Daily Ohio statesman. [volume] (Columbus, Ohio) 1855-1870, 1863-04-11
Report OF the Commute on the Con.
duct of the War-.Parts second ana

Report of the Commute on the Con.
duct of the War--PArts Second ana
Third.
New YORK, April 9'--Part second of the "a
port OF the committee on the Conduct of the
War ia issued. Il embraces the battlas of
Boil Run and Ball'a Bluff. In relation Ia the
former, the committee states The great error of
tta' campaign was the failure to occunv Cen.
terville and Manassas when Alex,niri. was
occupied in May. The forces which onon,eS
us we're mostly collected and brought to Manas.
sas in June and Iulr. The three month";, mon
could have made Manassas easily defensible
against any force that could have been hronebt Z
against IL, and it is not at all probable IN At the
rebel loJces would have been advanced from the
line of the Rappahannook had Manassas becn
occupied by our troops The next cause of iis
aster was toe delay IN proceeding against the
enemy unil tne time oil the three months me
expired, and when the movement vas A ,aIlv de.
| tetmned upon much WAS needed ID render the
troops efficient Little time had been devotea
TO dscpining even ss regiments Hardly any
instruction had been given in reference to brig.
ade movements, aud none at all "a divisions
The principal cause of ous defeat; was lbe
| failure OF Gen. Patterson 10 hold the forcea of
Johnston in the Shenandoah valley.
10 relation to the battle of Balls Bluff, after
giving sn account of the engagement. etc. the
committee says ell the Testimony r3aa to nrove
the means Of transportation were verv inada,
quate. Gen. Stone, while inclined IN daem !,
sufficient, left much to the judgment of otbers
and this much can be said for him-thst he re.
ceived no intimation that movement acsos.
the river would be expected from him, or wouji
be justified, till the day before it was actuall,
made; and the committee adds: The reaann
be had for supposng other forces were witbir
short distance to render him assistance. ar
set forth in previous portion Of this report
Ihls relates to the movements of Gen. McCal
to DrainesVille, for the purpose of reconuoiter
ling the country. @
In reference to reinforcing Col. Baker, th
testimony was very conflicting. Gen Ston
testifes chat he received no intimation fror
Col. Baker that he needed reinforcem ents. ths
he received little If any Information from Col
Baker in reference to affeirs at Balls BlufI
and even il achievements had been needed
they could not have been sent upon the Virpini
side In consequence OF the enemy's earthwork
and batteries between Edwards Ferry an,
Ball's Bluff. Some other witnesses testify n
the same effect. Others say there was no ob
stacle to our troops passing upon the VirRinil
side. The committee refrains from exoreeain
positive opinion on this point. : 7s-'
Ia reference to the arrest of General Stone
the committee says they informed Secrotarin
Cameron and Stanton that some explanation h
Stone was required. He Appeared before m
committee and made explanations in renera
terms concerning the testimony sgainst him /
regard to undue intercourse with the enemy
etc. The committee reported to the Secretsr
! Of War that the testimony was conflicting with
out any recommendation as to what should n
done. IL afterward appeared from the testimon
of Gen. Mcclellan, that Gen. Stone was arr esi
ed on the written order of the Secretary of w Al
for the reason that he had been informed b
members OF the committee on the Conduct Of tn
War that they had taken testimony going 4
show that he had been guilty Of conduct no
consistent with loyalty. Gen. Stone. since HI
release, has been permitted to examine III
the testimony, and demanded that he be fur
lnished with copy of the charges against hin
Why this request was not granted the commit
tee is uninformed. t- sLl
Part third embraces the Department of th
West. The committee ssys that IL has bee,
unable TO collect the necessary testimony Il
this department, particularly while under com
mand OF Gen. Fremont, on account of the grea
distance of witnesses. In relation to the ad.
ministration Of Fremont, the committee saw
much should be pardoned in one compelled /
act so promptly aud with 80 little at hia com
mand Some Of the arms engaged by Ere
mont for his department were diverted to th
Army of the Potomac by the Government, an
his department long feit the want Of an ade
lquate supply. As to Notifications around s.
Louis, Fremont but carried out what GenerI
Lyon deemed necessary. As TO the manner
which ID was done, the committee forbsArs ex
pressing an opinion. e "
In regard to reinforcing promptly poin
: threatened by the enemy, the committee b
lieved Fremont acted with energy and promp
ness. Troops were collected by him Ss soon
. could be done, and promptly sent where the
a services were demanded. Some were divert.
to other purposes. The Governme
called upon him Tor troops 10 be sent East, at
: time when he was most earnestly engaged
Il procuring forces for the assistance of Mullga
Those shat were left he sent promptly, and on
= failed to render assistance needed from caus
lover which Fremont had M control F.amo