Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1863-04-16
REPORT OF The COMMITTEE ON THE WAR.
LETTER FROM GEN. JOHN coCHRANE.

4
We copy from the New York Tribune the following le
tor from Gen Cocrane, explaining and correcting some
points the Report of the Committee on the Conduct of
the War:
The Editor Of tie Ne,o York Tribune
SIR 1t is not often that attempt correct the errors
OF newspaper But the error which you have committed
and OF which complain is serious that cannot OBJ
serve sil.nce.
One of your late issues contains the Report Of the Joint
Committee OF Congress the Conduct the War The
report cons-s OF the unsupported opinions of the members
0i Inc committee except where at intervals extracts
from the record of facts before them have been submitted
to the public The greater ssssc ton and the clearer con
vcton produced by the evidence of the case whenever
vouchsaied indicates how much desirable it ia that
the public instead Of being subjected the opinions of
others should be permitted to judge for themselves But
the committee was OF different mind and their omis.
SION 10 contrm their conclusion at part of their re-
port, that Gen. Newton and assayed an injury to Gen
Burnside demands that should expose the injury which
the committee with assistance inflicted upon us
Inc report states that after order issued that the
army should be in readiness move at twelve hours no.
hce Gen Newton aud came up to Washington on leave
OF absence Thus it is insDuaed directly charged
that while under orders to twelve hours notice
applied Tor aud obtained leave of absence from the army
This Is not true. The evidence before the committee s
that was not aware when left that order for move
meat had been tsuedthat directed, case Of such an
order that should bs elegraphed 10 return and that
did not learn 81 the order referred TO until after nv re,
turn.
The committee affirm, and you repeat that previous to
obtaining leave OF absence from Gen Frank n Gen New
ton aud informed . him and Gen. VIM. r. Smith that
when we came TO Washington (they) should take the
opportunity to represent to authority there
lnere) The dspirited cond of the army 90 There
Is no such evidence however, did testify and the COM
tee have The evidence that was made
70 rilher Gen FRANKLIN or Gen Smith Of such purpose;
hut that had at various times in
with Gen Newton about the condition of the army re-
marked that bad an opportunity would think il my
at Washington
The committee further report that when reached Wash
lngtn eLdeavored TO find certain members of Congress
10 whom to make the desired communication From the
judge that the committee were desrous that tbe
inference should De accepted that sought the conference
oil certain members unfavorabe to the and
Tue war stated To the committee and 90 nv evidence
10 recorded, that sought for the Hon Henry Wlson
chairman OF the Military Committee Of the Senate and
Tor the Hon NJ r. Odel, of their own body thinking
that they would be the proper and useful depostaes Of
such Information.
The committees evident purpose asten on the public
mind an Impression that Gen. Newton intended to
inure Gen. AuRosde has extn ced from them an arfuI
and untrue narration Of what occurred at our interview
with the President Your own partisIities Mr. Editor.
seem 20 have suggested acceptable designation each
enort Oh the committee to this end when you ax one
oil them the caption Gems Cochrane and Newton tryt
prejudice the Presdent against burnside, and to the
other, T" The Generals Preyaricate."
nave no copy Of my evidence, have / seen Gen.
Newtons But remember to have stated explicitly that
knew nothing Of Gen. Burnsides plans that knew
ony OF the disprted condition OF the troops, aud the
sense OF necessity which depressed them and that recor
MS az duty TO communicate this knowledge 10 tbose
whose duty il to applyit Thus much testified that
bad said to the PRESIDENT and then further said to the
committee that had have been the depostary of the COM
handing Generals plans and the possessor of facts which
would necessarily have baled those plans and have in
voved the army in irretrievablo ruin would have con
sdered it less than treason not to have scosed The
facts-that impressed that another defeat then and
there would have been fatal to our case and that il was
upon my deepest loyalty that had spokenthat the peese
bad doubtless disturbed the sleeping Roman sennel when
THEFT alarm saved the capital from the GauIs but that
had never heard that the had been punished for dis
turning tae sentinel though had heard that they had
been hoDored for saving the State
Aud, Mr.. Editor, President Lincoln II seem. was NOT
regardless OF this historical lesson Gen Burnside the
committee say, approached him with the request that he
would approve General Order No Tbieorder dsnssed
from the service and relieved from their commands twenty
uenera officers OF the Army &C the Potomac, who had dis
turned Gen. Burnside At the head Of this list stood tho
sgnhcant name OF Gen Joe Hooker, Ponder the result
Zen Burnside relieved, and Gen Hooker was ordered
70 command IN hs stead The moral Of the old story You
OF the sentinel degraded and the geese TO honor
IL quite true, Mr. Editor, that your own preiudices
cooperate with those which contribute their color to the
report OF the committee neither accept nor denounc
them Whatever their character, their admission NOT
only but their nvocati IT, Judicial councils il not merely
unseemy but unwse not sure that sucb An ex hi
bton will not 90 far to disturb the confidence of its
readers 10 the conclusions OF the report 1t ought An
overwht lining majority Of the American people are patriotic
and loyal 10 their Government But t will never be be-
eyed that patriotism and loyalty are in any degree COM
posed either OF Mcclellan phohia or a Burnsde-rash
Our Cause ~ too pure and great to be draQped at
the nees OF any General hie or Minister
?, war. Our country all, and all the ne nothing
10 tnae Country and her demands Generals and Com
msnaers and Ministers must bow. Commend me this
ruin 70 certain functionares at Washington
warp raop ff,llv n