Litchfield enquirer., 1863-04-30
Alisfellanp.
Report on the Conduct of the War.

Ihe Joint committee of Congress the con. duct of the War has published pamphlet of GA pages, containing synopsis of the evidence taken by them, with running commentary. Al though the whole field was before them. they have devoted their entire attention to Gen McClellans campaigns in Virginia and Mary land, adding only a brief exposition of Gen
 Burnside's attempt at Fredericksburg. The important points in the testimony have gener- ally been published while the investigation was going on. The committee consisted of Sepa- tors Wade of Ohio and Chandler of Michigan, and Representatives Covode of Pennsylvania, Julian of Indiana, Odell of New York. an d Gooch of Massachusetts. Mir. Odell took little part in the investigation, and the chairman of the committee has done the larger part of the work and given tone to the whole matter. The implied decision of the committee is that the army of the Potomac failed to accomplish what was expected from it on account of the incom potency, the indecision, or the excessive eau ton and slowness of it's former commander, It Is clear that Mcclellan lost opportunities for successes by over caution. It is understood that Gen. McClellan's full reports of his cam paigns are to be published immediately, when those who are interested in the matter will have an opportunity to compare statements and reach something like an impartial decision. The real difficulty of looking at the Virginia campaigns in the aspect in which the commit. tee wishes to have them viewed lies in the fact that the president, who knew both their public and secret history, should have placed Gen. McClellan the second time at the head of the army, and sent him out to retrieve the disasters of the Pope campaign. At that time certainly the government: did not consider Gen. McClel- Ian incompetent CT treacherous. In the final dismissal of Gen. Mcclellan though the mo- ment chosen for it vas inopportune, there was a general acquiescenoe, because no one doubted that the president acted from military reasons. There the matter might have properly rested. Whether there are any military reasons for the publication of the present report does not ap- pear. It certainly was not needed to justify the government for his dismissal from command of the army of the Potomac. The questions growing out of the Virginia campaigns will fur nish topics for interested discussion among military men. Whatever may have been true some months ago, the Mcclellan controversy has now no political significance. The demo- cratic leaders never intended to make him their candidate for presi Hent, but only to use him to pull the chestnuts from the fire for the benefit of some crafty civilian, and the republicans have no party interest in disparaging him. Since his career as general is ended, and his career as politician is not likely to commence, it would be ungenerous to "keep him before the people" needlessiy, either in the way Of praise or blame. The most important state. ments of the committee are in brief as fol- lows :-
 In October, 1861, the navy wanted military cooperation in opening the Potomac, but Gen. Mcclellan opposed the sending of troops to occupy Matthias Point, because he feared it might bring on a general engagement, for which he did not feel prepared. On the slst of January. 1862, the president ordered that the army move upon Manassas Gen. McClel- Ian preferred the route by water up the Kappa hammock and thence across the country to some point on the railroad to Richmond. thus out fanking the rebels at Manassas. A council of war decided, 8 to i, for McClellans plan. Be- fore the plan was attempted the rebels had evacuated Manassas. Then Mcclellan propos- ed to move by way of Yorktown and the pen insula, and council of war unanimously ap. proved the plan, with the condition that 40 1000 troops should be left to protect Washington.
 When our army reached Fortress Monroe the enemy had not over 10000 troops at York town, and did not send reinforcements thither till it became evident that our forces intended
 ts stop for regular siege work. The general opinion of the officers was that the rebel lines could be easily forced. Gen. Mcclellan how
 ever, refused all proposals of the kind, and call
 ed for McDowell's corps. On the 4th of May it was discovered that Yorktown had been
 evacuated. Pursuit was commenced, and on
 tue 9th the rebels made stand which led to
 the battle of Williamsburg, which the commit
 tee think was badly managed, and that after
 the rebels had evacuated Williamsburg if they
 had been followed promptly our army might
 have gone at once into Richmond. The army
 was then two weeks in getting to the Chicka-
 hominy, only forty or fifty miles. Gen. Mo Clellan continued to call for achievements,
 and in letter written May 2l, asked that Gen.
 Mcdowell might be sent to him by water, rath-
 CT than by land, as the most expeditions way,
 and that he and his forces should be placed un
 der his orders. In reply, the president said that Gen. McDoWell could go sooner overland
 Preparations were accordingly made for Nc
 Dowell to leave Fredericksburg to join Me Clel
 Ian ; but Jackson's expedition down the Shen Iandoah valley led to his being retained. This
 essentially changed the aspect of things before
 Richmond. Of the results of the battles o ISeven Pines and Fair Oaks. which the commit T l. =.