Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1863-04-10
THE WEEKLY FREE PRESS
CONNECTICUT Election.


The returns SO far as received indicate the
success Of the Republican Unionist ticket in
Connecticut Monday, by 5000 majority.
Gov Buckingham is reelected and Messrs
Deminc, Hubbard and Brandage, Union and
English, democrat, are elected to Congress.
The Union men have fifteen out Of twenty
one Senators, and large majority in the
House.
Hurrah for the Union and down with
the copperheads
TEE CoSrucT o. The WsR.-Thc ioint
Congressional Committee on the Conduct Of
the War, has completed and published its
5eport. The Committee was appointed in
December. 1901. and has pursued its inves-
legations unren;ttingly since that time.
The report begins with the organization Of
the Army of the Potomac under Mcclellan,
and continues down to the dismissal Of Gen.
Burnside after the battle Of Fredericksburg.
Il reports the facts concerning the blockade
Of the Potomac, the inaction of the army
during the Winter Of ls6l-2, the rebel
evacuation Of Manassas, the Peninsula Cam
Iaisu. the failure Of Gen. Mcclellan 20 CO
operate vith Gen. Pope, the Campaign in
Maryland. the irotracted delay which fol-
lowed the battle Of Antietam, the removal Oh
zen. Mcclellan, the operations under Gen.
Burn do and tie final resignation Of that
cJnD,aud,T II includes. therefore,
and 1t pretty much confined 70 the
military czrcer Of Gen. Mcclellan.
In Dc,..uil--r. lsGl, the Army of the Po-
;onrac na,a-.,r-a about ls5, 900 men. Since
July Of Jh-t ,,ar, it had been commanded
by cn-rsl Mcclellan. The ilterven-
IN, i 90. laI en- consumed in organizing
and .-,siprin- the army up to the lst cf 0cto-
~, vsi'i ''. late it Uas prepared for active
.cr.r, outstanding this preparation,
lov->,T. '.~ army remained quiet, and no
NIT .'-.. zen spared for aggressive oper-
su..... ,-... Cen Mcclellan chosen TO SO en-
IL. t... A. the rebels were permitted 10
i..osa,i. j1e Potomac without interference,
the Na,- desired to remove this disgrace and
drivs H.. enemy from the Potomac, requiring
Tia. CD Grafton Of only 4 GOO land troops
&, L.,4 Matthias Point, 70 assist them.
Gcn. Mcclellan, after repeated solicit
atm, promised the troops, but they
w,r. MT sent. Mcclellan gave as a reason
frn.t sending them that they could not
10, lIujod at that point. The Navy Depart
m"r. assumed the responsibility Of landing
tl. loops. bot still they were not forwarded.
lie blockade Of the Potomac therefore con
tinred undisturh.d, until March, when il
Wa Voluntarily ahlnd ned by the rebel
On the l9th Of January, 1862, the Presi-
ont ord,rol movement IF Gen. McClel-
lan's army toward Manassas Junction. 70
this movement Con. Mcclellan objected. pre-
fsrrins to g by Way Of tire Rarpahannock.
Tie President replied O., McClellan's oljcc-
tions. but a council Of war finally decided in
favor Of McClellan'- plan and the President
gave his consent
Before tire plan could lie executed however.
the rebels abandoned their position at Ma
nassas, and Gen. Mcclellan directed the ar
nv to follow. He son recalled the order
however and early in March resumed his
plan Of advancing BY way Of the Rappalian-
mock. A few days later he a second time
abandoned this Plan, and proposed 70
Council Of War Il movement by way Of
York and James rivers. The consent Of
the President TO this latter proposal was
gained, with however an agreement
that Washington should be left well guarded.
1t was agreed that 5000 men were needed
to guard the Capital. Gen. Mcclellan, how
ever, having commenced the movement gave
orders that only Is 900 troops, and these I'M
disciplined, should remain. The President,
at tie rcqrsst of Gen. Wadsworth, interior
ed, aud ten. YcDowell's corps was retained,
and TO tlis, .s 1t subsequently appeared, the
Car,.al var indebted for It's safety.
II, report then reviews the Peninsula
c4mra;gn. 1t is undoubted in the view OF
the Committee, that the fret opportunity of
The Fuuinslla. that of Yorktown. was
lost for Ire want Of prompt action on the part
Of the commander. The enemy had not, BY
Gen NcClellan's highest estimate. more
than $4,000 men ready to oppose an imme-
dat alvlnce At that time, Gen. McClel-
Ian ..ys he had SIS 900 men; the President
ssr, he lad over 100000. The capture Of
Yorktown and retreat Of the rebels upon
Richmond, must have followed, had vigorous
measures been adopted before they had time
to Sat1er endorsements. The evacuation Of
York; own, and the failure to pursue with
proper degree of energy, are fully set forth
in tie report. In the opinion Of military
men before the committee, the rebels might
At THE time have been pushed, and followed
into Richmond This second opportunity,
however, was lost as the first had been.
The army under the direction Of its COM
rnander spent two weeks in going 30 miles to
the Chickahominy. At this time about the LIST
Of May while Mcclellan was asking to have
McDoweu's corps sent to him, the Shenando-
ali rad Of Jackson occurred, which but for
the presence OF McDowell's corps at Wash
ington would have doubtless attacked the
Capital and found it defenceless.
The battles of Seven Pines and Fair Oaks
occurring on the last day Of May and
first of June. though at first disas-
trous in Consequence Of the faulty
DISPOSITION made Of our forcez, were
in the event so successful that it again open
ed the way for successful advance upon