, 1863-04-10
The Committee on the
Conduct of the War.
PART SECOND OF THEIR
REPORT,
BULL RUN, BALLS BLUFF,
FREMONT.

NEW foRE, April 9.-Part second Of thc r.
port Of the Committee on the Conduct Of tbt
Var Is issued It embraces the battles O.
Bull Run and Balls Bluff.
In relation to the former, the COMMITTEES
state the great error Of that campaign was tht
failure TO occupy CentrevIlle and Manas "a:
when Alexandria was occupied, in May, The
forces which opposed us were mostly collect,
ed ed and brought to Manassas in June and july.
The three months men could have made Ala-
masses easily defensible against any force the
enemy could have brought against it. and it
is not at all probable that the rebel force
would have been advanced from the line Of
the Rappahannock had Manassas been occn.
pied by our troops.
The next cause Of disaster was the delar IN
IF tb 4h{gsa aa,0St the enemy until the time
INC movement WAS finally determined UPON
much was needed to render the troops etfl
cfcnt: Little time had been deyuted to
loeatlhs them even 8, regiments. Hardly
any instruction had been given in reference
A. ipf'saac n movements, and none at all as to
was the failure Of Gen. Patterson to hold the
forces Of johnson iu the Shenandoah valley
In relation to the battle of Balls Bluff: tie
committee, after giving IN account Of the en-.
sagement, .Sc., says, allthe TESTIMONY goes to
pIoye that means Of transportation were yery
deem il sufficient, left much to the fadsment m
Of others, and this much can b. said
Tor him, that he received no iutimat1on
that a movement across the liver
would he expected from him. or
"9l7,, would De justified tn the day before 1t was
reason he had for eupposing other forces were
Within short distance to render him assist
ance, are set forth in 4 previous portion Of til,
report: This Telates to the movements of
een, McCa.i to DIansvile for the purpose Of
IN reference to reinforcing Col Baker, the
testimony was very conflicting, Gen. Stone
lestlhes that &c received no information from
Gol. Baker that he needed reinforcemcnts.
That be received little if any information
from Col. Baker in reference to Affairs ut Balls
blut, and even if reinfurments had been
needed they could not have been sent IN on
the Virginia side, In consequence Of the enr. IT,
my's caIthworks and batteries between Ed
wards Ferry and Balls Bluff.
some o:her witnesses testify to the SAME
effect. Others say there Was no obstacle to
our troops passing up on the Virginia side.
Inc COMMITTEES refflins from expressing any
to the arrest Of General Stone, the Com.
mlttce say they Informed Secretaries Cam.
eron and Stanton that some explanation
by General Stone WIS required. lie an
pea!cd before the Committee, and madc
explanations In general terms concerning
;ne testimony against him, in regard TO undue
intercourse with the enemy, &c. The Com
mlttce reported to the Secretary Of War that
the testimony was conflicting, without any
Recommendation as to what should be done
It afterwards appeared from the testimony Of
Gen. AeCall, that Gen Stone was a!7.StcI
on written order Of thu Secretary Of War,
for the reason that he had been Informed bY
members Of the Committee on the Conduct
OF TIT War, That they had taken testimony
going to showing that he hid been guilty. of
conduct not consistent with loyalty.
Gen: Stone, since bis release, has been per-
mltted to examine Ill the testimony, and de-
nant!cd that be be furnished with IL copv Of
the charges against him. WIZ this REQUEST
Is not granted, the Committee is Qniufurmcd.
Fart third embraces the Department of the
hesF. The Committee says 1t has been una-
pie to eollec: the necessary testimony in this
department, (partieularly while under COM
nand Of Gen. Fremont,} on account of tue
great dis'aEce Of witnesses. In rel,tion to
the administration Of Fremont, the Commit
tee sars, much should be paruoned in one
GGmpetlea GSih nc ,;,t5s to sst M 50 promptly and
partMent we're diverted to the army Of the
Potomac, By the Government, and his depart.
ment long felt the want Of All ADEQUATE SUM-
ply. As 10 the Notifications around st.
Louis, Fremont but carried out what Gen.
Lyon deemed necessary. As to the manner
40 " ''Ae ~ AbACt NIL tOuiu1IIGE 1ofQCs1r3
expressing an opinion In regard to rein
forcing, promptly, points threatened BY the
enemy, the Committee believe Fremont
acted with energy aud promptness.
Troops we're collected by him as soon as
could be done, and promptly sent where their
service Was demanded. Some were diverted
to other purposes. The Government called
upon him for troops to be sent east ut = time
when he was most earnestly engaged in pro.
curing ferces for the assistance OF Mu]ligan,
Those that we're left he sent promptly, and ooly
failed to renderassistance needed, from causes
orcr which Fremont had no control Ere
mont perceived the advantage to result from
gunbtats for Western rivers, and the brilliant
victories West bear enduring testimony to the
correctness of his Judgment.
The Committee thinks that Frcmont's
emancipation proclamation, at that early day,
was the most efficient means Of crushing the
rebellion, in proof OF which /. is only neces-
sary to state that his successor, when trans
ferred to anothcr department, issued a procla-
NATION emboGying the same principle, aud
the President, as Commander in. Chief, has an
piled the same principle to the rcbel,ious
States on thu whole.
The administration Of Fremont was .cmi-
nently characterized BY earncstncss, ability
and loyalty.