, 1862-07-25


The generals, with great unanimity, declared
that the army had reached its maximum Of
proficiency as volunteers, but still there Was
no movement. Under these circumstances,
tie committee Oh the conduct Of the war |
aeked an interview With the president aud |
cabinet, and urged that the winter should not |
be permitted to pass without action, as 1t |
would lead to an fncalcutable loss of life and !
SUMMER campaign, IN a hot and to them In
hospttable climate. The president and cabinek |
we're united in the desire that an Immediate |
advance should be made, but it was not n 1de,
although ne were aesured By General McCle."
Ian that 1t would be very soon, that he had no
intention Of going into winter quarters, aud
he did not. While the enemy erected COM
Portable huts at Centre7i1le and Manassas for
their winter quarters, our brave and eager
troops spent the most uncomfortable winter
ever known In this climate, under CANVASS, aS
thousands and tens Of Thousands OF favalid
soldiers throughout the length and breadth of
the land will attest Why did not the army
move IN all December, or why did 1t not go
i1to winter Quarters? No man knows, nor is
any reason assigned.
On the 1st day Of January, 1862, and for
months previous to that date, the armies OF
the Republic we're occupying purely defensive
position upon the whole line from Missouri
to the Atlantic, until on or about the eth Of
0alAa1t tAE pIEeluCNk AHu 6EN1Elal3 " "AE
issued the order Jo,1oard. Then the brave
Foote took the initiative, soliciting 2.00O men
from Halleek to hold Fort Henry after he had
captured IT with his gunbosts. They we're
promptly furnished. aud Henry fell; then Don
s9 Sefn Mth e xas seeTed Sa csedt Ss
was given where credit was due. Do.noth;ng
strategy gave way to an 'timmediste Sd
vance upon the euerny's works." aud the
days Of spades and Pickaxes seemed
to be ended On the 22nd Of February
forward movement upon our Whole line
Was ordered, but did not take place. The
army OF the Potomac was not ready but on
the 10th Of March 1t moved, against the pro-
test OF the commanding general and eight ont
of twelve Of the commanders Of divisions but
the president was Inexorab1e, and the move
ment must be made It proceeded to Centre
vile, and there found deserted huts, wooden
artillery, and intrenchments which could and
can be successfully charged by cavalry It
proceeded to Manassas, and found no fortltica-
lions worthy Of the name, deserted, aban-
doned camp, and dead horses for trophies.
The enemy, less than forty thousand men, had
| leisurtly escaped, carrying asay all his artii-
| lery, baggage, arms and stores. Our army Of
the Potomac, on that 10Th day Of March,
dred and thirty Thousand men. Comment Is
! needless. The grand army OF the Potomac
proceeded towards Gordonsville, found no en-
emy, repaired the railroad. and then marched
hack again.
Why this grand army of the Potomac did
not march upon Richmond hiss never been
satisfactorily explained. and probably never
will be. One reason assigned WAS lack oi
| transportation; but there were two railroads,
one BY way OF Ac4uis Creek and FredeFicks-
burg, the other by way Of Manassas and Cor
louisville, which could have been repaired at
The rate Of ten miles per day, and our army
y IS ample to guard it. Had this oyerWhelm-
| ing force proceeded directly to Richmond by
| these lines, it Tould have spent the LIST d ~ Of
May in Richmond, 5nd ere this the rebellion
would have been ended. This grand army,
aotg commanded, was superior to any army
the world has seen for 500 years. Eapelon I
never fought 130, GOO men on one battle field
Yet this noble army was divided and virtually
sacrificed by some one. Who is the cuipritl
Before the advance upon Manassas, General
Mcclellan changed his plans, and demanded
to be permitted to leave the enemy intrenehet
at Centseyille and Manassas, to leave the Po
!omac blockaded, and to take his army to An
napohs BY land, and there embark them to
tie rear Of the enemy to surprise him. In th
council Of Wat called upon this proposition
the commanding general and eight out Q
twelve Of the commanders Of divisions ian,
here permit me to say that / am informed tina
ssVen Of the eight generals were appointa
upon the re: concentration Of Gen. Clellan,
voted that it WAS not safe to advance upon tn
wooden guns Of CentreVi1e, and to adopt til
LIZ" pau " NdUPA4EAs AAC = A@cAAIAt al
} the Secretary OF War oyerruled this pusi1lan
nous decision, and compelled Mcclellan t
t'move iumt diately upon the enemy's works.
, He marched, and the trophies Of that memo,
: able campaign are known to the Senate au
: | tire country.
; At Fairfax, Gen. Mcclellan changed his pla
aId decided not to advance upon the rebel
i ! With his whole force, but to return to Alex II
!. dria, divide his army, and embark for Fortre:
Monroe and Yorstown. 1t Was decided til:
, forty-hye thousand men should be left for th
defense Of the capital, and he vas permitte
l to embark. After much delay (unayosdabl
| in the movement of SO vast a force, With il
! enormous materially the general-in- chief hiu
self embarked. Som after he sailed it can
/ to the knowledge Of the committee on tt
t coDduct Of the war that the capital, with i
b | vast accumulation of material of war, h
) been left By General Mcclellan virtually viii
e out defense, and the enemT's whole fore
large or small, was untouched in trout II
4 committee Immediately summoned Gener
+ Wa0BWorih, the commanding general, at
t military governor Of the District, Who. upt
+ oath, made part Of his testimony the folio
8 ing statement to the secretary Of war:
HEADQUARTERS MILITARY DIST OF WAsHNG1o
WASHINGTON, D. c.. April 2 1862
Sn: I have the honor to submit the followf
T condensed statement Of the forces under my CO.
mand for the defeuses Of Washington:
lniantry. s.-..--.--..-............. :
d Cavalry (ei1 companies not mounted)....... {