The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1865-06-02
CONDUCT OF THE WAR,
Abstract Of the Report Of the
Committee,

WASHINGTON, May 22-The Committee on
the Conduct of the War to day adjourned sine
die, submitting their report to the Secretary of
the Senate.
ARMY OF THE POTOMAC.
The first part of the evidence collected is in
regard to the Army of the Potomac, conclud-
ing as follows: "Your committee could NOT
fOrbear asking witnesses before them if the
army, after all these undecsive advances and
retrOgade movements, still retained confidence
in its commanding Generals. Various answers
were returned to the inquiry, all, however.
tending to establish the fact that much discour-
agement had been felt by the army at these in
effective operations, and, but for the highly
intelligent character of the rank and file. it
never could have retained its effective condi-
ton. Gen. Pleasanton stated that the cavalry
under his command did not retain confidence
in the ability of Gen. Meade. General Birney
states the same about his corps, stating that
while Gen. Meade was rather liked as man,
he was not regarded as man of resolution, or
one who was willing to assume the RESPONSE
bility required by the position he occupied
Gen. Howe states that in his opinion the rank
and file of the army do not regard Gen. Meade
as possessed of that zeal activity and energy
necessary to carry on an offensive warfare
generally, but he admits that most of the corps
commanders would probably say that General
Meade was eminently qualified for the COM
mand he now holds. Gen. Howe qualities,
however, by stating that, SO far as he has OBJ.
served, principal officers of the Army of the
Potomac, including the commanding Generals,
are governed by the same sympathies, feelings,
and considerations which had been infused into
the army by the commander during the PENN
sula campaign. Gen. Birney says that MANY
of the principal officers believed that General
Mcclellan was the only General who should
command this army, although there is not as
much of that feeling now as formerly. Gen.
Doubleday says there has always been great
deal of favoritism in the Army of the Potomac.
No man who is anti-slavery, or anti McC lellan
can expect decent treatment in it as at present
constituted. Gen. Warren states that after the
battle of Gettysburg, the army was deprived of
many of its best commanders. Gen. REYNOLDS
was killed, and Generals Sickles and Hancock
wounded. Since that time the corps COM
manders have not been equal to their positions.
and consequently the army has been less effect.
i've In its operations"
RED RIVER EXPEDITION,
The committee also give the results of their
inquiries on the Red river expedition, saving.
in conclusion: at-
Your committee would state that. while this
expedition was military one, with the excep-
ton, perhaps, of accomplishing some import.
ant results by the occupation Of some noipt in
Texas, Gen. Banks, commanding the expedi-
ton, appears to have had in view two objects
Of carrying out measures for the establishment
of State government in Texas, and affording
egress for cotton and other products of that
region OF country; and many witnesses ex-
pressed the opinion, in which the Committee
concur, that the attention directed to the ar
complshment of those objects exerted most
1nfavorable influence upon the expedition.
The expedition presents many remarkable fea-
lures. 1t was undertaken without the direc.
ton Of any one, 80 far as the evidence shows.
The authorities at Washington did not furnish
the troops which the general commanding the
expedition considered necessary for the pur.
pose, out suggested that they might be obtain.
ed, as matter of favor, from Grant. Sherman
and Steele; and it appears from the evidence
that Gen. Sherman loaned for the expedition