Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1863-01-29
Damaging Facts Concerning Mcclellan
Gen. HitcEcock's Testimony in the
Mcdowell Investigation-A Rebel
Witness.

Damaging Facts Concerning Mcclellan
Gen. HitcEcock's Testimony in the
Mcdowell Investigation-A Rebel
Witness.
The testimony of Maj. Gen. HITCHCOCK
in the MCDOWELL court martial is causing
a sensation. Tn addition to the two let
iers of the President, already published,
he produced on Monday letter from Gen.
MCCLELLAN, attempting to explain the
force he was leaving for tho defense of
Washington the proceedings OF the IA
nous counsel of Generals, declaring what
was necessary for the defense of Washing
ton and statement by himself and AID
jutant General THOMAS, as to whether this
decision of the Generals and order by the
President were complied with by NOBEL
Lam. OF this last paper, the following is
the substance:
Fisst-The Presidents War Order No.
8, dated March 9th, requires, on the taking
OF any new base Of operations, that the
city of Washington shall be left entirely
secure.
Second-The council of Generals held
at Fairfax O. H., March 18Th, took place
after The enemy had retired from Manas-
sas ard destroyed The railroad in their
rear. The council decided unanimously
to take up new base of operations from
Fortress Monroe, and then if a majority
of the Generals decided that the force ne
cessary to be lett should be sufflci ent to
garrison the forts, the right bank of the
Potomac, and to occupy those on the left
bank with covering force of 25, 900 it is,
we think, the judgment of officers that
some 80, 900 would be necessary to man
these forts, which with the number of
covering force, would make q total of
1000
Thnd-Ihe Presidents directions of
March 18th, to Gen. Mcclellan, directs:
First, to leave such force at Manassas
Junction as shall make 1t entirely certain
that the enemy shall not re-possess it;
Second, that Washington shall be left en-
tirely secure; Third, that the remainder of
the army move down the Potomac, or
move in pursuit of the enemy.
They then give Gen. McClellan's state
ment of the force left for the defence of
Washington, which amounted to $4,000,
including Banks army in the Shenandoah
Valley. They say they will express no
opinion as to whether that army would be
defence Of Washington or not, and call
attention to the fact that without it but
25 900 men in all were left for that pur-
pose. They then go on to show that the
force left ia Washington, under General
Wadsworth, was badly armed and disci
plined, and that orders were subsequently
sent, withdrawing some of the few good
giments that had at first been LETT in it.
They conclude, in view Of the opinion eX-
pressed by the council of commanders of
army corps of tie force necessary for the
defence OF the capital, though not numeri-
cally stated, and of the forces represented
by Gen. Mcclellan as left for that purpose,
Eve are of opinion that the requirements OF
the President that the city shall be entire
ly secure, not only in the opinion of the
Genera-in Chief, but of chose commanders
of army corps, also has not been complied
WITH" [Slgnedl l.. THOMAS,
Adjutant General.
E. A. HIToHoooK, Maj, Gen, Vols,
.. s. a.
This paper seems to have been the re.
suit of an examination ordered by the
President when he first began to suspect
that Mcclellan had disobeyed him in not
leaving the capital safe. 1t is dated Wash.
ington. April I'd.
The result of these latter DEVELOPMENTS
is terribly damaging to Mcclellan. His
whole military reputation is utterly crush
ed and pulverized by the startling official
documents.