Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1862-07-25
MISCELLANEOUS.
Remarkable Speech of Senator Chan
dler on the Conduct of the War.

der on the COn0uct oil the war.
Mr. Chandler resumed his remarks on
the conduct of the war. He read from
the testimony of several officers concern
ing the battle of Balls Bluff, to the
effect that the reinforcemeuts could easily
have been sent by way Of Edwards
Ferry. But Gen. Mccall was ordered
to fall back at the very time that Col.
Baker was sent across the river, and no
men were sent from Edwards Ferry,
though the distance was short. General
Stone swears that there never were any
mounted guns between Edwards Ferry
and Balls Bluff. The man who issued
the orders must answer to God for the
slaughter Of brave men at that fight
After this Wholesale slaughter the whole
army of the Potomac retired except in
front of Washington.
He then read further testimony, show
ing that the Navy Department applied to
the War Department for 4 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. Vessels were gath
cred there by the Navy Department, but
the troops were not sent at the appoint
ed time, and the Navy Department could
not find out the reason. The evidence
further stated that the President assisted
the Navy Department as much as be
could with this plan, but General Me
Clellan objected, because he feared the
arrangements for landing had not been
made. Thus the nation was disgraced
for months by the blockade of the Poto.
mac, and the capital was besieged by a
force at no time half that of the United
States
In December the nation began to
clamor for movement, and the Com
mittee on the Conduct of the War urged
the necessity for such movement. The
President and Cabinet were in favor of
some forward movement, and they were
assured by General Mcclellan that a
move would be made very soon-tbat he
never intended to go into winter quar-
tiers. And he did not Our brave men
spent the winter in canvass tents.
At last, in January, the President
gave the order, forward! and those go-
rious events took place at Fort Donclson
aud Henry, Newborn, &c. The do
nothing strategy seemed to give way,
and the weeks and days of spades and
pickaxes to be over.
On the 22d of February the army of
the Potomac 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,
shat army numbered $50 600 men by the
muster-roll. They marched to Manas-
ses and the wooden guns Of Ceutrevile,
and the enemy less than 40, 900, quietly
moved away. The Generals had voted
not to advance on Manassas, but to leave
the enemy there aad sneak around by
Annapolis. Seven out Of eight of these
Generals were appointed by the advice
of General Mcclellan. But the Presi-
dent and Secretary of War overrulod
this, aud made the army move on Ma
masses. Why did not this magnificent
army of $50 900 men at once march on
Richmond No one knows. But at last
Mcclellan divided his army and sailed
for Fortress Monroe. The Committee
on the Conduct Of the War summoned
General Wadsworth, Who swore that he
had only 1902 men left to defend
Washington, with not single gun
mounted on wheels. a part of this force.
was new and undisciplined, and some
nearly disorganized.
lie then read FROM the testimony Of
John Tucker, Assistant Secretary of
War, who testified tina. prior to the 9th
OF April 10000 men we're first sent
down to Mcclellan, then Franklins diyi-
sion Of II, 600 was sent, and on the Isl
Of June McCalPs division of 10 600
more, aud about that time / | 900 from
Baltimore and Fortress Monroe, and the
last of June Shields division of about
making a total Of 1853, 900 men
sent to Gen. Mcclellan prior to the en-
gagements before Richmond. Mr. Tuck
or further testified that be did not know
Of any other troops which could have
been sent to Mcclellan. Thus, it is
shown that 1850 Of the best troops
that ever stood on Gods footstool had
been sent to Mcclellan, and yet the trea-
sonable press Of the country are bowling
against the Secretary Of War because be
did not send reinforcements to McClel-
Ian. lie read further from the testimo-
nv Of General Meigs corroborating the
statement Of Mr.. Tucker, and saying
that he believed everything that Me-
Clellan had asked for had been promptly
sent to him by the Government.
Mr.. Chandler said that Mcclellan had
lost more men in the trenches, five to
one, than ever fell from the bullets Of the
enemy
At last, when a small fraction Of the
army was whipped at Williamsburg,
General Mcclellan, at long distance
from the field Of battle, wrote dispatch
to the Secretary of Var, stating that he
should try to hold the enemy in check
But they were too fast for him. Then
the road was open to Richmond, and all