The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1862-07-22

wrhad 81 hat tuehoat sent up the day from
I've orr % e, tee PlesIien. saol !. aad v. ssns
La mum -ndtey ia concluded MOI TO ssni thea.
Sa a a ii at i We ~ r i o'ds fo d 4 a
not 4 VA III a eoncn : that /, ev sh.'il Fl hs Ne
NJ ~ and NJ sent oosn Word - g pal Cav y D. re-
ttes never Neet; aud never vi t5e y.s
We he set our mats 90 q ~ tivr W. told re- re
ne eject o. had made LIT e r er sho'd r lore
!. p; tasve La ne vessels ad soal4 e ROY bate
hRftie rss, /, soui1 her. Il tlat noi
~ an Il would re Of 70 ise % eestloy tho haercs
thes w,rs NJ uee. pied oy oar uoas We "A hin ihnt
r. a. Tue. light M h. sery pos truL and
I. Z 'aael was Covered They aeeofdins's Nen' our
have har great assigned FOR this
Ce n toa ht It would ing ON General II a3aHeht o
,s On . d a9 he i ps w as e s %srf ia e.
river. President asei.ie he NY .e
81, C.ean. And he mani esIed more fseIine sui
sppo .,nent Than have lore seen him exhibit waen ne
qa,suon-Generai Mcclellan objected to furnishing the
Acknowledgement 81 OFT commenced
Cuestion-but alternard General Mcclellan obJeeteN
An,wes-Yes. sir: TWAS continued BY nim.
Mr. wRicHr-I desire to ask the Senator from Michigan
. question. t&M
Ms. cHANDLgR-Certainy.
Mr.. WKlGHT-Ihe Senator seems to be presenting est-
mony taken before the Committee the Conduct VI tho
War.
Mr.. CHANpIER-Yes, sir.
Mr.. WRISRr-f desire TO know whether II is presented
Al the Instance OF the cOmite0f
Mr.. CHANDLER-Yos, sir by o vote OF the committee.
Mr. WRGRT-l am member Of the committee, and
was not aware of IT,
Mr.. CHANpIEs-After consultation II was agreed by
General scCiean that four regiments should be FUR
nshed, and the time fixed for their embarka
ton. AT the appointed tirnc tho vessels were ready,
steam up and transports alongside: and thus they
remained all night but no troos appelred. Upon
inquiry to the The General in Chief informed tho
Secretary OF the Navy that he did send the troops
because he feared the arrangements for landing we're not
perfected. The Secretary OF the Navy informed hiin
that when the navy and army co-operaed 1t was ths
duty the navy provide boats for landing, and that
pie provision hld been made; whercupon that night
fixed upon as tho limo embark the troofs Again
tine boats wese in readiness Steam up and the gallant
sailors and marbles for the Fray; but again were
they disappointed The troops did not arrive Where
upon the Navy Department informed the War Depart.
mcl that 1t considered the refusal to furnish troops
virtual Abandonment OF tho Potomac to the rebel block
ade that the vessels required for the Southern
pedcn aud would at be scnt 10 their destinations
and thus for months the nation disgraced by the
rebel blockade OF capital and many millions of dollars
wasted in expensive transportation, which small force
diciousiy posted might have prevented. Mr.. Fox, IN
answer to the question whe her this small force would be
saie on Matthias font replied, Ccrtaniyi our vessels
can shc the Point upon both sides for a long dis
tancen Why was. this disgrace 50 long submitted
tor No man knows or attempts 10 explain. Month III or
month OF tho most splendid armies the world had
ever seen, of 900 men, permitted itself aud the ua
onal capital TO 10 besiegsd by force never exceeding
one half its own number During the month Of Doccm.
Der the nation became impatient. The time had arrived
and passed when we were promised forward move
ment. The roads good, the weather splendid the
army in high condition ana eager for tho fray. How
long the loads aad weather would permit the mcyeent
no man could predict still there WAS no movement The
generals with great unanmty, declared that the army
had reached its maximum proficiency as volunteers
but still there was no movement. Under these cir
cumstances, the Committee the Conduct Of the War
asked inorview with the President and Cabinet and
urged that the winter should be permitted to
without action, as would lead to an incacuabe loss Of
Life and treasure By forcing bravo troops into sum
mer campaign in hot and to Thorn inhospitabe climate
The President and Cabinet united In the desire that
an immediate advance should be made but It was not
made, although were assured by Gen. Mcclellan that
il would be very soon that he had int onton Of gong
into winter quarters and he did not. While the enemy
erected nuts at Centreve and Manassas for
their winter quarters brave and eager troops spent
the most uncomfortable winter ever known in the eli
mate under CANVASS thousands and tens Of thousands
Of invalid soldiers throughout the length and breadth OF
TIE land will attest. Why did not the army in all
Decembes, why did it not go into winter quarters?
No man knows, Lor IS any reason assigned On the lst
day Of January 1862 and for months previous TO TINT
date the armies Of the republic were occupying purely
defensive position upon the whole line Missouri to
the Atlantic, until about the OF January the
President and Secretary OF War issue be order forward.
Then the brave Foote took the initiative, soliciting two
thousand from Haieck hold Fort Henry he
had captured it with his guboats They promptly
furnished and Henry fell then Donsson, with its fifteen
electrified. Credit given where credit
due. Do nothing strategy gave way to an " mme-
date advance upon the enemys works. and the days OF
spades and pcksxes seemed 10 DO sn.od GA the ODD Of
February Toward movement upon our whole line
ordered, but did not take place. The Army Of tho Poo
ready; but the 10th Of March il moved,
against the protest Of the Commanding General and eight
twelve OF tho commanders OF dvIsOl6, but tie
President memorable, and tho movement must DO
made. II proceeded 70 Centreyille. and there found de-
serted huts wooden artillery and ntronchnsns which
could and be successfully charged by cavalry. II
proceeded to Manassas and found worthy
Of the name camp and dead horses for trophies,
Tho enemy less than forty thousand men had leisurey
and stores Oar Army Of the Potomac, that 10th
Of March, showed by .ts mustsrrol force $50 900
Comment Is needless The grand Amy Of the Potomac
proceeded towards Gordonsville, found enemy,
paired the railroad, and then marched back again Why
this grand Army CT the Potomac did not march upon
Richmond has never been satisfactorily explained
and probably never will be. Que reason
signed was lack q transportation; but there were
railroads, one BY way of alus icreek and Frcde
ricksburg, the other via Manassas aud Gordonsvie,
which could have been repaired at tho of ten miles
per day, and ARMY ample TO guard IL. Had his
overwhelming force proceeded directly 10 Richmond by
these lines would hayo spent the LIST OF May in Rich
mond and ere ID the rebellion would have osen oaisa
army the world iss Tor five hundred years,
Napoleon fought hundred and thirty thoa
sand upon one battle field Yet shs noble army
divided AMI virtually .acrlced by some Who IL the
culprit. Before the advance upon Manassas General
Mcclellan Changed his plans, and demanded to be pof-
inted leave the enemy ntrenched at Centrevo and
Manassas 10 leave tho Potomac bockaded and TO take
his army 10 Annapolis by land, and there embark them
the Uf the enemy ~ surprise him. In the council
Of war called uioa this rrspostbn, the G mmandIng
General and eight cut II teelve OF the commanders
or divisions (aad heie permit me TO say that
| am informed thar OF tho eight Generals
were appointed upon the recommendation oC Gene
raj Nciellan vc cd that was not safe TO advance
n,on ma wooden guns OF and to adopt thc
plan Of rasn. The President AID the Secretary
Of War overruied this pusillanimlus decision and
PEELED Mcclellan move Immediately upon tina onemy's
works. marched, and tho trophies o. that mcrno
radio campaign known TO the Senate and tho country
At Fairfax, General Mcclellan changed bis plan ana d.
ciJcd not TO advance upon ths robes with his whole
force but return to Alexandria divide his army and
m,ark for Fortress Monroe and Yorktown twas de-
cdsd that As 900 should be left for the defence If
the capital and he permitted to embark After much
delay (unayoiasbe III the movement Of 50 vast force
with its materially the Generalin Chief himself
embarked. alter no sailed, u TO the know
ledge The COMMITTEES the Conduct Of the War that
the capital with its vast accumulation OF material u
war had been loft by General Mcclellan virtually with
defence, and the snemy's whole force large small
was Untouched in front. The committee mmed ately
summoned General Wads worh the Genor nj
and Military Governor Of the District, who, upon oath
made part OF his testimony tho following statement to
theSscretarys-
HEApauARrERs MILITARY DssaIcT OF WASHINGTON
WAsnIssr6s, ID. G., April 2, 1852.
SRI have the honor 10 submi, the following condensed
OF the forces under my command Tor the defences
or Wilmington
Infantry. .I5333
It'll sEx