The Nashville daily union. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1862-1866, 1863-04-07
LATE NEWS.

NuOuN EEiAith W lht " NlG AOlO-
mac. The report shows that December,
1861, exclusive Of the command Of Gen.
Dix at Baltimore, the Potomac army
numbers 1876, 600 men well armed, dis.
ciplined, and equipped. The strength
Of the enemy was variously estimated
at from 10000 to 10000 at that time,
and their works were exceedingly formi.
dabe. But subsequent events proved
their force 20 be less than 10000 and
the strength of their Notifications great
ly oyerestimatod. At the same time IL was
considered anadvisable to attack the
enemy in front. 1t was also thought
that il would be necessary to leave from
$4,000 10 $4,000 men in front Of Wash
ing, for its defence, thereby allowing
about 100000 men for service elsewhere.
The committee AYERS that adequate
provisions were never made to properly
man the Notifications in front of Wash
ington In relation 70 the blockade of
the Potomac, the committee states that it
was proposed to take possession Of Ma
thias Point in June, 1861, and again in
August, but nothing was done In De-
tober the plan was adopted TO take it, 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 yOluntriy
left Oh the 10Th of January, 1852, the
President, as Commander-in- Chief, is
sued orders for a general movement of
all the army of the United States, one Of
the results Of which was the capture Of
Forts Henry and Donelson. On The 3lst
| of January the President ordered all the
disposabe force of the Army of POto.
| mac, after providing for the safety Of
! Washington, to seize a point on the rail-
road southwest of Manassas, and the ex-
! petition TO move before the 22d February
! This plan was objected to as dividing
our army by too great distance to ena-
BILE the two portions to support each
other. The commanding General recon-
mended instead movement by way Of
| the Rappahannock or Fortress Monroe.
To this proposition the President pro-
pounded certain questions as to IFS FEAST
bility and advantages and finally a
movement by way of Annapolis and the
Rappahannook was agreed upon, but the
rebels evacuated their position at Manas
sas, retiring to the Rappahannock, thus
rendering the plan futile. On the 18th
of March a council of Generals decided
on a campaign by way of York and
James rivers, which the president sane
toned, directing that enough force be
left TO hold Manassas and leave Wash
ington secure. Gen. Mcdowell was as
signed the advance, but transportation
not being adequate his division was de :
tanned till lost, and subsequently re-
tanned for the defence of Washington.
Previous to leaving, the commanding
General addressed a communication "a
the Adiutant General, showing that he
left about 81, 456 men at different points
-Warrenton, Manassas, Shenandoah
and on the Lower Potomac--with IL, 00C
for garrison in front of Washington
The next day Gen. Wadsworth stated
; that his force for the defence of Wash
iugton was inadequate, and the subject
was referred to Gen. Hitchcock, who re.
ported The same evening, which concludes
with the opinion that the requirement.
of the President, that enough force Ii
left to secure the safety of Washington
had not been fully complied with TIL,
President the next day ordered Mellow.
: ellis corps to remain. This brings th,
committees report 90 the Peninsula
campaign. After landing near Fortres,
Monroe the army moved toward York
| town on the 4tb, appearing before tn,
rebel works on the 9th. The committe,
says the testimony proves that the rebeli
, had from 1000 to 1900 men at York
3 town then, and it is now evident that ou
forces could then have pierced the rebe
8 lines, cutting of reinfOrcements; bnt
siege was determined on, contrary TO The
, wishes of the President
/ The committee rehearsed facts relativ
to the evacuation of Yorktown and tn
battle of Williamsburg, und says tina
one of she Generals testified that, afte
! the latter battle, il the enemy had beer
:, followed, our forces could have reaches
o Richmond almost without firing a gun
but the General commanding states tina
bad roads made pursuit impracticablC
1t was decided TO send Mcdowell vi
fredericksburg TO reinforce the army o
the Potomac, but the operations of ack
son in the Shenandoah prevented his be
ing sent. The committee gives details q
d the battle Of Seven Pines and Fair Oak
k in which il is stated that Hooker made
Reconnaissance 10 within four miles 0
Richmond, certain officers testifying this
the army could then have marched RICH
into Richmond
= The committee then continues the re
: port relative to the seven days battle
4 giving a number of kilograms whic
passed between Mcclellan and the Presi
dent, the former telegraphing that on th
9th Of June the Government had nj
sustained his army. Ga 25th OF Jul
Generals Halleck and Burnside visite
HarrisOn's Landing, soon after which
was decided TO Withdraw the arm
e from there, which was done to reinfor,
70 Pope. The committee devoted some ri
y pages TO kilograms and extracts from n
: evidence Of Popes defeat, and then goC
y on the campaign in Maryland, and main
8, ly composed Of extracts OF letters {
., Mcclellan TO Halleck, and kilograms
n relation to Antietam.
MeClslland testifes that the mOrnin
after the battle he found our loss la
been heavy and the commands much di
organized, and he did not renew the al
tack that day, but arranged 10 attack d
- day after, when the enemy abandone
:, his position. lie says: / think tina
IL taking into consideration what the trool
, had gone through, we got as much out
r them ia the Antietam campaign "a hl