The Burlington weekly hawk-eye. [volume] (Burlington [Iowa]) 1860-1876, 1863-04-11
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BY TELEGRAPH.
Repers or Comniesee On Conduct Of
sho War. 81
NV YoRx, April 6.-The full Report Of
tho Committee on the Conduct of the War oc-
cupies sixty-four closely printed pages. Part Of
the testimony relates TO the Army Of the Poto-
mac. It shows that on December 18th, 1851,
exclusive Of the command Of Gen. Dix, ut Bal
timore, the Army Of the Potomac mum.
bered 1876, 900 men, we'll armed, disciplined and
equipped.
The strength Of the enemy was estimated at
from 7O, 900 TO 10000 at that time and their
works exceeding formidable. But subsequent
events have proved that their force was less
than 10000, and the strength Of their forti6ca.
tons greatly over.estimsted at that Il ue. It 10
considered unadvisable to attack the enemy in
front. It would also be necessary to leave 6O,.
OOO to So ,O0o men in front of Washington for
its defence, thereby allowing about 100, 900
men for service elsewhere.
The Committee aver that adequate provision
was never made to properly man the forti6ca-
tions IN front Of Washington.
Relative to the blockade of tho Potomac the
committee states 1t was proposed to take pos
session of Matthias Point In June, 1861, and
again in August, but nothing was done. In
October plan was adopted to take 1t, the Po-
tomac feet to act conformity with detachment
Of troops, but the troops were not sent as
he -. tes~ aft
the Potomac Aotilla left on the Port Royal Expe.
ditiop, when the river was almost immediately
closed by the rebel batteries until the rebels
left.
On the 10th of January 1869. the President,
% Oommander-in Chief issued orders for gen>
eral movement of all the armies Of the United
States. One of the results Of which was the
capture of Forts Donelson and Henry. On the
Slst January the President ordered oil the die
possible force Of he army of the Potomac after
providing for the safety of Washington, to seize
point on the railroad south west Of Hanassae,
and the expedition to move before the 22nd Of
February. This plan Was objected to as divi-
ding our army BY too great distance to enable
the two portions to support each other.
The Commanding General recommended In
stead q movement via Rappshannock or For
tress Monroe. To this proposition the Presi-
feasibility ard advantages, and finally move
ment BY way Of Annapolis and the Rappahan-
mock was agreed upon, but the rebels evacuated
their position at Manassas, retreating to the
Rappahannock, thus rendering the plan futile.
On the 18th of March . council of Generals
decided on q campaign by way of York and
James rivers, which the President sanctioned,
deciding that enough force be left to protect
Manassas and leave Washington secure. Nc
Dowell was assigned to the advance, but trans
portation not being adequate, bis division was
detained until the last and subsequently returned
for the defence Of Washington. "t.-'
Previous to leaving the commanding General
addressed communication to the Adjutant
General, showing he left 81, ,4b0 men at different
points at Warrenton, Manassas, Shenandoah
and on the Lower Potomac, with ls, 600 for the
garrisons, and in front of Washington. The
next day Gen. Wadsvorth stated that bis force
for the defence of w Washipgton was inadequate
and the subject vas referred to Gen. Hitchcock
Who reported the same evening, which con-
cludes with the opinion that the requirements o
the President that enough force be left to &C.
cure the safety of Washington had not been fully
complied with. The President the next day
ordered NcDowells corps to remain. This
brings the committees report to the Penineulal
campaign.
After landing near Fortress Monroe the army
moved towards yorktown on the 4th of April
sppearipg before the rebel works on the 9Th
The committee says the testimony proves the
rebels had from 1000 to 12O. 900 men at York
town then, and it is now evident that our force'
could then have pierced the rebel lines, cutting
On reinforcemente, but . siege WAS determined
or, contrary to the wishes of the President.
The Committee say the facts relating to The
evacuation Of Yorktown and the battle Of vii
hamburg and says one of the Generals testified
that after the battle If the enemy had been follow
ed, our forces could have reached Richmond
almost without firing gun, but the General
Commanding states that the bad roads made the
pursuit imprscticable. After the battle Of VIII
lismsburg it was decided to send Mcdowell vie
fredericksburg to reinforce the Army of the
Potomac, but the operations Of Jackson in the
shenandoah prevented his being sent.
The Committee gives the details Of the battle
Of Seven Pines and Fair Oaks, in which it il
uated that Gen. Hooker made q reconnaissance
nwithin miles of Richmond Certain Of the
omcers testifying that the army then could
nave marched rigt. into Richmond. The Com
mistee then continues relative to the seven bat
ues, giving number of kilograms which passed
between Mcclellan and the President, the for
4er telegraphing on the night Of the 9th oil
S.ue tuat the G0vernment mad not sustained
ais army. On the night of the 25th Of July
GENERALS Halleck and Burnside visited Harrison'a
Landing, soon after which it was decided "a
withdraw the army from there, which was done
70 reinforce Pope.
The Committee devote some pages to tele.
grams and extracts of evidence relative to Pope'l
eeeieat, and then goes on to the campaign in
Maryland, also mainly composed Of extract.
itom letters of Mcclellan and Halleck and tele-
grams. In relation to Antietam, Mcclellan tes.
thes that on the morning after the battle HI
found our loss had been great, the command
much disorganized and did not renew the attacl
that day, but arranged 70 attack the day after
g when the enemy abandoned his position. IL
says: 81 think, taking into consideration wha
the troops had gone through, We got as much ou
Of them in the Antietam campaingn as human
endurance would bear"
Several letters and dispatches are given tba