Answer. I would not like for it to be reduced. Question. Do you think each division requires an equal amount of cavalry force? Answer. I think it depends very much entirely where it is designed for them to operate. Some divisions would require none; others may require a great deal. By Mr. Odell: Question. That depends upon the surface of the country? Answer. Depends entirely upon circumstances, upon their location. In some cases you might take the case of General Sherman; I presume he has no cavalry; and the same with other officers of the service. I think he took but one battery with him, while, I think, others require four. Question. How many batteries have you? Answer. Three batteries. Question. Four or six guns? Answer. All six guns. There are some places where, if I was going, I would like to have more; and in some other places I would be perfectly willing to dispense with some I have. By the chairman: Question. The ground in front of you, I suppose, is not very favorable for the movements of cavalry? Answer. I use cavalry very favorably for many uses there. They can be used for videttes, and in case of a rout of the enemy they could be very advantageously used. Now that the ground is frozen, cavalry could be used to advantage. Question. It is as easy to move an army now as it was in the fall of the year, is it not? Answer. As easy, so far as the roads are concerned. We have less water. Question. The men would suffer from cold more, I suppose? Answer. Yes, sir. Question. Could you move artillery now? Answer. Perfectly easy. By Mr. Odell : Question. Would you have to confine yourself to turnpikes, or could you move across military roads? Answer. Now we could move across any of the roads easily. Two weeks ago we could not have used artillery off the turnpikes without breaking down and ruining the horses. By the chairman : Question. Is the ground frozen now? Answer. Yes, sir; very hard frozen. This morning the ground was frozen so as to bear anything. By Mr. Odell: Question. Now, in reference to the efficiency of the officers commanding your 'several regiments, what is the fact generally in regard to them? Answer. I think, so far as my own command is concerned, I have as efficient a body of men as can be found anywhere in the ranks of the volunteers. Question. Are the officers up to the standard of the men? Answer. As a general thing, yes, sir. Where there have been failings-bad failings generally the board, which was organized last session, have had them before them, and they have resigned. I have scarcely ver sent any person before that board, except it was a very bad case, men who had lost their influence over their own men, or who had bad habits, or men notoriously negligent of their duties, or men who would sanction pillaging or depredation. Where I have found that it was a great advantage to get rid of them I have sent them before the board. In some cases they have passed an examination, and since then have been very good. Of the colonels that I have, I have an excellent body. The men, I think, will feel that where the officers have had but little experience they must look to any person, in case they get into action, who has had a military education, rather than to their own officers, unless they have had such an education. Question. You mean by that, that if the men are efficient, it will be because they have somebody to lead them? Answer. That is what I mean. So far as my own command is concerned, I do not believe you have a more efficient or better drilled body in the service. By Mr. Chandler: Question. You have the 4th Michigan? Answer. Yes, sir; as excellent a regiment as there is in the service. Answer. I have not the slightest doubt of it; and when the time comes when they are to be used, I do not think it will be from their fault, but ours, if they do not act well. By Mr. Odell: Question. Do you suffer any from drinking in your division? Answer. Not much. We have some men who will have their frolics. We have a great many Irishmen, to whom a frolic is as necessary about once a month as a dinner is; but I have no trouble at all with them. There is very little drunkenness among men out there. I speak well of them, not in my own praise at all, but from knowledge of my men and their officers. Question. Have you any New York regiments? Answer. I have McQuade's regiment, the People's Ellsworth or 44th regiment, and Kerrigan's regiment, which is a very good regiment now. By the chairman : Question. Is your army organized for a march against the enemy? Answer. They want some things, but we are getting them as fast as we can. We want to do away entirely with tents. If it was in my power I would not take tents along with us. Question. Are you divided into army corps, so that if one of were attacked you could get on with the commanders there? Answer. We are divided into brigades and divisions. your divisions Question. Suppose your division was attacked, and you should want a neighboring division to support you, could you give a mandatory order, which the commander of that division would be compelled to obey? Answer. I cannot. I have no authority, nor has any one else authority immediately over me. Question. Each one is independent of the other? Answer. In some respects we are. The colonel of one of the regiments in a brigade where there is a senior officer present cannot give an order to another colonel to do so and so to aid him; and so it runs along up. Question. Is not some further organization necessary in great armies in the field? Answer. That is always done. There is always a common superior present to attend to these things; and in case of the movement of an army, where it is to perform a particular service, these orders are so given that at particular times particular persons have a given duty, and each one party has authority to call upon the other parties. All these things are arranged just according to circumstances, just before going into action. Question. They are divided into what is called army corps? Answer. Yes, sir. But we have the telegraph so arranged that at any moment, if there is an attack at one place, we can instantly get notice of it. Question. Now you would have to go to the commander-in-chief of the whole for your orders? Answer. Yes. sir; of course. Question. That would be very inconvenient if you were without the line of the telegraph, would it not? Answer. The commander-in-chief is supposed to be always where we can communicate with him. Question. Then you do not think it necessary to have this organization of army corps, because the general-in-chief can superintend the whole? Answer. Just at this present moment I do not think it necessary. When the time comes, it will be so organized. By Mr. Odell: Question. You refer to the time when the army shall move in different divisions, in large bodies? Answer. Yes, sir. I think we are better fixed now, just as we are, than we could otherwise be. We have only one head, while if we had half a dozen we should be trammelled by it. Question. Suppose you were unexpectedly attacked, would General McDowell, for instance, have authority to assist you? Answer. He would come to my assistance, unless attacked himself. By Mr. Chandler: Question. It would be optional with him to obey your summons or not, as he chose? Answer. It would be optional with him, but I know he would come. For instance, the other day, when General McCall was attacked, I ordered my commanders to be in readiness. Question. Your notice was from headquarters? Answer. The general-in chief was on the ground in half an hour. I have had that same thing occur some six or eight times. Occupying a central position, they came over to me where I could reach, instantaneously, the telegraph from one end of the line to the other. By the chairman: Question. Suppose the general-in-chief had been sick? Answer. He will arrange for that. Question. He has not arranged for that, but will, I suppose. Answer. That I do not know. Question. I know each one would assist the other. But would you be compelled to? Answer. If I did not do it, I should deserve to be hung. The chairman: That might be. But I am speaking of regular military subordination, where each one knows who would command. By Mr. Chandler: Question. I suppose that the ranking commander of division would have the authority to give the order in case the general-in-chief was not present? Answer. If they are operating together, yes, sir; of course. They are bound to obey him. By Mr. Odell: Question. You would not hesitate at all if General McDowell was attacked and ordered you to come and assist him? Answer. If he sent me notice he wanted assistance at such and such a place I would send it, whether authority was given or not. I do not suppose a soldier in the army would hesitate. By the chairman: Question. Suppose your judgment dictated to the contrary, would you obey the order? Answer. That is a case of which the commander must necessarily judge for himself. If he disobeys that order he does it on his own responsibility Question. And he always has a discretion over it? Answer. He must have, but he exercises it at his own peril. By Mr. Johnson : Question. From the steps now being taken to put this army in a condition for a forward movement, are you of the opinion that it will be in a condition to make that forward movement between now and next spring? I simply ask your opinion, from your knowledge of the steps now being taken. I do not ask you what anybody else's opinion is, or what anybody else has to do with it, or has said to you about it. I ask your opinion, from your knowledge of the condition of this army? Answer. Yes, sir; it will. Question. Now, in reference to the morale of the troops. From your knowledge of their present condition, now, will the morale of the army be improved by remaining here in winter quarters until next spring? Answer. That is a thing I have not thought of. I cannot answer with regard to other parties. But with regard to my own division, I say that so long as we are kept here we are improving. Question. You then think the discipline and morale of your men would he improved by remaining in winter quarters until next spring? Answer. I do not say that. But so long as they remain there they are improving. I did not say one word about winter quarters, for we are not in winter quarters, and we are not going to be in any more winter quarters than we now are. I do not ask for any more winter quarters than we now have. By Mr. Odell: Question. What Senator Johnson would get at is whether lying still is demoralizing your division of the army? Answer. Not at all; but as for winter quarters-I spent two winters in Utah in no better accommodations than we have here. By Mr. Johnson: Question. That would be in winter quarters, would it not? When an army becomes located for any length of time it will be in summer, spring, fall, or winter quarters, as the case may be? Answer. What we understand by winter quarters is their permanent location for the winter. Mr. Johnson. What I mean is, to make no forward movement between now and next spring. In that case would the morale of the army be improved between now and next spring? By the chairman: Question. Suppose it should be concluded that it was best not to move until spring, and the army should act entirely on the defensive, and it was understood that it was so to act, how many troops, in your judgment, would be sufficient Rep. Com. 108-12 to render this capital safe, contemplating no offensive movements here whatever? Answer. I do not know what the works are on this side. My own belief is that I would like to have about 50,000 men. Question. That would make it safe, in your estimation? Answer. That would make it safe, provided the remaining portion of the army was within striking distance of this place. Question. So that if the conclusion should be come to, to act entirely on the defensive here, all over that number might be spared for other expeditions, if it should be thought best to carry on any others? Answer. That is a question I cannot answer. I say, "if the other portion of the army is within striking distance." It does not necessarily follow that Norfolk is not within striking distance. Question. I want the opinion of military men as to how many troops of this army could be safely spared upon other and foreign expeditions? Answer. That is a question I could not answer. Question. You have not formed any opinion in regard to it which would be satisfactory to yourself? Answer. Nothing, with the conditions you stated. I know nothing satisfactory of the enemy in front of us. I do not know the works there sufficiently well to form an estimate; and I do not know what is necessary. If I knew all of General McClellan's plans I could tell better. Question. I have said I do not ask what his plans are. I only ask your opinion. I supposed that, of course, you had reflected in your own mind upon the whole ground; not but what you would act in a subordinate capacity to General McClellan ? Answer. I have reflected upon that, but I do not know sufficiently to answer your question definitely. I do not know the location of the enemy beyond here, or what he is about. I have my various ideas as to what would be done under certain circumstances, of how many may be moved from here under certain circumstances; if we are going to strike at one point how many ought to go to that point, and how many to another point. Question. Will we ever probably be better informed in regard to the condition and strength of the enemy until we approach nearer their lines than now? Answer. Yes, sir; I believe the location of every regiment in that command is known, and its strength. I believe that every regiment in that command is known. Question. Has there been any consultation among officers here, any council of war of the principal high officers of this army, taking their opinion in regard to the condition of the army and as to what should be done? Answer. I was present once when a plan was proposed. Question. Present together with officers of your own rank, I suppose? Answer. Yes, sir. Question. To consult? Answer. Yes, sir. By Mr. Johnson: Question. Were all the commanders of divisions present? Answer. No, sir. Question. What number were present? Answer. Three or four of us were present. The propositions were presented to us as a mere matter of discussion, sufficient for one to form an idea of what General McClellan's plans were, or some of them. Question. I thought you said awhile ago that a portion of his plans were in your possession, but not all? Answer. I have just said "some of his plans." |