, 1861-07-16
THE VETERAN MAJOR GENERAL
W00Ia


The 1yorkz zdoas By General IPooa IN Msso Yerk-~
lis Orders to tf< Governors Of different States
he directs the Seizure Of The 81. Louis Afse-
,,al-His Treatment by Scot and CaneroH-
The FYre,nen Zouarss-1he Reason that Cdn!s"
4o,, qiyes for not placing him in dctird Sesv1ee
Tie Appontmtns Ak1ander C9n1n'ings
as qotrrnent dgenL@ene7m "a "s@ = os,n5 mtn5
Homt-Mo1xments to bring the Mattsr b.f3re
Congress-A Storm Byescsng dc.
{correspondence Of the N. Y. Hera'd]
WAsH1Noros, July 10, 1861.
A person can hardly turn the corners Of the
ttreets in this City Of Magnificent Distances
without hearing some one ask the question,
ssWhy is notGen- Wool called into active service
in these trying timess" Letters are pouring
in here from various sections Of the Empire
State, propounding the same question, and
asking for solution Of the mystery, all Of
which shows that there is deep feeling exist
ing aggainst the culpable party, which will
burst forth like tornado upon the person re-
spouslble for this upjustidao1c act. I have
already stated that have made diligent search,
and am happy to inform you and the public
that my efforts have not been in vain In my
search among the hidden mysteries here,
have finally fallen upon facts that furnish a
full, clear and authentic calculation OF this
question. General Wool has not only been
snnbbed by the Secretary Of War, but virtually
condemned for preventing equad Of jobbers
from fleeing the public, and dlscaargiug his
duty fearleesly, promptly and efficiently, as
greatest peril
The public are aware how Gen. Wool cam.
to Warrington at the Inauguration Of Prssi
dent Lincoln, and on that day-When the
country ssas full Of rumors Of plots aud coun~
terplots to prevent his inauguration-Was to
be found, with his armoE bnck1ed on, ready to
Iana TtrF Hf% %htf Ia houI ~ ~
stationed at the capital Of the nation against
any band Of conspiratora that might make
their appearance or raise their arm against
the legally elected President. As soon 80 Mr..
Lincoln was safely placed at the head Of the
goyernment,t Gen. Wool returned to his resi-
as Commander Of the Eastern Military Depart.
ment Of the Government. There he remained
until after 1incoln's proclamation, In April.
calling upon the several States for troopa, and,
in fact, my informant states, until the out
break in Baltimore, aud the atoppage Of COM
Maryland. As soon as he received intelligence
OF the attack upon the Massachusetts regi-
ment By the Baltimore mob, he Immediately
visited Albany to consult with Governor Nor.
gan. Returning to Troy, he received des
patches from Weed, then in New York; sub
ssquently, one Of my informants states, from
Gov Morgan, who had alsogone to New York,
statirg that they had understood the admins
fratio1 had ordered him to New York to assist
in forwarding troops, and hoping that he
would come forthwith to that city. General
Wool arrived in New York, if reco1lect right,
By members Of the Union Defence Commit
tee, which resulted in his uniting with them
in plans to forward troops to Washington.
At any rate, the public journals recorded the
fact that he was operating With that commit
tee for that purpose on the Esd Of April.
1,.u o< Ill r. 3nt. A.Ao
the General on that day wrote to Gen. Scott,
asking him for Instructions and what was his
wish. Communication was then cut off, and
after short delay, fearing that General Scott
| had not received his letter, he again addressed
him, asking for Instructions. am informed
| In the meantime, Gen. Wool Was not inactive,
but Was discharglng an Important duty with
! the activity and energy Of a man much young
| er In years than the General is known to be.
| At that time the most intense excitement
| prevailed throughout the Northern States.
No tidirgs could be obtained OF the position
Of affairs at Washington. The gallant Seventh
Regiment had started for the National Capital,
but no one could tell where they were One
day they had been massacred, and the next
something else had happened to them. The
excitement was intense in all 6ectionB-the
TO Washington, and the only word that Gen.
Wool could get from the administration was
that they wanted more troops. Many Of the
leading newspapers opened their batteries up
on Lincoln and his Cabinet, and began to cal
for military dictator: There was necessity
for action. The public demanded quick worb
and no delay. The cry came, too, in tone
that could not be dlsregarded; SOME one hae
to assume great responsibility, and Genera
Wool proved to be the man for the hour
ready to discard NIL red tape routine and TAXI
hold Of the matter; and here is to be fount
the important work that was to be done b.
| him.
The Governors Of several States, being una
DIE to communicate with Washington and &c
the equipments for their men from that source
inimt diately telegraphed to the Union Defenc
Committee and General Wool asking for arm
and ammunition at once The troops troI
the Empire State all had to look to the san
source for their outfits. The Union Defenc
Committee, not knowing What to do in tn
excitement, applied to General Wool, but nc
in vain, for he came manfuliy to their rescue
It being ascertained that they were short {
the shipment Of large amounts from Ne1
York. The troops leaving the city for th
capital were, under his orders, provided wit
thirty days rations, that they might be pr.
pared for asy detention 1t was through hI
oils was opened He provided General Pate
son with arms and ordered him to deapatc
troops to Perryvi]1e. This route being estal
liBhed, the next tidings Was the destruction
the Government property at Norfolk and Ha
per's Ferry.
Col Dimmick, then in command Of Fortres
.. Monroe, for ammunition and men, stain
that he was unable to obtain assistance frol
. Washington, and must have it at once or th;
point would be Hrcsted from him by th
rebels. In reply to the demand, cartridge
, we're immediately forwarded, followed BY
l -+a,r ~ A,~,4
panied with explicit orders to Col. Dimmtc
, to hold that point as . basis OF operation, an
ordering the Quaker City to assist him j
stopping all priyateers that might appear
. the Chesapeake. TIL done, General Wot
turned his attention to other quarters. Tt
, foltify Portsmouth haIbor, and GOV. Andreq
: upon request made, gave permission to tax
) possession Of the forts in Boston hazbor I
. drill the volunteers Of that State. A like pc
E mission vas given to Gov. Sprague for Rhod
: Island Tho Governor Of Illinois, in Il
J meantime, falling to obtain arms aud anm7
!. Wool and the Union Defence COMMITTEES Il
4 q supply. The latter replied, ordering th
t authorities Of the State to send an armt
/. force quietly TO st. Louis, and reinforce Il
! troops there, and With as little blustcr a. po
sible take possession Of the Arsenal in th
G city, where they would find all the arms tn
i they needed. He also sent special messe
il ger to Hon. Francis P. Blair, Jr., asking b
e cooperation IN that undertaking, and my /
! fofmant says thnt Mr. Blair subsequently SCI
e his thanks to the General for his suggestion
= As to the truth or falsity Of this st3temen
J. Mr.. Blair can inform the public, and no dou
q throw additional light upon the subject. Th
n important move belongs in reality to Ge
# Wool, aud to him the public are more or le
j. indebted for that noble move.
II The above Is aome Of the work done
;. General Wool in these trying hours, Whic
It to say the least, does not looE as though a
q had impaired his inte1lect or energy. All
e this mas done by him without any orders fro
r Washington. Seeing that his country was
!. danger, he did not wait the slow motion
Il red tape, but in response to the demand
4 the public, acted as he thought the emergen
h. demanded, and assumed the responsibi}it
ia at the same time remarklng to his friends th
"a he would fall victim to his OWN active ex.
d tions Vice-Presldent Hamlin, believe, r
Il ! with hiIa 8 portion Il not all the time he n
!, discharging this duty, and he can no dou
% coTroborate all that have thus far stated.
Is a full and concise statement Of al this n
ys forwarded either to General Scott or Secreta
[e Cameron-my Informant is not positive viii
If came for long tine. But during al il
pf time new deyclopenlent was made mantle
al A letter had been received from Secreta
): Cameron by Alexander Cummings, Of
Is 1for1d, appointing him the sgent Of the
I'll partmeut to attend to making arrangemet
te with the railroad companies aud charteri
80 steamers for the transportation Of troo]
Y This document one Of my informants stal
ie | that he saw. This letter was shown to CT
.G Wool, who manifested astonishnent that
ID civi1ian should be appointed to that post VII
l $AnF nxr$ %n1 tf.ytn nf1fSo Hf In 4r