The New York herald., 1868-03-01
TESTIMONY BEFORE THE MPEACHME GI
COMMITTEE.

COmmlttce,
Question-What is your rank and command in the
armyf Answer-I am Coonei OF the Fifth United
States cavalry and Brevet Major General In the United
States Army Ny command IL the Department OF Wash
Q How long have you b.en in command of this de-
partment A. think since the lst September 1857.
q. During the month OF February 1868, have you
had conversation With the President OF the United
States in relation to military affairs or movemen'sS
Q. When was ,batp A. That was on Saturday. tho
32d February
Q Was the interview at your request or hiss A. II
O In what way was his request communicated to
you2 A. l have the note in pocket IL IS letter
from Colonel William G. Moore. Of the army, marked
tchalrlnsn-ReAd tho letter. The witness read as
rxrcu1vn MANSION
GsxsaAI-The President say that he would
pleased you call him early practicable.
very respectfully wa SaI aa'S a. SSSoRa, SSdRsia U. sA
@ Did you call in consequence OF that request. A.
Q. State fully and literally. FAR you able,
what occurred at the interview A. There s noihing
more difficult than to repeat conversation.
O state tho substance OF it9 A. Tho President asked
me IL recolieced conversation had with him wnen
first teok command OF the department. In reference to
the strength OF the garrison OF Washington and the
general disposition OF The troops in this department. TO
which replied that did not recoect distinctly; ne
nskec II there had been changes; replied that
there had been material changes but such there
had been could state at once then went on to state
shat SIX companies of the twenty. ninth infantry had
been brought here to winter, but that that had
been offset by detaching four companies OF the
twelfth infantry to Charleston, the requi-
sition of General Candy; that two companies
the Fourteenth artillery, which had been detached
during Gepera Canby's commaod Of tho Department,
ene Northern frontier to assist putting
down the Fenian difficulties had been returned to thor
re- ment stationed at Fort McHenry Baltimore; that
,hougn had been increased In the number
OF companies, under the impression that the
duclion IN the numer cal strength of the command
growing out OF the order which reduced the Infantry
aAd artillery companies IRON the maximum OF the war
establishment 10 the minimum OF the peace establish
han af xyha bu ad.
ditiona companies; the President said Il refer to
more recent changes;" said did not know exactly
been made to my KNOWLEDGE; that If lie would gvo
some idea OF who had made tho report to him
what the report was which he had received, /
could perhaps give him q more definite answer; he
said reports had reached him that within the last day
certain orders and arrangements OF troops had
been made; assured him that none had been made
with my knowledge. aud did not believe any had been
made with my knowledge; that under the recent
orders founded upon laws Of Congress for the gov
enment Of the armies OF the United States approved by
him, order could come to except through General
Grant, that soning from analogy IL was assumed
An the army that order could be gwen TO any
snder my command without coming through me; that
by any possibility order had been given without
soming through me- 1t the duty of the officer re-
eeiving it TO Immediately notify me; he .hen |
Z stated that / referred to Order No. Is or H. |
I could not recollect which, that had been pub
II wish TO see see The ordsr replied to Sm tnat would
send for it, be said, No have all The orders about the
house. and messenger was cent for il; at that time
Goione Cooper came in and occupied the PRESIDENTS at
eDtion Tor some time upon another subject as sup
posed, for withdrew to the other end Of the room;
while there the came brought the oruer;
Aiter Colonel Cooper had gone out returned TO the
President with this order in my hand and said Ar.
President will take it a great favor II you VIII per-
nit to call your attention TO this order passed
b appropriation bill and II is possible you may never
have II: he took the order and read IT, and OBJ
yerved, "Ths 10 not in accordance with the constitution
Of the United States which makes mo Commanderi In.
the commission which you hoid;'' stated to nm that
sha, matter for officers to determine; there
was order sent to US approved by him. and we're
I'll governed by that order.
o Do you mean that the order the net was ap-
proved oy the i1esden,i A. mean the act, bat lar
that concerned the order and the act approved
by him are the same thing, for the order contained
nothing but the act; he sad "Am To understand that
the President OF the United States cannot give
but through the GeneraLin-Chief General Grant2n
replied. "Nr President that the order which ap-
ernment OF the army, and ! think Il
due to you to say that when this order
the leading lawyers Of the country were con.
suited TO what the duty OF an officer under that
aw and order; and / Observed, ono oil them whom |
sonsultsd-Snd consider him perhaps Of the great
est constitutional lawyers in the country-ays 1t his
very decided opinion that we were bound by 1t; and
think II right TO tell you that this subject the army
is a unit. He asked me who the lawyer l told
him the one consulted kins,nan Of mineRobert
wslker-and that had understood, though1 did not
OF my knowledge, that others had cons utcd
kr. Revordy Johnson who, It was reported, held the
Law very evidentn After pause, seeing
was nothing more TO say, thanked him for the cour.
opinion and LETT the house
o ind the President IN any form inquire whether you
tnrough the headquarters of the generaY A. As nearly
1 recolect there not a word said that have
so put down though could o. course not swear that
testimony that myself introduced the subjects OF
No. II. which involves tins question:; there
variety Of rumors running about town that General
Thomss had given orders. that he had declared
was going 70 give orders and thought It du.y
state the situation fairly and squarely TO the President
TESTIMONY COLONEL GEORGE ". wALLAcI
George W. Wallace, sworn ana examined by Chair
man. deposed as follows:-
Question You connected with the army t? An.
s~orI am suteDant colonel in the army, commanding
the garrison Of Washington.
O How long have you been in command OF the garri-
" Washington A. Since the latter part OF August
o Have you at any time had any conversation or
pondeuce with the President Of the United states
an regard 70 military AFFAIRS or movements Or operaopsf
A had brief Conversation with him ON sunday morn
ng last
Q Had you the conversation at his request' A. Tho
circumstances occurred In this way IL called tho
Executive mansion TO sec Of his secretaries, Colonel
Moore, and while Ia conversation with him asked how
the President was He replied that he very yell,
and asked # would like him pay my respects
70 him. snid certainly, and in few moments was
O Did you have conversation With him In regard to
military maiiersf A. Yos sir; abrief conversation
~ s,sts "nat tnat conversation wasY a. INC Presi-
forces under my command; replied that four compa-
nies Of the Twelfth Infantry, the regiment to which
rat. er TO that military district tho 7h OF January that
bey yond that there had been none
Y Had you any further conversation A. No, sir;
sbat all that occurred in reference 10 military oper-
sions.
Q. lie made reply to your statement a TO the
change in your commandp A. No, sir; nothing oc-
Cured beyond that
BY Mr. wilson-Dd anything further occur with re.
gard military matters Of any characterP A. No. sir;
iha the only conversation that had with him with
regard to military & T.ers Indeed r may say was all
passing remark
NJ the Chairman Lad Colonel Moore any previous
knowledge or expectation that you wore TO call about
that timer A. Colonel Motre expected TO see me Mon
day morning.
q whs, led him TO expect your A. He addressed me
noe The day previous sayig he desired 70 see me;
ahat he would call upon III person, but that he was
very much occupied. His obi'ect in sending Tor me.
however, was upon q entirely different matter.
q by Dir. Bingham-Did the president say anything
20 you Whatever about the War lleparmen matter or
the Secretary Of War this morningp A. No. sir; Colonel
In n regard IN a nsrsouai mattAr cop<