reported, saved the metropolis
the ravages of war and capture by the rebe
Virginia and Maryland.
Instead Of ordering arms to the GovernC
J. Illinois, as applied for, | requested him TO
possession of the Arsenal at St, Louis.
talauranhed Ex.Cnvernnr Ranks tn assia