Fremont journal. [volume] (Fremont, Sandusky County [Ohio]) 1853-1866, 1862-07-25
speech of senator Chandler.

Mr.. Chandler (Rep. Mch.) referred to the
fact that the Committee on the conduct of the
War had been engaged in investigation and had
collected deal of evidence. Referring to the
battle OF Bull Run, he said there was a column
OF 600 under Patterson ordered either to at
tack the enemy, or else keep him engaged, so
that he could not reinforce at Manassas. Pat
terson teegraphcd that johnson had superior
force and had received large reinforcements,
when the fact was that johnson received no re-
intorcemonts, and had less force than Patterson
The reason of the loss of the battle of Bull Run
was the delay from Thursday till Sunday by
reason Of the Quartermaster's supplies not com.
ing, the delay of sunday morning in consequence
OF keyes brigade not getting in position, the ar
rival OF Johnsons reinforcements the disaster
in placing battery Thousand yards in advance
and mistaking rebel regiment for 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
10th of December, the roll was l95435 men, with
l3 regiments not reported, mostly intended for
Gen. Burnside, all under command of Gen. Nc
Clellan. He then referred to the battle of Balls
Bluff reading the orders to Deyens and to Col
Baker, showing that Baker supposed there were
10000 men within twelve miles of him, aud
there was no evidence of rashness on Che part of
Col. Baker, except exposing his own person.
He quoted from the evidence of Major John
Dix who said that very few men in reinforce
ment would have suificed to drive off the enemy
at Balls Bluff, and this gallant officer offered to
go if they would let him have company Of 100
men. The enemy's batteries We're in n wood,
aud 1T was difficult TO tell what their force
Recess till o'clock.
EVENING SESSION.
Mr.. Chandler resumed his remarks, and read
from the testimony of the General officers con-
cerning the battle of Balls Bluff, to the effect
that reinforcements could easily have been sent
by the way of Edwards Ferry, but Mccall and
Smith were ordered to fall back at the very time
Baker went across the river, and no men were
sent from Edwards Ferry, though the distance
was short.
General Stone sVweavs there were never any
mounted guns between Edwards Ferry and
Balls Bluff. The man who issued the order
must answer TO God for the slaughter of these
brave men in that fight After this wholesale
murder, the whole army of the Potomac retired
except from the front of Washington.
He then read further testimony showing that
the Navy Department applied TO the War De-
partment for 1000 men to hold Matthias Point
and keep open the Potomac, commencing such
application as early as June till in October it
was agreed to send men, and vessels were gath
cred there by the Navy Department, but the
troops were not sent by the appointed time, and
the Navy Department could not find out the
reason.
The evidence further stated that the Presi-
he could with this plan but Gen. Mcclellan OBJ
lected, because he feared the arrangements for
landing could not be made. Thus, he said the
nation was disgraced for months by the block
ade of the Potomac, and the capital beseged by
force at no time half that of the United States.
In December, the nation began TO clamor for
movement, and not for a movement, and the
Committee on the conduct ofthe War urged the
necessity of some movement, and the President
and Cabinet were in favor of some forward move
ment, and they were assured by Gen. Mcclellan
that a move would be made very soon--that he
never intended to go into winter quarters and
he did not.
Our brave mon spent the winter in canvas
tents. AT last, in january. the President gave
an order to forward, and those glorious events
took place at Fort Donelson, Fort Henry, New
bern, DC, and do-nothing strategy seemed TO
give way to works, and the day Of spades, pick
axes and shovels was over.
On the 23d ofFebruary the Army of the Po-
tomac was ordered TO move, but it was not
ready. At last on the 10th Of March it did
move, under the protest of its commander. On
the 10th of March the army numbered 100000
men by muster roll They marched on Man
assas and the wooden guns of Centreville, and
the enemy, less than 10000 quietly moved away
At a council of war eight Generals voted not
TO advance on Manassas, but 10 leave the enemy
there and sneak around by Annapolis. Seven
out of the eight of these generals were appointed
by the advice of Gen Mcclellan. But the Sec
retary Of war overruled this, and made the army
move ON Manassas.
Why the magnificent army of 100000 did not
march on Richmond no one knows, but at last
Mcclellan divided the army and sailed for Fort
ress Monroe. The Committee on the conduct
of the War summoned Gen. Wadsworth, who
swore that be had only 1902 men left to pro-
tcct Washington, and not a single gun mounted
on wheels, and part of this force was new and un-
IL. Il II.
He (Chaedler) then read from the testimony
of John Tucker, Assistant Secretary of War,
who testified that prior TO the 9Th April l2000O
men were sent down to Mcclellan, that Frank
Inns division was sent 10000 more, the lst of
June McCall's division, 10000 more, and about
that time 1000 from Baltimore and Fortress
Monroe; the last Of June Shields division, about
5000 men, sent, making total of $4,000 men
sent to General Mcclellan prior to the engage
ment before Richmond.
Mr. Tucker further testified that he did not
know of any other force which could have been
sent 10 Gen. Mcclellan. Thus, MIR. Chandler
said, ID is shown that $4,000 of the best frooDs
that ever stood ON Gods footstooi have been
sent TO Gen. Mcclellan, and yet the reasonable
press Of the country was hownlig against the
Secretary of War because he had not sent REIN
forcements to Gen. Mcclellan.
He read further, from the testimony Of Gon-
eral Meigs corroborating Mr.. Tucker, and say
ing Aual nc DtlleNct CNtf llilnB AndA NCClcIdn
asked for had been promptly sent to him 10y the
Government.
Mr.. Chandler continued, saying that McClel-
Ian lost more men in the trenches, five to one,
than ever fell from the enemy since the army
went To Yorktown. AT last when part Of the
army whipped the enemy at williamsburg Nc
Clellan, at long distance from The field OF bat
tie wrote dispatch TO the Secretary Of War,
that he should try 10 hold the enemy in check,
but they were TO fast for him. The road TO
Richmond was open, and all ho had TO do was
TO march out Of the swamps aud into Richmond,
but lie found the most swamp he could and set
right down in the middle of il, and went to work
digging trenches, and thus tens of thousands of
brave men were lost there by sickness. Then,
after waiting till the enemy chose, for it would
not be strategy TO attack them till they were
ready, we kept on digging trenches, till at last
the battle OF Fair Oaks was fought, when the
whole rebel force was hurled on a small portion
Of our army, who whipped them and drove them
back pei into Richmond and across James
River. But ofcOurse we did not follow them
that would not be fair TO follow a whipped enc
my, and so the battle Of Fair Oaks was lost, that
is to say, We won brilliant victory, but it did
us no good. Ii would have been unfair to take
advantage of a routed army, We magnani-
mously stopped and commenced digging.
There was no army in our 'front.' and no in-
trenchments In front, but we did not know what
else 10 do and so we began 10 dig ditch and we
kept digging bitches until they had impressed
and drilled an army of soldiers from their entire
| population, and they sent Jackson on a raid TO
| Winchester and we waited for him to come back
txrtfh \ IL.