Page images
PDF
EPUB

WASHINGTON, January 29, 1862.

The committee met pursuant to adjournment. Present: The chairman, Messrs. Chandler, Gooch, and Julian.

The following witnesses were examined: Captain C. M. Merritt, Captain Thornton Smith.

Mr. Chandler informed the committee that General McClellan had called at the committee room this morning before the committee met, and informed him that General Stone was now in the city. General McClellan also expressed the opinion that General Stone should be heard before the committee in relation to those matters appearing prejudicial to General Stone. On motion of Mr. Gooch,

The chairman was instructed to address the following communication to Hon. Edwin M. Stanton, Secretary of War:

"COMMITTEE ROOM, Washington, January 29, 1862. "SIR: We have received an intimation from General McClellan that General Stone is now in this city, and he (General McClellan) is of the opinion that General Stone should appear before this committee in regard to the matters laid to his charge. I am instructed to inform you that should General Stone desire an interview for that purpose the committee will grant it. "Very respectfully, your obedient servant,

"Hon. EDWIN M. STANTON, Secretary of War." Adjourned to 11 a. m. to-morrow.

"B. F. WADE, Chairman.

WASHINGTON, January 30, 1862.

The committee met pursuant to adjournment; all the members present. The following witness was examined: General John C. Frémont, recalled. Mr Chandler moved that the committee take up and consider the testimony of General Frémont at their meeting on Saturday next.

The question was agreed to.

Mr. Gooch, from the sub-committee appointed on the 25th instant to wait upon the President and make the necessary inquiries in relation to the military administration of General John C. Frémont, reported that he and Mr. Johnson (the other member of the sub-committee) had waited upon the President and performed the duty devolved upon them by the committee. Mr. Gooch stated verbally to the committee the information thus obtained. Adjourned to 12 m. to-morrow.

WASHINGTON, January 31, 1862.

The committee met pursuant to adjournment. Absent: Mr. Johnson. The chairman informed the committee that he had been informed by the Sergeant-at-arms of the Senate that General Charles P. Stone was ready to attend upon the committee.

On motion of Mr. Gooch, the chairman was instructed to notify General Stone that the committee was ready to receive him. General Charles .P. Stone re-examined.

Mr. Covode moved that the committee report to the Secretary of War that there is a conflict of testimony in the case of General Stone, and that the substance of the testimony be laid before the Secretary. Agreed to.

On motion of Mr. Odell, it was

Ordered, That Mr. Covode be directed to take charge of the matter in relation to General Stone on part of the committee.

On motion of Mr. Gooch, it was

Ordered, That Mr. Odell be instructed to act for the committee with Mr. Covode.

On motion of Mr. Julian, it was

Ordered, That the sub-committee appointed to inquire of the President in relation to General John C. Frémont be instructed to submit to the committee a written report of the result of their interview with the President. Adjourned to 10 a. m. to-morrow.

WASHINGTON, February 1, 1862.

The committee met pursuant to adjournment; all the members present. The testimony of General John C. Frémont was read to the committee. After discussion,

On motion of Mr. Johnson, it was

Ordered, That Hon. F. P. Blair and Hon Montgomery Blair be requested to appear before the committee when convenient to them.

Mr. Julian moved that Mr.

this committee.

After discussion,

Beard be summoned as a witness before

On motion of Mr. Chandler, it was

Ordered, That Mr. Julian be instructed to ascertain from Mr. Beard when it will be convenient for him to appear should the committee desire his attendance.

Adjourned to 11 a. m. on Monday next.

WASHINGTON, February 3, 1862.

The committee met pursuant to adjournment. Mr. Covode absent on account of sickness.

Mr. Gooch laid before the committee the following resolution from the House of Representatives:

"On motion of Mr. Fessenden,

"JANUARY 31,

1862.

"Resolved, That the following editorial statement of the Chicago Tribune be referred to the committee on the conduct of the war as part of their investigation into the same:

"A startling statement. The Chicago Tribune publishes the following paragraph editorially:

"We have before us three cartridges brought to us from Annapolis by a friend. They are a portion of the ammunition for Enfield rifles served out to Burnside's forces for the great expedition. To the eye they are alike in appearance, and the slight difference in weight could not instantly be detected. But the difference is that one of the three contains no powder. A prominent officer of the expedition told our informant that this was about the proportion throughout the entire lot of Enfield cartridges-one-third of them carefully put up without powder. Now here is a case for investigation. Is it fraud or treachery that seeks to palm off upon our brave troops, on the eve of an expedition, sham cartridges? Let us have an explanation of this affair, Secretary Stanton.'

"Attest:

Adjourned to 11 a. m. to-morrow.

EM. ETHERIDGE, Clerk."

WASHINGTON, February 4, 1862.

The committee met pursuant to adjournment; Mr. Covode absent. On motion of Mr. Chandler, the chairman was instructed to address the following communication to the Secretary of War:

"COMMITTEE ROOM, Washington, February 4, 1862.

"SIR: I have been instructed by the joint committee on the conduct of the present war to inform you that they desire an interview with you on important business. The committee will be pleased to wait upon you at 7 o'clock this evening, if convenient to you, or at such other time as may suit your convenience.

"Please inform us as soon as convenient of your reply. "I remain, very respectfully, yours,

"Hon. EDWIN M. STANTON, Secretary of War."

"B. F. WADE, Chairman.

Adjourned to 11 a. m. to-morrow.

WASHINGTON, February 5, 1862.

The committee met pursuant to adjournment; Mr. Covode absent. The clerk was instructed to enter upon the journal of the committee that, in reply to the note of the chairman yesterday, the Secretary of War appointed 8 o'clock last evening, when he would meet the committee at the War Department, at which time the committee, except Messrs. Johnson and Covode, waited upon the Secretary, and held a conference with him of some hours' duration.

The following witness was examined: Hon. Montgomery Blair.
Adjourned to 11 a. m. to-morrow.

WASHINGTON, February 6, 1862.

The committee met pursuant to adjournment. Absent: Messrs. Gooch, Covode, and Odell.

The committee proceeded to consider the resolution of the House of Representatives in relation to fraudulent Enfield ammunition for the Burnside expedition.

After discussion,

The further consideration of the resolution was postponed for the present; and

The chairman was instructed to address a communication to the Secretary of War, asking for any information in the possession of the War Department relating to that subject. Also to address a letter to the editor of the Chicago Tribune, asking the name of its informant, the name of the "prominent officer" referred to in its editorial, and such other information as may be in his possession.

Adjourned to 11 a. m. to-morrow.

WASHINGTON, February 7, 1862.

The committee met pursuant to adjournment; Mr. Covode absent.

The following witnesses were examined: Hon. Frank P. Blair, Rev. Robert Kellen, and Colonel Edward W. Hinks.

Adjourned to 11 a. m. on Monday next.

Rep. Com. 1086

WASHINGTON, February 10, 1862.

The committee met pursuant to adjournment; Mr. Johnson absent.
The following witness was examined: Captain Gustavus V. Fox.

The chairman laid before the committee a communication from General John A. Dix, requesting that Colonel McMillan, 21st Indiana volunteers, Major Boardman and Captain Hobart, 4th Wisconsin volunteers, be summoned in relation to General Lockwood's expedition.

On motion of Mr. Odell, the request was granted.

The chairman also laid before the committee certain papers in relation to the administration of affairs in General Sickles's brigade.

On motion of Mr. Odell, further proceedings in that matter were suspended for the present.

The chairman also informed the committee that the Secretary of State, in view of the recent arrest of General Charles P. Stone, desired to be put in possession of the evidence taken by this committee in relation to General Stone.

On motion of Mr. Gooch,

Ordered, That the chairman and Mr. Chandler be instructed to lay before the Secretary of State the testimony in relation to General Charles P. Stone. On motion of Mr. Gooch, the chairman was instructed to call upon the War Department for the original orders of General Stone to Colonel Baker, in regard to crossing over into Virginia prior to the action of Ball's Bluffsaid orders now being, as the committee are informed, in the possession of Colonel E. D. Townsend, of the Adjutant General's office.

Adjourned to 11 a. m. to-morrow.

WASHINGTON, February 11, 1862.

The committee met pursuant to adjournment; Mr. Johnson absent. The following witnesses were examined: James Bogle, Colonel John Patrick, and Dr. Benjamin Lippincott.

Upon the suggestion of the chairman, it was

Ordered, That Messrs. Gooch and Odell be a sub-committee to proceed at once to Alexandria and examine into the condition of the place used for confining soldiers.

The chairman informed the committe that, pursuant to their instructions of yesterday, he and Mr. Chandler waited upon the Secretary of State with the testimony relating to General Charles P. Stone. The Secretary of State conducted them to the President's, and in his presence such portions of the testimony as was called for, and there was time to read, was read by the stenographer of the committee.

Adjourned to 11 a. m. to-morrow.

WASHINGTON, February 12, 1862.

The committee met pursuant to adjournment; all the members present. Mr. Odell, from the sub-committee appointed yesterday to visit Alexandria, submitted a verbal report.

The following witnesses were examined: Captain John H. Knight, Colonel George P. McLane, Dr. J. H. Seltzer, and Lieutenant A. D. Jones. Adjourned to 11 a. m. to-morrow.

WASHINGTON, February 13, 1862.

The committee met pursuant to adjournment; Mr. Johnson absent. The following witnesses were examined: Colonel J. W. McMillan, Captain Hobart, Major F. A. Boardman, and General N. J. T. Dana.

The following resolution was received from the House of Representatives: "IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES,

66

February 11, 1862.

"Mr. F. A. Conkling submitted the following, which was adopted: "Whereas it is asserted, on authority worthy of the notice of this house, that the countersign of the army was in possession of the rebel pickets on the west side of the Potomac before it had been communicated to our men on the day the Pensacola ran the gauntlet of the river batteries; and whereas it is also asserted that information of the movements of the national army and fleets is frequently communicated in advance to the enemy, under circumstances which justify a suspicion of treachery on the part of persons in the civil or military service: Therefore

"Resolved, That the joint committee on the conduct of the war be requested, at their earliest convenience, to investigate these charges, and report such action in the premises as the circumstances will warrant.

"Attest:

Adjourned to 11 a. m. to-morrow.

EM. ETHERIDGE, Clerk."

WASHINGTON, February 14, 1862.

The committee met pursuant to adjournment; all present. The following witnesses were examined: Colonel James H. Van Allen, Major John Mix, Colonel C. H. Tompkins, and Dr. J. H. Puleston.

On motion of Mr. Gooch, the chairman was unanimously instructed to wait upon the Secretary of War, and tender to him the services of this committee, either individually or as a body, in any way that he may desire their assistance.

On motion of Mr. Odell, the chairman was instructed to notify the President that this committee will wait upon him to-morrow evening at 8 o'clock, if agreeable to him.

Adjourned to Monday next at 11 a. m.

WASHINGTON, February 17, 1862.

The committee met pursuant to adjournment; all present.
The following witness was examined: Frederick Hudson.
Adjourned to 11 a. m. to-morrow.

WASHINGTON, February 18, 1862.

The committee met pursuant to adjournment; all the members present. The following witness was examined: Nathaniel F. Palmer.

Mr. Odell called the attention of the committee to the importance of their urging upon the proper authorities the necessity of immediate steps being taken to break the blockade of the Potomac. He said he was aware that the subject had been often discussed by the committee, and that all felt the

« PreviousContinue »