The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1863-04-09
Report of the Committee GA h Conduct
of the War.

ed and equipped. The strength of the enemy
was ,,ariously estimated at from 10000 to
100000 at that time, and their ranks exceed
inoIy formidable, but subsequent events prov
ed that their force was less than 10000, ana
the strength of their Publications greatly oV-
e~r-estimated.
At the same time it was considered unaa-
visabIe to attack the enemy III front, also II
would be necessary to leave from 5O,O to
g 0 men in front of Washington for It's
defence. thereby allowing about 100000
more for service elsewhere. The committee
aver that adequate provision was never made
TO properly man the Notifications in front OF
Washington.
Relative to the blockade Of the Potomac, the
Committee states it was proposed to take pos
session Of Matthias Point in June, 1861, and
again in August, but nothing was done,
In October a plan was adopted to take 1T ;
the Potomac hotilla to act conformity with a
detachment Of troops, but the troops were not
sent as agreed, and the plan was not tried
Soon after, the Potomac hotilla left on the
Port Royal expedition, when the river was
almost Immediately closed by rebel batteries
until the rebels. voluntarily left.
On the 18th Of January, 1862, thc IIeSl-
dent, as Comlnander-in-Chief issued orderS
for a general movement OF all the armies %
the United States. one Of the results OF winch
was the capture Of Forts Henry ana DoIel-
sou. on the 31st Of January. The President
ordered all the disposable force Of the Army
Of the Potomac, after providing for the safety
Of Washington, to seize a point on the ran
road Southwest Of Manassas, and the eNpedl-
ton to move before the 22nd cf February
This plan was objected to as dividing our ar
ar,o+ y distance +O enable the two
portions to support each other.
The Commanding General recommended
instead, a movement by way OF the Kappa-
hammock or Fortress Monroe. 10 this propo-
sition the President propounded certain ques-
tons as to its feasibility, and advantages, and
finally a movement by way OF Annapolis, ana
the Kappahannock was agreed upon, but the
rebels evacuated their position at Manassas,
rctreating to the R%appahannock, thus render
ING the plan futile. On the 18th OF March a
council Of Generals decided on a campaign by
the way Of the York and James rivers, which
the President sanctioned, deciding that force
enough be left to protect Manassas, and leave
Washington secure. Mcdowell was assigned
the advance, but transportation not being adj
emate. his division was detained till the last,
and subsequently retained for the defence Of
WASHINGTON. Previous to leaving, the Com
handing General addressed a communication
to the Adiutant General, showing that he left
54,45G men at different points, at Warrenton,
Manassas. Shenandoah, and on the Lower Pc
tomac, with IS, 900 for the garrisons, and i'll
front Of Washington.
The next day Gen, Wadsworth stated that
his force for the defence of Washington was
Inadequate, and the subject was referred to
Gen. Hitchcock, who made Lis report the same
evening, which concludes with the opinion
that the requirements Of the President that
enough force be left to secure the safety O
Washington, had not been fairly complied
with. The President the next day ordered
McDOWelIs corps to remain. This brings the
Committees report to the Peninsular campaign
After landing near Fort Monroe, the army
moved towards Yorktown on the 4th of April
appearing before the rebel works on the 9th
The committee says that testimony proves
that the rebels had from 1000 to 1000 a
Yorktown then, and it is now evident tina
our forcee could then have pierced the rebe
tines, cutting off their reinforcements but {
siege was determined on, contrary to thewisle
Of the President, The committee rehearse tn,
facts relative to the evacuation Of Yorktown
and the battle Of williamsburg, and says on
of the Generals testified that after the latte
battle, II the encmy had been followed, on
forces could have reached Richmond almos
without firing D gun but the General com
handing states that bad roads made pursui
impacticablc. After the battle OF Williams
burg, it was decided to send Mcdowell, ii
fredericksburg to reinforce the army Of tn
Potomac, but the operations Of jackson III tn
Shenandoah prevented his being sent. Il
committee gives details Of the battle Of SIEVE
Pines and Fair Oaks, in which it is state
that Hooker made a reconnaissance to With
four miles Of Richmond. Certain officers tesr
ify that the army there could have marche
right into Richmond. The committee the
continues relative to the severe battle, givin
a number eff kilograms which passed betwee
Mcclellan and the President. The forme
telegraphed on the night Of the 9th of June
that the Government had not sustained hi
army. On the night Of the 18th Of July, Gems
IIalleck and Burnside visited Harrison's Land
ING, soon after which it was decided to with
draw the army from there, and which wa,
lone to reinforce Pope. The committee dc
votes some six pages to kilograms and extract
Of evidence relative to Pope's defeat, and thel
goes ON to the campaign in Maryland ais,
mainly composed Of extracts from the letters
Of Gems. Mcclellan and Halleck, and telegram
III relation to Antietam. Mcclellan t~estitic
that the morning after the battle he found on
loss had been great, the commands much dis
organized, and did not renew2the attack tina
day, but managed to attack the day after
when the enemy abandoned his position. Ii
says; Il think that taking into consideration
what the troops had gone through, we got a
much out ofthem iii the Antietam campaigr
as human endurance would bear" Severa
letters and dispatches are given that passe
between the President and Mcclellan, anC
IIaIleck, the former urging Mcclellan to NOV,
on the enemy from his position near Harper
Ferry.
Mcclellan shows exclusively from his dis
patches that his cavalry was i'll a poor condi
ton in October, but moved on the Goth, anC
continued until the 9th of November, whe1
he received an order from Halleck, deposine
him from his command. The campaign q
Burnside is then rchearsed. The testimony
makes it appear that at fredericksburg. The
attack by Franklin was made by Mcad's di-
vision, which pierced the lines Of the enemy,
but were driven back. Several witnesses tes-
tilted that had the attack b~cenreneWcd by the
whole Of trauklin's command, it would have
been successful. 1t appears that General Newton
and COrcorau, in an interview with the Pres
ldcnt, intimate that the army lacked conf
dence in Burnside, which led the President
to send a dispatch TO Burnside, the effect OF
which wastostop an expedition against the en-
envy thenstarted. Subsequently Burnside visited
Washington, and returned, shortly after which
he planned the second attack on Fredericks-
burg, which was thwarted by a storm. In
consequence Of certain officers expressing dis
satisfaction in the presence Of inferior officers.
Burnside had orders written, dismissing some
officers, relieving others from duty, and sen
fencing deSerters to be shot. The President
refused to sanction the orders, and Burnside
offered his resignation, which was not accept
ed, and he was relieved by the President from
command. The report recapitulates what has
been done, reviews the financial and other
affairs of the rebels. The committee say the
reaction which followed the recent slight man
IfaStlrinn If ,rilinrnns. On d. 49, = e.