St. Cloud Democrat. [volume] (Saint Cloud, Stearns County, Minn.) 1858-1866, 1862-08-28
CONDUCT 'oFTHE WAR.
Speech Of Senator Chandler, 81 of
''1 Michigan .2"..:2T'
THE BATrLEs OF BULL RUN AND BALLS
BLUFF

tuGAl vACStANStSO. AsCACAlAuS ~ tuc Odte
tie Of Bull Run, he said there was a col
ulup -of 10000 men, under Patterson, or
dered either to attack the enemy or else
keep him engaged, 90 he could not rein:
force at Manassas. Patterson telegraphed
that Johnston had superior force; and
had received large reinforcemen:s, when
the fact was that Johnston received more:
and hod less t0rce tlIan Pat
terson. The reason OF the loss Of The bat:
tie lf Rull Run was the delay from Thurs,
day till Sunday, by reason Of the: Quar-
terma>ter's supplies not coming the de.
lay of Sunday morning in Consequence of
keyes's brigade not getting in position
the arrival Of Johnstvn,s rsinforcements
the disaster in placing battery thou
sand yards in advance, and n'lstaking a
rebel regimept for, y battery support, and
the failure to bring up the reserve at the
critical time. But The losses Of Bull Run
were small, and the people rallied till, on
the l 9th Of December, the roll was l95, 1885
men, with thirteen regiments not reported
mostly intended for Gen. Burnside, all un-
der command Of Gen. Mcclellan :.
He then referred to the battle of Ball -
Bluff, reading the orders to- Dcvens and
Colonel Baker, showing that Baker sup
posed there were 10000 men within
twelve miles of him, and there was 20
evidence Of rashuess on the part Of Colon.
el Baker, except exposing his own person.
lie quoted f.om the evidesce Of Major
John Dix, who said that \ few :men iu re-
Inducements would have suhiced,t drive
off the enemy at: Ball Bluff. aud this gal
l.nt officer offered to 80, if they would let
him havea company Of LEO men,. The en-.
emy's batteries were IN WOOD, ard it was
difficult to tell what their force was.
Recess till 7:o'clock.
EVENING SESSION.: Il
Mr.. Chandler resumed his remarks, and
read from the battle Of Balls Bluff, to the
effect that reinforcemepts could easii,
have been sent by the way. Of ,Edrara' :
Ferry, at the very time Baker wa.
sent across the river, and nc
men were seut " from Edwards
Terry, though the distance was shvrt.-
Gen. Stone swears there never was any
mounted guns between Edwards Ferry
and Balls Bluff. The man who issued
che order must answer to God for the
slaughter Of the brave men in that e. ht
After this wholesale murder, the whole
army of the Pototl,ac retired, excep. from
| in front Of Washington! lie then read
further testim"ny showing that the Nav.
T Department applied TO- the War pepa'',
fment for 4,0UO men to hold Matthias Poin,
aud keep open the Potomac, commencin:
such application as early as June, till il
! October it was agreed TO send u,en, ant
vessels we're gathered there BY the Nav,
Department but the troops here were mo-
sent by the: appointed time, and the Navy
Department could not find out the reason
| The evidence further states that tht
President assisted the Navy Department,
as much as he could with this plan bu
IGen Mcclellan O jected, because he fear
ed the arrangements for landing could MOI
be made. Thus, he said, the nation VA.
fdis,raced for months BY the blockade ol
! the Potomac and the capital by force a,
no time half chat Of the United States. -
] In December the nation began to clamo
tor 4 movement, and the committee on tn,
conduct Of the war urged the necessity o
some movement; and the President ant
.ECsbinct were ii favor Of some forwar,
movement, aid they were assured by Gen
SfcC Clellan that movement would be'mad,
very Soon !; that he never intended ~ x
into winter quarters, and that he did not
! Our crave men spent the winter ia 1,can
lvaS tents Z mat 2t,' 3aa, seIags~-x~a5