Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1862-03-20
CONGRESSIONAL PROCEEDINGS.
E1roOOseS EssresFigGff0Ss Of Military .sf-
fairs la HfHFltcky and EeHHessee.
NILITARy INVESTIGATION.

the State of Tennessee, and especially with regard to
the recent disaster Fort Doneson aud else
where; and particularly with reference to the
action Of the quartermaster Major B. X. Stern Of that
service before the surrender Of the city Of Nashville
And also with reference to the quantity Of storespo
visions munitions of war and hospital stores which
were loss 70 the government at that place.
Blr. Swan, Of Tennessee, offered am -ndment ex-
cepting the cOmmissary Of that department
Nr Currn said that hitherto he had opposed all resou
tious with reference 60 general investigation made Of the
conduct Of officer and be had also opposed the invest
cation Of the disasters Nashville hitherto but he
was convinced that there need Of investigation.
Judging from what be had heard he that there
fault somewhere and particularly in the quarter
masters department for we had lost stores and govern
ment property Nashville and Fort Donelson which
it would be impossible for replace. He was fully
convinced now that although the patriotism OF the sol
ders Of Tennessee unbounded, and be knew that
they had done their dutyprlvate soldiers well as
ofcers-yet from the surrender Of Nashville and the
/ loss Of immense stores, there stain upon her
escuteheOn forever.
lie had not given heed to idle rumors but from facts
elected he had been brought the conclusion that there
mismanagement somewhere in the department ind
Gated Give these officers opportunity TO y1ndlcate
themselves; and these should turn out to be
true, then let them suffer the fuA extent Of the penalty
which may be imposed upon them.
! Mr. Foote said he hoped the resolution would be
adopted for it proper these Investigations should be
Mr.. Hilton asked if the committee was empowered to
/ send for persons and papers
! Mr. FO0te said that the committee had the Implied
power but he intended to have the dispositions Of i'm
portant witnesses properly subscribed and sworn in.
]
ton that this resolution s 70 De DEBATED ne hoped
that the gentleman FROM Florida would that the
House go INTO secret session. tCries Of "Oh, ~
Mr Hilton said tlat the endowment OF the committees
with power send fOr persons and papers might call
from their posts efficient military officers, and thus
danger the public interest lie was opposed 10 investga-
ton By this House. and he sorry he had not opposed
it long ago He sorry 10 say TO the gentlemen from
Tennessee that he must oppose bis resolution but he
gave notice that he would oppose all resolutions Of this
character from this time out The Department was the
proper authority to Investigate these matters, and not
| Congress.
the opinon Of the gentleman who had Just spoken. That
member desrous that no investigation be made Of
alleged niquy Of those serious aud terrible disasters
that have becouded the glorious horizon Of this Con
Nj Hilton sad that be did desire iuvs steation but he
thought it properly belonged TO the War Department
Mr. FoOts said that he had mistaken the ems Oers view
ia that respect buT he would quote from authority not
to the Secretary War and that functionary had said
that he desired investigation, aud hoped it would be
made by Congress This body was the grand mquisiuon
I IF the nation.
Mr. Atkins arose for the purpose Of supporting the
solution Il was known that the people 0f Tennessee
had lost confidence in General Albert Sidney Johnston
BE did not thnk that these things should 0e Sept from
the public ear It had come through private letters and
through official correspondence, and he would be
the trust which he owed TO his constituency he
did give his support and material aid in favor Of the
passage of this resolution
Mr Barksdsle said that be thought it would be better
that these things should be presented TO the House in
session. These debates would Introduce matter
which should not so to the public.
Mr. Adkins said that while Investigations being
made they should also be made into the conduct OF Gen
Johnston Gen Johnston had command Of the entire
army Of the West until General Beauregard was
Co umbus He knew that the Cumberland river when
swollen, would afford entrance into every part Of Ten
nesee He knew that the Tennessee river, high tide
would conduct the enemy vessels into the very heart Of
the Southern COntederacy. He knew that it would let
the eneIay upon bis But Gen. Johnston had but
one ldea-a single ide''-to make stand st Bowling
Green. Il his great idea Now. he would not m-
peach the patriotism and ehvalry Of General Albert sid
ney Johnston, but it would be well enough to take pat
tern from Lincon's government and whenever gene
raj lost battle him. unless there SUI
feiently strong reason and 1sabe for his fail
When Gen. Johnston fell back from Bowling Green he
had between and fifteen thousand troops Before he
had entered Nashville BE- had determined surrender IT,
Before he reached the confines OF that proud city Of Ten
uessee, the capital OF State whose citizens turned
their bssk upon the foe During the three days Of the
terrible struggle at Fort Donesou, when men stood
foot deep Ia blood and snow the citizens Of Ten
nessee showed as much gAlanry as any State in the
CoufederacY
General johnston had been desired to make stand at
Nashville but he declined doing il. The speaker had
heard hat the President had very high opinion Of
General Albert Sidney Johnston. If such the
he sorry 20 differ with him. The people the army
under General JOnston's command, and the people OF
Tennessee had los. confidence in the military capacity
Of General Johnston.
Mr. Swan said that the people iu East Tennessee were
obliged 20 contend with the of foes, hypocrtcsl
and domestic enemiesi but very many OF the people IN
his region true; and Of hundred 10 nine
hundred votes given him in the district there
from seven 20 nine hundred uneer the Confederate
army.
Mr. Moore Of Kentucky, defended Gen Johnston He
wished 70 give wide scope sga0n IL was only
until Of late that Gn. Johnston had many twenty
Z I've thousand efficient in the field. He asked
for reutorcemens during th btte at Fort DouelsOn
He could reinforce that point for the instant that
be moved his army from the point AT which he vas sta
toned the large force Of the enemy amounting one
hundred thousand men, would have marched on Nash
vile and ihus the whole army instead Of portion Of H
would have been captured ard Gen. Johnston would
have been where the gallant Gen Bucku-r is, ina
exile. Gen Johnston had no power prevent the pas
sage Of gunbOas up the Tennessee river Five steamers
lying off Nashville and had been for six months
past and the most that be knew to work gh at one
CATION TO fa =s-re it operly belonged What would
Love oeen the consequence Of making stand az Nash
ylei That beautiful city, instead Of standing and
ia condition still TO be the pride Of the South she
taken would in all probability, have been in ashes
Why did not the people Of Nashville themselves fortfy
the cityf
Mr. said that Gen Johnston had called for 100
or l5cO slaves 10 WORK the ortihcsOns and that the
call had been fully answered when Nashville was sur
rendered Gen Johnston had been importHusd time and
time again f1rfy Nashville but be had failed to do it
The people Of Nashville had surrendered every that
they had-shotguns and everything else Of that sort
those that were there had nothing fight with. lie
understood that vile slanderer had styled them
towards. and had asked why did not the women and
children 90 out and night the foe When the armed
soiderv flying fast when Gems Pillow aud Floyd
would not remain in it when armed forces considered
1t impOhtc and unsafe the question why
did not the women and children hghtl the
eOutemptbe and foul sander that ever appeared in the
columns Of newspaper in the city Of Richmond else
where and the man who perpetrsted it worthy Of
I place upon the scatOid-
Mr.. Moore said that the gentleman evidently had
} reference 70 his speech
The speaker hoped the gentleman would suspend his
remarks his speech disturbed the rersation Of
members on the other side Of the House. ILaught-r
Mr. Foote introduced resolution making more minute
inquiries than that introduced by Mr.. Swan his col
league. BE offered it substitute, and it ac-
cepted
DIR. Foote'S substitute was published yesterday morn
ngI
Mr. Gray, Of Texas thanked the gentleman from Ken.
lucky, Mr. Moore for the defense he made OF General
Albert Sydney Johnston That officer a native Of
Kentucky but be had been adopted citizen Of Texas
Tor some years he did not oppose investigation in any
form, bar he thought that this public exposition was
likely produce g premature condemnation, which be
was supporter Of the resolution just offered he pro
nounced this Judgment parsed upon Gen. Johnston
iltmed unwise aud unjust and calculated produce
premature verdict in investigation lie did not admit
that the people had lost confidence in him Hthe people
OF Tennessee based their bravery upOn the popularity
their leader they the gallant people whom he
hoped gentlemen from that State represented upon this
toor. Fe vmdcated tn patriotism Of Gen. Johnston
! dr Royston Of Arssnsas, called the question.
Mr. F cote asked the yeas and nays.
The resolution was passed-yeas 81, nays D
I
The " NIGHTINGALE BRIG ABE. We are
oratiied to learn that Rev Mr. Miller, of Natchez
has succeeded in recruiting considerable corps
/ Of nurses among well-kn6wn ladies of Mobile
who viii hold themselves in readiness TO ioin
! him at jackson, when the occurrence or immi-
nence of battle shall make IL probable that
their melancholy services will be in requisition.