The Jeffersonian Democrat. [volume] (Chardon, Ohio) 1854-1865, 1863-04-24

good OF the service required it, and Gen.
Burnside yielded the point.
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Report of the Committee on the Conduct
of the War.
NEw YoRK, April 9.-Part second oil
the report Of the Committee on the Con.
duct Of the War is issued. 1t embraces
the battles Of Bull Run and Balls Bluff
In relation to the former the Committee
states that the great error Of the cam
paigu was the failure to occupy Centre
vile and Manassas. When Alexandria
was occupied in May,t forces which op.
posed US were mostly collected and brought
10 Manassas in June and July. The three
months men could have made Manassas
easily defensible against any force that
could have been brought against it,
and il is not at all probable that the
rebel forces would have been advanced
from the line Of the Rappahanuock. had
Manassas been occupied by our troops.
The cause Of disaster was the delay in
proceeding against the enemy until the
time of the three months men expired,
and when the movement was finally de-
termined upon, much was needed to rem
der the troops efficient. Little time had
been devoted to disciplining them. Even
as regiments, hardly any instruction had
been given in reference 10 brigade move
ments, and none st all as divisions. The
principal cause Of our defeat was the fail.
ure Of General Patterson 10 hold the forces
of Johnston in the Shenandoah valley.
In relation 10 the battle Of Balps Bluff,
the Committee, after giving an account OF
the engagement, ETC., says: All the tes :
timony goes 10 prove that the means OF
transportation were very Inadequate
General Stone, while inclined to deem it
sufficient, left much to the judgment OF
others; and this much can be said for him
that he received no intimation that q
movement across the river would be ex,
pected from him, or would be justified
until the day before it was actually made
and the Committee adds, the reason h
had for supposing other forces were with
in short distance, to render him assist
ance, are set forth in q previous portion
OF the report. This relates 10 the move
ments Of Gen. Mccall to Drainsville, lo
the purpose Of reconnoitering the country
In reference to reinforcing Colonel Ba-
ker, the testimony was very conflicting
General Stone testifies that he received no
intimation from Col. Baker tha. he needed
rein forcements. That he received little il
any information from Col. Baker in refer
ence 10 affairs at Balls Bluff, and, even il
reinforcements had been needed, they
could not have been sent upon the Vir-
ginia side in consequence Of the enemy's
eorthworks and batteries between Ed
wards Ferry and BalPs Bluff.
Some other witnesses testify 10 the
same effect others say there was no OBJ,
sIacle 10 oui troops passing up on the Vir.
ginia side. The Committee refrain from
expressing positive opinion on this point
In reference to tho arrest of General Stone
tho Committee say they informed Socreta.
ries Cameron aud Stanton that some ex.
planation by Stone was required. He ap.
peared before the Committee, and made ex.
plantations in general terms concerning the
testimony against him in regard to undue
intercourse with tho enomy, Sc.
Tho Committee reported to the Secretary
of War that the testimony was conflicting,
without any recommendation hs to what
should be done. 1t afterwards appeared
from tho testimony that General Stone was
arrested on the order of the Secretary of
War, for the reason that he had been in.
formed by members of the Committee on
the Conduct of the War that they had tes-
timony going to show that he had boon guilty
of conduct not consistent with loyalty.
General Stone, since bis release, has beon
permitted to examine all the testimony, and
demanded that he bo furnished with copy
of the charges against him. Why this re.
quest was not granted the Committee is un.
Il informed.
Part Sd embraces the Department of the
West. The Committee says 1t had been un.
able TO collect the necessary Testimony in
this Department, particularly while under
command of General Fremont, oh account
of the great distance Of witnesses.
In relation to the administration of Fre-
mont. the Committee says much should be
pardoned in ono compelled to act SO prompt
ly and with SO little at his command. Some
of the arms engaged by Fremont for bis do.
partment were diverted to the Armyof the
Potomac by the Government, and his do.
partmcnt long felt the want of any adequate
supply.
AS to the Notifications around st. Louis
Fremont but carried out what Gen. Lyon
deemed necessary. As to the manner in
which it was done. tho Committee forbeal
} expressing an opinion.
In reference to reinforcing promptly points
threatened by the enemy, the Committee be.
loved Fremont acted with energy and
promptness. Troops were collected by him
as soon as could bo done, and promptly sent
where their services we're demanded. Some
were devoted to other purposes. The Gov
, ernment called on him for troops to be sent
cast, at a timo when he was most earnestly