Daily State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis, Ind.) 1861-1865, 1863-04-06
Sunday Wight Dispatches

IHfLADELfHlA, April 9-Jay OoOhe, the SUD
scripton Agent. announces the conversion Of
s. 200 900 legal tenders into pos for the week
ending Yesterday. The daily average is over
81 900 900. and subscriptions received from
every quarter in large and small sums.
INV YoRK, April 5.-The Herald's special
states that it Is understood further efforts will
be made to raise negro regiments in the free
States.
NEW YORK April 5.-The iu.l report of the
Committee on the Conduct of the War occupies
81 closely printed pages The principal part of
the testimony relates to the Army of the Poto-
mac The report shows that in December, 1861,
exclusive of the command of Gen. Dix. at Balt
more, the Potomac army numbered LIS 900 men,
well armed, disciplined and equipped. The
strength Of the enemy was yariously estimated
at from 40 600 TO 100000 men at that time.
and their works were exceedingly formidable
but subsequent events proved their force less
than 40 300 and the strength of their fortified
tons over estimated AT the same time it was
considered unadvisable TO attack the enemy in
front, also, it would be necessary to leave % 900
to so 900 men in front OF Washington for its
defense. thereby allowing about 100. 900 men for
service elsewhere
The Commercial AYERS that adequate psovis
ions made To properly the FORTH
cations in front of Washington.
In relation to the blockade of III Potomac the
possession OF Mathias's Point in June. 1861, and
again in August. but nothing WAS done In
October plan was adopted to take il, the Po-
tomac hotilla to act conformity with a detacil--
ment of troops. bnt the troops not sent
agreed. and the plan not tried. Soon after,
the Potomac hotilla left for the Port Royal ex
petition, when The river almost Immediately
clOsed by Rebel batteries until the Rebels voluu-
tarily left.
On the l9th of January. 1862 the President
a. COMMANDMENT Chief, issued orders for gen.
eral movement OF all the army corps One of
the results Of this movement was the capture of
Forts Henry and DJneson.
On the Dist OF January. the President ordered
all dsposable forces of the army of the Potomac
CATER providing for the safety of Washngton) 10
seize point on the railroad southwest of Manss
sas: which NOV. ment was to take place before
the 22i of February.
This plan was objected to. Ii would divide
arms by too great distance to enable the
two portions "a support each other The Cong
General recommended movement by way OF
the Rappahannock or Fortress Monroe.
To THIS proposition the President propounded
certain questions rs to it, feasibility and advan-
taees, and finally NOV ement by way of Annapo-
lis and the Rappahaunock WAS decided upon. but
the Rebels evacuated their position n Manassas,
retiring To the Rappahannock. thus rendering the
plan futile On the 18th OF March council of
Generals decided on campaign by way of York
and James rivers, which the President sanctioned,
directing th,t enough force be left to hold Ma
nassas and leave Washington secure. Mcdowell
WIS assigned the advance. but transportation not
being adequate, his division detained till the
last. and subsequently returned for the defense
of Washington
Previous tn leaving. tie Comaia nding General
addressed communication To the Adjutant Gen
era, showing that he left 81 456 men at different
points--at Warrenton. Manassas. the Shean
dOah and the lower Potomac with $4,000 for
garrisons and in front of Washington.
Next day General Wadsworth stated his force
for the defense OF W ashngton inadequate,
aud the subject was referred to General Hitch
cock. who reported the same evening, which con-
cudes with the opinion that the requirements of
the President that enough force be left to secure
the safety of Washington. had not been fully
complied with.
corps to remain
This brings the committees report To the Pc
ninsuar campaign.
After l,nding near Fort Monroe. the army
moved toward Yorktown, on the 4th of April
appearing before the Rebel works-on the 5th
some say. The Rebels had from 900 to L.. 900
men at Yorktown.
pierced the Rebel lines cutting off their reinforce
ments; but a siege determined upon, contra
~ to the wishes OF the President
The Committee rehearse facts relative To the
evacuation OF Yorktown and the battle of Viii
liamsburg One General haG testified that, after
the battle, had the enemy been pursued, our for
ces could have reached Richmond, almost with
oat firing gun; but The General Commanding
Saws bad roads made pursuit mpractcable
1t decided to send Mcdowell, via Freder
icksburg. to reinforce the Army of the Potomac;
but the operations of Jackson in the Shenandoah
Valley prevented his being sent
The committee gives details of the battles of
Seven Pines and Fair Oaks. in which it is stated
that Hooker made reconnaissance 10 within four
miles of Richmoud-certain officers testifying
that the army then could have marched right into
Richmond.
The committee then continues relative to the
seve.. DAYS battles giving numbers of telegrams
which passed between Mcclellan and the PTesi-
dent, the former telegrapInng that on the 9th OF
June the Government had not sustained his army
On the night of the 25th of July Generals Hal
leck and Burnside visited Harrisons Landing.
soon after which it was decided TO Withdraw the
army from there, which was done TO reinforce
Pope.
The Committee devotes some SIX pages TO
kilograms and extracts OF evidence relative to
fopes defeat and then goes on TO the campaign
i'm MARYLAND, also mainly composed of extracts
from letters from Mcclellan and Halleck and
kilograms
In relation 10 Antietam, Mcclellan testlfes
that the morning after the battle he found our
loss had been great. the commands much dIsor-
eanized, ana ne did not renew the attack that
day bu, arranged TO attack the day after. when
the enemy abandoned us position He says:
think that. taking into consideration what the
troops had gone through, we got much out OF
them in the Antietam campaign a human en-
durance would bear.
Several letters and dispatches are given that
passed between the President and Mcclellan and
HaIIeck the former urging Mcclellan to move
on the enemy from his position near Harper.
Ferry. Mcclellan shows conclusively from hi.
dispatches that his cavalry was in poor condi
ton in October bu, moved on the Goth. and con-
tnued Until the 5th of November. when he re
ceived an order from HaIleck depriving him fro N
his command.
The campaign Of Burnside is then rehearsed
! The testimony makes 1t sppesr that at Freder
/ icksburc the attack by Franklin was made by
/ Meade's division, which forced the lines of tn,
enemy but we're drv en- back. Several witnesses
testified that had the attack been renewed by th'
whole of Frankln's command, il would hav'
been successful
II appears that Generals Newton and Corcorar
i'm an interview with the President. intimated tina
the army lacked confidence ia Burnside. hi
led the President to SEND dispatch to Burnside
the effect of which TO stop expedition
against the eaeny-then started. Subsequent,
! Burnside visited Washington soon returning Il
his command shortly aiter~ ard, he planned
second attack on Fredericksburg. which va