Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1853-1862, 1861-11-29
NORTHERN NEWs AND LIEg.


made public speech, charging the responsibility
for the failure productive Of such grievous results
upon Gen. Scott We publish his remarks and it is
only fair to say they contain much that is new snd
important regarding the terrible laundering which
had its elimination in the panic Of the 2lst Of July
Gen. Patterson claims that he proposed to do the
things which We all now ace should have been done
that he gave timely information of the movements
/ of Johnston's fcrces-that he could have been st
| Manassas the day the battle was fought. but tele-
graphed and waited in vain for orders. The retire
ment of Cen Scott gives Gen. Patterson oppoF-
unity Of defending himself without pre- udice to the
cause Of the country. his statements are strictly
reliable and they seem 10 have been made with
csrnness and precision, while those most important
can easily be verified or dispFoved b. documents,
| they go far toward generating him from blame.
| speech from Geaeral PaseersOn-EEis
Campaign Observation-Disclosures OF the
I orders which ne Received.
At Philadelphia, on Saturday afternoon, the 10th
instant, the members Of the LIST City Troop met in
commemm0ration Of the formation Of the company
in IVA. After assembling at the armory, the Troop
proceeded 70 the Continental Hotel where they par
took of the anniversary dinner.
/ Upward Of eighty members, in their handsome
uniform, we're seated aroand the table. At the
further end Of the room hung the cid flag OF the
] Troop, whiehWss borne through the battles Of
/ Trenton ord Princeton.
After these had been ably discussed, General Pat
terson in response to the toast. and three cheers
made a fo-cble speech. explaining his reasons for
ct intercepting General Johnston, previous to the
battle of Manassas Junction. He said that he was
not in the habit Of giving reasons for anything he
did did not do, but in the presence of men of
much intelhgence-a part Of his command IN the
short campaign in the valley of Virginia, he con-
sdered il due 10 them IS well as himself to'giYe
a short statement of facts.
! THE sLASDERs AGAINST GEN. PATTERSON.
During the latter part of July, all August, and
part of September, there was no SANDER against
him 80 gross that it could not be asserted and re-
iterated with IMMUNITY and swallowed with avidty.
The gentlemen Of the troop knew how false these
SANDERS Were He had submitted to them in quiet
although he had the documents in his possession
to prove that he did all that he ordered to DO
and more than any one had right to expect under
the circumstances in which he Rnd HIS command
were placed, and he defed any man. high or low, to
put his finger on an order disObeyed.
no FALSE STEP MADE.
The gentlemen of the troop were witnesses Of
what v as done, and he asserted what they knew to
4 be true-that the column was well conducted.
There was not q false step made, nor blunder
/ committed. The skirmshers were always in front,
and the TANKS well protected. They were caught
| in no trap, and fell into no ambuscade. They re-
! peatedly offered the enemy battle and when they
accepted it, they beat them. There was no defeat
and no retreat with his column.
A FULL INVESTIGATION DEMANDED.
| It might be asked ,"Why have you not made this
statement sooner2D Because the publication of the
documents sooner would have been most detrimen-
| tai to the public interests. he preferred bearing
4 the odium so literally bestowed on him, rather
than clear himself at the expense of the cause in
which we were all engaged. The time had arrived
when the natter could, without injury to the SER
vice. be inquired into and he was determined it
should be done, and that before long all the docu-
ments should be published, and spread before the
American people, unless those whose duty it was to
do SO should in the meantime do him justice.
SOME OF THE FACTS.
He would state few facts On the 81 of June.
he took command at ChambersbUFg. On the 4th,
he informed the Generslin Chief that ne considered
the addition to his force of battery Of artillery
and some regular infantry indispensable. On the
18th of June letter of instruction was sent him, in
which he was told that there must be no reverse;
/ cheek or drawn battle weuld be "a victory to the
enemy, filling his heart with joy, his ranks with
men, and his magazines with voluntary contribu-
tons: and therefore, to take his measures eircuu1s
specify, and attempt nothing without clear pros~
j poet Of success. This was good instruction and
most sensible advice. Good or bad, he was TO obey;
and he did.
IMPORTANT oRDEas
On Friday, the 18th, he was informed that. on the
supposition that he would cross the river on the
next Monday or Tuesday, Gen. Mcdowell would be
| instructed TO make q demonstration on Manassas
| Junction. He was surprised at the order, but
promptly obeyed. On the 18th he reached Hagers-
town, and on the 18th, twothirds Of his forces had
crossed the Potomac. The promised demonstration
1 by Mcdowell in the direction of Manassas juno
ton, not made and on the 10th, just three days
after he had been told he was expected to cross,
he was teegraphed by the General in chief to send
him Sat AL the regular troops, horse and foot
and the Rhode IRand Regiment and Battery and
told that he was strong enough without the regu-
lars and &c keep within limits until he could satisfy
him that he ought to go beyond them. On the 18th
/ he was again telegraphed: " We are pressed here.
/ Send the troops | have twice called for without
delay This was imperative, and the troops were
sent, leaving him without single piece Of artillery
and for the time single troop of cavalry. It was
gloomy night, but they were all brought over the
river again without loss
PLAN OF OPERATIONS PROPOSED.
On the 10th of June he was asked by the General
in Chief TO PROPOSE without delay, plan Of ope
rations On the 2lst he submitted 70 the General
mischief his plan which was to abandon the present
line of operations move all supplies TO Frederick
occupy Maryland flights with Major Doubleday's
heavy guns, and brigade of infantry to support
them, and with everything else-horse, foot, and
artllery-to cross the Potomac at Point of Rocks,
and unite with Col Stone g forces at Leesbufg from
which point he could operate circumstances
should demand, and the Generals orders should
require. No reply was received; but on the 9th,
the General teegraphed to him that be supposed
that he that day crossing the river in pursuit
OF the enemy
THE FORCES.
On that day the enemy was in condition to cross
the river in his pursuit BE had over $4,000 men,
and from 20 to "a guns. Gen. Patterson had about
10000 men and guns, the latter immovable for
want of harness. On the 2Sgh he informed the Cen
eral of the strength of the enemy snd Of his own
force that he would not on his own responsible
ty, attack without artillery, but would do cheer
fully and promptly if he would give him an ex-
plcit order to that effect. No order was given.
On the 29th he received the harness for his single
battery Of six smoothsbore guns. and on the 9oth
gave the order to cross. % the End of July he
crosses, met the enemy, and whipped them.
PROPOSITIONS.
On the 9th of July council was held, at which
all the commanders of divisions and brigades and
chiefs of staff were present Col Stone, the junior
line officer, spoke twice, and decidedly against an
advance advocating direct movement to Shep-
herdstown snd CharlestOWn. All who spoke ops
posed an advance and all voted against one On the
same day he informed the Generai-in- Chief of the
condition of affairs in the valley, and proposed that
he should go to Charlestown and occupy Harper
Ferry, and asked to be informed when he would at
tack Manassas On the 18th he was directed to 20