Conduct of the War,
Committee on
Tue. On Dec. 9, 1861, the Senate, by a vote of 33 yeas to 3 nays, adopted a resolution providing for the appointing of a joint committee of three from the Senate and four from the
House to inquire into the conduct of the war, the committee to have power to send for persons and papers, and to sit through that session of Congress.
The
House concurred in the resolution on the following day, and on the 17th and 19th the committee was appointed, consisting of
Senators Benjamin F. Wade, of
Ohio;
Zachariah Chandler, of
Michigan, and
Andrew Johnson, of
Tennessee; and
Representatives Daniel W. Gooch, of
Massachusetts;
John Covode, of
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298]
Pennsylvania;
George W. Julian, of
Indiana, and
Moses F. Odell, of New York.
On Dec. 20 the committee held its first session and chose
Senator Wade as chairman.
This committee became an important factor in the early movements of the
National army and navy.
During its existence there were frequently complaints from officers in the field that their freedom of action was seriously impeded by this committee; and in other quarters it was asserted that many of the early campaigns were planned by “civilians in
Washington,” without the advice of experienced military men.
