The Cass County Republican. [volume] (Dowagiac, Mich.) 18??-1880, 1863-04-23
Second Report of the Committee on the
Conduct of the War.

New YORK, April 8.
Part second of the Report of tn
Committee on the Conduct of the w a
is issued. 1t embraces the battles O
Bull Run and Ball's Bluff. In relation
to the former, the Committee state
that the great error of that campaigl
was the failure to occupy CeGtrevill
and Manassas when Alexandria wa
occupied in May. The forces which
opposed US were mostly collected ano
brought to Manassas in June and July
The three months men could hav,
made Manassas easily defensiblt
against any force the enemy could have
brought against it, and it is not at al
probable that the rebel forces would
bave been advanced from the line OF
the Rappahannock, had Manassas been
occupied by our troops. The next
cause of disaater wasthe delay in pro
ceeding against the enemy until the
time of the three months men expired
and when the movement was finally de.
termined upon, much was needed t.
render the troops efficient. Little time
had been devoted to disciplining them
even as regiments. Hardly any III
struetion had been given in reference
to Brigade movements, and none at al
as Divisions. The principal cause OF
our defeat was the failure of Genera
Patterson to hold the forces of John.
son IN the Shenandoah valley.
III >
Bluff, the Committee, after giving an
account of the engagement, &C., say
all the testimony goes to prove that
means of transportation were very in
adequate. Gen. 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 in
timation that a movement across the
river would be expected from him, or
would he justified till the day before it
was actually made, and the Committee
adds that the reasons he had for sup
posing other forces were within short
distance to render him assistance, are
set forth in previous portion of this
report. This relates to the movements
OF General Mccall to Drainesville for
the purpose of reconnoitering the coun-
try.
In reference to reinforcing Col Ba,
ker, the testimony was very conflicting
Gen. Stone testifies that he received no
information from Col. Baker that he
needed endorsements; that he re.
ceived little, if any information from
Col. Baker in reference to affairs at
Balls Bluff, and even if reinforcements
had been needed, they could not have
been sent up on the Virginia side, in
consequence Of the enemy's earthwerks
and batteries between Edwards Fer
ry and Balls Bluff. Some other wit
nesses testify to the same effect. 9th
ers say there was no obstacle TO our
troops passing up. the Virginia side.
The Committee refrain from expressing
a positive opinion on this point. In
reference to the arrest of Gen. Stone
the Committee say they informed Sec
retaries Cameron and Stanton that
some explanation by Stone was re-
quired. He appeared~before the Com
miltee, aud made explanations in gene
raj terms, denounelng the testimony
against him in regard to undue inter
course with the enemy, DC. The Com
mittee reported to the Secretary of
War that the testimony was conflicting
without any recommendation as to what
should be done. 1t afterwards ap
peared from the evidence of Gen. Nc
Clellan that Gen. Stone was arrested
on the written order of the Secretary
of War, for the reason that he had
been informed by members of the Com
mittee on the Conduct of the War,
that they had taken testimony going to
show that he had been guilty of con-
duet not consistent with loyalty Gen.
Stone, since his release has been per
united to examine all the testimony,
and demanded that he should be far
nished with copy of the charges
against bim. Why this request was
not granted the Committee are unin-
formed.
Part third embraces the Department
Vi tbc w Ccts uc thCJ
have been unable to collect the ueces-
sary testimony in this Department, par
ticularly while under the command of
Gen. Fremont, on account of the great
distance of witnesses. In relation to
the administration of Gen. Fremont,
the Committee says much should be
psrdoned In one compelled to act SO
promptly and with so little at his com
fmand. Some of the arms engaged by
Fremont for his department were diver
ted to- the Army of the Potomac by
the Government, and his department
long felt the want of an adequate sup
ply. As to the Notifications around
st. Louis, Fremont but carried out
what General Lyon deemed necessary.
As to the manner in which is was done,
the Committee forbear expressing an
opinien. In regard TO reinforcing
promptly points threatened by the sne-