Charles City Republican intelligencer. [volume] (Charles City, Iowa) 1861-1864, 1862-01-16
The Balls Bluff Battle.

HI Dul y Dluu DOtuOs
In the T.. S. House of Represent;
tivcs, last week, Mr.. X. Conkling, {
New York, called attention to the fac
that on the second day of the scssio
a resolution was adopted with rcfe,
cnce to the Balls Bluff battle, to a,
certain who was responsible for tina
disaster, without proposing an inve'
tigation. The resolution was give
TO the Adjntant General, who submit
ted it to Gen. Mcclellan.
Mr.. Conkling said he was unwillin
to believe the Commandcrin-Chicf ha
read the resolution, because he wonlt
not impute to him design to tri0,
with the House and return an evasivt
answer. If he did read it he certain.
" must have misunderstood its pur.
pose. He seemed to have received
the impression that future inquiry
was to be instituted and that of We
~ general character, and accordingly
expressed his opinion to the Adjutant
General, which was reported to the
Secretary Of War and transmitted to
tho House.
The response was cvasivc, and a
disregard of the privileges of the
House, which should be promptly re-
buked, unless we consent to tramp
ling upon our rights. We should
watch with a jealous eye the right of
wholesome inquiry. This inquiry re-
lated to a great national calamity; to
the most atrocious military murder
ever committed to most humlia-
ting triumph of rebellion ; to blum
der so gross that every man can see,
and none has ever presumed to deny
ar defend. Besides q defeat and
large loss of arms and ammunition,
there was a sacrifice of $50 men.
The resolution was proposed out of
respect to the memory Of these men,
and in Difference to public propriety
and the self respect OF the Nation, ~
inquire whether the military authori.
ties had taken measures to ascertain
who was responsible for the slaughter
of the sons of Massachusetts, New
York and Pennsylvania. 1t is proper
to state that the House should be in.
formed and some inquiry should be
made.
General Stone, who was at the
time in command, is a member
of the regular army. Colonel Ba
ker was a volunteer The rcspcc
tive friends of these gentlemen have
raised question as to the merits OF
the case, involving the efficiency oil
regulars and volunteers. He had nc
liberation for such controversy. An
inquiry was absolutely necessary
Surprising it should turn ont that Gen
Stone was only half way either in sol
diery or loyalty, was that reason
why there should not be an investiga.
tion Was that a reason why he
should be relieved from the RESPONSE
bility of a great and disastrous blum
der I? The man who is blameablt
should fall upon his knees and beg
pardon. If Gen. Baker was RESPONSE
BILE most lamentably has he suffered
If Gen. Stone was responsible, grca
ter weight of guilt never rested OF
any other man.
Mr.. Conkling continued at grca
length, stating that the battle Of Ball''
Bluff was hell of fire. The Adjntan
General had transmitted report that
in the opinion of the Gencralin-Chicf
a compliance with the resolution at
this time would he injurious to the
public service. Mr.. Conkling thought
that after the publication of Adjutant
General Thomas report nothing need
be suppressed. His speech presented
the following points l. The division
Of Gen. Mccall, abundantly strong,
lay on the Leesburg side of the river.
within a few hours march Of Lees.
burg. And yet a division on the OPP.
posite side Of the river was selected
for the work. 2. The crossing was
the most dangerous and cxtraordina
ry that could have been selected. 3.
There was an utter want Of transpor-
tation there to go over or to come
back, although abundant means of
transportation were lying near al
hand. A. The number of men were
wholly inadequate TO the design Of the
occasion. 5. No. rcinforcements ever
reached Col. Baker or any other man
engaged in tho battle, although men
and cannon were lying within a dis
tancc which admitted Of their use.
Mr.. ConkliDg concluded by Offering
a preamble and resolution setting
forth that the answer of the Secretary
of War was neither responsive nor
satisfactory to the House. and rcquir-
ing him to return further answer.
The resolution was adopted, II to
"a.
Subsequently the Speaker laid be-
fore the House letter from the Sec
rotary of War, in which he acknowl.
edges the receipt of the resolution,
and says that measures have been ia
ken to ascertain who is responsible
for the Balls Bluff disaster.