New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1863-04-06
Tur CONDUCT OF THE WAR.

on the operations Of the Army of the Potomac,
and we print it in full this morning; surrender
ing to it very large portion of our space, but mol
more than its interest and great importance
demand. For the first time the public is put
in possession of clear and impartial history
of the great army which the Nation raised
with unexampIed liberality and rapidity, and
with unequaled generosity intrusted to an un.
tried commander .tf..
h. The Committee was appointed in December,
1861, has pursued its labors with patient dill.
gence ever since, and finally presents the
results of its investigation to Congress and the
public in report which is model of lucid,
and mpregnable statement. Com
posed of men differing widely in their political
views and personal sympathies. and examining
questions into which both politics and person.
alities have been too largely suffered TO enter,
the Committee have, nevertheless, been united
by an honest purpose to discover the whole
truth, and are unanimous in the conclusions
at which they have arrived.
The report begins with the organization Of
the Army of the Potomac under Gen. Me-
Clellan, and follows its fortunes down to the dis.
missal Of Gen. Burnside after the battle OF
Fredericksburg. 1t presents the facts concern
ing the blockade of the Potomac, the inaction
Of the army during the Winter of 1912, the
Rebel evacuation of Manassas, the Peninsula
Campaign, the failure of Gen. Mcclellan to CO.
operate with Gen. Pope, the Campaign in
Maryland, the protractcd delay which followed
the battle of Antetam, the removal of Gen.
Mcclellan, the operations under Gen. Burn
side, and the final resignation Of that COM
mander. 1t includes therefore the whole mill
tary career of Gen. Mcclellan, and not even
his friends can object that he should be judged
by the results of an examination so compre-
hensive, and by Committee who cannot be
suspected Of bias for or against him.
At the time Of the appointment Of the Com.
mittee, in December, 1861, the Army Of the
Potomac numbered about 165, 900 men. Gen.
Mcclellan had been its commander since July.
The whole of the intervening time had been
consumed in ito organization and equipment,
and since the LIST OF October it had been we'll
armed and supplied with material welldis.
ciplined, aud eager for active service. No
where was it expected to 80 into Winter
quarters. The defense Of Washington required
not more than from $4,000 to $4,000 men,
leaving 100000 for aggressive operations.
The Rebels were at Manassas, in a force now
known to have been less than 10000, and by
no means strongly fortified. Gen. Mcclellan,
nevertheless, remained quiet all Winter, and
the only active operations were on the part OF
the Rebels, by blockading the Potomac.
That sore disgrace the Navy was eager to
remove. requiring only the cooperation Of
about 1000 troops in order to hold Matthias
Point Gen. Mcclellan, after many solicita-
lions, promised the troops, and preparations
were completed, but the troops fsaled to ar
rive. The reason assigned for their nop-ap-
pearance was the opinion Of McClellan's engi.
neers that they could not be landed at the
point proposed. Capt. Fox replied that the
landing of tho troops was matter for which
the Navy were responsible. aud they were
again promised, but again were not sent. The
only excuse offered was the fear Of Gen. Nc
Ciellan that the movement might bring on a
general engagement. The blockade, therefore,
continued till March following, when the Reb-
els of their own accord abandoned it.
On the 10Th Of January, 1862, the President
ordered q movement Of Gen. McClellan's army
toward Manassas Junction on or before the
22d of February. Gen. Mcclellan objected,
proposing to 90 by way of the Rappahannock,
The President replied to his objections tersely
and concusively but council Of war finally,
by vote Of eight TO four, indorsed Gen.
McClellan's plan, and the President yielded.
Before il could be executed the Rebels sban-
doned their position at Manassas. and Gen.
Mcclellan thereupon ordered the whole army
forward on tho enemy's trail. 1t went no
further than Fairfax Court House before Nc
Clean again changed his purpose, recalled the
army, and resumed his RappabannOck plan.
This was on the 18th Of March. On the 18th
he for the second time abandoned that plan,
and proposed to council Of war the move
ment on the Peninsula by way Of York aud
James Rivers. The President assented to this
change, with the stipulation that Washington
should be left secure in the opinion Of all the
corps commanders. fal
Those commanders reported in substance
that not less than $1,000 men were necessary
for the defense Of the Capital. Gen. McClel-
Ian, nevertheless, after lao had left Alexandria,
and without conferences with the corps com
manders, sent back orders for oil the troops
except about 1900, partly raw. and wholly I'm.
supplied with hight artillery. TO Join him. Cen