New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1865-05-19
THE CONDUCT OF TIE WAR,
Forthcoming Report of The Congressional
Committee.
Fort Fisher--rsei River Campaign-The
Mine nt Petersburg.

\ A matter which is exciting considerable at
tenton and discussion at the capital is the yirua
conclusion Of the immense abcrs of the Committee OF
the Conduct OF the War and the substance of theil
forthcoming report
have enjoyed the privilege 81 glance through th'
volumes just given to the printer and suppose may
properly enough, inform the public. through iii
I TRIBUNE, what the testimony therein taken goes t.
prove in reference to campaigns which have beer
much talked abou, during the last year.
TIKI COMMITTEE AND THEIR WORK.
This Committee OF seven, it will be remembered, wa'
appointed in January, 1902 and originally consisted o
Wade Chandler and johnson on the part Of the Sen
,e and Gooch Julian COvode and Ode Of tho House
/. was reappontcd in January. 1868, and since thai
time Buckalew Of Pennsy van.a las been appointed
succeed johnson, become President, and Bon. Loan
Missouri substituted for John CoyOic. not reelected.
This Committee have prosecuted the work In hand
with indoma5le industry, following up all the cam
paigns that seemed at all doubtful in purpose or result
with great diligence and imperaiity of inquiry. Al
ready three large volumes have boon given To tie pe0
pie Of the country the solution of number Of intr
cate problems and three have Just gone to the
public printer. seventh volume is nearly ready. and
the eighth and last will be published sometime in the
Autumn. embracing resume Of The great campaigns
of Giant and Sherman during the year. and containing
much alulble supplementary matter. These eight
volumes prepared by deliberate ana conscientious men,
from official statements and records and AT period OF
tine sufficiently subsequent to the for pas
sons and preudices have subsidized and personal hos
til.,iCs 10 b. somewhat alayed and accompanied by
cop!ous ao,oo and explanatory figures viii be regarded
in the future the most complete and reliable history
of the military achievements Of this II is ggan
tic work. and reflects great credit upon the dstin-
guished gentlemen who amid other cxacting labors
have followed up various armies assaaOusy. and
taken testimony every important point Of our mill
tary experience.
The RED RIVER DISASTER.
The most ample testimony has been taken bearing on
the Red River campaign, and il is OF character most
damaging TO any military pretensons of Gen. Banks
II demonstrates him to have been guilty Of mercenay
motive either for the benefit Of himself ircads. in
the purpose of the expedition. and Of incompetence in
conducting it. 1t will ont to be Of the most
discreditable transactions Of the II would
to have had legitimate object and TO have been
ceived and prosecuted merely grand cOttouspccu
latng venture to put money in the pockets OF private
citizens and 10 subserve which the army and navy of
the Southwest were placed under the control of the
spectators. 1t may be added that ali officers now
in Washington steadfasty refuse to father the Red
River Expedition. Secretary Stanton did Lot order ii
Gen. Grant did not direct it; and Hnliec that
he knew not word about it until after 1t had failed
Gen. Grant entertans and il not slow 70 express in
these volumes the most contemplate opinion Of Gen
Banks; indeed the language Of his comments on the
affair was so severe that the Committee IA making Up
their report preferred not to quote from it,
FORT FIsHER.
The Committee examined carefully all the circum.
stances Of the first failure at Fort Fisher. and Gen
Butler is substantially indicated by the report But
ler Vfitzel. Terry, Porter, have testified aud their
testimony all points in the same dIccton-thai he was
warranted in declining TO make the attack for which
he has been much censured. Terry says was fair
open military question whether to land and attack or
not Weitzel the friend of Gen. Grant, says that II he
had gone at the head of such expedition. with entire
discretion in the matter he never would have put man
ashore Buffers fault to have been Ga technical
one "a violation of poIemptory order from Gen. Grant
10 land and intrench at all hazards. This, as a mill
tary matter, it his duty 10 do. But lie jusiihe,
Iimself before the Committee by alleging tat. on &C.
count Of the erceeso OF the tempest and the proxn
~ Of tie Rebel force, such effort would have
been perlous and in his opinion would have
failed with great loss Of life. As 20 the leader
ship Of the expedition. Gen. Grant swears
that it was not intended that Butler sLoad go and that
Butler know lie was Lot TO 50. On the other band.
Bu,er swears that IT was intended that he should go.
and that Grant knew be was going IL seems probable
that one or the other of these gentlemen Is mistaken
Testimony Of other Generals shows that Butler com
handing the Department had perfect night to accom-
pany the expedition unless commanded not to do So
and that II was the most natural thing in The world for
him to 20 in command.
NISR AT PETERSBURG.
The public have already received an intimation that
,hc testimony exoneraes Gen. Burnside and involves
Cen Meade for the f0sco in front OF Petersburg Zen
Grant himself admits in his testimony the BURNSIDE
would probably have succeeded if he bad been let alone
with his negro troops These volumes seem to sho"
that Gen Meade lacks confidence in himself and takes
counsel of his apprehensions rather than his hope
GETTYSBURG, ETC.
This view is quite confirmed By the further evidence
addnced in considering the Gettysburg battle, ana The
campaigns from the Rappahannock to the james. Inc
Investigations of the Committee into the conduct OF
the Potomac army has been very extensive ana
ho,ouch and tho whole tendency Of the testimony is
decidedly detrimental to the generashp OF Gen.
Meade 1t will show that after the battle Of Gettys
burg it was perfectly practicable to capture Lees
whole army before recIossing the Potomac Inc evi
dencc concurrng on this point is Of great weight. 1t
woud seem from the testimony. that Meade never made
an advance his whole policy being defensive. He is
sufficiently courageous personally but at the head Of
a, army he has all that caution that paralyzed Nc
clelsn II il said, however, in Gen. Meade's favor,
that he has never over estimated himself and has little
Of ii At vanity which has possessed some commanders
If less ca,iber than himself ard of similar cautious
temperament.
For want OF time testimony has not been taken In
onl IN regard to the investment and occupation OF