REPORTS OF COMMITTEE ON CLAIMS. On opinion of the Court of Claims in the case of James Preston Beck, No. 76 On claim of Albert Brown, (S. bill 475).. 77 79 ... 104 On joint resolution for relief of the State of Wisconsin, (H. Res. 84).. 105 REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE ON PATENTS AND THE PATENT Office. On petition of Phebe Ann Fisk........... REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE ON TERRITOries. On resolution relative to the suppression of the publication of Governor REPORT OF COMMITTEE ON THE LIBRARY. 74 87 Relative to books presented to library of Congress by British Museum. REPORTS OF THE SELECT COMMITTEE. On the character, condition, and manner of chartering transport vessels 75 On the manner of employment of transports generally by quartermasters 84 Reports of JOINT COMMITTEE on the conduct OF THE WAR. IN THE SENATE of the United STATES, March 2, 1863. Resolved, by the Senate of the United States, (the House of Representatives concurring,) That in order to enable the "Joint Committee on the Conduct of the War" to complete their investigations of certain important matters now before them, and which they have not been able to complete, by reason of inability to obtain important witnesses, be authorized to continue their sessions for thirty days after the close of the present Congress, and to place their testimony and reports in the hands of the Secretary of the Senate. Resolved, further, That the Secretary of the Senate is hereby directed to cause to be printed, of the reports and accompanying testimony of the Committee on the Conduct of the War, 5,000 copies for the use of the Senate, and 10,000 copies for the use of the House of Representatives. Attest: J. W. FORNEY, Secretary. IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, March 2, 1863. Resolved, That the House concur in the foregoing resolutions of the Senate to continue the sessions of the "Joint Committee on the Conduct of the War" for thirty days, and to direct the Secretary of the Senate to cause the printing of the reports, &c., with the following amendment insert at the end the words: "of the present Congress." Attest: EM. ETHERIDGE, Clerk. IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES, March 2, 1863. Resolved, That the Senate concur in the foregoing amendment of the House of Representatives to said resolution. Attest: J. W. FORNEY, Secretary. APRIL 6, 1863. Mr. WADE, from the Joint Committee on the Conduct of the War, in accordance with the preceding resolution, placed in the hands of the Secretary of the Senate the following report in three parts. PART 1.- ARMY OF THE POTOMAC. PART 2.-BULL RUN-BALL'S BLUFF. PART 3.-WESTERN DEPARTMENT, OR MISSOURI-MISCELLANEOUS. REPORT OF THE JOINT COMMITTEE ON THE CONDUCT OF THE WAR. PART I.—ARMY OF THE POTOMAC. The joint committee on the conduct of the war submit the following report, with the accompanying testimony: CONDUCT OF THE WAR. In December, 1861, a joint committee of the two houses of Congress, consisting of three members of the Senate and four members of the House of Representatives, was appointed, with instructions to inquire into the conduct of present war. the Your committee proceeded to the discharge of the duty devolved upon them, and have labored zealously and, they trust, faithfully for that purpose. As evidence of that, they would refer to the large mass of testimony taken by them upon many subjects and herewith reported. 66 The subject of inquiry referred to them was one of the utmost importance and magnitude. Upon the conduct of the present war" depended the issue of the experiment inaugurated by our fathers, after so much expenditure of blood and treasure-the establishment of a nation founded upon the capacity of man for self-government. The nation was engaged in a contest for its very existence; a rebellion, unparalleled in history, threatened the overthrow of our free institutions, and the most prompt and vigorous measures were demanded by every consideration of honor, patriotism, and a due regard for the prosperity and happiness of the people. Your committee could perceive no necessity for recommending any particular legislation to Congress. Its previous course showed that no such recommendation was required. When Congress met the preceding July, fresh from the people-called upon to provide for the safety of the government and the maintenance of the national honor and existence-the representatives of the people gave full evidence that they comprehended the duty devolved upon them, and had the courage and will to fully discharge it. The administration called by the people to the head of the government, in this the most critical period of the nation's history, was more promptly and fully supported than that of any other government of which history has preserved any record. The call of the President for money and men had been more than complied with; no legislation which he had deemed necessary had been denied by Congress, and the |