, 1862-01-10
The House Investigations.

4 good point las been carried in the House,
in tho adoption Of Ar. ConkliDg's resolution
oi inquiry Us to the disaster at Balls Bluff.
In discussing the same, on the 9th inst, Mr.
Conkling said:
come to light should dim the glory which now
hal}ows the memory Of the deceased Senetor,
is that q reason in . great national question
why this investigation should be hushed up,
and in this respect falsify the truth Of history
Suppose, on the other hand, that this briga-
dter of the regular army, acting in the rank
of a major general, commanding division Of
Thousands Of your brave men, charged with
their safety, their honor, aud their ITcs-sup-
pose, say that such general Is martinez,
so|d;erhip and loyahy-is that reason why
VIC should allow this Investigation to be throt-
tied y Shall We proclaim indulgence and i'm
munity though the revelations that may be
%aae shoRd SS TIE The gs5n Rsash umas Of the
What il the personal Fate or personal fame
Of adozen generals, in comparison with the
preservation and safety Of our great army ROW
standing In the field! With six hundred
thousand men, more than any man VIC have
sixty-t1ree thousand cavalry, although we
were told in July last that he wanted none, and
now more than our generals can find place
for-with this vast force we bare been for SIX
months hemmed in here. The capital Of the
country is Ia beleagured state. With this
| force We nov and again make 80 advance; but
| as often Us We do We are met and outnumbered
bv superior forces, and each time met with ig-
| nominious defeat This state ofshings is owing
| to bafbarous negligence or ignoranee, and Il
behooyes MS to investigate the cause Of all this,
and to hold the parties responsible for 1t NJ. to
| public odiun. # VIC cannot have indemnify
/ for the past, in the name Of humanity, let us
hayc security for the future. # We are to pre-
serve our military prestige, and to hold intact
military principles le. " inyestlEate Yrs nat
the principles Of Democratic election, and let
| it be left to vote Of the army what officers
they viii obey.
l. Nj. Conklipg then gave detailed narrative
Of the Battle Of Balls Bluff, and closed By
saying:
:Iwant it to be distinctly understood, that
pus1 this matter on the attention Of the House
and the country on several points, each o1
which call loudly for explanation, Il "a ezpia.
division Of Gen. Mccall was on the same side
Of the river with Leesburg, within few hours
| march, and get WIS not employed In the at
tack, but another division was selected, lying
on the opposite side Of the Potomac. Sec
9n the a tst ea eoaa
been found. Third, there wns want Of trans
| uortatiou, fn6omnch thHt means Of crossing
: absolutely indispensable were wholly unpro
| 7ided, although they might have been easil!
procured. Fourth, the number OF troops sen
oorer to Balls Bluff was wholly insufficient
t and this though more than the needed numbe
were close at band. Filth, no reinforcement
reached Col. Baker. although, aside from tn
command Of Gen Mccall, there were troop
| and artillery on both sides OF the river within
: four>tmilcs Of the field Of battle. All thes
grounds Of censu7e may be e1p1ainable; II go
& is but Just to the living and The dead ts.at q
opportunity should be afforded.