The New York herald., 1863-04-11
THE REBELLION.
Three More Reports from the Committee on
the Ceaduct Of the War.
What Was Done at Bull Run and
Balls Bluff.
-~~~~>~>~~>~~~>~~>->-
The Committee in a Fog About
the West,
Sc, DC. ~
BULL RUN.

20 long time has elapsed. ana SO many Important
have occurred the progress Of the since
campaign which ended with the battle OF Bull rum in
July, 1851 that your committee do not deem necessary
go very much into detail in their report The tosti
mony they submit herewith is very vouminous, and
fully all the points of interest connected with that
campaign. They therefore submit brief report condn-
ing attention principally 10 the which led to
the defeat of our army In that battle
That which now appears To have been the
great error of that campaign was tho fail.
uTe to occupy Centreville and Manassas at the
time Alexandria was occupied in May The position ut
Manassas controlled the railroad communication In all
that section Of country Tho forces which opposed
at the battle of Ball mostly collected and
brought Mar during the months OF June and July
The three mon s men could have made the place easily
deiensibe AGAINST any force the enemy could have
brought nst It, and 1t is not at all probable that the
rebel would have advanced beyond the line Of the
Rappai'sm ok had Manassas been occupied by our
troops.
The s cause of disaster was the delay in proceeding
against the enemy until the time OF the three months
men Was SO nearly expired In that respect the move
meat made too late rather thm too and the
allowed time TO collect their forces at Manas
and to strengthen the position by defensive works
The why the movement so long delayed is
shown TO extent by the testimony to which your
committee would direct the attention of those who desire
examine that point
And when the movement was finally determined upon,
much needed to render the troops efficient There
had been but little time devoted TO discpnng the troops
and instructng them even as regiments; hardly in
strucon had been given them In reference TO brigade
movements, aud none at all as divisions When General
Mcdowell reviewed eight regiments getherihe only in
previous to the battle far the evidence
shows that that number OF troops maneuvred
in one bo.y-he was charged with desiring to make
show.
General Mcdowell was instructed verbally by General
Scott prepare and submit plan OF operations against
the enemy at Manassas This plan considered in
Cabinet meeting and agreed TO; and the 9th Of July
fixed upon by General Scott as the day when the army
should move.
The plan Of General Mcdowell was to move out
in the direction of Cenirevie, and endeavor to
the enemys right with portion OF his force and
destroy his communication by railroad with Richmond.
He asked that certain number OF troops be given him to
operate against the force which 1t was estimated that
HQaire ind uYed
that the enemy bew should be kept occupied General
Butler who was in command at Fortress Monroe; and
that the enemy under johnston in the Winchester valley,
should be held there by General Patterson Some days
before the battle expressing fears in regard 10
the force under Johnston being detained by Patterson he
assured by General Scott that n Johnston Joined
Bcauregard he should have Patterson his hee's.'
The movement did not commence until the 10th Of July,
week later than the time first decided upon. The
transportation deficient, and General Mcdowell had
to depend others to that supplies forward
ed TO him in time. The march was slow,
being that since the affair at Vienna, Alexandria,
and at Big Bethel, Fortress Monroe, fear Of
'masxed batteries caused hesitation In regard TO ad
vancng upon points concerning which there was
want OF information. Tnerc some delay on the
march in consequence OF the want OF complete discipline
among Of the troops. They were not sufficiently
under control Of officers TO be prevented from leaving the
The affair at Bisckburns Ford on Thursday, the lssh
being more extensive than General Mcdowell had or
dcred drew the attention OF the enemy TO that point
and In OF the preparations they made there
TO meet any attempt OF General Mcdowell to turn their
position in that direction. became necessary adopt
mined make the attempt turn their right and steps
taken TO the necessary information II was
until Saturday that the Information which General
Mcdowell desired obtained
He then issued orders for the troops TO move the next
nns. aws 'pr Tbs or General Txer wss IN the ad
vance, and ordered TO proceed directly out to Stone
Bridge aud take up sitisn there General Hunter:
mile advance Of General Tyiers camp, they 70
turn OF and proceed In the direction OF Sudeys church
and endeavor turn the enemys left. The movements
tho right intended to be made under OF &C.
neral Tyler's force at Stone Bridge.
But there m2ch delay in the movements OF tho
troops that morning Tyicrs division did not pass the
TO turn off, until after tho time designated Some Of the
troops delayed for three hours aortng time to the
enemy TO discover tho movement ana make preparations
Notwithstanding these disadvantages forces were
successful during the fore part OF the day, although
Beauregard had been reinforced by of Johnston
forces from Winchester. Our troops wore very much
fatigued. The day exceedingly warm, the roads
wore dusty and they had been hours longer the
march than been anticipated. In the afternoon ad-
dtiona rcinorcemens arrived from ohnstons army and
suddenly attacked right and threw It into disorder
About the same time two Of batteries (Ricketts
and Grnlns) CAPTURED by the enemy, aud our
force began 10 fail back In great confusion In regard
the Of the batteries 10 appears by the test
mopy that they ordered to take advanced and
posed position and not sufficiently supported. Not
long after they were paced in position rebel regiment
appeared in their immediate vicinity Captain Griffin
he took them be rebes from the frst and
directed OF his ieutenants open upon them with
ulster Hut Major Barry chief artillery coming up
at tho time, told him that there some Of
troops coming support f batteries and directed
him not 20 fire upon them The battery accordingly
turned In another direction, md almost immediately
after this regiment c The enemy opened fire it, dis
abng the horses and killing and wounding most OF The
at the guns. That completed the discontinue Of
trooe and the day which had opened
closed upon defeated and retreaiing army
division under Colonel Miles had been stationed a,
Cenreve partly for the purpose of aud partly
20 guard against any laok attack. The enemy did at
tempt a movement on left, but promptly me
and checked by our forces there.
was s"' the failure Of General Patterson to hoi
the forces Of Johnston In the valley OF tn
shonandeah. ne & had d, a force % OF % about Zoo @
according the best evidence your Committee could ob
TAIN did not exceed from II 900 to Is 900 Gcuers
Patterson csthes that he satisfied that Johnston ha
from 35 900 70 10000 men and over 90 guns. lie ais
states that large number Of his trocps were anxious
return home that their had about expired and b
could persuade them to There IL consdera
bic testimony show that the troops became dissatisfied
aud refused remain only when they that
movcmsns from Bunker Hin on the lin Of July was re
treat and not advance upon the enemy; that Will
they supposed they being led TO tho attack lttle
any complaint was made, and they were In excelen
To reference 10 the orders given to General Patterson
and the object TO be accomplished by his operations
there seems 70 be question. That object pre-
vent Johnston from joining Bcauregard before Gencrs
snass tho a % the orders
Gated by the following telegram Of the 18th July lSs
turday) from General Scott 70 General Patterson -:
ySs Z no, .O.s - 70 Be,
as.sn hm in The valley Of winchester But u he re,rss,
him consider Keyess Ferry Leesburs l.
General Scott had the day before conveyed TO Gensr
Patterson tho intmation that General Mcdowell woul
commence hts movement on the 10th Of July, and q
18th General Patterson sdvasced from Msrtnsbsrs
Bunker Hill, remaining there on the 10Th.
On 18th General Scott telegrAphs 70 General Pattes
son
glad learn through philadelphia paper: that you have
vnncsd. DO not let the amuse and delay with
'front.' whilst he rsnforces the junction
his main body hcDowens hrst days work has driven IN
beyond fairfax Court House The Junction Will
baby be carried 10 morrow.
There 10 no evidence Al what time that despatch ",
received But could not have received before IN
movement from Bunker Hll 70 Charlesowu was made b
General Patterson, for that movement commenced yer
carly In tho morning Of the i'th, the date Of the d
spatch. .
have certainly been expecting ycu 10 beat the euem
II not you had felt HIM strongly s least had
pied him by threats and demonstrations You have been,
frast IA eouai and. superior III