Cleveland morning leader. [volume] (Cleveland [Ohio]) 1854-1865, 1862-05-02

nufses on board the Magnolia, ana Doctor
Smith ana - corps on the Glendale, are
eminently entitled 10 the thanks Of the peo-
pie Of the State for the patient and per-
sevroing cars aud pains and labor, for the
uuWearied attention night and dsy which
thsy bestowed upon our unfortunate and suf
fering soldiers who have sacrificed their
health and many Of them their lives In the
defense Of the country.
Il tis due 70 these gentlemen that should
say, that with very lew and lnconsideFable
exceptions, they discharged the exceedingly
onerous and lRbOrious duties which devolyed
upon them with q seal and industry which
Is worthy of ell praise.
With the exception of the expedition
which you propose to send TO- St. Louis
there Is perhaps no other point where our
volunteers are concentrated Ia sufficient tnum-
bers 70 warrant you in sending boat or
other means Of transportation to bring home
the sick and wounded.
But would suggest 10 you whether 1t
would not be well, wherever any portion Of
our troops may be located, to send an agent
to provide for sending home our sick and
wounded, ct the expense Of the State, by
such means Of transportation as may be
available. We have some in the hospital
s. Fort Donelson, some at Nashville, some in
the mountains of Western Virginia, some In
General Banks command, in the valley OF
Virginia.
There are many gentlemen In the State,
every Vsy suitable for such service VINO
would gladly undertake ii, by simply having
their expenses borne, without any comPen-
sstion.
There are other duties which might be de-
veloDed upon such an agent There is COM
/ plsint In the army on the Tennessee, that
some of the Quartermssters and Oommissa-
ries neglect or do not understand their du-
ties, and that the men are not supplied with
the rations to which they are entitled, and
which might be irrnished BY proper diligence
and industry.
Itisnot strange that in an army Of more
than one hundred thousand men, scattered
over more than ffty square miles, regiment
al or Brigade Quartermaster or Oommiasary
should not know where everything be is en-
titled to is to be found.
An active and intelligent agent whose
business 1t would be to go everywhere and
know everything, would be Of great servics
in furnishing necessary information to these
officers.
At the risk Of being charged with imperti-
nence, must be permitted to give my opin.
ion of the part which the Ohio troops played
ia the late battle at Pittsburg Landing.
l have spent two days upon the battle
ground. in constant intercourse with officers
and men Of all grades and ranks, from Major
Generals commanding divisions, to private'
in the ranks, and have availed myself Of thesC
facilities to the utmost Of my power, to pro
cure such information as would enable me Il
form a correct judgment in the premises.
And I have no hesitation in declaring i
to be nv settled and deliberate conviction
that the Ohio volunteers have been basely
slandered, and that, in truth, not single
regiment from Ohio is justly chargeable with
eowardice, or with any other misconduct II
that battle.
That the disasters of Sunday, April 9Th
were the result of surprise, which is justly
charReable upon the commanding officers
aRd not upon the men on whom the respon
sibIlity Is now sought to be thrown. When
ever the occasion shall demand, justify, oi
excuse q statement Of. the facts and circum
stances upon which this opinion is based, an6
the names OF the officers whose criminal neg
lipence has occasioned the disaster of tina
day, I shall be prepared to give them.
In my Judgment the honor Of the State
and Justice to our brave volunteers, demand
that thorough examination should be had
and the responsibility thrown where it justly
belongs.
The statement herewith submitted gives
the names of the volunteers who were brough
up on the Glendale, with the regiments Il
which they belong. It will be seen that th'
whole number is two hundred and forty
nine.
This includes Surgeon General Weber, VIII
was found at Paducah, very i'll, and va
brought to Cincinnati, where be was left oI
account of his being too feeble to go at ono
20 his residence in Cleveland.
also submit statement Of the expense
incurred by me in the expedition. OOlone
Bliss will submit to you q detailed ststemen
of the expenses of the expedition, which vii
range somewhere between $2, 500 and So, ,0oC
All of which Is respectfully submitted.
Yours, &e, B. STANTON.