Daily Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1861-1862, 1862-04-18
~. and bs.v. tia. am no. sup.rssr,Ioabl. in this

nsn and believe that AN not supsrssrvoabls In tas
lVei,y."
the defepss Of the Island to Headquarters at horio.
and 70 the Department Richmond we're neglected. and
treated with iod ference, repaired in person 70 k'oh.
moad and csllsd upon the Secretary OF war ana urged
ia the most inportunats manner, the absolute necessity
Of strengthening the deAoss upsn that Island with al
di.ional men, armament and ammunition. Tie esofe-
ary of War replied verbally 10 bis appeals for reinforcs
u,ns that he had net the TO spare for ais com.
msud G,n. Wise urged upon the Secretary that Gen.
Hussr had about Is 900 in trent OF Norfolk lying
al. in camp fof egst months aud that considerable
portion Of them could be spared for the defence OF the
rear Of Norfolk, and especially, As bis General Wise
district supplied Norfolk and his army With nearly or
quite al OF his corn pork and forage, that reinforce
msots at Roaaoke Isrd absolutely necessary 10
the def No. ct Norfolk forces 10 I've 'front.' and that
uar or special posts should net b allowed 70 men
% slEs nearly all tie men, powder And supplies In re-
70 all bis urgent app>sli for the ntAns OF de!enes,
General Vice. on the 22i January, received the foos.
ing military order No. IL:
HB,jr ,dIsr General Henry A Wi'e, Provisional Army,
will Immediately proceed to Roanoke Island North CARO-
Ina. and assume command of tie ConisdsraH States
troops at that place.
By command Of The See'y Of War,
Isieued) JoHH WrruERa,
Asst. Aej- General"
l. 10 apparent to the committee, from the oorreepon
dspoe on file OF Gen. Wise with the sscretary OF war
G.n Huger his superior efosr, the Governor Of North
Carolina and other persoss that be was fully alive 10
,e Importance Of Roanoke Island and has devoted his
vhos lime and energies and means 70 the dsfsnoss oil
that position and that he s no way responsible TOR the
uufr innate disaster which befs forces upon that Is
land oa the Til and Ssh Of February. But the commit
tse cannot say the same In reference 10 the tnorn
OF the Secretary OF War and the Commanding
Ohcsr at Norfolk Gen. Hugtr Il apparent, that tbs
Island of Roanoke for the dstnc, Of Nor
folk and that General Huger Rad under bis command
4. that point upwards Of $4,000 men, large supply
Of armament and ammunition, and could have thrown
ia q few hours . large reinforcement upon RoAnoke
md and that himself and the Secretary OF War had
timely notice Of the entire iDadtq iacy Of the dseLcs
the want Of men and munitions OF war, and the threat
sninr attitude Of the enemy. But Gen. Huser aad the
Secretary Of War paid practical sttentisn 70 those
ureen. appeals Of Gen. Wss sent forward none Of ms
,rtant =. ssoas, and permitted Gen. Wis and his
nconsd rabs oros 10 remain 10 meet ct least htIesn
thousand men well armed and eq1pped. IL the ssers-
,sry Of War and the Commanding G,nsral at Norfolk
had not the means reinforce General Wise, Why vas
he not ordered TO abandon his position, and save hs
command; but, upon the larry, he was required to
rsnau and slerihoe bis command with no means In bis
In posi- loo to msks his ,ssspe In casa Of defeat
The Oor m,ssr frsn the testimony are therefore con-
strained TO report that whatever Of blame and repon.
SID lily asy Attributable 10 any one tor The defeat OF
our troop At Roanoke Island the s.h OF febuny,
1884, should attach 70 Major General B. Hugsr and the
Iats becretAIy Of WAR; P. Bn auin.
All Of which Ia respectfully submitted.
B. s. GArrHKR, Chairman.