Kansas City journal. [volume] (Kansas City, Mo.) 1897-1928, 1897-06-06

report of the military committee presented
to the FOrty-SiXth congress at its third Ses-
sion, and published in Miss Blackwells
In the autumn of 1861 the great question
as to whether the Union could be saved
or whether il was hopelessly subverted de-
PENDED on the ability of the government to
open the Mississippi and deliver a fatal
blow upon the resources of the Confed-
crate power. The original plan was to re-
duce the formidable fortiications by de-
scending this river, aided by the gunboat
fleet then in preparation for that object.
President Lincoln had reserved 10 him
self the special direction of this expedition,
but before il was prepared to move he
became convinced that the obstacles to be
encountered were too grave and serious for
the success which the eXigencteS of the
crisis demanded, and the plan was then
abandoned and the armies diverted up the
tennessee river, and thence southward
to the center of the Confederate power.
The evidence before this committee COM
pletely establishes that Miss Anna Ella
Carroll was the author of this change Of
plan, which involved a transfer OF the ma
ttCnal forces to their new base in North
Mississippi and Alabama, in of
the Memphis & Charleston railroad: that
she devoted time and money in the autumn
or 1861 to the investigation Of its feasibility
IS established by the sworn testimony of
L. ID. Evans. chief justice of the supreme
court of Texas, to the military committee
of the United States senate in the Forty
second congress. that after That 1nveStiga-
ton she submitted her plan in writing to
the war department at Washington. plac-
ing it in the hands of Colonel Thomas A.
Scott. assistant secretary of war, as Is
confirmed by his statement. also confirmed
by the statement of the Hon. l.. F. Wade.
chairman of the committee on the d
OF the war. made to the same committee,
and of President Lincoln and Secretary
Stanton; also by the Hon. o. H.. Browning,
of Illinois. senator during the war, in con-
hdential selations with President Lincoln
and Secretary Stanton: also that of the
Hon. Elisha Whittlesey. comptroller of the
treasury; also by the Hon.. Thomas II.
Hicks. governor of Maryland. and by the
Hon. Frederick Feckey's affidavit. comp
troller of the public works of Maryland;
by the Hon. Reverdy Johnson. the Hon.
George Nickers. United States senator from
Maryland: again, the Hon. j. t. Headley.
the Rev. DR.. r. ]. Breckenridge, Professor
Joseph Henry, the Rev. DR.. Hodge, of the
theological seminary at Princeton. and re-
interviews and correspondence of
Judge b. f. Wade.
That this campaign prevented the recog-
milton of Southern independence by its IA
effects on the Confederate states is
she wn by letters from the Hon. c.. NJ. CLAW.
and by his letters from st, Petersburg;
also those of Mr.. Adams and Mr.. Dayton,
from London and Paris. That the cam
paign defeated national bankruptcy, then
and opened the way for the sys-
TEN of finance to defend the Federal cause
is shown by the debates of the period in
both houses of congress-; by the utterances
of Mr.. Spalding. Mr.. Diven, Thaddeus
stevens. Roscoe k John Sherman, |
Henry Wilson. Mr.. Fessenden, Mr.. Trum-
etc. Also therein the opinion
or the English press as to why the Union |
coulc not be restored.
The effect of this campaign upon the
country and the anxiety to find out and
reward the author are evidenced by the!