Daily national Republican., 1863-04-06

In washington. We protected Washington,
and the enemy concentrated on you. Had we
stripped WAahington he wonld have been up
on ua before the troops sent could have got 70
'y;'save your army at all events. WIN send
relnforcements as fast as we can. OF course
they cannot reach yon to-day, tomorrow, erI
next day." . T.. =.
The 18th Of June passed without any serious
| fighting. Col. B. 8. Alexander testities that on
the afternoon Of that day he was sent for BY
Gen. Mcclellan, and went 10 his headquarters
at Sayage's Station, arriving there about dark.
Ho received Instructions 70 proceed with an
eacort TO the James river, send back sufn-
clent number OF men to act as guides
for the different columns Of the army, COM
muieato with the gunboats, and order sup
piles to be brought up the river; 10 examine
both chores Of the james to the mouth Of the
Chlckahominy, and ASCERTAIN the landing
places; proceed up the ChicSahomlny TO
the head OF navigation and ascertain the places
where the army could croes, 10 case Of necessi-
ty, and then return 70 headquarters and report,
BE left sayage's Station that night, and reached
the James river the next afternoon. By the
time he had completed his examination the
Army had reached the James river AZ Malvern.
While at headquarters, receiving Ms lnstTuo-
tons, he was shown, as he testihes, printed
order, not then issued, directing ne destruction
Of ne baggage Of Officers and Be'l and Lhe tents,
camps, eqh1pdge ava the taiH9lO O tNdt k'tdi aD-
peaiin0 70 he army 10 Ea1ln 70 dais priVdtiOn as
d you'd b soalyt0nporas s'Ogilv FOR fec davs''
He demonstrated with Gen. Mcclellan against
| Issuing such an order; that II would have a
bad effect, would demorallns the army, as II
would be telling them more plainly than they
could be told In any other way that they were
defeated and running for their lives. The or
der was not issned, and Gen. Mc0IelldR testties
Ngf ne has no recollection ofdHy slioh order. ~
The retreat TO the James river having been
decided upon, the army took up its march, be-
ing attacked by the enemy In the day time,
and however snecessful In repelling those at
taeks, eyacuating their positions during the
night. The actions Of savage's Station, Glen
dale and Malvern were fought during the
movement of the army 70 the James, the enemy
being repulsed In each days fehting, and our
army falling back, under orders, during the
night.
Il would appear, from all the information
yonr committee can obtain, that the battles
were fought, the troops handled, now DISPOSE
tions made and old ones changed, entirely by
| the corps commanders, without directions from
the commanding general. He would place the
troops in the morning, then leave the field and
seek the position for the next day, giving no
directions until the close Of the days fighting,
when the troops would be ordered 10 fall back
during the night 70 the new position selected
| BY him. In that manner the army reached The
| Janes river. .....u ~ HE . sa
The battle Of Malvern Hin, Of the lst Of July,
was the most aercely contested Of any upon the
peninsula. The troops were placed in the
morning, under direction Of General Nc Clellan,
who then len the feld, returning to it again in
the afternoon. Tho first action Of the day com
menesd about 10 o'clock in the forenoon, but
did not continue long, The principal action,
/ when the enemy attscked most vigorously and
| persistently, commenced late In the afternoon,
| and continued till after dark, the enemy being
repulsed and beaten at every point. Many Of
be officers examined By your committee are Of The
opinion that ths e1emV I0srs 20 severely punished
on at day that they could hare been tolloIoed info
Rielnond had oar army JolloTced them up VigOr-
Otisly. .. '.tg 7-...... - +
II Is true that our army had been severely
tried dnring the preceding week, fighting, as
they did, nearly every day, and retreating every
night. The corps commanders and the troops
under them fought most brayely-no troops
better. However dlsheartened they msy have
become by what all must have regarded as
precipltate retreat during the night, they still
fought with the most obstinate bravery when
attacked in the daytime by an eIultant and sue
cessful enemy. .v. .r.
! The commanding general, however, determ.
ined TO fall back from Malvern 20 Harrison'l
Bar, Notwithstanding the victory won there by
our army. Heseems to have regarded his army
as entirely untitled to meet the enemy, for or
the day ofthe battle at Malvern, evidently be
. fore that battle took place, he writes TO the ad
jutant general Of the army from HHTall's plan.
tation;
ttMy men are completely exhausted, and ]
dread the result II we are attacked to-day by
fresh troops! II possible, shall retire tonight
70 Harrison's Bar, whore the gunboats can Teu.
der more aid In covering our poSitlon. Per-
NIT me 70 urge that not an hour should be LOST
In sending me fresh troopa. More lgunbostI
are much needed" -l.
On the 2d Of July the President telegruphs tt
, Gen. Mcclellan; ....r..
"Your dispatch Of yesterday morning in
duces me to hope your armyis having som,
rest. In this hope allow me 70 reason with yol
2 for a moment. When you ask for 50, 900 mel
: to be promptly sent you, you must surely lAbo
= under some gross mistake Of fact. Recent,
you sent papers showing your disposal o
forces made last spring for the defence o
. Washington, and advising a return to tina
plan. find included In and about Washington
5000 men. Now please be assured that
have not enough men to I'LL that very plan by
{ 5000. All Of General Fremont's In the val
: ley; all Of General Banks's; all Of General Nc
A Dowell's not with you; and all in Washington
taken together, do not exceed, II they reach
90, 900, with General Wool and General Dil
y added to those mentioned. have not, outsid
4 Of your army, 70 600 men east of the noun
A tains. Thus the idea OF sending you $1,000, o
any other considerable force, promptly, is sim
: ply absurd, II, in your frequent mention @
% responsibility, you had tho impression that
. blame you for not doing more than you car
!. please be relieved Of such impression. I onl
u beg that, in like manner, you win not ask in
Il possibilities OF me.
a "If you think you are not strong enough I
take Richmond just now, / do not ask you
= try Just now. Save the army, material an
K personnel, and viii strengthen 1t for the o
fensive again ~ fast as can.D ..
a On, the Sd Of July, after the the army ha
|, reached Harrison's Bar, Gen. Mcclellan write
to the Secretary of War:
o 81 am in hopes that the enemy is as cou
, pletely worn out as we are; he was certainl
very severely punished In the last battle.
II is, Of course, impossible To e
Innate as yet our losses, bHt doubt whethl
there are to-day more than $1,000 men wit
!, their eolors. .s.
y J "To accomplish ths great task Of capturiu
= Richmond, and putting an end 10 this Tebellioi
. reinfOrcements should be sent 10 me rath
: much over than less than l0O,000 men,"
/ 1.-THE committee go on to state the eonditiC
l Of the troops upon their arrival at Harrison
n Bar; that the total force on the peninsula und
I Mcclellan altogether, from first to last, up
II June 80, was l59, 500 men; on the goth Of Ju
} following Mcclellan reported his total force
i be 1881 ofthiS number lOl ,69l were fit f
service. The army remained at Harrison's
dntil August, Mcclellan insisting that it W
J. the "trus line Of approach TO RIchmond,r b