Daily Ohio statesman. [volume] (Columbus, Ohio) 1855-1870, 1863-04-07
TELEGRAPHIC.
Sunday Nights Dispatches
Report OF the Committee ON the Con
hUCt OF tho War


duet OF tho War.
i New YoRK, April 5.-The full report of the
committee on the Conduct of the War occupies
sixty-tour closely printed pages. The principal
part OF the testimony relates to the Army OF
the Potomac. The report shows that In Decem.
bef, 1861, exclusive of the command of Gen.
Dix at Baltimore, the Potomac army numbered
$4,000 men, we'll armed, disciplined and
equipped.
The strength of the enemy was variously
estimated at from 10000 to 2lO, 900 at that
time, and their works exceedingly formidable,
but subsequent events proved their force was
lees than 10000 aud the strength of their forti-
fcations greatly overestimated. At the same
time it was considered unadyisable to attack the
enemy In front; also, II would be necessary to
leave Sc, 600 to 80 900 in front OF Washington
for its defense, thereby allowing about 100 900
men for service elsewhere. The commander
avers that adequate provision Was never made
to properly man the Notifications in front of
Washington,
In relation to the blockade of the Potomac,
the committee states It was proposed to take
possession of Matthias Point in June, 1861, snd
again in August, but nothing was done, 4. Ia
October plan was adopted to take It, TIE
Potomac hotilla was to act conjointly With q
detachment of troops, but the troops were not
sent % agreed, and the plan was not tried.
Soon after, the Potomac hotilla left on the
Port Royal expedition, when the river was al
most Immediately closed by rebel batteries
until the rebels voluntarily left On the 18th
of January, 1862, the President, as Command
er-in-Chiaf issued orders for general move
ment Of all the armies of the United States,
one of the results Of which was the capture of
Forts Henry and DOnelson on the 3lst of IAN
uary.
The President ordered that ell the dsposable
force of the Army Of the Potomac, after pro-
viding for the safety of Washington. seize
point on the railroad southwest Of Manassas,
and that the expedition move before the 22d
Of February. This plan was objected to as di-
viding our army by too great distance to en-
able the two portions to support each other.
The Commanding General recommended in
stead, a movement by way of the Rappahan-
mock or Fortress Monroe. To this proposition
the President propounded certain questions as
to its feasibility and advantages, and finally q
movement by way Of Annapolis and the Rap
pahannock- was agreed upon, but the rebels
evacuated their position at Manassas, retiring
to the Rappahsnnock, thus rendering the plan
futile. On the 18th of March, a council of
Generals decided on campaign hy way OF
the York and James rivers, which the Presi-
dent sanctioned, directing that enough force be
left to hold MsnsesaB and leave Washington
secure.
Mcdowell was assigned the advance, bul
transportation not being adequate, hia division
was detained till the last, and subsequently re
! tanned for the defense Of Washington. Previ
GUS to leaving, the Commanding General ad
dressed communication to the Adjutant len
ersl, showing that he left 81, ,456 men at differ
ent points-at Warrenton, Manassas, Shenan
doah on the lower Potomac, with l8 900 for tn,
J garrisons in front of Washington.
The next day Gen. Wadaworth stated tha
his force for the defense of Washington wa
inadequate, and the subject was referred Il
/ Gen. Hitchcock, who reported the same evening
! which concludes with the opinion that the re
quirements of the President, that enough fore
be left 10 secure tho safety of Washington, ha
not been fully complied with. .''-
j The President the next day ordered Mellow
} el's corps % remain.
This brings the committees report to th
Peninsula campaign. After landing near Fort
Eess Monroe, the army moved toward yorktown
on the 4!h of April, appearing before tho rebe
works on the 5ih.
The committee says: Testimony proves tba
the rebels had from 1000 to 10000 men a
yorktown then, and 1t 10 now evident on
forces could then have pierced the rebsl lines
cutting OIL reinforcements, but siege was de
termined on, contrary to the wishes of h
! President. ....-t
The committee rehearse the facts relative &
the evacuation OF Yorktown and the battle O
Williamsburg, and says one OF the General
testified that, after the latter battle if the enc
my had been followed, our forces could hav
: reached Richmond almost without firing gun
but the General commanding states that ba
roado made the pursuit impracticable.
After the battle of Williamsburg, it was de
cided to send Mcdowell into Fredericksburg t.
. reinforce the Army of the Potomac, but the op
! erstions of Jackson 10 the Shenandoah pre-.
vented his being sent. The committee give
+ details of the battle Of Seven Pines and Fail
Oaks, in which it is stated that Hooker mad,
reconnaissance to within four miles of Rich.
. mond, certain officers testiiying that the arm,
then could have marched right into Richmond
The committee then continues relative TO th
seven days battles, giving number of tele
grams which passed between Mcclellan an
the President, the former telegraphing on th
night of the 9th Of June, that the Governmen
has not sustained his army.
On the night of The 25th Of July, General
Halleek and Burnside visited Harrison's land
ing, soon after which Ii Was decided to withdrs
the army from there; which was done to reiI
force Pope.
The committee devotes some ak pages to 10
egrams and extracts of evidence relative
Pope's defeat, ana then goes to the csmpsig
in Maryland, also mainly composed of extrac
from letters of Mcclellan and Halleck, an
kilograms.
In relation to Antietsm, Mcclellan testifi
that the morning after the battle he found on
loRs had been great, the commands much disc
ganized, and did not renew the attack that da
4 but arranged to attack the day after, when th
enemy abandoned his position. He says th
taking into consideration what the troops hi
=, gone through, we got as much out Of them
y the Antetam campaign as human enduran
would bear.
Several letters and dispatches are given Ia
passed between the President and McClell
and Halleok, the former urging Mcclellan
Y move on the enemy from his position ne
Hsrper's Ferry.
Mcclellan shows conclusively from hia di
:, patches, that his cavalry was 10 poor condisi
y in October, but moved on the Goth and cont
ued until the 5th Of November when he I
ceived an order from Halleok deposing hi
from his command ~.
=, The campaign of Burnside is then rehearss
B. The testimony makes it appear that at Fred,
ieksburg the attack by Gen. Franklin was ma
by Meade's division, which pierced the lines
the enemy, but were driven back. Several "
-- neases testified, that had the attack been
- newed by the whole Of Franklin's command
would have been successful
II anneara that Gana Nawtnn and Corcor,