WASHINGTON, March 10, 1862. The committee met pursuant to adjournment; Mr. Johnson absent in Tennessee. The chairman laid before the committee a communication from the War Department, transmitting the order-book of Major General John C. Frémont, as called for by the committee. Adjourned to 11 a. m. to-morrow. WASHINGTON, March 11, 1862. The committee met pursuant to adjournment; Mr. Johnson absent. The chairman laid before the committee the following resolution from the Senate: "On motion by Mr. Wilson, of Massachusetts, "Resolved, That the select committee on the conduct of the war be directed to inquire into the late engagement between the rebel steamers and the vessels of the United States near Fortress Monroe, with all the circumstances that led to such destruction of the property of the United States, and that they be authorized to send for persons and papers. "Attest: Adjourned to 11 a. m. to-morrow. "J. W. FORNEY, Secretary." WASHINGTON, March 12, 1862. The committee met pursuant to adjournment; all the members present; Senator Wright, of Indiana, appearing in place of Senator Johnson, resigned. The following witness was examined: J. S. Potter. On motion of Mr. Chandler, it was Ordered, That a sub-committee proceed to-morrow to Manassas to investigate affairs there. Messrs. Chandler, Gooch, Covode, Julian, and Odell volunteered for that purpose. Adjourned to 11 a. m. to-morrow. WASHINGTON, March 13, 1862. The committee met pursuant to adjournment. Present: The chairman, Messrs. Chandler, Wright, and Gooch. Messrs. Chandler and Gooch stated that they had been unable to attend the sub-committee to Manassas, as ordered yesterday. The following witness was examined: Bayard Taylor. WASHINGTON, March 14, 1862. The committee met pursuant to adjournment. Present: The chairman, Messrs. Chandler, Wright, and Gooch. The following witness was examined: Colonel Chester Harding, jr. WASHINGTON, March 16, 1862. The committee met pursuant to adjournment; all the members present. The sub-committee that had visited Centreville, Manassas, &c., submitted a verbal report. The following witnesses were examined: Colonel Anselm Albert, and E. L. Beard. Adjourned to 11 a. m. to-morrow. WASHINGTON, March 17, 1862. The committee met pursuant to adjournment; all the members present. The chairman laid before the committee a communication from the War Department, transmitting copies of the following papers, called for by the committee: Report of General McClellan upon the Ball's Bluff affair. Report of Adjutant General Thomas upon the western department. Order discharging the body guard of General Frémont, under command of Major Zagoni. The chairman also laid before the committee the following communication from the Sergeant-at-arms of the Senate, with accompanying letters: "WASHINGTON, March 17, 1862. "SIR: During the time I was occupied in procuring testimony in relation. to General Stone I used Colonel G. D. B. Tompkins, of the 2d New York volunteers, and he rendered efficient service. His action became known to General Stone, who had charges preferred against him, and he is now under arrest. I think it due to Colonel Tompkins and to the committee that he should be protected. "I herewith enclose two letters from Colonel Tompkins. "Very respectfully, "GEO. T. BROWN, "The CHAIRMAN of the Joint Committee on the Conduct of the War." The communication and accompanying letters were read, and referred to Mr. Gooch, with instructions to lay the same before the Secretary of War. Adjourned to 11 a. m. to-morrow. WASHINGTON, March 19, 1862. The committee met pursuant to adjournment. Absent: Messrs. Covode and Odell. The following witnesses were examined: Captain G. V. Fox and General George Cadwalader. Adjourned to Monday at 11 a. m., unless sooner called together by the chairman. WASHINGTON, March 21, 1862. The committee met pursuant to the call of its chairman; Mr. Wright a bsent. The following witness was examined: Joseph Saligman. WASHINGTON, March 24, 1862. The committee met pursuant to adjournment; all the members present. Mr. Odell stated that the Secretary of War had requested him to notify the committee of his desire to meet them at his office at the War Department, on important business, at 7 o'clock this evening. The invitation of the Secretary was accepted. WASHINGTON, March 25, 1862. The committee met pursuant to adjournment; Mr. Covode absent. Mr. E. S. Sanford, telegraph censor, appeared before the committee at the request of the Secretary of War, and laid before them copies of certain papers that had published information in relation to the movements of our armies, &c. On motion of Mr. Odell, Ordered, That William C. Prime, of the New York Journal of Commerce, be summoned to appear before this committee. Mr. Gooch submitted the following: Resolved, That this committee will proceed to investigate the facts in relation to the late movement of the army of the Potomac. Laid over for the present. Adjourned to 11 a. m. to-morrow. WASHINGTON, March 26, 1862. The committee met pursuant to adjournment; Mr. Covode absent. On motion of Mr. Gooch, Ordered, That Mr. Odell be appointed a sub-committee, with instructions to lay before General Scott, in New York city, the testimony relating to matters connected with the battle of Bull Run, and to receive such statement from General Scott as he may desire to place upon the records of this committee. Adjourned to 11 a. m. to-morrow on Monday next. WASHINGTON, March 31, 1862. The committee met pursuant to adjournment; Messrs. Covode and Odell absent. Adjourned to 11 a. m. to-morrow. WASHINGTON, April 1, 1862. The committee met pursuant to adjournment; Mr. Covode absent. The following witnesses were examined: General George Cadwalader and General Irwin McDowell. The chairman laid before the committee the following resolution of the Senate: "IN SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES, April 1, 1862. "On motion of Mr. Sumner, 'Resolved, That the select committee on the conduct of the war be directed to collect the evidence with regard to the barbarous treatment by the rebels at Manassas of the remains of officers and soldiers of the United States in battle there; "And that the said select committee also inquire into the fact whether the Indian savages have been employed by the rebels in their military service, and how such warfare has been conducted by said savages against the government of the United States; "And to report the same to the Senate, with power to send for persons and papers. Attest: Adjourned to 11 o'clock a. m. to-morrow. J. W. FORNEY, Secretary." WASHINGTON, April 2, 1862. The committee met pursuant to adjournment; Mr. Covode absent. Ordered, That the chairman of this committee be instructed to inform the President that, if agreeable to him, the committee would be pleased to wait upon him to-morrow evening at 8 o'clock. On motion of Mr. Odell, the chairman of this committee was instructed to address a communication to Major General Samuel R. Curtis, commanding United States troops in Arkansas, requesting him to furnish to this committee such information as he may have in his possession in relation to the employment of Indians in the military service of the rebels. On motion of Mr. Gooch, Ordered, That a sub-committee of two members be appointed by the chairman, with instructions to wait upon the Secretary of War, and ascertain if it be practicable for the department to detail a competent officer or officers to examine and ascertain the number, position, extent, and estimated capacity of the different winter quarters and camps of the rebels north of the Rappahannock and east of the Blue Ridge; the character and extent of the field-works in the same districts, the number of guns, &c.; the number, kind, and extent of roads made between the different positions occupied by the enemy in the same district. The whole to be shown, if practicable, upon a map, with such references as shall explain the subjects of the foregoing inquiries. Messrs. Gooch and Odell were appointed as said sub-committee. The following witnesses were examined: Dr. James B. Greely and Rev. Frederic Denison. Adjourned to 11 a. m. to-morrow. WASHINGTON, April 3, 1862. The committee met pursuant to adjournment; Mr. Covode absent. The chairman laid before the committee a communication from the War Department, transmitting certain papers relating to the chartering of vessels by the United States government. Mr. Odell read to the committee an article in the Philadelphia Daily News relating to the same subject. The following witnesses were examined: General James B. Ricketts and General James S. Wadsworth. On motion of Mr. Gooch, Ordered, That Messrs. Julian and Odell be instructed to prepare a written report of the result of their examination of the works, &c., of the rebels at Centreville and Manassas, and to submit the same to the committee. Mr. Odell laid before the committee a written statement prepared and forwarded by Lieutenant General Winfield Scott in relation to the battle of Bull Run. Ordered, That said statement be incorporated with the testimony taken by this committee in relation to the battle of Bull Run. Adjourned to 11 a. m. to-morrow. WASHINGTON, April 4, 1862. The committee met pursuant to adjournment; Mr. Covode absent. The chairman informed the committee that he had received late last night a communication from the President, appointing a meeting with the committee at 8 o'clock last evening, but the communication was received at too late an hour to enable him to notify the committee in time to fulfil the appointment. He had, however, seen the President this morning, and the President had appointed this evening for a meeting with the committee. The chairman laid before the committee a communication from the War Department, with an accompanying document, in relation to the claim of Marshall O. Roberts, now pending before Congress, for the loss of the steamer Star of the West while in the service of the United States. On motion of Mr. Odell, Ordered, That Marshall O. Roberts be summoned to appear before this committee. On motion of Mr. Gooch, Mr. Odell was instructed to address a communication to the collector of New York, Mr. Hiram Barney, requesting information respecting the corrections of the tonnage of vessels chartered by the United States, as set forth in Senate executive document No. 37. Adjourned to 11 a. m. on Monday next. WASHINGTON, April 7, 1862. The committee met pursuant to adjournment; Mr. Chandler absent. The following witnesses were examined: Frederick Scholes, Dr. J. M. Homiston and Dr. William F. Swalm. Adjourned to 11 a. m. to-morrow. WASHINGTON, April 8, 1862. The committee met pursuant to adjournment; all present. The session was devoted to general business. Adjourned to 11 a. m. to-morrow. WASHINGTON, April 9, 1862. The committee met pursuant to adjournment; all present. The following witnesses were examined: Ezra B. Ely and Governor Wil liam Sprague. Adjourned to 11 a. m. to-morrow. |