New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1863-04-06

offensive operations elsewhere assuming that the
works Of the enemy In front were OF such charac-
ter that 1t would not be advisable 10 move directly
upon them. The estimate Of the force necessary TO
be left in and around Washington to act entirely on
the Defensive to render the capital secure against
any attack of the enemy as stated by the witnesses
examined upon that point, was from ~ IVY TO ooOV
men, leaving loo, 600 or upward that could be used
for expeditions at other points.
In connection with the same subject, your Com
mittee inquired in reference to what had been done
70 render the Notifications here, which had been
constructed at such expense and with 80 great labor
most effective for the defense Of Washington. Your
Committee are constrained to say that adequate
provision never was made to properly man those
Notifications and exercise in the management Of
the guns Several of the witnesses testified that
they had repeatedly called the attention Of the
authorities to the matter but without success And
when the movement Of the army commenced in
March, The few regiments that had been placed in
the forts aud partially instructed in the of the
guns were almost entirely Withdrawn, leaving the
Notifications TO be manned by and inexperienced
troops.
THE BLOCKADE OF THE POTOMAC.
The subject Of the obstruction of the navigation
Of the Potomac naturally demanded the considera-
ton OF your Committee. Upon that point your
Committee would call the attention OF Congress TO
the testimony Of Capt. G.. V. Fox Assistant Secre-
tary of the Navy. Upon reference TO his testimony,
IL will appear that in june 1861, the Navy Depart
ment proposed to the War Department that meas
ures be adopted TO take possession OF Matthias
Point in order TO the navigation Of the Po-
tomac from any danger of being interrupted. From
some cause, no steps tbon taken for that pur-
| poso The subject was again brought to the atten
ton of the War Department by the Navy Depart
ment in the month OF August, shortly after the bat
tie of Boil Run. Nothing however, was done at
that time In regard ~ IT.
In October, ls6l, the Navy Department again
urged the matter upon the consideration OF the War
Department. The Port Royal expedition was then
| in preparation, and would soon be ready TO start
| The Navy Department represented tbavit would be
absolutely necessary TO send with that expedition
In order TO insure ls success, the greater portion oil
the Potomac fotilla, because, beng very powerful
vessels, Of light draught, with their machinery pro-
teced, they were better fitted for that service than
any other vessels IN the possession VI the Navy
Department; and il anything was 10 be done By
them TO secure the uninterrupted navigation OF the
Potomac, it must be done before they left. IL Was
proposed to the Presidepk and the War Department
that the gunboats shou lake and destroy tne Rebel
batteries which had then begun to make their APP
| pearance upon the river, and which even then en-
dangered the safety of vessels passing ny and down
the Potomac. When that bad been done, II was
proposed that sufficient number OF troops should be
landed at Matthias Point, &C., 70 intrench them
selves, under the protection Of the gunboats,
until they should DO able, with the assistance OF
| the smaller boats Of the Potomac hotilia, TO hold
their position against any force the enemy would be
likely TO bring against them. Ii was represented
of those vessels upon the Port Royal expedition
would DO the signal for the closing Of the navigation
of the Potomac, which representation the result
proved 10 be correct As was we'll urged by the Navy
Department, the whole question amounted simply to
this: Would the army cooperate with the navy IN
securing the unobsructed navigation OF the Potomac,
or, by withholding that cooperation at that time,
permit 30 important O channel Of communication 70
\ 10 closed.
WHY IT WAS NOT RAISED.
n Vii ...1
that 900 men should be ready n. q time named 10
proceed down the river. The Navy Department
provided the necessary transports for the troops sod
Capt. Craven, commanding tue Potomac notnia,
upon being notified To that elect, collected at
Matthias Point all the boats Of bis hotis ~ the time
named. The troops did not arrive, ana die Navy
Department wac informed Of the tact py Capt.
Craven. Assistant Secretary Fox, upon inquiring
Of Gen. Mcclellan why the troops had not been sent
according 10 agreement, was informed by him that
his engineers were Of the opinion that 10 large
body OF troops could not be landed and therefore he
had concluded not 70 send them. Capt. Fox reped
that The landing of the troops was matter OF wncI
the Navy Department had charge; that they had
provided the necessary means 70 accomplish the lard
ing successiully that no inquiry had been made OF
them Ill regard 70 that matter and no no'ihcation
that the troops were not 10 be sent.
1t was az reed that the troops should De sent
the next night. Capt. Craven was agaio notified,
and again had his 1ota ia readiness Tor Tie arrival
of tue troops But 10 troops were sent down al
that time nor were any ever sent down Tor shat
purpose. g.
mitteo as to what assigned for not send
ing tue troops according 10 the second agreement re-
pied tue only reason SO Tar IN no coud ascef-
tain was that Gen. Mcclellan feared 1t might bring
on u general engagement
| The President, who Ind united with the Navy De-
partrpent in urging their proposition, first upon Gen.
| Scott aud then upon Gen. Mcclellan, manifested
grea, disappointment VIXEN he learned ibat the plan
had failed in consequence oil the troops not oeihs
| semi, Aud Capt. Craven threw up his command on
the Potomac and applied 10 be sent to sea, saying
that by remaining here and doing nothing, he was
but losing his reputation, a. the blame Tor per-
hitting the Potomac 70 be blockaded would 30 I'M
puted 10 him and the fiotilla under his command
| Upon the failure of this plan OF the Navy De-
partnent the effective vessels OF the Potomac hotilla
| let upon the Port Royal expedition The nayi-
CATION of the river WAS almost Immediately there
after closed, and remained closed until the Rebels
voluntarily evacuated their batteries In the March
following, no steps having been taken, IN the msSn-
time, for reopening communication by that route.
ORDERS TO MOVE.
On the 18th of January, 1862 the President OF
the United States, Commander-in-Chef oil the
Army and Navy Issued orders for o general move
uent Of all the armies Of the United States, one re-
suit of which was the series OF victories nj Fort
Henry, Fort Donsson, &C., which so elsetrhsa Ihe
country and revived tine hopes OF every loyal man
in the land.
LINE OF OPERATIONS.
After this long period VI naotion OF the Army Oh
the Potomac the President OF the United States on
the 3lsr OF January, 1862, issued the following
orders O. ,oeo
Predenrs Special War Order 10 J. =, m. Arm, q, IN.
Ordered That ali the dposabe force Of Iho AIHy o ne
Potomsc after providing safely for the defense o.
TON be formed into expedition for the inmedao oec o.
saving and occupying point upon tho railroad
vsfd Of what Is known as Manassas Junction. al en
DO 10 the discretion OF the GsneIshi In,si ~, 'au
p.dit,ou 20 move before the 2ii day Of sl