The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1862-02-22
CONGRESSIONAL.
Important Revelations.
Washington, Feb. Is
REPRESENTATIVES,,

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVE
The Senate's joint resolution providing
stenogfapher for the Committee on the
Conduct of the War being read, Mr. Wick
life, Saveocrat said Congress has, through
that Committee, undertaken the command
of the war.
Mr. Loyejoy, Rep, here called him to
order on the ground of irreleyancy.
| Mr. Wickliffe had merely to say that
| the Committee were not fit to examine in
to the war. He had heard great deal
of the newspapers saying they had the
| General in Chief before them. He did not
know what answer Gen. Mcclellan gave,
excepting from report, and that was, he
| intended to conduct the war according to
his own notions of right. Mr.. Wicklitie
alluded to Napoleon, who took charge Of
| his army on condition that the French
| Chamber Of Deputies would mind their
own business.
Mr.. yaitandigham [sccesh) reminded
the gentleman that Napoleon drove out
the Deputies, and subvcrted the Govern
ment.
Mr.. Wickliffe said, for aught he knew.
the Military Committee might be driven
out.
Mr. Xallandigham replied, not the Com
mittee, but the House Of Congress.
Mr.. Wicklitfe, resuming, said one of
the most disastrous things was the Great
ing a distrust in the constitutional con-
duetors of the war, and incidentally re.
marked that our army would have fought
better at Bull Run if Congress had kept
away. Laughter.
Mr.. Blair replied that Gen. Patterson
had telegraphed that Gen. johnson had
thirty or forty thousand men at Winchrs-
ter, when it was known he had not half
that number. And in response to
question asked by Mr.. Gooch, said he
knew General Patterson TO telegraph eth
er on Friday or Saturday night before the
battle.
Mr.. Covode asked from whom Mr. Blair
received the information.
Mr.. Blair-You had better summon
me to appear before your secret commit
tee.
Mr.. Blair, in farther explanation, said
he had never seen any man who would as
sert that Patterson had yet put himself
10 danger, or ever would-that Gen. Scott
insisted on an advance on Manassas against
the President aud Secretary of War, he
knew to be true.
Mr.. Lovejoy Rep, I'll. made some ex-
plantations about Bull Run. At o'clock
he belived our soldiers were victorious, and
the enemy were on the point of retreat;
our soldiers. however, left the field be-
cause of the rebels having been reinforced
BY General johnson, contrary to expecta-
ton.
Mr.. Blair Rep, No. said Gen. Pat
terson had telegraphed to Washington
that General Johnson had eluded him the
night before, and johnson, it was known,
was thus enabled to participate in the
| fight. When this information came to
the President, Mr.. Lincoln went to Gen.
| Scott to protest dJataa a Increment on
Manassas, but Gen. Scott insisted on ats
being made, and this was Nth FIJI
haeseleage A.at Gen. Beaure9ara had been
reinforced Jy Gen. johnson.
Mr.. Covodc rep, Pa denied that
Gen. Patterson had ever telegraphed any
such thing.
Various gentlemen engaged in lively
running debate about some points concern
ing Bull Run.
Mr.. Covode wanted to set the matter
right but could not obtain the opportu-
nifty.
Mr. Blair remarked that nobody inside
or out of the House, could coatrorerf the
statement he had made.
Mr. Richardson made an earnest appeal
that Mr.. Covode might be heard.
Mr.. Wickliffe, however, gave the floor
to Mr.. Cravens, Union, Ind who said
there was no truth in the charge that Mem
bers of Congress who were at Bull Run, of
whom he was one, were responsible for
the retreat. He neither ran nor followed
the army. He remained at 'Centreville un-
til the next morning, and with others at
tempted to rally our troops, who fought
nobly and well.
Mir. Coyode eventually procured hear
ing. He said he had no controversy with
Mr.. Blair about the number of rebels at
Winchester, but he was astonished to hear
that gentleman say that Gen. Patterson
sent there dispatch of the character in
Dictated. Gen. Patterson never sent such
a dispatch, and did not know on Saturday
that johnson had eluded him.
Mr.. Blair replied that the information
was received here.
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