Cleveland morning leader. [volume] (Cleveland [Ohio]) 1854-1865, 1863-04-06
NEWS FROI NEW YORK.

The HeraId's special states that it is under
stood that further efforts will be made to
raise negro regiments in the free States.
The full report OF the Committee on the Con-
duct Of the War occupies sixty-fOur closely
printed pages. The principal part Of the testi-
mony relates to the Army Of the Potomac. The
report shows that in December, 1861 exclusive
Of the command Of General DIX, at Baltimore,
the Potomac Army numbered 1s5,0O0 men, we'll
armed, disciplined and equipped. The strength
Of the enemy was Y0rlOusly estimated at nom
1000 to 10000 at that time, and their works
were exceedingly formidable bat subsequently
proved that their force was less than 10000, and
the strength Of their fortifeahOns was greatly
overestimated- At the same time It was cOusid-
cred unadvsable 70 attack the enemy in front, and
it would be necessary to leave 500O0to s0,0O0men
in front Of Washington for its defense, thereby
allowing about $1,000 men for service elsewhere.
The Committee aver that adequate provision
was never made to properly man the fortifca-
tions IN front Of Washington.
In relation to the blockade Of the Potomac the
Committee states it was proposed to take pos
session of Matthe- -On's Point IN June, 1851, and
again in August, but nothing was done.
In October plan was adopted to take IT, the
Potomae Army to act cOnjointiy with a detach-
ment OF troops but they were not sent as agreed,
and the plan was not tried. Soon after the POtO-
mac hOtilla left on the Port Royal expedition,
when the river was almost Immediately closed
by rebel batteries until the rebels left. On the
18th Of Jenuary, 1861, the President issued Or
ders for a general movement Of all the armies
of the United Statesi one of the results Of
which vas the capture OF Forts Henry and DON
elson, on the 3lst Of January. The President
| ordered all the dlspOsable force OF the Army OF
| the Potomac, after providing for the safety Of
! Washington, to seize a point on the Railroad
| sOuthWestOf Manassas, and the expedition %
move before the 22d Of February. This plan
was objected to, as twas dividing our army BY
| too great distance to enable the two portions
/ to support each other.
| The Commanding General recommended in.
| stead amovement by way of the Rappahannoek
| or Fortress Monroe. TO this proposition the
President propounded certain questions as to its
| lySsris o. way " AnuHp0iis ana the Rappanan-
/ mock was agreed upon, but the rebels would
/ have evacuation at Manassas retiring to the
/ RappahannOck, thus rendering the plan tutlle-
/ On the 18th Of March council OF Generals de-
1 cided on a campaign by way Of York and James
rivers which the President sanctioned and direct
ed that enough force be LEFT to hold Manassas
and leave Washington secure. Mcdowell was
assigned the advance, but transportation vas not
/ ready. His Division was detained till the last,
and subsequently retained for the defense OF
Previous to leaving the Commanding General
| addressed q communication to the Adlutant-
General, showing 81, ,456 men at different points
at WarrentOn, Manassas, Shenandoah, ana on inc
| Lowe Potomac, with 1S0, ,Oo0fOr the garrison and
in front Of Washington The next day General
Wadswcrth stated his force for the defense o.
Washington was inadequate and the subject was
referred to General Hitchcock Whe reported the
same evening, which concludes with the opinion
that the requirements Ofthe President, that am
| pie enough force be left to secure the safety o
| Washingt had not been fully complied with
The President next day ordered McDOweIl'
corps to remain.
TFhis brings the Committees report to the Pc
After landing IN the rear Of Fortress Monro,
| the army moved toward yorktown, on Q he 4th o
April, appearing before the rebel works on IN
! | 9Th. The Committee says that the testimon,
proves that the rebels had from seven thOusan
to twelve thousand men at Yorktown then
and it is now evident that our forces eoul
| have then pierced the rebel lines, cutting OH re
| iDforeements but q seige was determined on con
| trary to tho wishes Of the President.
| The Committee rehearsed the facts relative {
the battle of Yorktown and the battle oil Williams
one Of the Generals testified that after the lai
: ter battle, if the enemy had been followed ou
: forces could lave reached RichmOnd Amos
n | without firing gun, but the General Command
' | ing states that bad roads made pursuit I'm pOss
7 bls. After the battle Of Williamsburg, It was d,
eided to send Mcdowell via. Fredericksburg
reinforce the Army Of the Potomac, but the opl
rations ofJackson in the Shenandoah preyenie
| his being sent.
The Committee gives details of the battle
Seven Pines and Far Oaks, in which It Is state
d that Hooker made reconnaissance 70 Wltnln IQl
q | miles OF Richmond, certain ofhcers testliyI
that the army then could have marched nght i
| to Richmond. a,
= The COMMITTEES then continues relative to q
a | seven days battles, giving number OF telegram
= which passed between Mcclellan ana the re
/ dent the former telegraphing, on the night
Pr the 9th Of June, that the GoVernmehs IL
not sustained his army.
On the night ofthe 25th Of July General rs
re Ieck and Burnside visited Harrison 3 landin
&c soon after which It was decided 10 Withdraw Z
army from there, which was done to reiniof
e POpe ,,,,,,t,,r.se, ,.,,vy,ss z,,asv 90. r-.--
he telegrams and extracts OF evidence relative
10 Pope's defeat and then goes on to the cam pal
in Maryland, also manly composed OF e3tIai ~
! Of letters OF Mcclellan and Halleek. ana IeI
rs | Grams In relation to AntietaTn Mcclellan tes
"a ies that the morning after the battle ne lou
our loss had been great, commands mueh as
ganlzed and did not renew the attack tnat ds
Rnt arranged to attack the day after, when
enemy abandoned his position. He says
| think taking into consideration what tne tI0o
n had gone through, we got as mueh out 9l 81 m tn'
u in the Antietam campaign as human ehdural
ke yrould bear.n Several letters and dls patches
h givep that passed between the President Q
Il | Mcclellan and Hallecki the former urging
eu | CIeIlan TO move on the enemy nom MS poslt
he uesr Harper's Ferry. Mcclellan shows conc
b sivelv from his dispatches that his cavalry
- | in poor condition in October, but moFeo On
NJ 26th, and continued until the 5thot HoVemn
when he received an order nom Halleek desP
If ing him from his command
= 1'he campaign Of Burnside is then rehearS
The testimony makes u appear tlA. ~ ~ "
icksburg the attack by Franklin was mAas
IL / Meade's Division, which pierced the hne5 oi
=. enemy, but were driven back: oeveIal wins
.OO es testified that had the attaek Deen tenes ~
to the whole of Franklin's command Il WOuid ~
are been successful It appears that Generals 3, ~
ton and Corcorsn, in an interview, WIN me II n
ident intimated that the army lackeo eohlae
I
bsI dispateh 70 Burnside, the effect OF Wn
vas to stop an exPedluon aga
me enemy then started. Subsequently Bu
side visited Washington and returned, shoI ~
ter which he planned the attack on Frederic
bnrg. which was thWarted by storm
In consequence OF certain officers express
dissatisfaction in the presence Of inferior
YER | cars burnside had orders written 70 usH
At | soroa ~ them and to relieve others nom dI
Il and sentencing deserters to be shot
,hu The President refused to sanction the ord
and Burnside offered his resignation, when
NOT accepted, and he was relieved by the Ff
| dent from his command.
. The report reeapitulates what has peen do
- and reviews the financial and other affairs OF
10 The COMMITTEES say that the reaction VI
at followed the recent slight manifestation OF
:. ingness or. the part Of a few secession sy %
IL tbizsrs 10 offer terms Of COMPROMISE must {
en- vince them that they haVeno allies On ~
tbevean rely, and that the. present eondl1o
- Ft1Tope must forever abolish the deluslVe ne
Oo- that fhev mi ght have entertained OF lntsIl
ton. to accomplish what they can never az
-; THE Committee say that We must OBTAIN u
AAr- teTrIpfed control Of the Mississippi; We n
reach those great railroad artenes' tne
bordering on the Atlantic, sndths other stTe