The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1863-01-20

several OCCASIONS with Intervals u a few days that he
had been unable To procure ammunition his request
tons 70 supply the Qualifications. After taking with him
the third time reported the matter 70 the Secretary ~
War who Immediately sent for General Doubleday, and
the necessary orders we're given by which that deficiency
was supplied ] now lay before the Court COM
mancation from MAJOR General Mcclellan TO Brga
der General L. Thomas, dated headquartere, Army
OF the Potomac, steamer Commodore Aprn /, 1902 Sn
the I'd April certain papers referred TO General
Thomas and General Hitchcock (myselfl By the Secretary
OF War, under order Of which this i copy. (Iho
order Is dated War Department Washington CITY, April
= 1862. from the Secretary OF War In obedience to
that order General Thomas and myself examined the pa
pers referred 10 Ia IT, and made joint report OF which
this Is q copy Gs from MAJOR General raj Hitchcock and
April 2, 1862 would state here that a part Of the
force referred TO in General McCleans repor-Genera
Blenker div son-had time either ordered
OF ms department, 20 be, by the pres
don't himself and could not properly be considered
ukprce for the defence OF Washington m any sense
pot to be delayed in the Shenandoah val
11Was to go 10 what was called the Mountain To-
hdrtment, under General Fremont II win be observed
Clellan, refers the removal OF Blenkors division as u
1t had boen determined with the sanction Of General Nc
Clellan though reluctantly When heard Of the design
TO remove that division from in front Of Wash
ington expressed my =. opinion TO mo sore
s ,ary q war that s ought not d., s..,r be
Inc TO 90 with HIM u tic iresient and explain Il TO The
President, which dd, bu' without success on rotnrn
ing to the War oc, The Importance the point seemed
10 be great that nuto written statement Of my
reasons March s0, which gave 10 The President tho
mex, morning The y a copy OF those reasons. (lt
IL dated March 3d. 1892 This effort my part failed.
That division left tAe shenandoah valley. Gen. Banks
had been ordered mo tne valley because q the attack
made by jackson upon Shields. This sl further re-
duced the force in front OF Washington ought to state
that Benker did not leave thai valley for some wees
and because " was under orders which could not snc.
coed having revoked Therefore his force 10 be
counted upon for tho defence Of Washington Lad these
particulars before my mind IN signing the jolnt report
with Gen, Thomas. | dercd, further, the opinion
of he four commanders Of the c1J ddre setting iurth
the force necessary for tho security II Washington
confined city and its licences the other side
the Potomac extending rs far AZ Manassas and Narrenon
that front In general but that It did not include the valley
or the Shenandoah that the IN that valley could
not be withdrawn with safety was my clear AMI desioe
opinion. Locking, then, to the number OF troopG which
might be counted upon for the protection OF the city
could not make out twenty-five thousand mon Unit
or force including the occupation or the garr3on3 north
the river the within the city
allowing the usual deduction Tor tho sick, sc. When
these reports before tho President he was manifest
y under greet anxiety j. was his declared wish to eve
General Me- lean all the force he called for and all 81 the
winch could be thrown into his hands To execute
bis purpose; but finally, after much consideration, ne
determined TO order one Of the two remaining corp then
in front Or Washington TO be detailed here leaving the
selection with the Secretary OF War who designated the
corps commanded by General Mcdowell AZ soon as this
reported to General Mcclellan he complained Of as
interference with his command calculated 20 lead To
the most dangerous Consequences lie asked Tor two ~
the three dviso constituting that corps ffanklins
and McCals), and II he could MOI gct two lie was rar-
ticuary anxious 70 have frankihs division The frcs
dent 10 tho War once In .erson, and held dis.
Of some length with several OF the chiefs Of b1
the War Department in the presence p the Sec
rotary Of War. cannot from memory rcci'o
tho particulars OF that discusson. was pro-
sent aud heard IL. some opinions wee aversc 70
sending any part q tnat force to tho peninsula
| tn ink that oDc-and officer onlywas in lavor Of
sending the whole OF IT, At length the President asked
Individually whether thought the city would be safe
with the two divisions u Franklin should be sent away
told him thought would be sa!e lie then wrote the
order for frankn's division 10 90 70 General Mcclellan
General McIYwc was not present at this consultation
that remember.
dated April o. Il contains the parsage IN reference y
General Benkcr, which referred 10 In my testimony
place II before the Court particularly because II
aludcs Y the force loft for the defence u Washington.
believe have given all OF tho Information On that
pcint, showing the reasons why General Mcdowell
detained In front Of Washington. | wish to BE- under
stood az stating very positively that every tep
in ina, matter was induced ~ believe by great pubnc
necessity AMI with very great reluctance On the pt q
the President so far ~ General Mcclellan was concerned
II was the manifest desire Of the Prcsien and 81 the
Secretary OF War send To General Mcclellan all the
means IN their power to enable him TO makea slccesdu
campaign
O. BY Tie Court-whcn dd the enemy eyacuntc Cen.
trcvle and Manassas A In answer 10 that question
will state that have Official report IRON General
Mcclellan dated Fairfax Court House March ~, so
r. NJ ia which be states that tho rebels have let al
their positions.
O by the court-statc, in this connection the effect q
the movement proposed by General Me- can by IrLana
aud tho York river, referred TO IN the letter by the Pfc
dent dated February B. 1862 before the evacuation q
Centrevie and Manassas by the enemy, and contrast u
with the proposed by the frs-ient stated Ia
tho same letter. A. only give my impfcss"n or
-opinion regard this. have never bad fLy doubt
myself that the movement prop scd ny ID" way % ".
bana the peninsula injudioipaS " has Always NJ
this plan before abandoning his position on
the Potomac and NJ Manassas those positions
rary my opinion has been constantly that the prhf ell
u large part 81 Tho tore ln frrt u hAsh
ngtn would have induced the caeny u make an cIrt
70 seize Washington. have attacn'4 vcfy great I'm
portnnce to tho possession ~ Washington not mtch
military point but from - .o.tiea position Msn-
ngton II the capital 81 tho United states The
ment here The archives a the Datpn are MI here II
tho depository Of the original Declaration OF miepetl
suce and of tie consultation - the tinted states. y
a. u
lar considerations give To this city peculiar character
Its pasesslon oven Tor short time By enemy would
have nJred tho cause the country than the ss
Of many battles at distance from this point. lhafp
always thought that the true m9de u advance uIsn Ito
enemy wa something ike thlt proposod by tho lrcr.
dcGt. Keeping the army within striking di-tnnoc a
Washington, - ibe effort % make an crecrve bow u'n
enemy III his positions The details a such fnryc
ncnt have not particularly thought about having hsi
occasion To- do ~.
has been tho character u tho service rendered by
tener al Ncipouel-isthful aud loyal oiborvscf -
him doty IN the happi-t relations With Inst
hon0ref chief, Lieutenant General scott haye k.y my
eye upon BIN since this unhappy gar broso out snd ~,
the ado ~ suspicion has ever crfs'd my mind touch
Ing hs entire loyalty Prom ny knowledge u General
Mcdowell il would b. impossible ~ mo % conceive him
dsloyAI regard him a. true ard ialthfui patriot.
q 10y the Cour-yiexed military hight
r,ate tho responsibilities n the movement ~ tho
Army n the potornac 70 tho ronnsula without eavng
tho force decided 81 the President guard and
Warrington such The fact and tie ransons which
,gcn nc, would impose for detaon. the or q General
Mcdowell III April lVv A. II VA the opinion ~ the
President, undoubtedly. tat his order ~ The stu q
Nsrc with respect 70 the ssie,y n the capita hal not
been compiled ,th by Gcucrt Mcclellan H. reerrng -
W his better = Tho or ~ spf IL nfcs ihs delicate
language ~that his Instructions had been nrg ecfrf.n
certainly as y the same ~ ZION j. pan terms, thu
order bad been digpbeyol am bill u ~ W. military
principle TINT Whenever officer departs from the u
suuci. uns q superior be taxes alshI hmfef lhg
entire respous lbnty n al tlc cgatcqlrntes SAT
10 ~ prcssut case vbea To rrcsaost p'or.
ioaed. nd ~ ~ oder q ~ go -,
g0od d original nfuurtpts, ~ fetf'fned ~ ~ -
N4.Ess .ltr ~ Mt