The Saddest Affair: A Case Study of the Investigations into the Crater Disaster at Petersburg

Petersburg Crater;Battle of;Va.;1864.;United States--History--Civil War;1861-1864--Campaigns.;Legislative oversight--United States--Case studies.;Governmental investigations--United States--History--19th century.;Legislative oversight--United States--Political aspects.;Governmental investigations--United States--Political aspects.;United States. Congress. Joint Committee on the Conduct of the War.;United States. Army. Court of Inquiry (1864)

Weaver, KevinOberly, James Warren, 1954- ;

University of Wisconsin

关键词: Petersburg Crater;    Battle of;    Va.;    1864.;    United States--History--Civil War;    1861-1864--Campaigns.;    Legislative oversight--United States--Case studies.;    Governmental investigations--United States--History--19th century.;    Legislative oversight--United States--Political aspects.;    Governmental investigations--United States--Political aspects.;    United States. Congress. Joint Committee on the Conduct of the War.;    United States. Army. Court of Inquiry (1864);   

Others  :  https://minds.wisconsin.edu/bitstream/handle/1793/8540/weaverF2006.doc?sequence=2&isAllowed=y

瑞士|英语

来源: University of Wisconsin

【 摘 要 】

Perhaps one of Congresses most jealously guarded powers is the right to oversight and investigation.However, American history demonstrates that this power can be used to both great effect and abuse.Understanding congresses role in oversight and investigation of government agencies is crucial to the citizen?s right to police their government.During the Civil War, the Battle of the Crater at Petersburg on July 30, 1860 was one instance in which the power of congressional oversight was utilized.As a case study, the Committee on the Conduct of the War, and the Official Court of Inquiry on the Mine Disaster before Petersburg can be used to demonstrate the forces which influence the theoretically impartial function of congressional oversight.