New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1863-04-10

ment together with all the testimony, is herewith
submitted. ..
1t is duo to Gen. Stone that your COMMITTEES
should state that it appears from the documents be-
fore your Committee, lba. Immediately upon his ar
rest be demanded that he should be furnished with
copy Of the charges against him, and be allowed tno
opportunity Of promptly meeting them why MS
request was not granted your Committee have
never been informed. Is. b. WADE, Chairman
DEPARTMENT OF THE WEST.
The Joint Committee on the Conduct Of the War
submit. the following report, with the accompanying
testimony In relation 10 the Department. OF tho West:
Your Committee have been unable to take all the
testimony necessary to enable them TO present com.
prehensve report in relation to the administration oil
affairs IN the Department, Of the West, moro psrtcu-
larly while under the command Of Gen. John T..
Fremont. Compelled TO remain in attendance upon
Congress during ito sessions, they were unable 10
visit the Department in order 10 take the testimony
Of witnesses there. And they did not feel willing
10 call from 60 great distance the witnesses whose
testimony was necessary 10 fully eucidate oil the
facts, Ms their services were constantly required In
the FIELD Throughout their Investigations your
Committee have strictly adhered TO the rule adopted
| by them from the first. 10 AK the attendance OF
those in the military service only when no detri-
ment to the public interests would result from "a
Temporary absence from their command. When
Congress clO6ed its session last Summer.
many of thoee who bad been most
actively engaged in the operations TO which
your Committee desired to direct their attention had
been ordered to other parts Of the country; some
were Ia Tennessee and Mississippi, some IN Arkansas,
some in the Army Of the Potomac and others IN the
| Department oil the South under Gen. Hunter. Such
testimony ns was within reach your COMMITTEE, have
taken But they fully aware that their inyesti-
CATION upon that subject has been far from complete
and they, therefore, present but brief report,
together with such testimony as they have obtained
When the Rebellion commenced Missouri was one
OF the most turbulent among those States which the
Rebel leaders sought TO gain over TO their cause by
the connvance and treachery OF the State authori-
ties and by the presence Of armed forces TO operate
upon the fears Of the people. The number OF Fed
eral troops in that region was very small; great
portion OF our troops stationed in the Territories and
at our military posts upon the Western frontier had
been basey surrendered by Twiggs 10 the Rebels IN
Texas. st. Louis the great commercial emporium
of the State was preserved from falling into Rebel
control only by the prompt and fearless course pur
sued by General, then Captain, Lyon, who, not
waiting for orders or authority, occupied the United
States arsenal when threatened by the traitor Gov
enor Of the State, and dispersed the Rebel troops
who were collected under the spocious name Of State
Guards, in camp OF instruction near St. Louis.
The difficulty under which our commanders there
labored In obtaining supplies Of arms clothing &C..
for volunteers fur greater than was felt in any
other part OF the country. Distant from all the
principal depots, at time when the ability OF the
Government was taxed TO tho utmost TO arm and
equip the large number OF volunteers called into the
! field, those who were, from time " time, placed IN
charge Of that department, were compelled to act
under the greatest disadvantages.
| Just previous to the appointment Of Gen. Fremont
to the command Of thar Department tho state Of
affairs in Missouri had become very alarming. In
every portion of the State the Rebel forces had np-
peared and assumed tho onepsive all through the
State they wers committing then depredaious ana
jackson, the Governor, bad appeared with large
force OF troops furnished by the Rebel authorities
from Arkansas and Texas, in addition 10 those he
had been able TO collect IN Missouri. Pillow and
other Rebel Generals had collected large force
| from Tennessee, Kentucky, &C., aud were threaten
ing the southwestern portion Of the State and Cairo
az the mouth OF the Ohio Gen Lyon, who was the
highest officer in command after the removal of Gen.
Harvey, had, with his limited means, been most
tive and had taken the field for the purpose of pre-
venting Jackson with his superior forces from get
ting possession OF the northern portion Of the State.
In July, Gen. Fremont was assigned to that com
mand. lie proceeded TO New.York City, where he
spent some days, endeavorng 20 arrange for supply.
ing his Department with the arms, &c. which were
absolutely requisite. lie reached ST. Louis the 18th
of July. Gen. Pope. who had been assigned the
command In Northern Missouri, was calling for
troops TO enable him to take the field; Gen. Dyon,
In the south portion of the State, had been
II calling for re.snforcements for some time; Gen.
Prentiss. at Cairo was also asking for REINFORCE
ments. Gen. Fremont frat REINFORCED Cairo, as
being the most important point, situated, az was
at the junction OF the Ohio and Mississippi and con-
trolling the navigation of those two rivers. The
number of troops that he could obtain for that pur.
pose was small but the enemy were led to believe,
by the large number of steamboats, that went down
from 81. Louis that the reinforcement was far
greater than IL really was; aud Pillow, who
had a force estimated at ~ 900 men, was de-
TERED from making the attack he had contemplated.
Cairo being REINFORCED, Gen. Fremont at once
took steps TO send troops to Gen. Lyon. The num-
| Der of tie enemy opposed TO Gen. Lyon was almost
overwhelming. IL was supposed by many that he
would retire before them until he should meet sup
ports He himself seems TO have contemplated such
movement, for, after the affair OF Dug Springs, he
retired to Springfield; and Gen. Sturgs tcstihes hat
at that time, Gen. Lyon expressed hts convictions
that re.enforcements could not be sent to him.
| Upon reaching Springfield, Gen. Lyon halted his
forces, and, alter waiting there some four or five
DAVIS announced his intention TO march out aud at
tack the enemy. What reasons influenced him in
forming that determination not well established
by the testimony, Some OF tho officers have ex-
pressed their conviction that he apprehended that
The enemy, should be- retire further from them,
would fall upon biz rear and cripple him, or force
lin 10 fight battle under great disadvantages. LIS
brave spirit doubtless, led him TO meet the enemy he
Ind gone 80 far REACH and endeavor 10 incL such
blow ~ would lead them not TO press very closely
upon him. Whatever his reasons may have been,