Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1863-04-30
A coNrRovERrED POINT SETTLED.

C0NTRovERTED POINT SETTLED. s
The Boston Daily Advertiser of Saturday last
the 10th instant, has the following notice of
Report recently msds to Gen. BARRY, Inspector
of Artillery, by Gen. VIM. b. GREENE, lately
commanding the Fourteenth Massachusetts, (Hea-
Wy Artillery The facts here stated are import
ant as bearing on controverted question, some of
the papers relating to which appeared in several
OF our numbers during the month of January last,
and which has been frequently alluded to in other
articles since that time.
From the Boston Daily Advertiser Of april 25th.
Col WILLIAM B. GREENE. lately commanding the Four
tsenth Massachusetts, Heavy Artillery has made bis re-
port to Gen. Barry, inspector Of artillery. M
As COL Greene was for some months 10 command of q
brigade of artillery in the forts covering Washington south
of the Potomac his report is of interest and Importance
especially in it, bearing upon the state Of defence in which
Washington left at the beginning Of the peninsula
campaign, point which is much labored, it will be re-
membered by the Committee on the Conduct Of the War
Col Greene is led to discuss this matter from reflection
apparently (snd perhaps unwttnely) upon the fine
regiment under his commend BY Gen. Wadsworth Col.
Greene says:
81 read with astonishment the following paragraph from
the communication Of (ten Wadsworth to tho Secretary
OF War; dated Washington April 1869, and reproduced
in the report of the Committee the Conduct of the
War. confess that am not able to comprehend it:
1.-Two heavy artillery regiments and one infantry reei
meut which had been drilled in artillery
service have been withdrawn from the forts the south
side Of the Potomac and have only been able 70 MI their
quanted with the duties Of that arm, and of little
value in their present positon's lt 8es.s5 5
One of the heavy artillery regiments referred was
probably, the First Connecticut, which relieved pur
suant 10 Gen. WORDSWORTH ORDERS by the regiment of
Massachusetts artillery under my command and not by
very regiment Of infantry Gen. WadswOrths order
directing TO relieve Col Tyler specified that the Con-
necticut regiment was Of artillery but designated
the Massachusetts regiment of artillery merely the
Fourteenth Regiment Massachusetts Voluntees He ap
have thought that the Fourteenth
regiment which reported to him Of the Oldest
volunteer heavy artillery regiments but regi
ment Of infantry am under the impression that the
Fourteenth was the senior volunteer heavy
artillery regiment tine SERVICE and inferior to other
either in drill or discipline.
"The infantry regiment which Is referred to that
had been drilled 10 artillery service WAS suppose the
that had vacated Forts Craig and TuRhastthe New
York 18th, think but not sure since had any
thing to do with Craig and Tinghast until they were
vacated As soon as they were vacated occupied them
of my motion and without waiting for orders During
the whole time that Gen. Wadsw0rh commanded the
deence Of Washington the l4h Massachusetts Volunteers
beavy artillery occupied the forts that had been occupied
by the lst Connecticut artillery and also Forts Craig and
lillinghsst; during that whole time infantry what
ever-whether very Of any other quality formed
any part Of the earrsons Of those forts The only infantry
the 56th Pennsylvania volunteers ch Gen. Wadsworth
ordered 10 report to and which authorized by
him verbally through my ordnance ocer to distribute in
Forte Albany, aanyon ana Jackson 70 reinforce the
occupied those forts The Pennsylvania seth remained
the south side of the Potion but five days. they
ordered away to Budds ferry almost immediately
after they had been distributed among the forts"
appears therefore that Gen Wadsworth in his alarm
and perhaps under the pressure Of The heavy responsibility
-ofk
ton fell into very singular making the statement
which the foundation Of such important action after
wards. Ae supposed two artillery regiments had been
withdrawn when only had been and that infantry
had been put garrsn when in fact the regiment with
drawn replaced by perhaps the Oldest and Of the
best drilled regiments of artillery 10 the service infantry
whatever, except regiment for few days, being
placed in garrison How many other errors Of similar
character Gen Wadsworths statement may contain, in
particulars which have not yet received such examna
ion Col Greene has given to the part which falls within
his personal knowledge, the public must judge but the
,alus of the Generals statement is very easily estimated
How Gen. Wadsworth came to make such ser us
mistake this is easily explained. Finding that the
General classes the Fourteenth with very infantry"
entirely unacquanted" with artillery Col Greene refers
with pride to the history of his regimen to the high
compliments which il received from many leading Gene
DnrEy uiscPhbo PIOncloDcy
artillery drill, and then adds to list Of these officers
this remarkable statement;
81 wish could add the of Gen. Wadsworth to
this list but unable to do because his duties in
ngton engrossiDg that he had apparently little
time IN visit the forts the south OF the Potomac When
Gen. Wadsworh commanded the defences OF Washington
be never my knowledge, inspected any OF my FORTS
reviewed any Of my companies and think would
impossible for him do either Of those things
without my knowledge. 1t my impression that Gen.
Wadsworth never, while he my commanding off,
GER, inside my lines. Major Buxton commander OF the
permanent guard on Long Bridge inform that Gen.
never crossed Long Bridge. No staff
officer Of Gen. Wadsworth inspected, to my know
edge any Of my forts 1t would CRAFTY exceed
ngy to be able to refer To the testimony of Gen. Wads
worth 10 favor Of the discipline and instruction OF my regi
nent but precluded from doing by the fact Of his
having taken personal cgnzsnce of the condition of
my forts aud Of the instruction and discipline Of my men,"
Gen. Wadsworth 10 reported to have testified to the
Committee the Conduct Of the War that the depar
ure Of the army for the peninsula not single gun
wheels left for the defence OF Washington To this
Whimsical statement, which gravely repeated in the
Col Greene makes reply, regards his com
maud equally conclusive, whether suppose Gen Wads
worth in his innocence Of military knowledge that time
have been ignorant that all the guns must have been
on wheels" or to have merely sought in unsku way
10 say that no field artillery was left for
~ bad, in eight Of the forts covering Long Bridge
(which under my command) some seventy or more
cannon on wherl'-I think the exact number was
seventytwo Some Of these were mounted il is
rsgrs have wheels Not Of the seventy two cannon
was without its carriage The cannon mounted On bar