The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1861-07-26

interesting Expose or the OpersfA cns Of
the Secretary or War-Ths UnsOA1 De-
fence Committee and General Wool The
way patriotic Services are Rcw@ssI> de-
Curious Facts for the People, &c., 81.
Az meeting of the Union Defence Committee Md
yesterday, very interesting letter was recssyAd
from General Wool and read before the cemmisscs&
II was complete statement Of his connection with
the members Of the COMMITTEE and explanation OF tho
sending of Of troops defend Washington at the Of
It's threatened attack by the rebel force without proper
authority from the Secretary OF War In it he ab'f
tends himself from the made upon him By hs
enemies and shows the return that was made him by ts
Secretary Of War for his patriotic exertion to the
capital and uphold the dignity Of the government The
following is a copy Of the letter.
HEADQUARTERS, /
40 THE UNION Defence COMMITTEE, New York
Hon > DRAPER, Vice Charman-l herewith present you
WIN statement Of the dongs Of committee and the
part performed in connection, which led TO my beng
placed IN my present position hope that you Will give
1t an attentive perusal
The causes may be found in the following condensed his
tory OF the services rendered in the execution Of I'M
portant and responsible duties assumed on my part att
moment OF grea, peru to the country when the fcde
raj capital In imminent danger being taken posses
sion of by rebels from Virginia and Maryland
You will recOllec tho attack upon a Massachusetts
regiment passing through Baltimore, which resulted in
destroying several long bridges between Baltimore
Philadelphia OF divers railroad tracks and cutting the tele
graph wires leading from Washington 10 the North pro
venting for Six days any communication between the ates
city and the Northern States II was under these crcum
STAGES visited Governor Morgan found him in state
Of alarm for the safety Of tho capital which he appre
hensve would be taken possession OF by the secessonts
While with him he received Geographic despatch m
hurry troops with all possible haste Washington He
alsc received despatch rendering the Of Coonc
Elsworhs regiment with request TO accept Of It, which
he complied with at my earnest recommendation, whenl
gave orders TO Colonel Iompkms United States Quarter
master at New York. 10 tarusb transportation and Malos
Ea,cn. CoMmissary OF Subsistence, thirty days rations
each soldier for many regiments might be orderes
by the Governor TO Washington ordered that numbes
of raons the troops could only reach Washington
by ethee the Potomac or Chesapeake Bay
Governor Morgan left the evening Saturday Apru
20, for New York Informed him would follow on Mon
day Oh the next day the Governor transmitted by tele
graph the following letter
Genera, ,o,x Wool, rrv New YonT april rig e. dSSa
that y0o proceed York tomorrow to superinisnd
into he service of he general government IL is eincn
Sh this s T As army of the s
On the day received the following letter by els
graph from Thurow Weed
,ens WOOL Sfy 1e9s Asf "a 1881 70,
are 70 be here deem advisable from instructions haN
be al the Aston House with me. THuRLOW WEED.
By Mr Weeds letter you will perceive that was e1
pected to be with him at the Aston House. which could
not assent to from the circumstance that had already
engaged quarters at tho St Nicholas Hotel to which place
had directed all letters dispatches &c intended for
to be sent
Gu Monday, 22d April, proceeded to New York and
took quarters the St. Nicholas Soon after my ariva
Wood Cd On and IN t.ko M
the Astor House. previous to which had been earnestly
requested TO do so by Mr. Stetson, 10 which declined
and from tho fact that ii would produce confusion elc
graph dispatches constantly being received from
the Governors OF States and other persons
On the 23d the Union Defence Committee called me-
among whom were General Dix, Chairman; Mr. Draper,
Vice Chairman Ex-Governor Fish, Alessrs Evarts, Wet
more, Dehon, Grinne Ba,cbford, Marshall Sloan and
others They desired to know what prepared to do
this hour of great peril TO tho countryside capital be-
ing imminent danger of being taken by the rebelss
replied anything that would the capital for the pre-.
servaton Of the Union depended its safety pro
eramme arranged, which approved Of in behalf
the United States, and Immediately set about carrying
into effect In this place it may be proper TO say
minded the committee that had assumed fearful
sponsbiliy and that probably would be tho only vic.
TIM but under the circumstances was prepared to make
the sacrifice, If by il tho capital could DO saved
II must not be forgotten that at this time the citizens OF
the whole North East and West in the highest state
OF excitement from apprehension that the capital OF the
Union would fall into OF the rebos Of the South
and in the city Of New York they ready dcnounce
the administration and oven threatened TO overturn tho
government and elect Dictator because Of the loss Of
Norfolk with the navy depo-whch had cost many mil.
ions-and Harpcrs Ferry where VIC had an armory for
the manufacture Of arms and the federal capital In dam
ger OF similar fate; and all, asserted from the
gross neglect OF the administration 10 provide the
sary means for their protection.
under such circumstances, with all communica.
tons closed between Washington and the North that
entered, IN conjunction with the Union Defence Commit
tee, upon the important duties which the emergency
seemed to demand No time was TO be lost as appeared
TO every one with whom held conversation, In for
wardng troops for the defence aud protection of the capt.
tai The whole country was organizing and armng with
determination to march to Washington
On my arrival at New York found acquisitions from
the Governors Of nine States for and ammunition.
a OF whom by my ORDERS furnished with greater
or less number of arms and many rounds Of ammun
ton could be spared Prompt and energetic measures
adopted by myself, well as the committee to
cure the capital Ships were chartered, supplies fur
nished and troops forwarded with the utmost dspach to
Washington, via the Potomac river and Chesapeake
Bay to Annapolis Steamers sent to protect
ported to be OIL Cape Henry All vessels carrying
troops and supplies were either armed or conveyed u
their places Of dostnatOniD all which support
ca and greatly aided by Commodore Brecse The steam.
ship Quaker CITY, after landing her troops at Annapolis,
was ordered to report TO Colonel Dtmmck, commanding
Fortress Monroe to the transportation Of cannon
&c, from Norfolk to Old Point Comfort to bcsiege that
fortress aud also 70 look for prvaees and protect
our vessels going up the Potomac and Chesapeake Bay.
On the requistou OF Colonel Dimmick, ordered provi
sous, carriages ammunition aud implements to Fortress
Monroe
Beng informed that the troops at Washington
short OF provisions, ordered Major Eaton until other
wise directed to send by Perryvie Annapolis thirty
Thousand rations daily All which was promptly, ef1
GENTLY successfully and without accident whatever,
executed ana as was reported saved the metropolis from
the ravages Of war and capture by tho rebels OF Virginia
and Maryland
Instead of ordering the Governor Of Illinois, az
applied for, requested him take possession Of the
Arsenal at st LOUIS also telegraphed Ex-Governor
Banks to assist the Governor in taking the Arsenal and
for the purpose seLt special messenger 10 the
Hon f. Blair with the request that he would assist in
securing the arsenal With The return OF the messenger
received the thanks OF Mi Blair for the interest had
manifested Ia the people oil the West and the Governor
Of Illinois tciegrapted me that he had received from the
Arsenal twenty thousand stand Of arms and hun
drcd and TED thousand rounds Of ammunition two six
FOUNDER guns and ammunition for the same also upon