TITLE: The war of the rebellion: a compilation of the official records of the Union and Confederate armies. / Series 1 - Volume 12 (Part I) AUTHOR: United States. War Dept., John Sheldon Moody, Calvin Duvall Cowles, Frederick Caryton Ainsworth, Robert N. Scott, Henry Martyn Lazelle, George Breckenridge Davis, Leslie J. Perry, Joseph William Kirkley PUBLISHER: Govt. Print. Off., Washington, 1885 Page A Production Note Cornell University Library produced this volume to preserve the informational content of the deteriorated original. The best available copy of the original has been used to create this digital copy. It was scanned bitonally at 600 dots per inch resolution and compressed prior to storage using ITU Group 4 compression. Conversion of this material to digital files was supported by the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation. Digital file copyright by Cornell University Library 1995. This volume has been scanned as part of The Making of America Project, a cooperative endeavor undertaken to preserve and enhance access to historical material from the nineteenth century. Page B Title Page Page R001 0 THE WAR OF THE REBELLION: A COMPILATION OF THE OFFICIAL RECORDS OF THE UNION AND CONFEDERATE ARMIES. PREPARED, UNDER THE DIRECTION OF THE SECRETARY OF WAR, By Lieut. (Jol. ROBERT N. SCOTT, Third U. B. Artillery, AND PUBLISHED PURSUANT TO ACT OF CONGRESS APPROVED JUNE 16 1880. SERIES IVOLUME XIIIN THREE PARTS. PART 1.REPORTS. 0 WASHII~GTON: GOVERNMENT PRINTING 0FP103. 1885 Page R002 A /4O3~/ .6 Page R003 PREFAOE. By an act approved June 23, 1874, Congress made an appropriation to enable the Secretary of War to begin the publication of the Official Records of the War of the Rebellion, both of the Union and Confed- erate Armies, and directed him to have copied for the Public Printer all reports, letters, telegrams, and general orders not heretofore copied or printed, and properly arranged in chronological order. Appropriations for continuing such preparation have been mlkie from time to time; and the act approved June 16, 1880, has provided for the printing and binding, under direction of the Secretary of War, of 10,000 copies of a compilation of the Official Records (Union and Con.. federate) of the War of the Rebellion, so far as the same may be ready for publication, during the fiscal year; and that of said number, 7,000 copies shall be for the use of the House of Representatives, 2,000 copies for the use of the Senate, and 1,000 copies for the use of the Executive Departments.~~* This compilation will be the first general publication of the military records of the war, and will embrace all official documents that can be obtained by the compiler, and that appear to be of any historical value. *Volume I to V distributed under act approved June 16, 1880. The act approved August 7, 1882, provides that The volumes of the official records of the war of the rebellion shall be distributed as follows: One thousand copies to the executive departments, as now provided by law. One thousand copies for distribution by the Secretary of War among officers of the Army and contributors to the work. Eight thousand three hundred copies shall be sent by the Secretary of War to such libraries, organizations, and individuals as may be designated by the Senators, Representatives, and Delegates of the Forty- seventh Congress. Each Senator shall designate not exceeding twenty-six, and each Representative and Delegate not exceeding twenty-one of such addresses, and the volumes shall be sent thereto from time to time as they are published, until the pub- lication is completed. Senators, Representatives, and Delegates shall inform the Secretary of War in each case how many voJumes of those heretofore published they have forwarded to such addresses. The remaining copies of the eleven thousand to be published, and all sets that may not be ordered to be distributed as provided herein, shall be sold by the Secretary of War for cost of publication with ten per cent. added thereto, and the proceeds of such sale shall be covered into the Treasury. If two or more ~ts of said volumes are ordered to the same address the Secretary of Waf shall inform the Senators, Representatives or Delegates, who have desigiated the same, who thereupon may designate other libraries, organizations, or individuals. The Secretary of War shall report to the first session of the Forty-eighth Congress what voJumes of the series heretofore published have not been furnished to such libraries, organizations, and individuals. He shall also inform distributees at whose instance the volumes are ~ Page R004 Iv PREFACE. The publication will present the records in the following order of arrangement: The 1st Series will embrace the formal reports, both Union and Con- federate, of the first seizures of United States property in the Southern States, and of all military operations in the field, with the correspond- ence, orders, and returns relating specially thereto, and, as proposed, is to be accompanied by an Atlas. In this series the reports will be arranged according to the campaigns and several theaters of operations (in the chronological order of the events), and the Union reports of any event will, as a rule, be imme- diately followed by the Confederate accounts. The correspondence, & c., not embraced in the reports proper will follow (first Union and next Confederate) in chronological order. The 2d Series will contain the correspondence, orders, reports, and returns, Union and Confederate, relating to prisoners of war, and (so far as the military authorities were concerned) to State or political prsoners. The 3d Series will contain the correspondence, orders, reports, and returns of the Union authorities (embracing their correspondence with the Confederate officials) not relating specially to the subjects of the fir8t and 8econd series. It will set forth the annual and special reports of the Secretary of War, of the General-in~Chief and of the chiefs of the several staff corps and departments; the calls for troops, and the correspondence between the National and the several State authorities. The 4th Series will exhibit the correspondence, orders, reports, and returns of the Confederate authorities, similar to that indicated for the Union officials, as of the third series, but excluding the correspondence between the Union and confederate authorities given in that series. ROBERT N. SCOTT, Major, Third Art., and Bvt. L-ieut. Col. WAR DEPARTMENT, Augu8t 23, 1880. Approved: ALEX. RAMSEY, Secretary of War Table of Contents Page R005 CONTENTS. CHAPTER XXIV. Pag.. Operations in Northern Virginia, West Virginia, and Maryland ..... 1-818 (v Page R006 Special Index Page R007 a CONTENTS OF PRECEDING VOLUMES. VOLUME I. CHAPTER I Page. Operations In Charleston Harbor, South Carolina. December 20, 1800-April 14, 1861 1-817 CHAPTER II. The secession of Georgia. January 3-20, 1881 318425 CHAPTER IIL The seoesslonofAlabamaandMississippi. January 4-20, 1861 320-330 CHAPTER IV. Operationsin Florida. JanuaryG-August 31, 1861 .... 831473 CHAPTER V Page. The secession of North Carolina. Janu ary 9-May 20, 1861 474488 CHAPTER VL The secession of Louisiana. January 10- February 19, 1861 489-601 CHAPTER VII. Operations in Texas and New Mexico. February 1-June 11, 1861 502-036 CHAPTER VIII. Operations in Arkansas, the Indian Tern. tory, and Missouri. February 7May 9, 1861 037091 VOLUME II. CHAPTER IX. Page. Operations In Maryland, Pennsylvania, Virginia, and West Virginia. April 16-July 81,1861. 1-1012 VOLUME III. CHAPTER X~ Page. Operations in Missouri, Arkansas, Kansas, and Indian Territory. May 10-November 19, 1861. 1-749 VOLUME IV. CHAPTER XL Page. CHAPTER XIII. Page. Operations in Texas, New Mexico, and Operations in North Carolina and South. Arizona. June11, 1861February 1,1862. 1174 eastern Virginia. August 1, 1861-Jan. CHAPTER XLI. nary 11, 1862. 606-721 Operations in Kentucky and Tennessee. July 1November 19, 1861 175565 VOLUME V. V CHAPTER XIV. Page. Operations inMaryland, Northern Virginis, and West Virginia. Augusti, 1861-Marchl7, 1862. 1-1106 VOLUME VI. CHAPTER XV. Operationsonthe coaatsof SouthCarolina, Georgia, and Middle and East Florida. August 21, 1861April 11, 1862 Page. Page. CHAPTER XVI. Operations in West Florida, Southern Al. abania, Southern Mississippi, and Lou. 1435 isiana. September 1, 1861May 12,1862. 436894 VOLUME VII. CHAPTER XVII. Page. Operationsin Kentucky, Tennessee, N. Alabama, and S. W. Virginia. Nov. 19,1861-Mar. 4,1862. 1-946 VOLUME VIII. CHAPTER XVIII. Page. Operations in Missouri, Arkansas, Kansas, and Indian Territory. Mov. 19, i861-Aprll 10,1863. 1-834 (vu) Page R008 VIII CONTENTS OP PRECEDING VOLUMES. VOLUME IX. CHAPTER XIX. Operations In Southeastern VfrgInIa. Jan- uary 11-March 17,1862 CHAPTER XX. Operations In North Caroline. January 11-August 20, 1862 Page. CHAPTER XXI. Page. Operations in Texas, New Mexico, and 1-71 Arizone. February 1-September 20, 1862 481436 72-480 VOLUME XIN TWO PARTS. CHAPTER XXII. OperatIons Ia Kentucky, Tennessee, North Mississippi, North Alabama, and Southwest Virginia. March 4-June 10,1862. Page. Pan ~ Part lICorrespondence 1.442 VOLUME XIIN THREE PARTS. CHAPTER XXIII. The Peninsular Campaign, VIrginia. March 17-September 2,1882. Page. Pan IReports, March 17-June 24 1-1077 Pan IlReports June 25-September 2 1-994 Pan 111Correspondence .. 1-69 Additions and Corrections Page A001 THE 1 WAR OF THE REBELLION: A COMPILATION OF THE OFFICIAL RECORDS OF THE UNION AND CONFEDERATE ARMIES. ADDITION8 ANI) COIUiECTIONS TO SERIES IVOLUME XII. (To be inserted in the volume. For explanation see General Index volume, Serial ~o. 130, page XXVIII.) PUBLISHED UNDER THE DIRECTION OF The Hon. ELIHU ROOT, Secretary of War, IIY BRIG. GEN. FRED C. AJNSWORTH, CHIEF OF THE RECORD AND PENSION OFFICE, WAR DEPARTMENT, AND MR. JOSEPH W. KIRKLEY. Mr. JOHN S. 1!IOOBEV, indexer. WASIIIiN GTON: GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE. 1902 Page A002 2 ADDITIONS AND CORRECTIONS. TEXT. PART i. Page 76. Thirteenth line, bottom, for ten read two. Page 410. First line, for William S. Rice read William L. Rice. Page 428. McDowell to Stanton, date line, for April28 read April iS. Page 482. Twenty-ninth line, top, for ioz read 107. Page 509. Second line, top, for North read New. Page 561. Erase foot-note and insert See Plate 5, Map 5, of Ike A/las. Page 643. Lincoln to Fr~mont, 4 p. in., second line, for or read and. Page 709. Erase foot-note and insert See Plate 85, Maps i and 2, of Ike A/las. Page 713. Fifteenth line, top, for Fifty-seven/h read Thirty-seven/h. Page 736. Twentieth line, bottoni, for Lee read Leigh. Page 737. Third line, bottom, for [27] read [~i,fl. Page 766. Tenth line, bottom, insert [First] after Fifth. Page 770. Thirteenth line, bottom, insert [First] after Fifth. Page 786. Ninth line, top, for Scolt read Letcher. Tenth line, top, for Le/cher read Scott. Page 799. Fortieth line, top, for Fifteenth read Thirteenth. Page 8i4. Hoffmans report, fourteenth line, for Harover read I-lawyer. PART 2. Page 8. Thirty-second line, top, for Leesburg read Leesboro ugh. Page 22. Eighth line, top, for or read on. Page 121. Second foot-note, forp. iS readp. zz8. Page 127. Coxs report, fifth line, for or read on. Page 148. Erase foot-note No/found and insert See Series I, Vol. 51, Part i, p. 119. Page 185. Erase foot-note and insert See Plate 8~, Maps 3 and ~, of the A/las. Page 252. Insert Cot. John H. Pa/rich after Cot. Charles Candy. Page 383. Twenty-ninth line, bottom, insert [Third] after Second. Page 397. Fourth line, top, insert division after whole. Twenty-second line, top, for Railroad read pike. Page 398. Thirty-first line, top, insert originally after ridge. Fifteenth line, bot- tom, insert whole before division. Page 399. Sixteenth line, top, for command read brigade. Twentieth line, top, insert uniformly before good. Erase foot-note and insert See Series I, Vol. ~s, Part I, ~b. 125 et seq. Pages 489, 490. For Hanley read Hanlerf wherever it occurs. Page 546. Armisteads Brigade, erase 5th Virginia Battalion (?). Mahones Bri- gade, erase 19th Virginia. Wrights Brigade, erase ~/h Georgia and insert 11/h Alabama. Andersons Division, add ArtiUery. Mal. John S. Saunders. Grimes (Virginia) battery, Hugers (Vir- ginia) battery, Afoormans (Virginia) battery. Draytons Brigade, add Leahes ( Virginia) battery. Jones Brigade, add Wise ( Virginia) Artillery. Page 547. Pryors Brigade, add 2d Florida, also Maurins battery, Donaldson- ville (Louisiana) Artillery. Kempers Brigade, add Rogers battery, Loudoun (Virginia) Artillery. Jenkins Brigade, add Striblings battemy, Fauquier ( Virginia) Artillery. Page 548. Lees Battalion, erase Grimes (Virginia) battery and Taylors (Vir- ginia) battery. Erase all batteries under heading of Miscellaneous batteries; also erase t and ~ foot-notes Page A003 ADDITIONS AND CORRECTIONS. 3 Page ~ Branchs Brigade, erase Brig. Gen. J. H. Lane. Page 641. Twelfth line, bottom, for [H. G.] La/ham read [A. C.] La/ham. Page 682. Fifteenth line, top, for [W. I.] Car/er read [Sidney] Car/er. Page 697. Browns report, tenth line, strike out Killed, 5; wounded, 23. To/al, 28.* Insert * after Schedule C, ninth line, and for foot-note Bu/ see Guilds report, p. 562, read No/found. Page 729. Eleventh line, top, for If read I. PART 3. Page i66. Thirteenth line, top, insert [William?] after Dick. Page 175. Fifteenth line, top, for Elezen/h read Ten/h. Page i8~. Fourth line, bottom, for Los/ read EasI. Page 193. Cox to Tracy, date line, for Franklin read Prince/on. Page 213. Cox to Tracy, tenth line, for propose read prepare,~ eleventh line, erase [him]. Page 252. Thirteenth line, top, for Vermon/ read Maine. Page 471. Cox to Ruggles, second line, for ac/ion read maclion. Page 535. Pope to Halleck, 11.30 a. in., sixteenth line, insert * after Second Alabama and add foot-note, * An error. Second Alabama a/ For/ Pillow; disbanded March, 5862. Page 665. White to Halleck, 8 p. in., third line, for my read any. Page 709. McClellan to Halleck, 4.45 p. in., seventh line, for reports d repeat. Page 875. First communication, signature, erase R. E. Lee, General, and insert W. H. Taylor, Assistant Adlutant-General. Page 945. Cooper to Loring, date line, for August26 read August 25. INDEX. Insert all words and figures in italics and strike out all in [brackets]. An asterisk (*) following a correction indicates that Additions and corrections tothe text should bec~nsulted. References are to parts of volume. Part. Alabama Troops. [CavalryBattalions: 5th, 434] InfantryBattalions. 5th, ~34 InfantryRegiments: 44th, 546* 2 Ames, Timothy K [R.] 2 Army Goi~s, ist ( Virginia). c~onstitnted, 135 3 King, Rufus, assigned to command, ~j8 3 Sigel, F., assumes command, 444 3 Army Corps, sd (Virginia). Constituted, 135 3 Army (~orps, 3d (Virginia). Constituted, 435 3 Army Lorps,~th (Potomac), Banks. Designated sd Corps, Army of Virginia, ItS 3 Army Corps, 8th. Wool,John F., assigned tocommand,319,32o 3 Arnall, Charles S., 751 [Arnold, Adjutant, 75] Asch, MyerJ 2,3 Baldwin, Robert F. [Dr.] Barbee, W. J. [Courier] 2 Barton [Bartow], T. B 3 Beaumont, ,x8o; Beaumont, Myron H., [x8o] 3 Part. Benkard, James, jr 3 Beater, Ignaz [Benton, Private] 2 Blount Robert P. [Lieutenant-Colonel] 2 Borst, Peter B. [Bost, Mr.] 2 Botsford [Bottsford], James L Boyd, Carlile [William A.] 2 Brayton, Thomas R. [ ] 3 Brodhead [Broadhead], Daniel M 2 Brown, Clarence S Brown, B. S. [Judge] 3 Brown, S. Howell [Mr.] Brumm [Brum], George W Buchwalter [Buckwalter], Luther M 2 Burdett, James A. [Mr.] 2 Carter, Sidney [W. J.] 2 Cedar Mountain, Va. Battle of, Aug. 9. Reports of Duryee [Duryea], Abram 2 Chapman, Lansford [Lanceford] F Chenowith, Joseph H. [Chenoweth, J H.].... Chester, George F. [Colonel] 2 Chittick, Michael [Lieutenant] 2 Clark, Joseph C., Jr 1,2 Clarke, George [A.] W Clary, Robert F. [R. H.] Clary, Robert E. (Q. M.) 2 Clary, Robert E. (2d U: S. Cay.) 2 Clendennen, John [Squire] Page A004 ADDITIONS AND CORRECTIONS. Part. Cole, Robert F. [Mr.] 3 Coleman, Samuel S 2 Colston, Ralez~h [Rawley] T 2 Corner [Corner], Mrs 3 Connelly, JohnJ. [P.] 2 Cool, A. A. [Coal, ] Coover, John B. [D.] 3 Courts-Martial. Porter, Fitz John, 507-512 2 Porter, Fitz John, 8211113 (Sup.) 2 Courts of Inquiry. McDowell, Irvin, 36-332 I Cowles, Milton N Craig, Calvin [Samuel] A 2 Crowley, Samuel T. [P.] 2 Cueto, Gabriel [ ] 3 Dailey [Daily], R. W 2 Dempsey, John W. [Lieutenant] 3 Downs, George [ ] Drayton, Thomas F [Mr.] 3 Durfey, Goodrich [Durfee, Colonel] 3 Duryee [Duryen], Abram 1,2 (Sup.), 2,3 Duryee [Duryea], XV. B. C (Sup.) 2 Everhart,A.J.[ ] 2 Falls, RichardJ. [I.] 2 Florida Troops. InfantryRegiments: 2d, 547* Gallagher, Francis [lieutenant] Gardiner [Gardner], Asa B . Gaskell, P. Penn Gilbert, John L. [P.] Giles Court-House, [W.] Va Goff, Alexander B. [ ] Goulding, C. N. Correspondence with R. F. [H.] Clary .... Grinnell, R. M., 682 [Grinnell, Lieutenant, 682] Grinnell, R. M. [Lieutenant] Guerrant [Guarrant], William G Hannum, William K C. [Harman, William H. (Captain)] Haskin [Haskins], George B. Mentioned, 283 [Hinchmnn, Lieutenant, 283] Haven [Havens], Henry M Haymond, Benjamin W. [ ] Healy [Healey], Virgil M Henry, M. [W.] XV Hoxsey [Hoxie], B. W Hughes, Daniel W. [Captain] Jackson, Thomas J. Resolution of thanks, 381 Jahn, Hermaun [Herman] Jenifer, Walter H. Reports of Giles Court-House, [W.] Va Jenkins, Micah, 928; Jenkins, Albert G [928]. Johnston [Johnson], Robert Keily [Keiley], Daniel J Kennedy,Joseph M. [Captain] Kentucky. Operations in. Communications from Lee, R. E., 92! I.oring, W. W., 92! War Department, C. S., 922 Part. Kieffer, Luther [Keefer, Major] 2 Koenig, Paul Baron von [Captain] Koenig, Paul Baron von [Major] 2 Krebs [Krehhs], W. H. W 1,2 Kuhn, John C 2 Lacey[T.acy],H.A ... Lacey, Heman [Henry] A 3 Lacy, Beverly Tucker [Mr.] Lane, Davis M., ~ ~6i, Lane, David F., ~ 56i] I.,ane, James H. [Mentioned, 549] * 2 Lawrence, William H. [[James K.?]] 2 Lee, John M. [E.] Lee, Thomas M. K 2 Lemmon Wetnon], Charles 2 Leopold, A. T. [Sergeant] 2 Lewis, C. L [J.] Little, Thomas [Colonel] 3 Lock,J.J. [P.J. [J.J.?]] Loomis, M. D. W. Correspondence with G. J. Stealey [G. I. Stealy] Louisiana Troops. ArtilleryBatteries: Donaldsonville (Maurin), 547* 2 McCall, George A. 2 Correspondence with 2 Scheetz [Sheets], Henry A 2 McCausland, John. 2 Report, etc., Giles Court-House, [W.] Va.. 2 McDowell Court of Inquiry. 1,3 Testimony of ~ Krebs [Krebbs], W. H. W Mclrvin [Mclrwin], Samuel 2 McKini, Randolph H Mansfield, John [Captain] 1 Margedant, William C 3 Mason, C R. [Captain] ~, Massachusetts Troops. A rtiliery, HeavvRegimen/s: I isi, 102, 4~1 2 Artillery, HeavyRegiments: 1st, 30, 706 3 2 InfantryRegiments: 3 [14th, 402, 404] 2 [14th, 30, 7o6] 3 2 Meade, R. K., [jr.] i, 2, 3 Merrimac, U. S. Fr~ga/e (C. S. S. Virginia), 2 25, J73,. Merrimac, Steamer, [25, 175] ... 3 2 Middleton, J. L [J.], jr 2 Military C~ommissions. i Porter, Fitz John, go6, 507 2 Winchester, Va., Sept. 2, 1862, 766805 2 Monteiro [Montero], Walter Monteith [Montieth], George 2 I Morley, B. F. [Mr.] 3 3 Morris, William W. (Brig. Gen. ) 3 Morris, William W. (12d Va.) 3 Munitions of War. Supplies of, etc. Communications from Stealey, G.J. [Stealy, G. I.] Myers, Frederick. 3 Correspondence with 3 Lacey[Lacy],H.A 3 Niles, Albert H. [I,ieutenantJ . Page A005 ADDITIONS AND CORRECTIONS. Part. Northeastern Virginia. Operations in. Communications from Sc! ~etz [Sheets], Henry A Northcrn Virginia. Campaign in, August *6September 2. Reports of Walton, James [John] B Sketches, 1052 (Sup.) Opie. Thomas [Surgeon] Oremieuix [Orimienix], T. d Patrick, John H. Mentioned, 252* Patton, Wailer [William] T Penn, Davidson [David] B Pickett, James [John] B Pithin, Edgar [Petkin, E.] Porter Court-Martial. Testimony of Duryee [Doryea], W. B. C (Sup.) Port Republic, Va. Engagements at, June 89. Reports of Clark, Joseph C., Jr Powell, William H. H., 197; Powell, W. H., [~] Read, Louis [I,ewis] W Robinson, George T. [L.] Roebling, Washington A Rogers, Asa [General] Sackett, William [Delos B.] naunders, John S., 546* Schaeftr [Schaffer], Charles Scheetz [Sheets], Henry A Schiandecker [Schlandecker], M Sebleich, Newton [W.] Sharpe, Robert [Private] Sheen [Skeer], W Sketches. Northern Virginia Campaign, soss.. (Sup.) Slayton, John [Scout] Smith, Or/and [Orlando] Sommers [Somers], S. M Spriggs,John S. [Sprigg, Captain] Spriggs, John S. [Captain] Springsteed [Springstead], J Stealey, G.J. [Stealy, G. I.] Stone, Daniel [Mr.] Straton, William [Stratton, Dick] ~mmetS~ George W. ~judge~ Swan, Joseph R Sweet, John F. [J~ieutenant] Tannatt [Tennatt], George F Templeman, M. M. [Courier] Terrell, Lewis F. [Terrill, I~ouis F.] Thoburn [Thorburn], Joseph Thorburn [Thorbtin], C. E Part. Transportation. Communications from 3 Sheen [Skeer],W 3 Virginia, C. S. S. (Merrimac, U. S. Frigate), 25,175 3 Virginia, Army of (U.). 2 Sigel, F., assigned to command First Corps, 2 444 3 * Virginia Troops. * ArtilleryBatteries: Fauquier (Stribling), 547 * 2 2 Hugers, 546 * 2 2 I,oudoun (Rogers), 547* 2 Moormans, 546* 2 2 Portsmouth (Grimes), 546* 2 * Rockbridge, 750 [450] Turner (T~eake), 546* 2 Wise (Brown), 546* 2 2 NoTESee Additions and Correc- tions, pp. 546548, Part 2. CavalryBattalions: 3~,th ( WitcherStraton), s66, 563, 939 3 [Stratons, *661 . 3 2 [Witchers, 563, 939] 3 2 CavalryRegiments: 3 1st, 119, 734, 735 2 1,3 Sth,734 2 3 6th,722 2 3 InfantryRegiments: 2 6th, [722] 2 2 i3th, 799* 3 [*5th, 799] * 2 37th,713* I 2 [57th, 713] * I 2 58th, 8s~ I 3 Walker, Thomas [W.] M 2 Walton, James [John] B 2 2 Walton, Simeon [Simon] T 2 3 War I)epartment, C. S. * Correspondence with Sheen [Skeer], W 3 * War Department, U. S. 3 Correspondence with * Duryee [Duryea], Abram 3 * Warner, AdoniramJ. [James M.] 3 3 Watts, James W., 453 [Watts, Captain, 453] .. 3 Weer [Weir], William ~ Weik [Weih], John * Wbeaton, Charles, Jr. [F.] 2 2 Wigfall, L. T 3 2 Wilcox, Cadmus M. [A.] 3 2 Willhelm [Wilhelm], J. R. S 2 Wintzer, Gustav A. [G.] 2 2 Wittich, W. J., 481 [Wittich, Frederick C., 3 481] 2 Page A006 Page 1 CHAPTER XXIV. OPERATIONS IN NORTHERN VIRGINIA, WEST VIR GINIA, AND MARYLAND. March 17September 2, 1862. PART 1. REPORTSMardI 17-June 2~, SUM1VfAiR~Y OF TNLLIE PRINCIiPAiU~ E~VIENTS.* March 18, 1862.Skirmish at Middletown, Va. 19, 1862.Skirmish at Elk Mountain, W. Va. Skirmish at Strasbnrg, Va. 20, 1862.Maj. Gen. Nathaniel P. Banks, U. S. Army, assumes command of the Fifth Army Corps. Skirmish at Philippi, XV. Va. Reconnaissance to Gainesville, Va. 2021, 1862.Reconnaissance to Dnmfries, Va. 22, 1862.Skirmish at Kernstown, Va. Middle Military Department constituted, under command of Maj. Gen. John A. Dix, U. S. Army. 23, 1862.Battle of Kernstown, Va. 25, 1862.Skirmish at Mount Jackson, Va. 2731, 1862.Operations in the vicinity of Middlebiirg and White Plaics, Va. 2831, 1862.Operations on the Orange and AleNandria Railroad, Va., inehid- ing affairs at Bealeton and Rappahaiinock Stations. 29, 1862.Maj. Gen. John C. Frdmont supersedes Brig. Gen. William 8. Rosecrans in command of the Mountain Department. April 1,1862.Skirmish at Salem, Va. 1 2,1862.Advance of Union forces from Strasburg to Woedstock and Eden- bnrg, Va. 2, 1862.Skirmish at Stony Creek, near Edenburg, Va. Reconnaissance to the Rappahannock River, Va. 3, 1862.Skirmish at Moorefield, W. Va. 4, 1862.Departments of the Rappahannock (under Maj. Gen. Irvin Mc- Dowell) and of the Shenandoah (under Maj. Gen. N. P. Banks) constituted. 1 11 RVOL XLI * Of some of the minor conflicts noted in this Summary rio circumstantial reports are on file. Page 2 2 OPERATIONS IN N. VA., W. VA, AND MD. ICHAP. XXIV. April 7, 1862. Reconnaissance to the Rappahannock River, Va. Skirmish at Columbia Furnace, Va. 12, 1862.Major-General Banks, U. S. Army, assumes command of the Do- partnient of the Shenandoah. / Raid from Fairmont to Valley River and Bootlisyille, Marion County, W. Va. Skirmish at Monterey, Va. 15, 1862. Reconnaissance to the Rappahannock, Va. 16, 1862.Reconnaissance to the Rappahannock, Va. Reconnaissance to Liberty Church, Va. Skirmish at Columbia Furnace, Va. 17, 1862.Occupation of Mount Jackson, skirmish at Rudes Hill, and occu- pation of New Market, Va. Skirmish at Piedmont, Va. 1719, 1862.Skirmishes near Falmouth and occupation (18th) of Fredericks- burg, Va., by the Union forces. 1721, 1862.Expedition from Summerville (Nicholas Court-house) to Addi- son W V~ 18, 1862.Reconnaissance to the Rappahannock, Va. Skirmish at Chapmanville, XV. Va. 19, 1862.Skirmish on South Fork of Shenandoah, near Luray, Va. Occupation of Sparta, Va. 21, 1862.Skirmish at Monterey, Va. 22, 1862. Harrisonburg, Va., occupied by Union forces. Occupation of and skirmish near Luray, Va. 23, 1862.Skim oish at Grass Lick, W. Va. 24, 1862.Skirmish nine miles from Ilarrisonburg, Va. 26, 1862.Skirmish at the Gordonsyille and Keezletown Cross-Roads, Va. 27, 1862.Skirmish at MeGaheysvillc, Va. May 1, 1862.Skirmish at Clarks Hollow, XV. Va. Skirmish on Camp Cteek, in the Stone River Valley, W. Va. Skirmish at Rapidan Station, Va. 2, 1862. Skirmishes at Trevilians Depot an(i Louisa Court-I-Louse, Va. 4 5, 18(i2.Reconnaissancc to Culpeper Court-Ilonse, Va. 5, 1862.Skirmish at Princeton, XV. Va. Skirmish at Columbia Bridge, Va. Skirmish at Franklin, XV. Va. 6, 186~2.Skirmish at Camp McDonald and Arnoldsburg, W. Va. Skirm*sh near Ilarrisonburg, Va. 7, 1862.~LSkirmnish at and near XVardensville, W. Va. Aetion at Somerville H& ghts, Va. 8, 1862.Engagement near McDowell (Bull Pasture Mountain), Va. 9, 1862. Skirmish near McDowell, Va. 10, 1862.Action at Giles Court-House, W. Va. 1012, 1862.Skirmishes near Franklin, W. Va. 11, 1862.Skirmish at Princeton, XV. Va. Skirmish on the Bowling Green Road, near Fredericksburg, Va. 12, 1862.Skirmish at Lewisburg, XV. Va. Skirmish at Monterey, Va. 13, 1862.Affair on Rappahannock River, Va. 14, 1862.Skirmish at Gaines Cross~Roads, Va. 15, 1862.Skirmish at Linden, Va. Skirmish at Ravenswood, W. Va. Skirmish at Gaines Cross-Roa4s, Rappahainiock County, Va, Action at Wolf Creek, W. Va Page 3 CHAP. X1[V.J GENERAL REPORTS. 3 May 1517, 1862.Actions at and in the vicinity of Princeton, W. Va. 15Juno 17, 1862.Operations in the Shenandoah Valley. 17, 1862.McDowell ordered to form junction with Army of the Potomac. 20, 1862 Raid on Virginia Central Railroad at Jacksons River Depot, Va. 23, 1862 Action at Lewisburg, W. Va. 25, 1862.Call made for all Vohiuteers and Militia in Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Maine, Massachusetts, Michigan, New Hampshire, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, and Wisconsin.* 26, 1862.Skirmish near Franklin, W. Va. 29, 1862.Skirmish near Wardensville, W. Va. 30, 1862.Skirmish at Lewishurg, XV. Va. Raid to Shavers River, W. Va. June 4, 186~2.Skirmish at Big Bend, W. Va. 7, 1862.Skirmish at Big Bend, W. Va. 8, 1862.Skirmish at Mnddy Creek, W. Va. 9, 1862.Maj. Gen. John E. Wool, U. S. Army, assumes command of the Middle Military Department. 10, 1862.Skirmish at mouth of West Fork, W. Va. 17, 1862.Jacksons forces move from Weyers Cave for the Peimiusula. 18, 1862.Reserve Army Corps constituted, under command of Brig. Gen. Samuel D. Sturgis, U. S. Army. 1819, 1862.Skirmishes near Winchester, Va. 2230, 1862.Scout from Strasburg to Moorefield and Now Creek, W. Va., and Winchester, Va. 24, 1862.Skirmish at Milford, Va. 25, 1862.Skirmish at Mungo Flats, W. Va. 26, 1862.The Mountain Department and the Departments of the Rappa- hannock and of the Shenandoah merged into the Army of Vir- ginia, under Maj. Gen. John Pope, U. S. Army. First, Second, and Third Army Corps, Army of Virginia, constituted. G-ENERA~L REPOI~TS. No. l.Maj. Gen. John C. Fr6mont, U. S. Army, of operations March 29June 27. No. 2.Record of the McDowell Court of Inquiry. No. 1. Report of lllaj. Gen. John 0. Er6mont, U. S. Army, of operations March 29June 27, 1862. NEW YORK, December 30, 1865. SIR: I have had the honor to receive your communication of the 4tL~ ultimo requesting a report of operations in the Mountain Department during the period of my command in 1862. Unavoidable engagements hav-e iuterfered to prevent an earlier compliance with your request, and having been specialJy ordered shortly after I was relieved to turn over to my successor all books, records, and documents pertaining to the department, I am also without the data necessary to complete and full statements. Under the order of the President, bearing date March 114 I pro- ceeded to the designated headquarters of my department, Wheeling, * This requisition and resulting correspondence to appear in Series III, Vol. IL Creating the ~1ount4in Department. See Series I, Vol. V, p. 54 Page 4 4 OPERATIONS IN N. VA., W. VA., AND MD. [CHAP. XX1Y. Va., relieving Brigadier-General Rosecrans, and assuming command March 29, 1862. The disposition and numbers of troops upon my ar- rival within the department were ~eported to me as Ibilows: Within the District of the Cumberland, comprising all east of the Alleghanies an(i west of the Department of the Potomac, three regi- ments of infantry and one company of cavalry; the district commanded by l3rig. Gel). IL C. Schenek. Within the Cheat Mountain District, comprisin~ all ~x ~t o~ the Alle- ghanies, south of the railroad lines, ~iorth ot the vall% of the Gauley, and east of the Weston and Summerville v lii six reuments anti five coml)anies of infantry, four colul)anies of eavilr~, and two batteries of artillery; district under comniand of l3ri 6-en II II Miho~ Within the Railroad District, comprising all north and west of the railroad lines, thirty-four companies of intanti~ of dificrc~it iegiments, eight companies of cavalry, and three batteues of aitillei~ , Brig. Gen. B. F. Kelley commanding. Within the District of Kaimawlia, coin prising all the valleys of the Kanawha and Gnyandotte Rivers and mouth of the Big Sandy, twelve regiments and three companies of infantry, fifteen companies of cav- alry, and two batteries of artillery; district commanded by Brig. Gen. J. 1). Cox. Within the Districts of Big Sandy Valley and the Gap, commanded respectively by Colonels Garfield and Carter, were troops estimated in the total at a fraction over 9,000 men. rfhe total of trool)s within the department, as ascertained or esti- matedthat is to say, of infantry thirty-five and two-tenths regiments; of cavalry thirty-six companies, and of artillery nine batteriesstood in figures at 34,271 men. Shortly after assuming command I was informed by the Secretary of War that the troops in Eastern Kentucky and Southwestern Vir- giriia, although included within the limits of my department, would not be subject to my command or control. This deducted, agreeably to the estimates turned over to me ,9, 195 men. Adding to these the percentage allowed in estimates as sick, & c., and not available for duty, a further decrease took place of 6,269 men; leaving balance of 18,807 effective forcesay, in round numbers, 19,000 men. With these troops it was necessary to guard a frontier of ~350 miles, ap. proached by roads more or less at rectangles with lines in occupation, and having few interior cross-communications. They were also employed to guard the depots, bridges, and tunnels on 300 miles of railroad and over 2Q~) miles of water communication. Several partially formed regiments aid companies were found waiting at different localities on my arrival at Wheeling, and asked only to be mustered in and furnished with arms to (10 good and loyal service. Recent orders, however, of the War De- partment concerning enlistments and the increase of regiments forbade my accel)tance of more than a limitC(l proportion of these troops, and this proportion only as a remainder upon previous quotas of the State. By special permission two howitzer batteries were afterward organized, but at a date so late as to compel a detail from troops already in service to make up the rank and file, thus failing to increase the total of enlisted men within the department. The enemy, beginning already to gain strength by re-enforcements opposite the whole extent of my lines, was not liesitative in his demon- strations. Early in April General Milroy, within the Cheat Mountain District, was attacked near Monterey by a force of over 19000 rebels with cavalry and artillery. After a short engagement the enemy were pu Page 5 ChAP. XXIV.] GENERAL REPORTS. 5 to rout, and driven with heavy loss beyond the Shenandoah Mount- ains. At this point pursuit was restrained, partly owing to absence of supports, but mainly because of the waut of horses to get forward artillery. Guerrillas also began to be active, and later in the month a small body of infantry sent out by General Schenek from iRomney was attacked on Grass Lick near Lost River. The skirmish was severe, our men losing several killed and wounded. A re-enforcement of cav- airy coming up, however, under Lieutenant-Colonel Downey, of the Potomac Home Brigade, the rebels were driven and pursued, with the loss of their leader and others killed, besides a number wounded and 20 captured. Still later in April an expedition of infantry and cavalry was sent out from Weston l)y Colonel Harris, of the Tenth Virginia, against guerrillas infesting Webster County. The cavalry, nnder Lieu- tenant Lawson, being attacked near Addison, after l(illin~ 5 of the enemy fell back unon the infantry under Captain T)arnall. A running fight then ensued, in which the guerrilb s were assailed in their own style. The skirmish continued for several hours, at the end of which time the bushwhackers were routed, with a further loss of 12 killed, several wounded, and 4 or 5 captured. The village of Addison being deserted by its original inhabitants, an(l found to be a rendezvous for the enemy, was burned. Some cattle amid horses were also cal)tured. The loss of Captaimi Darnalis command was but 3 wounded in all. The lesson inflicted upon the guerrillas in this instance was severe, and induced their leader to send in a letter oflering terms of comnl)roinise. Other affairs and skirmishes took place between detached parties of our troops and the guerrillas up to and within the month of June. it was ascertained that, under expectation of entire immunity by virtue of commissions issned at this time broadcast by Govermior Letcher, these irregular bands were drawing together in considerable strength, and waited only for the coming of the leaves to harass with robbery and mur(ler our lines from right to left. As a I)reventlve measure certain of their class were, after full and fair trial by military commission, ])rolnptly executed by hano-ino The effect was to~ correct a mistaken ~ beht f in immunity for their crimes, and to ren(ler more secure interior points and oads, as well as loyal inhabitants of the military districts. In (onnectiomi with the irregular but often prolonged and severe con- tests w ith guerrillas, it is just to name Colonels Harris and liathbone, of V iroinma iroops; Lieutenant-Colonel Downey, of the Potomac Home Bri (IC - Captain Latham, of Ohio Infantry, and Captain Fish of Con- flCctieUt Ca~ ihy, as specially active and successful. The troops of my command, however, though equal to the mainte- iinance, for the time being, of lines established, were, owing to their necessarily scattered condition, unavailable in any large proportion to form active or movable columns or for ol)erations of a general character against the enemy. In view of this fact, as also of a plan submitted for movements in the direction of Knoxville and the Virginia and Tennessee Railroad, the President had, prior to my leaving Washington in March, l)romised me ample re-enfomeements. The number of these re-enforcemnents, as determined and urged by the Secretary of War, was I7~Ot0. They were to consist of infantry, cavalry, and artillery, and to have attached a pontoon train complete. On time 1st of April a dispatch front the Secretary of War informed me that the division of Brigadier-General Blenker had been detached from the Army of the Potomac and l)ut en route for my department. The order as origi- nally issued to this division directed it to proceed by way of Harper Page 6 6 OPERATIONS IN N. VA., W. VA., AND MD. [CffAP. XXJV. Ferry, and from that point report. As, however, up to the 12th of April it had failed to reach Harpers Ferry, I telegraphed a request that it be ordered to move by the most direct and shortest road to Moorefleld, this arrangement suiting best my plans as up to the time developed. Brigadier-General Rosecrans, who in the meaii time had been placed in tern porai~ command to conduct tho division, was accord- ingly instructed to the above effect. Next to the want of troops within my department in numbers suffi- cient or available for extended operations had been, as it continued to be, the absolute and pressing need of transportation. As early as the beginning of April no less than five batteries in the field were found to be without horses, and the case represented to the War Department. From lack of horses also to get forward guns at least one opportunity had beeu lost in the Cheat Mountain District to pursue and capture a retreating rebel force. The Sixth Ohio Cavalry, an excellent regiment, eager for service, was kept unmounted, and b.y consequence inactive, for tile sole reason that animals could not be obtained to supply it. Requisitions reported made by my predecessor in command as early as February for cavalry and artillery horses, mules, wagons, & c., had not been met. Requisitions made direct by myself, under special pci- mission, lingere(l in unknown channels, and that which was asked for was but partially obtained. My earmiest and repeated requests for authority to order the purchase of animals needed without delay awl in the Ol)CU market were not acceded to. It was replied that the mode of supply, through requisitions in the ordinary form, was sufficient for all purposes, and the only mode consistent with a proper regar(l for public expenditure.~~ Delays suffered were certainly remarkable, inas- much as the Secretary of War constantly and kindly assured me that transportation had been or would be speedily ordered through the proper department. The frequent and earnest dispatches of General Rosecrans also showed that the troops ordered to re enforce my (lepart- ment were even worse off than my own, and difficulties iii the way of rapid and efficient operations, at a distance from main points of supply, were increased imlstea(l of being diminished. Over forty horses were demanded by General Rosecrans to get the batteries of the Blenker division out of Martinsbnrg. Thirty-six ambulances and teams were also called for. Forage was scarce and animals already on hand were reported starving. In addition, it appeared, as late as April 19, that so illy provided in other respects were the coming re-enforcements that thirty-eight days had been passed by them without tents or other shel- ter, and this during the inclemencies of a spring seldom paralleled for severity in the history of the Virginia Valley. To obviate a delay in payments and an issue of clothing expected to be made I directed the troops as fast as cared for to be sent forward by reginments or other sufficient bodies to Moorefleld. After much correspondence I had begun to think the difficulties of the Blenker division at length removed, and was looking for their immediate appearance in the departmemmt, when finally I was informed that the men were too badly in want of shoes to march. With things at this ebb, a dispatch from the Secretary of War, bearing date of April 21, stated the desire of the President to know at what time I purposed moving against Knoxville and by what route.* In reply I had the honor to submit for consideration, through my chief of staff, dispatched to Washington for the purpose, the two separate l)lans which are set out in the following letter: See Correspondence, etc, Part III, p. 9(1 Page 7 CEAP. XXIV.] GENERAL REPORTS. 7 HEADQUARTERS MOUNTAIN DEPARTMENT, Wheeling, Va., April 21, 11362. To His Excellency ABRAHAM LINCOLN, President of the United States: SIR: In answer to a telegram from the Secretary of War, desiring me to submit to the President my proposed plan of operations for the occupation of Knoxville, I beg leave to state that my first intention was, after guarding the Baltimore and Ohio Rail- road and the loyal inhabitants of the department with a force of about 10,000, to trans- port 25,000 men by railroad and the Ohioto Maysville, Covington, and Louisville, Ky.; thence, partly by rail and partly by turnpike, to Nicholasville, and from that poiut march directly upon Knoxville, turning the enemys position at Cumberland Gap. The difficulties, however, in the way of obtaining the requisite number of troops have led to a change of my plan, which is as follows: The first base of operations being the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad, the division of General Blenker, which, from the best information I can obtain, numbers about 9,000 men, will take position at Moorefield. At this point or at Franklin it w~il nuijip with the troops now under command of General Scheuck, numbering about 3,000. With these, acting in conjunction with General Banks, I propose to move up the valley of Virginia by a course which you will see on the accompanying map, over roads which are as dry and as good at all seasons of the year as any in Virginia, and through a country where forage is easily obtained. At Monterey I shall be joiued by t~e troops under General Milroy, numbering 3,500 effective men, and can then strike the railroad at or near Salem, while General Cox with his 7,000 men takes possession of Newbern, or can first effect a junction with General Cox, and seize the railroad with a force thus increased to about 22,000. The l)ase of operations will then be changed to Gauley. To thisplace, by the Ohio and Kanawha Rivers, abundant supl)lies or he army can be transported with the means now on hand and being prepared. having thus destroyed the connection be- tween Knoxville and the army in Eastern Virginia, and perhaps seized some rolling stock, we can advance rapidly along the railroad toward Knoxville, turning the posi- tion at Cumberland Gap. The forces now under General Kelley and the Virginia troops will be left as we proceed to guard the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad and to protect the loyal inhabitants of the State from guerrillas. The latter is to be effected by the establishment of a few posts strongly held, from which sudden and frequent attacks can be made upon any organizations existing or forming in the department. Knoxville taken, a third base of operations can be made upon Nicholasville, from which place supplies can be easily obtained and transported over level and good roads. The army will thus be in a position to co-operate in any way in the general plan of opera- tions for the prosecution of the war. The original plan above mentioned possesses the advantages of rapidity in execu- tion, the throwing us forward immediately into the heart of the enemy s country, the striking of the enemys railroad in the first instance at the most important point, and a base of operations in a friendly country, through which provisions can be drawn with comparative safety. The second has been suggested only because it enables us to collect the troops now scattered throughout the department, and thus increase the small force sent. Respectfully, J. C. FR1~MONT, Major- General, Commanding. The proposed plan of operations up the valley of Virginia was ap- proved by the President and Secretary of War, but, as subsequ~ftly indicated in telegrams from the War Department, it was adopted in view of the ultimate closing in of my columns toward Richmond, rather than Knoxville.* On the 3d of May I moved with my staff to New Creek, oii the Bal- timore and Ohio Railroad, my proposed depot of main supply for operations in the field. On the 4th of May I was apprised by the Secretary of War of the evacuation of Yorktown by the rebel forces. Foreseeing by this event and the release of so large a body in the east that the enemy would be enabled to augment westwardly his force along my front, I judged it desirable to get forward and concentrate at an early moment my strongest available snpI)Orts. Leaving New * Copy of Fr6monts letter and of the instructions given him were furnished to McDowell by the Secretary of War, under date of April 25, 1862 Page 8 8 OPERATIONS IN N. VA., W. VA., AND MD. [Gun. LU! Creek on the 5th, and taking with me upon the route the Sixtieth Ohio a portion of th. Eighth Virginia, a company of indiana cavalry, and a body of ma mt forward with baggage from Blankers division, I proceeded toward Petersburg, arriving on the evening of the 7th. General Schenok, who had been ordered early in April to advance from Bomney and Moorefleld, to operate on the road leading by Elk- horn to Franklin, in connection with movements with Gen& ral Banks up the Shenandoah Valley, was already well in advance. Overcoming many obstacles in the form of swollen streams and difficult roads, he had by the 6th of May reached Franklin. Farther to the front, and occupying McDowell, a mail village about 12 miles east from Monterey, was General Milroy. General Cox, in the district of the Kanawha also under orders previously given, we moving in force in the direction ok Lewisburg and Peterstown. The command of General Kelley, pasted to guard th. Baltimore and Ohio Railroad, as well asto watch and punish guerrillas, we necessarily left in rear. A small portion of his force, however, from the Potomac Home Brigade subsequently reported to me at Petersburg, under Lieutenant-Colonel Downey. The Blenker division, though ordered on the 1st of April hat not so much as entered within the limits of my department ntil the 4th or 5th of May. Taking into view their ill-provided condition, as reported and set forth in the foregoing, their delay upon the route was less a matter of surprise with myself thau had been expressed to me. in dispatches from the War Department Upon the 7th the brigade of General Stahel being reported at Bom- ney and still in need of shoes, a supply was ordered from New Creek. The issue was made while the men were upon the road, companies halt- ing for the moment to receive what could be spared them. On the 9th of May the advance of General Blankers division joined me at my camp near Petersburg, and by the flth his whole command had arrived. The division was composed of three brigades, commanded respectively by Generals Stahel and Bohlen and Colbnel Steinwehr.. Assuming the data as then sent in, General Blanker stated his effective force at over 8,0W. Subsequent investigation placed the number of men and officers actually present and lit for duty at considerably below 7,0W. The condition of the men as exhibited upon review, was not such as could have been desired. ~hey were worn and exhausted by hardships scarcely credible, and in spite of efforts by myself and others to supply their wants a large proportion were without articles of first necessity. for service mthe fleld. Of shoes, blankets, and overcoats there was especially great need. Wagon and artillery teams, brought forwar4 by the several batteries and regiments, were found on inspection to be very much jaded and weak from the long march and want of forage. The horses of a portion of the cavalry were so nearly starved and broken down as to be well-nigh useless. The number of wagons was muck be low the standard for supply on any lengthened route. By report of my medical director, afterward sent in, but about one-fifth of the necessary ambulances had been brought along. One regiment had none. In the important matter of arms there was great deilciency, Belgian or Austrian muskets of old and indifferent patterns being carried by many of the regiments. Having fortunately at hand a superior lot of Enfleld rifles, I was enabled to rearm the corp ihost needing them. Ammunition was also supplied as far as resources would then permit Apontodn train having been previousJy ordered from Pittsburgh upo Page 9 ORAL ZflYJ GENERAL REPORTS. 9 my personal responsibility, though the Government afterward awe- tioned the contract, and being already well upon its way to Petersburg, it was of less moment that none was found attached to my re-enforcing column. Restrictions upon my chief quartermaster at Wheeling having been at this time in a technical form removed, it was reported in encour- agement that team and cavalry horses were coming freely in. These, together with wagons, harness, and other equipage, would be promptly forwarded. The Sixth Ohio Oavalry, having now the opportunity, pro- cured their mont, joining by com~es according as they were hzr- nished and equipped. A battery of mountain howitzers for one of the companies heretofore alluded to as specially authorized had also arrived at New Creek. Being brought forward as packed, with carriages, mi- plements, harness, & c., they were, on the last night of my stay at Peters- burg7 mounted and made ready or the field. With a view to future service a brigade of light troops was made up at Petersburg, consisting of the SixtiethOhio Colonel Trimble, and the Eighth Virginia, under Mtjor (Hey. Colonel Cluseret, of my stail, a French officer of experience, and especially so in the tactics oI~ skir- mishers, was assigned to the command. In the mean time General Banks had been withdrawn from his ad- vanced position near Staunton, and my left became dangerously ex- posed. Seeing his advantage, the enemy was not. slow to profit by it. Turning promptly to the west, and uniting with his own the, forces of Johnson and Swell, the rebel leader Jackson, upon the 7th of May, attacked the outposts of General Milroy. The simultaneousness of his onset indeed, with the retirement of Banks argues strongly that, by whatever means obtained, the rebel general had early information of the projected movement On the 8th of May, with an aggregate of up- ward of 14,000 men and thirty piecQs of artillery, Jackson advanced upon the main body of General Milroys force at McDowell. Pushing forward in a march of 34 miles in t*enty-four hours General Scheuck arrived from Prtnklln in time to unite with and support General Nil- roy. An obstinate engagement took plac& Official reports of the action were at the time sent in by me to the War Deparcment. Under the leadership of their gallant commander the men of Milroys brigade repeatedly attacked and charged a greatly superior force, exhibiting a courage and tenacity worthy the highest praise. The Ohio troops be- haved with equal gallantry and suffered severely. After several hours of fighting, however, our troops, outnumbered at every point, reluct- antly yielded portions of the field to the odds lowing in against them. The enemys lose was over 40 killed and between 200 and 300 wounded. Our loss was 31 killed and missing and 217 wounded. Finding his position at McDowell untenable, and looking to the chances of a night attack, General Schenok, now in command, decided to withdraw toward Franklin. The retrograde was executed with skill and address, and bringing safely off his train, artillery and wounded, General Schenok re-entered the above-named town on tue 10th of May. Here, uisposlng his troops to guard against farther advance of the enemy, he awaited the approach of re-enforcemente from Petersburg. Less than twenty-four hourt rest had been given to portions of the command arriving with General Blenker, but deeming the situation of increased importance I determined to move at once to the relief of General Schenok. I was unable to carry forward with me necessary supplies, owing to the still entirely inadequate transportation, but was obliged to rely upon renewed efforts at the rear to get forward in time whatever should be most needed .to sunain my troops Page 10 10 OPERATIONS IN N. VA., W. VA., AND MD. [CHAP. XXIV. At 4 oclock on the morning of the 12th my advance had forded the Shenandoah at Petersburg, and on the forenoon of the 14th, after a camp of one night upon the route, I reached Franklin. Preferring to avoid any immediate encounter with my force as concentrated, Jack- son, leaving temporarily ~i thin curtain of his people to disguise the movement, began an early retreat. By sundown of the 15th he had dis- appeared in a southeasterly direction from my front, taking the road towar(l the Shenandoah Mountain. Aithonot hitherto for crippled want of transportation, and needing more than ever supplies of every description, I had reason to expect that with economy in the camp as well as just effort on the part of agencies elsewhere deficiencies would yet be made good. Accordiugly for the ten days next following upon my arrival at Frankliu I addressed myself to the task of getting into order and condition my troops, as well as to details of the movements projected against Knoxville an(l the Virginia and Tennessee ltailroad. While thus occui)ied I receiv~d from the Secretary of War the follow- ing urgent dispatch, which made me still more deeply regret the em- barrassments of my situation: WASHINGTON, May 16 1860 Major-General FR~MONT, Franklin: The President desires to know whether you design to move on to the Virginia and Tennessee Railroad, and l)reak it between Newbern and Salem, according to the pmn you ~~O~iOS(~d and he approved; and also whether havin~ reached and broken that road, you cannot move forward rapidly upon Richmond l)y that route, and by what time you can reach the railroad, and how long it ~viI1 take you from there to reach Richmond. Please answer immediately. * EDWIN M. STANTON, Secretary of War. In the mean time the campaign was being well carried forward. In execution of the plan 111)011 my right the ol)erations of General Cox were resulting in brilliant success. Moving forward as directed, with a view to reach aiid sever the railroad, his forces were attacked at Lewis burg, May 23, by a body of the enemy over 3,000 strong, under the rebel leader ileth. After an engagement of several hours the enemy were routed and fled in disorder from the field. Four pieces of artillery were captured by General Coxs troops, 200 stand of small-arms, and over 100 prisoners. Our loss was 10 killed and about 40 wounded. In this brilliant affair the conduct of Colonel Crooks brigade, bearing the brunt of the attack, cannot be too highly praised. The rebel loss in killed and wounded in the action was also severe. But events were now taking place in another direction which had ( the effect to terminate suddenly my proposed campaign and divert my column intended for Knoxville upon a line of march entirely new. The rebel General Jackson, quitting my front aII(l turning abruptly to the north into the Shenandoah Valley, had, with his customary iinpetu- osity, attacke(i General Banks at Front Itoyal, pressing him backward toward Strasburg and Winchester, and threatening the whole valley of the Potomac. With the intelligence of these events dispatche(1 to me tinder date of May 24 came also an order from the I~resideut (lirecting me to break camp and march against ,Jackson at Harrisouburg. As stated in the order, the objects of the movements were, first to relieve General Banks, secondly to cut off arid capture Jackson and his force in the valley of the Shenandoah. lt was the seventh or eighth day of a See Fr6mont to Stanton, same date, in Correspondence, etc., Part III, p. 197 Page 11 CnAP. XXIV.] GENERAL REPORTS. 11 storm. Urging lc:war(l by forced marches troops already worn with flitigue, I had reached Franklin in advance of supplies to relieve Scheuck and Milroy. The streams at my rear were swollen by the incessant rains and the roads had become almost impassable. With a complement of wagons much exceeding that upon the route the sup- ply would have been but meager even in fair weather. With the limited number available, togetber with the hinderances encountered, the sup- ply was far below the need. Not so much as one-quarter forage was got forward, and except an incomplete ration of bread no rations had been got up for the men. For days tbgether fresh beef, with a little salt, was the only provision on hand for issue. Coffee, so essential and desirable in the field, was becoming a luxury almost unknown. Sub- sistence arriving nuder invoice to a particular brigade was taken by or(ler and so far as it would go distributed among all. Sick lists were lar~ely on the increase, and such was the demoralization induced by l)riva.tions endured that demonstrations among the men, amounting almost to open mutiny, had in instances to be put down with the strong hand. Of forage in the country about scarcely a single pound could be gleaned. It had already been too well stripped by rebels. Oar animals, then, were starving, dying in fact, and by scores, as even prior to my reaching Franklin they had froui the same causes begun to do out of the command of General Scheuck. With the order directing my march authority was now given me to order the purchas.e of horses, or otherwise, in the language of the dis- l)atch, to take them wherever or however I could get them. Rut it came too late to aid me. Naturally li])Oli the absence of forage an(l the causes which led to it animals also had (lisal)peare(l. As to wait- ing for the arrival of horses or mules from Wheeling, that was ilupossi ble under the terms of the or(ier. I was to move a.t 011CC. Of the difkrent roads leading from Franklin to liari-isonburg all but one had been obstructed by Jackson in his reti-eat. Rri(lges and cul- verts had becit destroyed, i-ocks rolled down, and in one instance trees felled across the way for the distance of nearly a mile. The road still left open ran southwardly. reaching llarrisonburg by a long (letour. Grant- lug, however, that loss of time by removal of obstacles, or by taking the longer route, were no consideration, tending to lengthen my line of supplies, was a little netter than a physical impossibility. The con tion of my troops forbade it. Strategically s~)eaking, also, a movement towar(l llarrisonburg would not have en(langere(l simplyit would have been fatal to my lines of supply. Jackson retreating from his raid could strike westwardly from Strasburg or Winchester by way of liomney or Moorefield, or both. ludeed, as time sequel ~vill develop, it was afterward regarded probable by higher authorities that he had taken these very (lirections. i~eaehiug New Creek, then, and Petersburg, the rebel leader would have destroyed my (lepots at these points and captured every train upon the route. Again, while as a practical relief to General Banks the movement by way of Ilarrisonburg would have been of no greater importance than a movement striking the valley farther north or lower down, it would at the same time have permitted the enemy to avoid all chance of collision with my force. My own and the rebel colunmns would have been constantly moving in opposite directions / upon opposih sides of a species of parallelogram, having for its four corners Franklin, llarrisonburg, Strasburg, and Petersburgor other- wise, Winchester, liomney, & c. Our relative positiona only would have been changed, with the difference that the gain would have bee Page 12 12 OPERATIONS IN N. VA., W. VA., AND MD. [CHAP.. XXIV. all upon the side of the rebels, the loss upon n)ille. Defying contact, Jackson would have escaped intact with his prisoners and plunder. This was a contingency not desired by the President nor contemplated in his dispatch. Accepting, then, the spirit rather than the letter of the order, or if the letter, the added expression to operate against the enemy in such way as to relieve Banks, I judged it within my (bscretion to select another than the route specifically set downthis even though ample means had existed with a fresh and active column to move southward upon my original destination or toward the immediate east. Instead then, of the attempts through a barren district by any of the above- named routes, I determined to move re~rward as far as Petersburg, thence striking easterly by way of Moorefield and Wardensville to Strasburg. Retracing thus for a short distance my supply line I could feed my hungry troops, gather stores, and possibly by vigorous effort reach the Shenandoah Valley in time to intercept Jackson going south. Happily, before leaving camp the next morning (May 25), a. later order ~ras received from the Secretary of War confirming previous conclu- sions, and leaving me free to choose my line of march. I was to direct my attention to falling upon the enemy wherever I could find him with all speed. With the Secretarys dispatch came also the information that General Banks had abandoned Strasburg, been driven from Winchester, and was in full retreat upon Harpers Ferry. That the enemy would of his own will relinquish pursuit was not consistent with his manifest objects in entering the valley. I was therefore fully apprised of the situation. General McDowell, it was further stated to me in reference to the movement about to be made, won 1(1 operate toward the same object as myself with his troops. Looking to the chances of a possession of the telegraph wires at any moment by the rebels I did not at this time communicate my plan of march to the President. It was not desirable that the enemy should by any process be informed. Upou the road out from Franklin were met at various points my stalled and scattered trains, laden with pro. visions and forage for the command. From the stores contained I was enabled to supply present necessities, and by liberal issues to mcii and animals afford the necessary strength for coming fatigue and travel. At Petersburg was found an accumul~tion of imperfect rations for live days. Causing three days rations to be cooked and placed in haversacks, I ordered trains made up to carry forward the remainder, together with supplies of ammunition and forage. Tents, with the exception of a very few for indispensable staff and hospital purposes, were at this point required to be abandoned and placed in store. In like manner all surplus personal baggage was directed to be cast off, it being my object to put the column in the lightest possible marching order. My movement northward leaving the department much exposed, and particularly to the west and south, General Cox was enjoined to double vigilance against the enemy, and ordered to do the best he was ~ible in his position. General Kelley, within the Railroad District, was directed to concentrate, as far as practicable, his force, with a view to the safety - of New Creek and other important points. My column had reached Petersburg on the afternoon of May 26. On the 27th, at daybreak, the march was resumed. The troops, ford- ing the Shefiandoah and camping at night near Moorefield, arrived 01) the 28th at Fabius, about 10 miles easterly from Moorefield, upon Branch Mountain: At this latter point, upon the written protest o Page 13 CHar. XflY.I GENERAL REPORTS. 18 niy medical director against further marching of the command without one days rest, a halt was called for the 29th. Hundreds of sing len and brokendown men from the Blenker division had been left along the road in the scent of the mountain, and it was plain their eonditlon demanded consideration. They were weak and reduced not only from recent fatigue and want of food, but from previous hardship and prim. tion on the route from the Potomac. I could not venture to proceed with them in disorder and with safety undertake the.work in prospect. During the days delay an inspection was had and roll calls ordered in presence of officers specially designated for the purpose. The result disclosed material inaccuracies in returns thus far accepted from (is- cml Blenkers command, and exhibit0d a falling off in the aggregate of effective force at this time most unwelcome. luBlenkers on the number reported present and it for duty was below 6,000. As an accession, a remaining company of the Sixth Ohio Cavalry, having just obtained hones, Joined at this camp. ~Thile halting here at Fabius a party of Maryland cavalry, touting well to the front, came upon a reconnoitering party of the enemy near %Vardensville, and attacked them briskly. The enemy were driven with a loss of 2 killed and several wounded~ Colonel Downey, in cojn mand of our force, having his horse shot unJer him. Later, upon the 29th, a dispateh sent forward from telegraph station brought an order from the President directing me, under date of the 29th, to halt my command at Mooretleld, or otherwise, if I heard of the enemy in the general direction of Bomney~ to march upon him. This order was based upon the conclusion that Jackson had by this time pressed General Banks as far backward as Wifliamsport along the northern end of the parallelogram I have indicated. It having been subsequently ascertained, however, that the nbels were still occupied with their work in the valley of Winchester and Martinsburg the order was withdrawn, and I was again directed to move upon the enemy by the best route I could? On the 30th I moved forward with my command from Fabius. A renewed storm had made the roads heavy and the march was most fatiguing.. On the 31st my column passed tkesummit of the mountain between Lost River and Cedar Greek, marching most of the night, and closingup in a drenching rain and amid intense darkness at Cedar Creek. I had now reached the point indicated in the following tele- grams: Wtsummx, Eq 90, 1869-Di a] Major-General FESMONT: General McDowells advance, if not eheeked by the enemy, should, or (and] rob- abI~wW, be at Front Royal by 12noon to-morrow. His force when up will be ibout Piece have your force at Strasburg, orj if the route you are moving on does not luadtuthatpclnt, asnear8trasbn astheenemymaybebythattlme. Your dispatch N 30 receiv& i an?satisfaotory. A. LINCOLN. WismueToN, MapS, 1834 p. a (3.30 p. a] Major-General Fakion: Yours eying you will reach Strasburg or vicinity at Up. m. Saturday lass been re- ceived and sent to General McDowell, and he directed to set In view of it. You must be up to time of your promise, if possible. ~.. LINCOLN. At Cedar Creek the road forks, one branch leading to Strasburg and the other iii a northeasterly direction to Winchester. Expecting t Page 14 14 OPERATIONS iN N. VA., XV. VA., AND MD. lCnir.X~V. learn something of General McDowells movemen~s~ early in the day I had sent forward Major ilaskell, of m~ staff, with a party of scouts. He fell in with a party of the enemys cavalry and two of my scouts were captured at Strasburg, bnt no information was obtained. With the arrival of the rear the leading corps of my command again stretched forward, taking the road to Strasbnrg. At 7 in the morning of this day, Jnne 1, my advance, nuder Lieutenant-Colonel Cluseret, first touched Jacksons main body, driving in the advanced pickets of General Ewells brigade. Pressing forward and encountering and driv- ing stronger bodies of skirmishers the column within a short distance came upon cavah~y and a battery in position, which immediately opened fire. The enemys artillery was engaged by detachments from the Eighth Virginia and Sixtieth Ohio, under Major Oley, supported after- ward by a section of artillery nnder Lieutenant-Colonel Pilsen. The fire of the enemys musketry now brought into action indicated the presence of two or three regiments. I was entirely ignorant of what had taken place in the valley beyond, and it was now evident that Jackson in superior force was at or near Strasburg. In anticipation, therefore, of possible demonstrations on his part before some needed rest could be taken, my command as they came up were ordered to position. About noon the enemys batteries ceased fire, and my troops were ordered to encamp. Our cavalry, being pushed forward, found the enemy withdrawing and a strong column of infantry just defiling past our front. A reconnaissance by Colonel Cluseret with the Eighth Vir- ginia, pushed to within ~ miles of Strasburg showed the enemy with- drawn, and at night-fall this officer, with his brigade, accompanied by a 1)attalion of cavalry and a section of artillery, was ordered to move forward upon Strasburg and determine the position of the enemy. The day closed with one of the most violent rain-storms I have ever seen, with really terrific lightning and thunder, and the night being very dark, and Colonel Cluseret being without guides or knowledge of the country, his troops passed the town of Strasbnrg, and marching to the light of the enemys fires, about 11 oclock came into contact with Ashbys cavalry, which occupied the road forming the rear of Jacksons position, about 2 miles beyond Strasbnrg, on the road to Woodstock. Disobeying the order to charge, after a scattering fire our cavalry broke in a shameful panic to the rear, passing over and carrying with them the artillery. To the honor of the Sixtieth Ohio, which at this moment formed the head of the reconnoitering column, not a man of them followed the dis- graceful example, but delivered their fire steadily, and checked any movement on the part of the enemy. The officers and men, without exception, of the Sixtieth Ohio and Eighth Virginia, which composed this brigade, deserve special mention for the steadiness and bravery which distinguished them during the affairs of this day, when both regiments were for the first time nuder fire. Having ascertained the position of the enemy, Colonel Cluseret withdrew his men and returned to camp. The reconnaissance showed the enemy in retreat. With daylight of June 2 my command moved in pursuit. Passing Strasburg I was joined by General Bayard, who had been semit forward by General McDowell with a cavalry force of about 800 men and four pieces of artillery, with a battalion of the Pennsylvania Bucktails, under Colonel Kane. Farther along the locality of Colonel Cluserets engagement of the night before was marked by one of our caissons, which had been 1i& ~bled and left for the night on the ground and b Page 15 CHAr. XXIV.J GENERAL REPORTS. 15 several of the enemys killed an(l wounded, some 10 of whom had already been cared for by Colonel Kane. The route now followed lay along the turnpike, stretching southerly from Strasburg toward Staun- ton. Its more even and compact surface was a welcome exchange for the mire and sloughs of the mountain regions passed. Closely pressed by my advance, the enemy at about 10 a. m. turned to make a stand. He was vigorously shelled by Buells and Schirmers batteries, under direction of Colonel Pilsen, aide-dc-camp and chief of artillery, supported by General Bayards command of cavalry, aug- mented by about 600 men from my own column, under Colonel Zagonyi, aide-dc-camp and chief of cavalry. After determined resistance for an honr the enemy were driven from position and again pursued. Re- peatedly during the day they faced about and were as often compelled to relinquish the fight. The pursuit was rapid, not less than 18 miles being made in the space of five hours. In one instance scarcely a hun- dred yards separated my advance from the enemy, the latter, however, gaining a small bridge and unlimbering rapidly upon a rocky rise be- yond. Colonel Pilsen lost at this time his horse, shot from under him, and was humnself slightly wounded by a volley from the rebels. But notwithstanding the excellent marching made by our infantry it was iIfll)Ossible to get forward in time for effective operations. By sunset the enemy had reached for the night the higher points be- yond Woodstock. The retreat was reckless. Over 500 prisoners fell into our hands, and a number of our own men captured from General Banks were recovered. Several hundred stand of small-arms cast away or left in stacks by the rebels were also gathered. Of gray-coated stragglers at least a thousand were in the woods along the road and country a(lj oining. Broken ambulances, clothing, blankets, and articles of equipment lined the route. Our loss was small, but one or two killed, and a proportionate number wounded. At the last stand made by the enemy he lost 7 killed, with a number of horses. His total loss (luring the day must have been considerable. At about S in the after- noon General Stahels brigade occupied Wo6dstock. Although much fatigued by the forced march of the day previous, my command at an early hour of the morning of June 3 were upon the road to resume pursuit. Again the rear guard of the enemy turned to cover his main body, or to gain time for placing obstacles, tearing up the road, or (lestroying culverts and bridges. The fire of the opposing battermes was mutually brisk, with at intervals an accompaniment of the dropping shots of small-arms. Strenuous effort was m de by the rebels to destroy the bridge over Stony Creek, at Edenburg, about 5 miles out of Wood- stock. A portion of the planks were torn up amid the timbers so far cut that the structure sank, partially broken, about midway of the cur- rent. So prompt, however, were my advance troops that the party left by the enemy was compelled to retreat in haste without further execution of its (lesign. A ford was found at a short distance up the stream, arid with some difficulty cavalry and artillery were gotten across. Ultimately my baggage and supply trains passed safely. After some hasty repairs inilmntry was enabled to cross the bridge. On ac- count of depth of water at the ford ammunition was removed from caissons and wagons and carried over by hands of men. For further and more l)ermanent repairs of the bridge Colonel Ilaynolds, of my staff, engineer, was left with a small detail. By noon my command were mainly upon the farther bank and again in rapid motion. The bridge over Cedar [Mill] Creek at Mount Jackson, was siived nearly intact by the celerity with which the enemy was over Page 16 16 OPERATIONS IN N. Vt, W. VA., AND MD. [Ow. lET. taken. The rebel General A.shby barely escaped capture at this point by Captain Congea9s company of Third Virginia Cavalry. This corn. pany, pressing forward nder their persevering leader, were in sea- son to come upon a body of the enemy about to fire the larger and more important bridge boyond Mont Jackson, crossing the North Fork of the Shenandoah. A gallant charge was made, but volleys of grape and musketry drove back the small command. General Bayard m the mean time arrived with the main body of the cavalry upon an elevation overlooking the bridge, but It is to be regretted that artil- lery could not possibly be gotten up in time to warrant his demon- stration in heavier force. The bridge was successfully fired, burning rapidly with thick volumes of flame and smoke. By the time my main co!lumn entered Mont Jackson village it had fallen to the stream below. A body of the enemy incautiously attempting to go into camp within range across the river were speedily shelled by batteries run up upon the bluffs, and after some excellent practice on the parts of our artil- lerists driven out Our total loss during the day was 1 killed and a few wounded. The pontoon procured by me at Pittsburgh, having been kept well up with the column, were now ordered to the front, andpreparations immediately made to gain passage by rebridging the Shenandoah. The stream was at this point wide and rapid, and had been swollen by recent rains. Major Haskell, of active California experience, plunged with his horse into the current, and by swimming to the opposite bank was enabled to fix fast the preparatory ropes. A corps of employ6s, acting as pontoniers, under Lieutenant Robinson, of Ohio troops, to- gether with liberal details from infantry regiments, were also put promptly at work. A heavyrain set in, but operations were continued throughout the night By 6 tuthe moining the bridge we made avail- able for crossing and aforce of infantry and cavalry gotten over. Sud- denly, however, the river began to rise to a yet greater height In the space of four hours, flooded by the storm and Its mountain tributaries, It had qained fully LB feet, with a current correspondingly turbulent and swift. The drift borne don was working great mischiei ad several of the boats were swamped. To save thebridge from utter de- struction the ropes were cut and the pontoon swung round to the northern shore. Much of the planking and timber was lost. The troops already across being well posted and amply covered by our batteries upon the bluffs, little apprehension was felt as regarded their immediate safety. Toward tght the stream, as suddenly as it had risen, began to subside, and ptrties at work renewed their efforts. Their task was arduous, and it wjs not until 10 a. m. of the next day that the bridge was again in condition for crossing It will be remembered that at the date of my march from Franklin information was conveyed to me that General McDowell would operate toward the same objects as myself; in capturing or driving out Jack- son. Very ernest assurances to this effect were subsequently given me while upon the route both by the President and Secretary of War. Whether in General McDowells case, as in my own, departmentmllines or technlcalties of previous orders weretemporarily to be lost sighto4 was not explained. Arriving, however, within the Shenandoah Valley, I deemed It not extravagant to expect of that officer that he should so far co-operate as0, if not himself in advance, to Wend me troops to secure andholdfastpnsoners,as well as tokeepintactpointsofmyllnein rear. Accordingly, during the delay at Mount Jackson, I dispatche Page 17 CETAP. XXIV.] GENERAL REPORTS. 17 to General McDowell Captain Howard, of my staff, with orders sub- stantially to the above eft~ct. A copy of his reply, declining to recog- nize authority on my part, here follows: HEADQUARTERS DEPARTMENT OF THE RAPPAHANNOCK, Front Royal, June 6, 1862. Maj. Gen. J. C. FRIlMONT, Commanding Mountain Department, Mount Jackson, Va. GENERAL: I received to-day a letter from your acting assistant adjutant-general ordering me in your name to send some of my troops to Strasburg. Before the receipt of this paper I had written to Major-General Banks, commanding Department of the Shenandoah, at Winchester, calling his attention to this point or such action in the case as he might see fit to take. I did this after failing, on account of the bridges being carried away and all communication cut off, to get the prisoners transferred to this place to send them to Wa~hin~ton I beg you to call the attention o~ your staff officer to the terms he has employed in his communication to me, making it in the natnre of a positive, peremptory order, as if to me under your command. Being like yourself the commander of a separate, inde- pendent military geographical department, with certain troops assigned to me by the Secretary of War, and being here in a neighboring department for a special temporary pnrl)ose, under the direct orders and instrnctions of the President, I cannot receive orders from ~my officer save in the accidental temporary case provided for in the Sixty- second article of wara case which arose when you came in contact with my cav- alry brigade at Strasb~nr~. In reference to this brigade I have the honor to refer to General Orders, No. 29, of March 22, 1862, and say that I wish you would direct this brigade to march at the first opportunity to join Major-General Shields at Luray Court-Honse, it being neces- sary there to fnrthcr the instructions under which I am acting. I have the honor to he, very respectfnlly, yonr most obedient servant IRVIN McDOWELL, Major-General, Commanding Department Bappahannock. Of the operations of General McDowell through the column of Gen- eral Shields up the Valley of Luray the value will hereafter be seen. Front General Banks, to whom I had in like manner sent a messen- ger, a reply, though exhibiting the utmost cordiality, informed me that lie was without supplies or transportation and unable to move. He would, however, endeavor to send we some cavalry. General Sioel, subsequently addressed, although he would try his bebt, found his troops in a condition such as would render them an incunibrance an(l not a hell) to me. it was not until after T had left Mount Jackson that any of the dis- 1)atches embodying the above were received; but the fact stood that at the date of my departure from this town (June 5) the contest with ~Jackson, so far as concerned Shenandoah Valley proper, remained upon my hands. Although I had crossed the mountains on an errand of aid t.o others, I found myself without conjunction or combination either with the forces relieved or with a force sent toward the same object as my own from an opposite direction. I j~resent the point with the object only that it may be both understood and realized, and with no other. On the 5th of June, then, crossing safely the bridge of pontoons, my column, with scarcely more than half the numbers of the enemy in advance, retook the trail and pushed steadily forward. A lapse of more thau thirty hours since the burning of the n~ain bridge over the Shenan(loah had given the enemy an advantage he proved not slow to misc. He was not overtaken upon the 5th, and having made 18 miles :ifl(i l)assing on the way the enemys fires still burning, my command was bivouacked beyond New Market, the enemy~s camp being but a few miles ahead. On the 6th 1 was enabled by an early and rapid march to restore the lost contact. Our progress was a little retarded by the burned and 2 R RYOL XI Page 18 18 OPE1I~ATI0NS IN N. VA~, W. VA., AND MD. [CHAP. X~Y. blazing culverts which had been fired by the enemy along the road, but sharp artillery and cavalry skirmishing was renewed during the forenoon, and at about 2 oclock my advance drove his rear guard through Harrisonburg. The direction taken by the main force of tlie enemy being uncertain, my troops were ordered into camp around the town. Later in the afternoon the First New Jersey Cavalry, with a battalion of the Fourth New York Cavalry, came suddenly upon the enemys camp in the woods several miles to the southeast, and was driven out with serious loss, leaving Colonel Wyndham and Captains Shelmire, Clark, and Haines in the hands of tke enemy. A little before sundown General Bayard entered the woods with four companies of Kanes Rifles (Bucktai]s) and the First Pennsylvania Cav- alry. Almost immediately after getting into the timber the Rifles en- countered a regiment of cavalry with artillery and a regiment of in- fantry, from which they received a very damaging fire. A very severe engagement of half an hour followed, during which the Rifles lost up- ward of 40 in killed, wounded, and missing. Colonel Kane was wounded and taken prisoner, Captain Taylor a prisoner, Captain Blanchard shot through both legs, and Lieutenant Swayne wounded. This noble body of Riflemen is entitled to the expression of my warm admiration for excellent conduct and efficiency during the march and for distinguished bravery on this occasion. General Bayard, in this as in all other instances of the kind dunn the pursuit, evinced the qualities of the true soldier. g Colonel Cluseret coming up with his brigade to the support of the Riflemen, the enemy retreated in disorder, leaving him in possession of their camp. On their part, the enemy in this sharp affair suffered still more severely, losing among the killed General Ashby, who up to this time had covered their retreat with admirable audacity and skill. Leav- ing their dead and wounded on the ground, with the growing darkness the enemy continued their retreat, precipitated by the several assaults of our troops. On the 7th a reconnaissance in force was sent under General Milroy in the direction of Port Republic, and reconnaissances pushed toward Keezietown and McGaheysville and on the Staunton turnpike to the Middle River, where the bridges were found destroyed. These recon- naissances showed that Jackson, abandoning the turnpike, had struck by a difficult and troublesome road toward Port Republic, and that he was about to turn in force to dispute our farther advance. Accord- ingly a movement in the new direction taken by him was determined on for the 8th, and early upon the morning of this day the march was re- suined, the command taking the road leading directly through the woods from llarnisonburg to Cross Keys. My column, as constituted and now upon the road, was as follows: The advance, Colonel Cluserets brigade, consisting of the Sixtieth Ohio and Eighth Virginia Infantry, re-enforced by the Thirty-ninth New York (Garibaldi Guard); the main column comprising: 1st. Dickels Fourth New York Cavalry. 2d. General Stahels brigade, consisting of the Eighth, Forty-first, and Forty-fifth New York and Twenty-seventh Pennsylvania Infantry, Dilgers, Buells, and Schirmers batteries. 3d. General Bohlens brigade, composed of the Fifty-fourth and Fifty- eighth New York and Seventy-fourth and Seventy-fifth Pennsylvania Infantry, and Wiedrichs battery. 4th. General Milroys brigade, composed of the Twenty-fifth Ohio Page 19 CHAP. XXIV.] GENERAL REPORTS. 19 the Second, Third, and Fifth Virginia Infantry, and ilymans, John- sons, and Ewings batteries. 5th. General Schencks brigade, composed of the Thirty-second, Seventy-third, Se~enty-~fth, and El ghty-second Ohio Infantry, De Becks and Rigbys batteries, and a small detachment of cavalry. Rear guard following upon ambulances and ammunition trains. General Steinweh rs brigade, under command of Colonel Koltes, consisting of the Twenty- ninth and Sixty-eighth New York and the Seventy-third Pennsylvania infantry, and Dieckmanns battery. Special investigation and roll call at Fabius May 29 had given as present effective strength of all arms something over 11,000. Deduct- ing from this number garrisons, guards, working parties, & c., left in rear, together with disabled, sick, and stragglers upon the route, and 10,500 men is a liberal estimate of force in hand and for duty with above column June 8. Our lowest estimate of Jacksons force gave him 18,000. Many of the horses of General Baya~rds cavalry having been reported unserviceable for want of shoes, his command was left temporarily at Harrisonburg, in charge of baggage trains. My chief quartermaster having fortunately provided for contingen- cies of the kind, such animals as proved in need were duly attended to, and General Bayard at a later hour came forward. Part of h1~ force was retained as escort to baggage and the remainder disposed to cover the line of communication against l)arties which might threaten it from the many by-roads or cross-roads striking the main route. At about 8.30 a. m. my advance, under Colonel Cluseret, caine up with the enemy at a point near Union Church and immediately en- gage4 him. The rebels fell stubbornly back through the timber and open ground, Colonel Cluseret vigorously pursuing for the distance of about a mile. At the locality now reached he came upon Jacksons main force in order of battle. In the mean time my own main body coming promptly up, the several brigades were successively directed upon lines selected with a view to general attack. The formation was substantially upon Colonel Cluserets brigade, which had pushed the forces opposed to it fully back upon their sup- ports, and now held firmly a good position well to the front. General Stahels brigade, advancing along the main road till past Pirkeys farm, took position in the open ground, forming the left of the first line. General Milroy~s brigade, leaving the main road and turning sharply to the right, formed in with a lessened interval upon Claserets right, becoming then the right of the first line. General Bohiens brigade was conducted in nearly the same direction as Stahels, taking position opposite to the interval between Stahel and Cluseret, and, pending the arrival of Steinwehrs brigade, acting as reserve to both. G~2meral Scheucks brigade, following in the direction taken by Nil- roys, was placed in position, bringing his line in echelon to the right and rear, securing thus our right against any flank demonstrations by the enemy. My directions for the general disposition were promptly and skill- fully carried out by my chief of statf, Colonel Albert. Through a like skill and energy on the part of my chief of artillery, Colonel Pilsen, as also of his assistant on the occasion, Captain IDilger, eight and a half of my ten batteries were within the brief space of thirty minutes got into positions favorable to the work required of them. Our line of battle then stood thus: Right wing, Milroy, with Schene Page 20 20 OPERATIONS IN N. VA., W. VA., AND MD. ~CHAP. XXIV. ~n reserve~ left wing, Stahel; center, Cluseret; reserve to Stahel and Cluseret, Bohien. Colonel Dickels Fourth New York Cavalry ocdllpie(l position upon the extreme left, guarding approaches in our direction. Watching our right and rear were the cavalry of Scheucks brigade.. Captain Congers company were held in position near headquarters. The enemy ocdul)ied a position of uncommon strength, commandini~ the junction of the roads to Port Republic. He had chosen his groun(1 with great skill and with a previons fall knowledge of the localities. His main line was advantageously posted npon a ridge, protected in front by a steep declivity, and almost entirely masked by thick woods and covered by fences. Near his ceuter, and on the summit of aii abrupt ascent, bordered at the base by the high perpendicular bank of a marshy creek, he had massed, in addition to his guns elsewhere, three of his best batteries. From superiority of numbers his flanks both at ~he right and left considerably overlapped my own. Itwas almost impossible to force, this position by a regular attack in front, which would have exposed us to cross-fires and flank attacks, ~nd to have attacked him irregularly and at random on either of his flanks would have carried us off the roads into wooded and broken ground of which I was entirely ignorant, and would very certainly have resulted in dis- aster. To give this effort any chance of success it would have been neces- sary to lose valuable time in reconnoitering the ground , dunn gwhich he could have withdrawn his troops, crossed and destroyed the bridge at Port Republic, and possibly, too, the command of General Shields. I was without reliable maps or guides, but from what could be seen of the roads, and from the understood position of the bridge at Port Republic, I judged that the enemys right was his strategic flank. I (lecided, therefore, to press him from this side, to with the object seize, if possible, his line of retreat, and accordingly gave all the strength practicable to my left. Continuous firi~ug had been kept up during the time occupied in getting my forcei, into position, and with the full establishment of my lines the battle became general. Urging vigorously forward his bri- gade, General Stahel encountered in the first belt of woods a strong line of skirmishers, which with hard fighting was driven out of the timber and pushed by the Eighth and Forty-fifth New York over the open ground beyond to the edge of the woods where these regiments suddenly caine upon the right of the enemys main line, held by the troops of General Tnimble, and composed in part of the Sixteenth Mis- sissippi, the Fifteenth and Sixteenth Alabama, the Twenty-first North Carolina, and Twenty-first Georgia Two of General Stahels best regiments, the Twenty-seventh Pennsylvania and Forty-first New York, had been diverted to the right in the timber, and the shock of the entire force here was sustained by the Eighth and Forty-fifth New York, and principally by the Eighth, which was attacked in front and flank by four regiments. This regiment behaved with great gallantry, charging with impetuosity into the enemys ranks, and for a time hold- ing its own, but yielding at leno~th to the great superiority of numbers was driven, together with the Forty-fifth, back over the open ground and through the woods upon Bohlens brigade, which had in the mean time advanced to Stahels support and joined in the action, supported by our batteries. Steiuwehrs brigade coming up was deployed in rear of the batteries, and General Blenker arriving, took command of his division. The enemy now brought np additional artillery into the open groun Page 21 CRAP. XXIV.] GENERAL REPORTS. 21 on niy extreme left, and General Taylors reserve brigade entering the woods, the fighting continued with great severity continuously along the timber in front of our position. A MisSiSSippi regiment, charging with yells upon Buells battery, was gallantly met with a bayonet charge by the Twenty-seventh Pennsylvania, under cover of which the battery was withdrawn. A Louisiana regiment of Taylors brigade, undertak- ing a charge upon Dilgers battery, was received with a fire of canister and grape, delivered with such precision and rapidity as nearly de~ stroyed it. Every attempt of the enemy to emerge from the cover of the woods was repulsed by artillery and counter-attacks of infantry, and his loss at this portion of the field, inflicted especially by artillery, was very great. On our part the loss was heavy, the Eighth New York alone losing 46 killed and 134 wounded.* One of my aides-de-cainp, Capt. Nicolai Punka, a capable and brave officer, was killed by a musket- ball while carrying an order to this part of the field. Colonel Gilsa, of the Forty-first New York, Captain Miser, and Lieutenant Branddnstein, of General Blenkers staff, were severely wounded. The enemys movement in the bringing up of artillery and fresh troops threatening entirely to envelop my left, a new l)osition was taken at the edge of the timber on the line B, and the enemy reoccupied the belt of woods lost by them at the beginning. Up to this point the musketry and artillery fire had beeii incessant and the fighting throughout the field generally severe. Farther to the right onr artillery, under the immediate direction of Colonel Pilsen, had been hotly engaged with the batteries of the enemys center. Milroy and Cluseret were opposed to Generals Elzey and Early, commanding the enemys right and center. Our own center, under Cluseret, after an ineffectual atteml)t upon the enemys batteries, had held obstinately every foot of its advanced ground, repelling with steadiness and gallantry repeated assaults of the enemy. General Milroy had been warmly engaged driving in a strong line of the enemys skirmishers, attacking their main body at close quarters, and suffering severely in an attempt to plant a battery upon the heights. Upon the extreme right General Schenek, in support of Milroy, had advanced his line, extending it into contact with the enemy, occupying them with skirmishers, shelling the woods, and checking their advance in flank. Notwithstanding the. fair promise held out to an effort on the right, J judged it best at this point to re-establish my whole line in conformity to the change on the left preparatory to a renewal of the battle. Ac- cordingly the brigades of the right were withdrawn for a space, iind, except from a portion of Cluserets strong position at the center and occasional exchanges of artillery shots, the firing subsided, the enemy meantime remaining in his position and our pickets occupying securely the l)oints temporarily relinquished by the maui line. Pending these preparations I received from the hands of one of my scouts the following letter from General Shields: Major-General FIUiMONT, LTJRAY, June 89.30 a. m. Commanding Pursuing Forces: I write by your scout. I think by this time there will be twelve pieces of artillery opposite Jacksons train at Port Republic, if he has taken tbat route. Some cavalry and artillery bave pushed on to Waynesborougli to burn the bridge. I hope to have two brigades at Port Republic to-day. I follow myself with two other brigades to- But ~ee revised statement, pl. 664, 665 Page 22 22 OPERATIONS IN N. VA., W. VA., AND MD. jOllA?. XXIV. day from this place. If the enemy changes direction you will pleasekeep me advised. If he attempts to force a passage, as my force is not large there yet, I hope you will thunder down on his rear. Please send backinformationfrom time te Pine. I think Jackson is caught this time. Yours, sincerely, JAS. SHIELDS, Major-General, Commanding Dirision. This was most welcome intelligence. Hitherto I had received no direct information from General Shields, and beyond the fact that he was somewhere near Luray I had no positive knowledge of his where- abouts or intentions. As the moment approached when it became of critical importance that we should act together I had the day before pushed my scouts into the Luray Valley. Several of them were taken by the enemy, but one succeeded in reaching me with this letter. With the certainty now that General Shields was already holding the bridge in force I at once decided to defer until morning a renewal of the battle. My men had been marching and fighting since early in the morning. They were fatigued and hungry and needed rest, and I knew they re- quired every advantage I could give. I therefore directed the command to bivonac and operations for the day to be brought to a close. My force was established for the night npon the line B B, Colonel Cluserets brigade being withdrawim into the woods near Union Church, and our l)ickets remaining, as stated, in occupation of other points of the bat- tle ground. The night was busily spent in preparations to have the command in readiness for a general advance, planned to take place in the morning, and in gathering and caring for the wounded and burying the dead. ~ly loss during the day in killed, wounded, and missing had been up- ward of 600.* At dawn the enemy was found to have retired from his lines in our immediate front. At about 7.30 a. in. the line was extended, and at a given signal, expecting very soon to come upon the enemy in positions the command moved forward, maintaining admirable steadi- ness and exactness. The enemy~s dead in great numbers lay upon the field, and some 20 horses lying together upon the height occupied by his center batteries showed the effl~ct of our artillery. Emerging into the more open ground beyond Dunker Church, a black column of smoke, rising about 5 miles in advance, showed the Port Republic bridge on fire. and soon afterward the sound of cannon and white wreaths from rapidly exploding shells along the line of the river showed an engagement in progress in the vicinity of the bridge. Closing in, the several corps of my command took the direction of the burning bridges and pushing forward reached as quickly as practicable the crest of a ridge overlooking the Shenandoah and beyoml it Port Republic village. The battle which had taken place upon the farther bank of the ri ~rem. was wholly at an end. A single brigade sent forward by General Shields had been simply cut to pieces. Colonel Carroll, in command, had for his own reasons failed to burn the bridge, though occupying it in time with his guards. Jackson, hastening across, had fallen upon the inferior force, and the result was before us. Of the bridge nothing remained but the charred and smokimig timbers. Beyond, at the edge of the woods, a body of the enemys troops was in position and a bag- gage train was disappearing in a pass among the hills. Parties gath. ering the dead and wounded, together with a line of prisoners, awaiting the movements of the rebel force near by, was all in respect to troops * See revised statement, pp. 664. 665 Page 23 CHAP. XXIV.] GENERAL REPORTS. 23 of either side now to be seen. A parting salvo of carefully aimed rifled guns, duly charged with shell, hastened the departure of the rebels, with their unlucky though most gallant convoy, and the whole were speedily out of sight. My pontoon bridge having of necessity been left behind at Mount Jackson to keel) whole my line of commnnicatiou and supply, measures were at once taken to construct a bridge out of such material as might be found at hand. Meantime Major ilaskell, of my staff; was sent with a strong party of cavalry with orders to cross the river and find out what had become of General Shields. Proce~din g rapidly (lown the river, and discovering on his way down bodies of the enemycavalry, infantry, and artilleryreturning from the pursuit of Shields troops, Major ilaskell left his force concealed at a ford about 7 miles below and crossed the river in rebel disguise with a sinole attendant. A(te~ imminent risks in getting by parties or partisans of the enemy he came up late at night with the remnant of Colonel Carrolls command inovm~ rapidly iii the direction of Luray. From Colonel Carroll he leained th it General Shields corps was on its way to Richmond. Pmmshin~ lorward, Major ilaskell succeeded in finding General Shields assistant adjutant-general, by whom he was informed that General Shields, with his whole force, was under imnme(liate and imperative orders for Richmond by wa.y of Fredericksburg. Having executed his mission with his usmnd boldiiess and celerity, Major Haskell reached me toward morning with this report. The subjoinel letters, all received within a few days following from General Shields, more fully explain the circumstances of Jacksons escape: HEADQUARTERS SHIELDS DIvISIoN, Columbia Bridge, June 8, 18626.30 p. in. Maj. Gen. JOhN C. FR~MONT: I pushed for~~ .ird Colonel Carroll with one brigade and four pieces of artillery to move en Port Pi public to burn the bridge and check the advance of the enemy. He went Ior~ aid I leii luIpru(lently, crosse(1 the bndc~e, which is still standing and drox the sm V Io~ ca thete (lefeildihig it before hun While pursuing this force he was eked ny the en~my in Iorce, lost two pieces of artilicrx-, and is now hi retreat. to Conrad s ston Pait of the enemy, it scem~, is en this side and part on the other si(le of the river There is one bri~ndo en cud for Conrads store from this direction and anotbei briu ide at this point which I vim movino~ forward to re-enforce them in trout I will also order fourth brigade, xv th the CX( eption of one regiment, which I will leave at Luray to check Lou~s~reet, who i~ suppOsed to be in the mountains. I will earliestly urge that you attack the enemy in their rear at once with all your force, and will get my command up as (liuckly as possible to operate in front JAS. ShIELDS, Major- General. HEADQUARTERS SHiELDs DIVISION, Columbia Bridge, June 88.15 p. m. Major-General ERfiMONT, Commanding U. S. Forces, ffarrisoaburg, Pa.: The enemy, as you are aware, is on the Port Republic road, with perhaps four or five of his brigades on this side of the river. If not attacked in force to-night and hurled upon the river by your command, I apprehend that he may pass the bridge during the night and then burn it, so that you could render me no assistance. If such be the case, having but two brigades in front, I might find it difficult to resist him. Your only resource then would be to come around by way of New Market and cross the ferry at Columbia Bridge. If you are unable to employ your whole force suffi- ciently in his rear, I would respectfully s way anyhow. u~~est that a portion of it join me in this JA~S. SHIELDS, Major- Gcaerei Page 24 24 OPERATIONS IN N. VA., W. VA., AND MD. [CHAP. XXIV. HEADQUARTERS SHIELDS DIVISION, Luray, June 12, 1862. Maj. Gen. JOHN C. FR1~MONT: Mv advance guard was driven back on the 9th after a sanguinary engagement of four hours. I re-enforced it, and determined, in connection with you, to renew the attack next morning. After handing the dispatch to your messenger a peremptory order reached me from Washimrton ~ ther and return at once to this ~ directing me to get my command tore 1)Olnt, preparatory to marching to Fredericksburg. I never obeyed an order with such reluctance, but no option was left rue The mismanage- merit of one of my generals left the route open to Jackson. He failed to burn the bridge at Port Republic, according to or(lers, and the resnit has been the (lefeat of his small colnman(1 and the escape of Jackson. Here I found orders to remain till Banks is in p6sitiou at Front Royal. The moment he is there I am to march to Cat- Ietts Station to report to Fredericksburg, theuce to Richmoud. The cavalry at- tached to you, designated as Bayards cavalry, are to report to me. They must come to Front Royal. If I march before they reach me they must join me at Catlette, by way of Chester Gap and Warrenton. I have the honor to be, your friend and obedient servant, JAS. SHIELDS, M~jor- General, Commanding Division~. With the receipt of the intelligence brought by Major ilaskell J regarded the movement against Jackson as closed. Whatever of the original ob ects of my mission I had been enabled to accomplish was now fairly fulfilled. That the retreat of the rebel leader had been con- (lileted with skill and ability is what no lust enemy can deny him; but had he been less favored by circumstances of weather and by the absence of combinations beyond my control, though easy enough to have been made during Jacksons earlier pursuit, it is for consideratiou whether he wrould have been able even to reach the S.henandoah, and still less to cross that river, with or without a bridge to invite his transit. To what degree he had thus far been affected by contact with my column is manifest by his (lestruction of the valuable bridge he unmolestedly passed, as well as by his rapid disappearance after the rout of the operating force sent by General McDowell. The withdrawal of Shields had left my command an isolated body lhr in advance of all other troops, and all expectation of aid or concert of action with others was now cut offi My troops had been long with- out proper food or shelter; their march had been exhausting, and I had exl)ended their last effort in reaching Port Republic. I determined, therefore, to fall back at once upon iuy supplies, and accordingly dur- ing a day of stormy rain 11 marched my command back to Harrison- burg. 1-lere in the evening of the 10th I received the following telegram from the President, two days after the battle of Cross Keys: WASHINGTON, June 9, 1862. Major-General Fmni~xONr: Halt at Harrisonburg, pursuing Jackson no farther. Get your force well in hand and stand on the defensive, guarding against a movement of the enemy back toward Srasbnrg or Franklin, and wait further orders, which will soon be sent you. A. LINCOLN. llarrisonburg, however strong in a strategical point of view for an army of larger proportions, was to my small command dangerous in the extreme. Distant 22 miles from the enemys main railroad line at Staunton, and approached by nine different roads, it left constantly exposed my lines of supply and communication. For these reasons my troops were upon the 11th and 12th withdrawn to Mount Jackson, a position strongly (lefensible, lying behind the Shenandoah, and being a key to the surrounding country Page 25 Czar. XflY.J GENERAL REPORTS. 25 In this movement the President acquiesced, in the following post. script to a telegram dated: M.Jor-General FutecinT: W, 19. Yours, preferring Mout Jackson to Harriscnbuls Just received. On this point use your discretion, remembering that our object to give such protection as you ca to Western Virginia. May thanks to yourself; officers, ad men for the gallat battle of last Sunday. A. ~ On the 13th General Whitings division, including Hamptons and Hoods brigades arrived at Staunton~ At Mount Jackson a rest was had for several hays. After what has been already stated relative to the condition in which a large portion of my commaud was turned over to me from the Poto- mac, as well as concerning hardship and exposure endured by all it is almost superfluous to pursue the subject further. From the continued want of transportation but a very limited amount of supplies had been got forward since leaving Petersburg. Some corn meal and flour, which the rebels in their haste proved unable to carry away from Mont Jack- son, had been seized and issued to the troops. Mills also, in which the above were fond and which the enemy had not time to fire, were set at work, and eked out a scanty supply. Further than the, added to fresh beef obtained or driven along upon the hoof, it is diffiiult at this moment to say what constituted the subsistence of my command after the tIre days partial rations fond at Petersburg became exhausted. It was reported almost in remonstrance by General Bayard, in regArd to both men and animals, that the cavalry should never have been sent forward as they were at Han~isonburg the horses staggering in the ranks front exhaustion, and the men having been without rations, other than fresh beef; for two or three days. On the evening of the 7th, preceding the battle of Cross Keys, it was ascertained.that less than one full ration in any form remained for issue, and it was onlyupon the certaintyof a fight the next day that the council assembled decided for my plan to move forward. These circumstances cannot but go forcibly to illustrate the physical condition of n:y mcii four days after Cross Keys, on their return to Mont Jackson. It was indeed, less a matter of surprise that their fatigues and privations 1121(1 begun unmistakably to tell upon the most robust than that the mass had been got forward at all. More than 200 had up to this time, after careful enmination by a board of surgeons, been diischarged for dis- abilities incident to their hard service, while the remaining sick and wounded, brought along mainly in army wagons, owing to want of ambulances, upward of 1,000 were now at Mount Jackson. The hos- pitals were hill, and I was deficient in the necessary medicines, as well as the requisite number of surgeons to give attendance. The heroism, the uncomplaining patience, with which the soldiers of my command endured the starvation and other bodily sufferings of their extended marches, added totheirnever-failing alacrity for dutyagainst the enemy, entitle them to my gratitude and respect For their conduct on the march and on the field I take this opportunity to thank them, as well as their officers regretting that within the limits of this report I cannot dwell upon the many signal cases of individual merit that came under my notice. The conduct of such of my staff officers as were permitted by their duties to he Present during the numerous affairs andskirmlshes taldng place in the purmilt up the Shenandoah Valley, and especially their energy and promptness on the occasion of the battle at Cross Keys Page 26 26 OPERATIONS IN N. VA., W. VA., AND MD. [CHAP. XXIV. merit without exception my warmest commendation. To the officers generally of my staff I take Pleasure in making my thanks. They are entitled to the most honorable mention I can make for the gal- lantry, loyalty, and capacity that especially qualihed them for the responsible duties, which they discharged with courage and fidelity. And particularly, although it is almost unjust to make any distinction, I desire to present to the notice of the Government, for meritorious service during the campaign, Capts. J. It Howard, R. W. Raymond, and 0-. W. Nichols, among the younger, and Cols. Albert Tracy, Ansehn Albert, Charles Zagonyi, and Lieut. Col. John Pilsen, among the older officers. To the four last mentioned I feel especially bound to record personally also my acknowledgments. Their uncommon professional ability, joined to previous long experience in the field, rendered their services of the greatest value to me throughout a very laborious and hazardous campaign. All but two of the staff officers present with the command during the engagements are now out of the army, having either resigned or been mustered out. Doubtiess, however, some just form of recognition of past services would be grateful to them even at this day. My chief quartermaster in the field Ca also my chief of subsistence, Captain , ptain Goulding, as Mallory, performed each his duties with energy and ability. My medical director in the field, Surg. George Suckley, iiever failing in zeal and activity in the mass of labors crowding upon him, stands entitled to my earnest commendation and thanks. I would also mention as most worthy and efficient in his duties Brigade Surg. and Medical Inspector A. C. ilamlin. Major Clary, chief quartermaster at department headquarters at Wheeling, and Major Darr, provost-marshal-general, rendered at all times zealous and efficient services during the period of my command in the Mountain Department. Significant demonstrations of the enemy, who had been reported largely re-enforced, taken in connection with the still isolated position at Mount Jackson, induced my farther withdrawal down the valley to Strasburg, and subsequently to Middletown, where I arrived with my comman(l June 24, effecting a junction with the forces of Generals Banks and Sigel. T~e tents and baggage left at Petersburg on the 27th May having been brought forward to Middletown, and camps and hospitals estab- lished at healthful points, having due regard to positions of defense, the troops of my command were made comparatively comfortable, and the sick began to improve. For the first time since they had started on the campaign the men here received full rations. While thus occu- l)ied in preparing my corps for active service, which telegrams from the War Department were preparing me immediately to expect, I received from the Secretary of War the Presidents order of June 26, which placed my own and the corps then with me under the command of Mnjor- General Pope. Having the conviction that consistently with a just regard for the safety of my troops and what was rightfully due to my personal honor I could not suffer myself to pass under the command of General Pope, I asked to be relieved from the duty to which I had been assigned under him. On the 27th of June, having been relieved of my coin- mand by direction of the President, I proceeded to New York to await further orders. IRespectfully, your obedient servant, J. C. FIII~MONT, -12 ate Major- (Jeneral, U. S. Army Page 27 CHAP. XXIV.] GENERAL REPORTS. 27 INEW YORK, N. Y., December 31, 1865. In connection with others specially alluded to, the following tele grams, extracts, rel)orts, & c., gleaned from private memoranda of my- self or members of my staff; and numbered 1 to 30, are appended to the foregoing report of operations in the Mountain Department. It is not unlikely that dispatches received from the President may be also on file at the War Office. I will ask, however, to have his own included with the rest, as they serve to make clearer points presented. I would here add that for the topographical map of Cross Keys forwarded with re- port, * I am indebted to my late chief of artillery, Lieutenant-Colonel Pilsen. J. C. FR~MONT, Late ilN~or- General, Commanding Mountain Department. [No. 1.] HARPERS FERRY, April 12, 1862. Major-General Fni~IuoNT: Secretary sends me after Blenker. No news of him here. Will dis- J)ateh you when I learn his whereabouts. Anything to me will reach at Winchester. W. S. IROSECItANS, Brigadier-General, U. S. Army. [No. 2.] WHEELING, April 12, 1862. Brigadier-General ROSECRANS, Winchester: Secretary telegraphs me Blenkers division at Salem. I recall an offi. cer I had sent after it. When you find the division let me kn6w its force, and bring it directly across to Moorefield. J. C. FII~MONT, Major- General, Commanding. [No. 3.) WiNCHESTER, April 12, 1862. Major-General FR1~MONT Will bring Blenkers division to Moorefield. W. S. BOSECRANS, Brigadier- General. [No. 4.] WoonsTocK, April 15, 1862. Major-G-eneraL FR]~MoNT: IRosecrans left this morning for Blenkers division, now at Berry~s Ferry. One brigade goes at once to Moorefield. IRain all day and night. N. P. BANKS, Major- Genoriil, Co tnmanding. * To appear hi Atlae Page 28 28 OPERATIONS IN N. VA., XV. VA., AND MD. [CHAP. XXIV. [No. 5.] WJNCHESTER, April 17, 1862. Major-General FREMoNT: I3lenker has 138 four-horse teams for twelve reoirnents aiul three bat- teries. Will require thirty-six ainbulaiices and sonic fresh horses. W. S. liOSECIIA KS, Brigadier- General. [No. 6.] HARPERS FERRY, April 19, 1862. Major-General Fnf~MoNT Must have 42 horses sent to Martinsburg to move the batteries. Can- not get them from Washington. W. S. ItOSECItAKS, Brigadier- General. [No. 7.] HARPERS FERRY, April 19, 1862. Major-General FRhI~MONT: We are bivouacked 5 miles out of Winchester, after thirty-eight days without tents or shelter. Troops wanting shoes too badly to move. Wait ha shoes, provisions, and forage. Horses much jaded and nearly starved - w S. ROSECRANS, Brigadier- General. [No. 5.] MCDOWELL, May 8, 1862. (Received May 9, 7.30 a. in.) Col. ALBERT TRACY, Assistant Adjutant- General: There is not a particle of forage here. The last has given out, and all t he horses of cavalry, artill ry, and others have been without food to day. The place is otherwise untenable and unfit for military defense. The rebels have appeared on the hills overlooking us to-day and we have shelled them and had skirmishing, with no particular resnlt. I have permitted General Milroy to go up to the mountain with four regi- ments to prevent the planting of a battery which might shell us out and l)eIhIaps a night attack. I hope this may prove a diversion in our tavov, but we cannot hold such a place without a very large force against superior numbers and at all in the present destitution of forage. If our horses starve a day longer they will not be able to draw away the train or carry us off. I greatly regret ihe necessity of this conclusion, but I believe every officer here concurs in my views. li. C. SCHEKOK, Brigadier- General, Commanding. [No. 9.] MCDOWELL, May 8, 1862. (Received Petersburg, May 9, 7.30 a. in.) Go]. ALBERT TRACY, Assistant Adjutant- General: it is now 11.30 p. m. The reconnaissance of Milroy this afternoon became a sharp engagement, in which we lost several killed and per Page 29 CHAP. XXIV.] GEN ERAL REPORTS. 99 ha ps 75 or 84) wounded. The rebel loss is at least as large or larger, but iot known. Johnson was found to have been largely re-enlorced by Jackson during the afternoon. His whole force has come up from BuIThlo Gap. There is a large army in the hills about us. This place is indefensible altogether, by the unanimous agreement of officers, in our [)resent condition an(i with our relative forces. I find at least two of the regiments without ammunition, and not a particle of forage. The horses are starving. We must retreat to-night. I am Seu(ling off trains and all the property for which there is any trans])ortation. At 2 a. m. I will get the troops in motion. This is a sad experience for the first (lay of arrival, but nothing else seems to be thought ot~ We shall [)robably be followed by the enemy. The general commanding we ex- pect to re-enforce us with any force he has.* li. C. SCIIENCK, Brigadier- General, Commanding. [No. 10.] PETERSBURG, May 9, 1862. COMMANDING OFFICER, German Division, Romney: GENERAL: Push forward the whole of your division by a forced march, so that it may reach here to-morrow. By order of General Frdrnont: ALBERT TRACY, Colonel and Acting Assistant Adjutant-General.. [No. 11.] PETERSBURG, May 11, 18628 p. m. Brigadier-General SCHE~CK, Franklin: The condition of the troops on arriving here was such that we can- not leave before 3 in the morning. If, therefore, you cannot fall back with safety, (lefend and 1101(1 the place. You will be supported. We shall make every exertion to arrive in time. Answer, and let u~ know (luring the night how you get on. We shall have an operator with us along the road, and shall be in constant communication. At what do you estimate the enemys force ~ t J. C. FRI~2vIONT, Major- General, Commanding. [No. 12.] PETERSEUIiG, May 10, 1862. Captain LooMis, Assistant Quartermaster, New Creek: If you have not sent me any forage, for Gods sake forward at once. G. I. STEALY, Captain and Assistant Quartermaster. * Other dispatches of this date from Schenek to Fr6mont ~ppear in Correspond.- ence, etc., Part III. Other dispatches to and from Schenek of this date in Correspondence, etc., Part III Page 30 30 OPERATIONS IN N. VA., W. VA., AND MD. [CHAr ~XJiY. [No. 13.] Maj. R. H. CLARY, FRANKLIN, May 13, 1862. Chief Quartermaster, Wheeling, Va.: Not a pound of forage here. Horses suffering for want of some. Will you hurry np Loomis? By order of Major-General Fr6mont: C. N. GOULDING, Captain and A ssistant Quartermaster. [No. 14.] MOUNTAIN DEPARTMENT, OFFICE OF MEDICAL DIRECTOR, Headquarters Army in the Field, Franklin, May 22, 1862. Col. ALBERT TRACY, Acting Assistant Adjutant- General: COLONEL: In the name of humanity I respectfully call the earnest attention of the commanding general to the sanitary condition of the division under the command of Brigadier-General Blenker. In addi- tion to the facts given in the report of Brigade Surg. Augustus C. Hamlin, inspector, ordered by Special Orders, No. 12, May 18, 1862, 1 would state that nearly 200 men of Blenkers division are left behind in hospitals or straggling in our rear. There are about 200 more sick in this encampment. The division left Hunters Chapel near Alexan- dna on the 7th of March. Its condition now, according- to the data furnished by Surgeon Hamlin, is as follows: There are but f~w ambulancesin one regiment none. In fact, there is not in the whole division more than one-fifth the necessary ambu- lance transportation. Even for the few wretched vehicles posse~sed there is a deficiency of animals, and of those they have and call horses several are little better than living skeletons. Therc are seven medicine paniners, yet not a horse or mule for their transportation. In the whole division there is but one hospital tent. Most of the medical stores are left behind. The question naturally arises whether the nec- essary measures were taken to have them forwarded. As a military officer I well know the exigencies of the service in an active campaign necessarily cause much human suffering, but I can think of no excuse for a lack of proper endeavor to mitigate these evils. By bringing this subject before Major-General Fr& ~mont, so as to secure his early atten- tion, you will be doing officially a charitable action. I have the honor to be, colonel ye servant, , ry faithfully, your obedient GEORGE SUCKLEY, Brigade Surgeon and Medical Director Forces in the Field. [No. 15.] Mr. J. B. FORD, PETERSBURG, May 26, 1862. Supt. Baltimore and Ohio Ra~ilroad, Wheeling, Va.: Baggage being behind, your telegram not translated till now. What you are doing is of the greatest possible service (sending forward anik mals, wagons, and commissary stores). No cause for alarm rf~ ~thi Page 31 CHAP. xxrwi GENERAL REPORTS. 31 department. Am at this place to afford aid. Had transportation been furnished our aid would have been anticipatory. J. C. FRI~MONT, Major-General, Commanding. [No. 16.1 PETERSBURG, May 27, 1802. T. B. A. DAVID, Green Spring: Communicate in cipher, or by sure hand, the following dispatch to Major-General Banks: Our force is on the march to Moorefield, intending to meet the enemy wherever he may be found. I send this for your information. You can communicate anything you may have for me to Mr. T. B. A. David, our telegraph superintendent, now at Cumberland. It will give me pleasure to join you. J. C. FRI~MONT, Major- General, Gomman~ding. [No. 17.] WASHINGTON, May 28, 1862. Major-General FR~M0NT: The following dispatch has been received from General Rufus King: I sent out cavalry, both on the Bowling Green and Telegraph roads, to Richmond this morning to collect information. They proceeded from 12 to 15 miles; saw noth- ing of the enemy, but learned from contrabauds, who left Hagners Statiou yesterday, that the whole force reconnoitering in our front left the junction to re-enforce Jack- son Monday morning, the 26th. They were about 15,000 strongfourteen regiments of infantry, six batteries of artillery, and four companies of cavalry. They were well informed as to our force and movements, but had no intention of abandoning their position in our front till last Saturday, when sudden orders were received from Rich- mond to march at once, with four days rations. They moved off the same night. Such is the substance of Colonel Kilpatricks report, who directed the reconnaissance. I shall push the cavalry still farther out to-morrow, in hopes of obtaining further in- formation. EDWIN M. STANTON. Secretary of War. (No. 18.] MOUNTAIN DEPARTMENT, OFFICE MEDICAL DIRECTOR, Headquarfers Army in the Field, Fabius, May 29, 1862. Col. ALBERT TRACY, Assistant Adjutant- General: COLONEL: Last evening, while in the camp of Blenkers division, I noticed the weary and haggard appearance of most of the men. Stragglers were coming in until after dark, most of them weary and foot-sore, and many sick. I was informed that, for various reasons, some of the regiments have had but little beef. They were weak in consequence, and forced marches are wearing them down. I would respectfully recommend that a rest of twenty-four hours be allowed. Very respectfully, your obedient servant, GEORGE SUCKLEY, Brigade Surgeon and Medical Director Page 32 32 OPERATION$ IN N. VA., W. VA., AM) MD. [CHAP. XXIV. IIEADQU ALTERS, VI ajor-General FR~MONT, in the Field: Winchester, June (4, 1862. DEAR Sii~: The freshet has destroyed for the moment our cominu- nications. At Williamsport the river, higher than Thy ten years, has divided my command, and separated me from all my su~)plies and transportation. I am here without supplies or transportation, unable to move. The river is falling, however, and I hope our trains have crossed to-day. They will cross to-morrow at any rate, and, the l3alti- more and Ohio road iii operation, by to-morrow night we shall be afloat again. Harpers Ferry bridge is swept away, but a steam-tug will uzemporarily supply its l)iace. The Winchester road will be in opera- tion in two or three days. We shall therefore be able to supply yonr wants soon. I have sent to-day a strong detachment of cavalry, with instructions to reach you if J)Ossible, and to look to your prisoners at Strasburg, gather up anus or supplies on the way, and arrest suspicious persons in the guise of citizens. Colonel Dc Forest. cominandin ~, is an excel- lent officer. We will protect your communications, telegraph lines~ & c. There is no news of importance here. Nothing fron. hichiuoud. Very truly, youms, & c., ~. P. BANKS, ]lfajor- General, (Jontnw uding. [No. 23.] WINCHESTER, June 8, 1862il p. m. Maj. Gen. JOHN C. FR~MONT: GENERAL: Your letter dated Harrisonburg, June 7, is received. I am exceedingly sorry that I could not proceed at once to the scene of action to assist you, but the troops under my command brought from Harpers Ferry could scarcely reach XYinchester, and were in such a condition that it is necessary to prepare them for held service befi)re they leave this place, otherwise they would be an incumbranee and not a help to you. I will nevertheless try my best antt see whether I can add somue of my most serviceable forces to the (hivision of General Banks, amid send them on without delay. Captain C gave me some valuable information relative to y our position and that of the enemy, as well as that of Shields. I immediately had a consultation with the adjutant-general of General Banks, and hope that some of oni troops will be sent to-morrow night. I am, general, your obedient servant, F. SIGEL, Major- General. [No. 24.] HEADQUARTERS FIRST DTVISION, FlRST ARMY CORPS. Luray, ~J~ne 13, 1862. Maj. Gen. JOHN C. FR~MONT, (Jorndy. Mountain Dept., Mt. Jackson: GENERAL: I have the. honor to acknowledge the receipt of your polite note, and avail myself of the return of General Bayards aide- dc-camp to drop you another line. I have sent a communication to the War l)cpartmeut, in which I bear testimony to the energy, activity, and ability with which you conducted the pursuit. The general who *Nos. 19, 20, and 21, here omitted, are duplicates of Lincoln to Fr6mont, May29 and 30, and McDowell to Fr6mout, June 6, which are quoted at length in Fr6mont~ report. See pp. 13, 17 Page 33 OKA?. X1IY.J GENERAL REPORTS. 33 led my advance (2,500) committed two grave errors: One Ili not burn- ing the bridge at Port Republic; the other in taking up an indefensible position and waiting until he was attacked in force by Jaekson. But the gallantry with which my poor fellows fought is beyond all praise. But the odds were too great. General Tyler stripped the left and left two batteries without support, and their sharpshooters rushed from the woods and shot dowii the men. Forty horses were killed of our batteries. They were then compelled to fall back, which they did in good order. I joined theni with the main body, and then Jackson fell back in haste. I hurried to attack him next day. You by throwing a pontoon-bridge across and I attacking him at the same time would have cut him up. This was my proposition to your messenger, which he started to take to you when peremptory orders arrived to set out for Fredericksburg. This was one of the mistakes of the war. We ought to have ended Jackson first. He should not have been left be- hind in this valley. ilad we fallen upon him next morning he would never have come back to this valley, and we could have destroyed the railroad at Waynesborough and Gordonsville. General McDowell knew nothing of our situation. He acted upon some preconceived plan, without reference to the condition of things in this valley. We must still destroy the railroad at Gordonsyille before we march ou Richmond. Any other course would be madness. Pray represent this at the War Department. I want to do that from Fredericksburg. With my best wishes for your private and public success, I remain, general, yours, sincerely, JAS. SHIELDS, Major- General, Commanding. [No. 25.] HDQRS. FIRST DIVISIoN, FIRST ARMY CORPS, Front Royal, Va., June 18, 18628.30 p. m. Major-General FRnWONT: In pursuance of the following extract of a telegram from General McDowell, dated Manassas, June 18, 1862, to wit: Let Major-General Fr6mont be informed by General Shields of the withdrawal of his div~sieo from Luray to Front Royal, to the end that if the enemy retnrn down the valley o:~ Front Royal General Fr6mont may fall on his rear. I tah~ this Occasion to communicate to Major-General Frdmont that I arrived in Front Royal on the evening of the 16th. Scouts came in from Sperryville and Luray the evening of the 17th, and report mio in(Iica.tious of the enemy, but that 40,000 were approaching. My pioneers are sent out to try and establish some means of crossing the Shenandoah If the pontoon traiu which you have could be spared a short time it would make our coin munication between Front Royal and General Banks command practicable. I would ask as a favor that this be done, and also to know your position and intelligence. Youm s, respectfully, JAS. SHIELDS, Major- General, Commanding Division. [No. 26.] UDQUS. FIRST BRIG., WILLIAMS Div., DEPT. SHENANDOAH, Near Front Royal, Va., June 23, 1862. Col. ALBERT TRACY, A. A. C., Mountain Department: QOLOIIEL: The general commanding the brigade de~ire~ me to ex Page 34 34 OPERATIONS IN N. VA., W. VA., AND MD. (Ciw~. XXIV. press to General Fr6mont his thanks for the pontoon train, which arrived promptly, and, under the energetic charge of Lieutenant iRob. inson, was speedily put together for immediate use. I am, sir, very respectfully, your obedient servant, EDWA1~ F. BLAKE, Major and Actg. Asst. Adjt. Gen., First Brigade. [No. 27.] WINCHESTER, June 134 p. m. General FRI~MONT: Mv DEAR SIR: Yours of the 12th I have just received. I know noth- ing of the plan of defense adopted by the Government except by tele- grams from the President that one was being considered, pending which I was to l)lace my command on the Shenandoah at or opposite Front Royal. We know nothing of Shields movements toward Rich- mond, but hear, via Front Royal, he is at Liiray. I concur with you entirely in the suggestion of the impolicy of divided cQmmands, and hope that system will be abandoned at once. General Sigels orders are like mine at l)resent. Mount Jackson is not a position to meet the enemy, unless he moves directly down the pike. rfhe strong position, we think, is near Middletown, which commands all the valleys that open upon the North Branch of the Shenandoah. I will see General Sigel this evening. Your movements have had a splendid success. Very truly, N. P. BANKS. [No. 28.] WINCHESTER, June 17, 1862. Major-General FR~MONT: General Shields aid 8,000 men are at Front Royal. Jackson in large force at Luray. Rumors from significant sources say the enemy is work- ing into your rear. Dispatch from General Banks says it will be im- possible to get re-enforcements. R. MORRIS COPELAND, Assistant Adjutant- General and Major. [No. 29.] WASHINGTON, June 12, 1862. Major-General FRI~MoNT: Accounts, which we do not credit, represent that Jackson is largely re-enforced and turning upon you. Get your forces well in hand and Reel) us well and frequently advised, and if you find yourself really l)ressed by a superior force of the enemy fall back cautiously toward or to Winchester, and we will have in due time Banks in position to sustain you. Do not fall back of llarrisonburg unless upon tolerably clear necessity. We nnderstar~d Jackson is on the other side of the ~henaiidoah from you, and hence cannot in any event press you into any necessity of a precipitate withdrawal. A. LINCOLN. P. S.Yours, preferring Mount Jackson to llarrisonburg, is just received. On this point use your discretion, remembering that our object is to give such protection as you can to Western Virginia. Many thanks to yourself, officers, and men for the gallant battle of last Sunday Page 35 CHAP. XXIV.] GENERAL REPORTS. 35 [No. 30.] MOUNTAIN DEPARTMENT, ADJUTANT-GENERALS OFFICE, Hdqrs. Army in the Field, Middletown, Va., June 25, 1862. Maj. Gen. JOHN C. FR~MONT, Commanding 1)epartrnent GENERAL In compliance with your verbal order of this da.t~ to furnish a statement of the number of ad(Iitional aides-de-cami) credited to your staff in orders from the War i)epartment, au(l also the number generally em j)loye(l at h ca (iqila rters or elsewhere, un d or your iiznm ediate or(iers~ 1. have the honor to submit the h)lloWillP The whole number ot a (Iditienal ai(les-de-eam p announced in orders of the War Department as pertainiig to your staff is ninety-two. Of this num ber htty-six, appointed as a convenience to the service merely, and as I understand with out vonr agency or recomn;endation have rel)orte(l neither in l)eLson nor by letter. They performed duty, if at all, in the suites of other comman(lers. A small number, aPl)ointed as above, and directed to report at your headquarters, have done. so. It is to be regretted that one or two of these have since proved of a char- acter so unworthy as to induce your request for their dismissal from the service. Of the remaining number asked for by yourself a proportion have, on application, been assigned to (liflerent general officers of the com- mand, leaving an average of about twenty-five on (luty at your head- quarters or elsewhere under your immediate orders. The withdrawal of several officers of the general staff, on your assuming command of department has necessitated the assign rnent of a number of your per- soiiai staff as substitutes on general duties. Officers of headquarters staff are employed as follows: Col. Anseim Albert, chief of staff; Col. Albert Tracy (captain, Tenth Regulars), act- ing assistant adjutant-general; Col. John T. Fiala, chief of topograph- ical engineers, (lepartment headquarters; Col. NV. F. Raynol(is (captain, U. S. Regular Service), chief of topographical engineers in the held; Col. Cherles Zagonyi, chief of cavalry; Lient. Col. John Pilsen, chief of artillery; Maj. R. M. Corwine, judge advocate (absent on detached service during campaign); Col. R. N. Hudson, provost-marshal-general in the held (on leave from May 23); Capt. John C. ilopper, chief of scouts and spies; Capts. IR. NV. Raymond anti T. J. Weed, mustering oflicers; Capt. G. Ward Nichols, in charge of postal service; Capt. Cyrus Hamlin, acting commissary of subsistence; Lient. Col. James NV. Savage, Majrs. Adolf C. Warberg and Burr Porter, and Captains Nordeudorf and Dunka, assistants to chief of staff; Lient. Col. Philip Figyelmesy and Maj. Leonidas ilaskell, assistants of chief of cavalry; Capt. John Ii. Howard, in charge of telegraphic correspondence. Col. Gustave P. Cluseret, aide-de-camp, though present, is not included as a staff officer at headquarters, he being in command of light brigade. Respectfully submitted. ALBERT TRACY, Additional Aide-de-Gamp and Aetg. A8st. Adjt. Gen Page 36 36 OPERATIONS IN N. VA., W. VA., AND MD. ICILAP. XXIV. No. 2. Record of the MieDowell Court of Inquiry. Proceedings of a Court of Inquiry convened in the city of Washington, ID. C., on the 21st day of November, 1862, by virtue of the following order: SPECIAL ORDERS, HE~QUA~TE~S OF THE ARMY, ADJUTANT-GENERALS OFFICE, No. 350. ) Washington, November 17, 1862. * * * * * * * 111. The Court of Inquiry ordered to assemble the 27th ultimo by Spe- cial Orders, 313, Headquarters of the Army, October 25, 1862, is hereby dissolved, and at the request of Major-General McDowell, U. S. Vol- unteers, a Court of Inquiry will assemble in this city at 11 oclock a. m. on the 21st instant to inquire into certain charges against him. Detail for the court.Maj. Gen. George Cadwalader,U. S. Volunteers; Brig. Gen. John II. Martiudale, U. S. Volunteers; Brig. Gen. James II. Van Alen, U. S. Volunteers; Lieut. Col. Louis H. Pelouze, assistant adjutant-general, recorder of the court. * * * * * * * By command of Major-General Halleck: E. ID. TOWNSEND, Assistant Adjutant- General. FIRST DAY. JUDGE-ADVOCATE-GENERALS OFFICE, Washington, D. C., November 21, 1862. The court met pursuant to the foregoing order. Present, Maj. Gen. George Cadwalader, U. S. Volunteers; Brig. Gen. John II. Martindale, U. S. Volunteers; Brig. Gen. James H. Van Alen, U. S. Volunteers. The presiding officer informed the court that Lieut. Col. Louis H. Pelouze, the recorder of the court, would not arrive in the city until to- morrow, ~he 22d instant, he having received a dispatch to that effect. Also, that he had communicated to MajorGeneral McDowell that his presence in court to-day would not be required, by reason of the ab- sence of the recorder of the court. The court adjourned to meet to-morrow, the 22d November, 1862, at 11 oclock a. m. GEO. CADWALADER, Major-General, President of the Court. SECOND DAY. COURT-ROOM, 467 SOUTH FOURTEENTH STREET, Washington, D. C., November 22, 1862-~11 a. m. The court met pursuant [to] adjournment. Present, Maj. Gen. George Cadwalader, U. S. Volunteers; Brig. Gen. John II. Martindale, U. S. Volunteers; Brig. Gen. James H. Van Alen Page 37 GENI3fl~AL REPORTS. 37 U. S. Volunteers; Lient. Col. Louis H. Pelouze, assistant adjutant- general, recor(ler of the court, and Major-General McDowell, U. S. Vol- unteers. The order convening the court was read by the recorder. Major-General McDowell was informed that if there were no objec- tions entertained to any member of the court the oath would be admin- istered according to law. No ol~jections were made. The court was then duly sworn by the recorder, and the recorder was duly sworn by the presiding officer of the court in the presence of Major-General McDowell. The charges referred to in the order convening the court not having l)een received, the recorder was instructed to address a communication to the Assistant Adjutant-General, Headquarters of the Army, stating that the court of inquiry instituted in Special Orders, No. 350, dated Headquarters of the Army, November 17, 1862, have organized, and to request that a copy of the charges referred to in said order be fur- nished the court. The court adjourned to meet Monday, 24th November, 1862, at 11 oclock a. m. L. II. PELOUZE , * Lieutenant- Colonel and Assistant Adjutant- General, Recorder. THIRD DAY. COURT-ROO1~I, Washington, D. 0., November 24, 186211 a. m. Thee court mt pursuant to adjournment. Present, Maj. Gen. George Cadwalader, U. S. Volunteers; Brig. Gen. John H. Martiuda~e, U. S. Volunteers; Brig. Gen. James H. Vaii Alen, U. S. Volunteers; Lient. Col. Louis H. P~louze, assistant adjutant- general, recorder of the court, and Major-General McDowell, U. S. Volunteers. The proceedings of the preceding (lays were read by the recorder and approved by the court.t The recorder here stated that, in compliance with the instructions of the court, given at its last sitting, he addressed a communication to the Headquarters of the Army in words as follows: COURT-ROOM, Washington, D. C., November 22, 18621.30 p. m. ASSISTANT ADJUTANT-GENERAL Headquarters of the Army, Washington, D. C.: I am instructed to communicate that the court of inquiry ordered to assemble in Special Orders, No. 350, dated Headquarters of the Army, Washington, November 17, 1862, have organized, and, further, to request that the court may be furnished with a copy of the charges referred to in said order. Very respectfully, your obedient servant, L. H. PELOUZE, Lieutenant-Colonel and Recorder Court of Inquiry. * The daily record henceforward is attested by the signature of Lieutenant-Colonel Pelouze. So much of the daily journal as sets forth the meeting of the court, the names of members and others present, and the reading and approval of the previous record will be omitted. Exceptional entries on these subjects will be noted Page 38 U 38 OPERATIONS IN N. VA., W. VA., AND MD. [CHAP. XXIV. And that said communication was returned with the following in- dorsement thereon: HEADQUARTERS ARMY, Xorember 23, 1862. The General-ia-Chief is not aware that the Government lias any charges against Major-General McDowell. The court was ordered at the request of General McDowell to investigate his con- duct and any charges which should be produced. None have been tiled at the Headquarters of the Army. Respectfully, J. C. KELTON, Assistant Adje tent- General. The communication, of which the foregoing is a copy, with the in- dorsement, is appended to the proceedings and marked A.~ The court was cleared for discnssion. The court was ol)ened. Major-General McDowell here presented to the court a cornmnnica- tion of which the following is a copy, the original being appended to the proceedings and marked B .~ WAShINGTON, November 24, 1862. Maj. Gen. GEORGE CADWALADER, President of the (Joert of Inquiry instituted in Special Orders, No. 350: GENERAL: It appearing from the indoreement on the recorders letter of the Assist- ant Adjutant-Genelal at the Heodquart ers of the Army that there are no charges against me in the possession of th( (o~ eminent, and that therefore the literal readin~ of the order coavening the court dinrectin~ it to investigate certain charges against me, does not apply, I beg th( conit to obtain a copy of my letter to the President of Sep- tember 6, 1862, asking tom a court and on which this court has been instituted; and, further, that the iuvesti~ shon in my case may be as therein requested. I have the honor to be ~eneral, very respectfully, your obedient servant, iRVIN McDOXVELL, Major- General. The court is of th~ opiinon that it is not the proper medium through which this comm umc Th on should reach Headquarters, particularly as an applicatIon from the court for a copy of the charges referred to in the order convenilig the court has been rettiriied indorsedi The Gen- eral-in-Chief is net. aware that the Government has any charges against Maj or-General MeDowell . Further, as the General-in-Chief has communicated that the court was ordercd at the request of General McDowell to investigate his con- duct$ the court (lecide that time be allowed Major-General McDowell to apply for an enlargement of the scope of investigation by the court so as to embrace the su1~ject referred to in this communication. The court iustrnctcd the recorder to inform General McDowell of the action of the court on his communication, by furnishing an extract of the procee(hings so far as related thereto. The court udjouriicd to meet to-morrow, 25th November, 1862, at 11 oclock a. in. FOURTH DAY. CouRT-IRooi~r, Washington, D. 0., November 25, 186211 a. m. * * * * * * * Major Gemieral McDowell read to the court a communication of which the following is a copy, and which is appended to the proceedings and marked C.* * Not reprinted in appendix Page 39 CHAP. XX1V.] GENERAL REPORTS. 39 WAshINGTON, November 24, 1862. The ASSISTANT ADJUTANT-GENERAL, fleadquarlers of the Army: SIR: I inclose a copy of correspondence of this date with the court of inquiry insti- tuted in Special Orders, No. 350, current series, agreeably to the action taken by the court. I have the honor to request it may be furnished, with a copy of my letter of September 6, 1862, to His Excellency the President, asking for a court of inquiry; and that, instead of being directed to investigate certain charges against me, as the order now reads, the court be directed to make the investigation asked for in my letter above referred to, and be directed to report the facts and their opinion in the case. I have the honor to be, very respectfully, your most obedient servant, IRVIN McDOWELL, The recorder stated to the court that during last evening lie received a communication from the Headquarters of the Army in words as fol- lows: HEADQUARTERS OF THE ARMY, TVashinylon, D. C., Aorcrnber 24, 1862. Licut. Col. LOUIS H. PELOUZE, Recorder of the Court of Inquiry: The General-in-Chief having been informed that the court of inquiry convened to investigate charges against Major-General McDowell has adjourned owing to a state- ment from these Headquarters that there were no charges against that officer, directs me to call your attention to General McDowells letter asking for a court of inquiry, and to say that matter for investigation may he found therein. Very respectfully, your obedient servant, J. C. KELTON, Assistant Adjutaut-General. P. SSince writing the foregoing your communication has been received, and the order by which the action of the court will he governed has been changed as sug- gested. A copy of the order will be furnished to the court from the Adjutant-Generals Office. Respectfully, J. C. KELTON, Assistant Adjutant- General. The recorder stated that he had made no application to thc Head- quarters of the Army to which the P. S. to the foregoing letter refers, and that the P. S. evidently applies to the letter just read by General McDowell. The court expressed such to belts understanding. The letter with its P. S., of which the forego~g is a copy, is appended to the proceed- ings and marked D.~ The recorder here read an official COI)Y of General McDowells letter to the President, which COI)Y was inelosed in the communication from the Headquarters of the Army received by the recorder last evening: WASHINGTON, September 6, 1862. His Excellency the PRESIDENT: I have beea informed by a Senator that he had seen a note, in pencil, written by a colonel of cavalry mortally wounded in the recent battle, stating, among other canses, that he was dying a victim to McDowells treachery, and that his last reqnest was that this note might be shown to you. That the colonel believed this charge, and felt his last act on earth was a great pnblic service, there can be, I think, no question. This solemn acensatiomi from the grave of a gallant officer, who died for his country, is entitled to great consideration; and I feel called on to eadeavor to meet it as w~ell as so general a charge, from one now no longer able to support it, can be met. Not reprinted in appendix Page 40 40 OPEI~411ONS IN N. VA., W. VA., AN1~ MP. fO~1?~I~ I therefore beg you to please cause a court to be instituted for its investigation; and, in the absence of any knowledge whatever as to the particular act or acts, time or place, or general conduct the deceased may have had in view, I have to ask that the inquiry be without limitation, and be upon any points and every subject which may in [any] way be supposed to have led to his belief. That it may be directed to my whole conduct as a general officer, either under another or whilst in a separate command, whether in matters of administration or command; to my correspondence with any of the enemys comu]anders or with any one within the enemys lines; to my conduct and the policy pursued by me toward the inhabitants of the country occupied by our troops with reference to themselves or their property; and, further, to any imputations of indirect treachery or (lisloyalty toward the nation or any individual having like myself an important trust. Whether I have or have not been faithful as a subordinate to those placed over me, giving them heartily and to the extent of my capacity all the support in my power. Whether I have or have not failed, through unworthy l)ersonal motives, to go to the aid of, or send re-enforcemeuts to, my brother commanders. That this subject of my alleged treachery or disloyalty may be fully inquired into I beg that all officers, soldiers, or civilians who know, or who think they know, of any act of mine liable to the charge in question be allowed and invited to make it known to the conrt. I also beg that the proceedings of the court may be open and free to the press from day to day. I have the honor to be, very respectfnlly, yonr most obedient servant, IRVIN McDOWELL, Major-General, Co manding Third Army Corps, Army of Virginia. HEADQUARTERS ARMY, Washington, November 24, 1862. Official copy J. C. KELTON, Assistant Adjutant-General. The official copy of the foregoing letter of General McDowell to the President is appended to the proceedings, marked E.* The recorder then read to the court Special Orders, No. 362, current series, from the Headquarters of the Army, as follows: SPECIAL ORDERS, ~ HDQRS. OF TILE ARMY, ADJUTANT GENERALS OFFICE, No. 362. ~ Washington, November 25, 1862. I. The Court of inquiry instituted in Special Orders, No. 3~O, of November 17, 1862. from the Headquarters of the Array, will make the investigation asked for by Major- General McDowell, U. S. Volunteers, in his letter to the President, date4 September 6, 1862, and will report the facts and an opinion in the case. * * * * * * * By command of Major-General Halleck: E. D. TOWNSEND, Assistant Adjutant-General. The court was cleared for discussion. The court was opened and the following decision respecting a propo- sition for deciding a course of investigation was announced: 1. That General McDowell be informed tbat the court invite and will receive any plan of investigation which he is prepared to submit in writing to be considered by the court. 2. That the members of the court individually digest for considera- tion their several plans of investigation. General McDowell informed the court that by to-morrow he would prepare the plan of investigation, as invited. The court adjourned to meet to-morrow, November 26, 1802, at 11 oclock, a. m. Not reprinted in appendix Page 41 CHAP. XXIV.I GENERAL REPOI~PS. 41 FIFTH DAY. CouRT-RooM, Washington, D. 0., November 26, 186211 a. m. * * * * * * * Major-General McDowell then read to the court the following, being a plan of investigation for the consideration of the court which he was invited by the court to prepare at its last sitting: The original is appended to the proeee(iings and marked F.* WAShINGTON, November 26, 1862. With reference to the intimation that I should submit in writing for the considera- tion of the court a plan of investigation, I heg to state as follows: I was ai~point~d a brigadier- general in the Army on the 14th of May, 1861, and a ma- jor-general of volunteers on the 14th of March, 1b62. Under the former commission I was placed in command of the troops on t.he right bank of the Potomac in the then Department of Northeastern Virginia, and retained that command, nuder Lieutenant-General Scott, until superseded by Major-General McClellan. Soon after, the military departments of Washington and Northeastern Virginia he- ing snppressed, I was given the command of a (livision in the Army of the Potomac, which I retained till promoted to that of the First Army Corps, Army of the Potomac. My next command was that of the Department of the Rappahannock, which was created on the 4th of April, 1862, and had tbr its limits Virginia between the Poto- - mac and the Aquin, Fredericksburg and Richmond Railroad on the cast and the Blue Ridge on the west, and so much of Maryland as is between the Patuxent and the Potomac, including the District of Columbia and the city of Washington. This com- mand was exercised under the orders of the War Department an(l the President.. it was retained till suppressed, together with the Mountain Department, commanded by Major-General Fr~mnont, and the Department of the Shenandoah, commanded by Majir-General Banks, and all the troops in each consolidated into the Army of Vir- ginia, under Major-General Pope. In this army I commanded the Third Army Corps up to the 6th of last September, when I was relieved to undergo this investigation. The details of the disaster of the battle of Ball Run of July 21, 1861, where I com- manded, having become fully known to the country, having been investigated by a joint committee of Congress, and I having since been apI)ointed by the President and confirmed by the Senate a major-general, I have not thought it necessary to ask the court to take up that campaign, and for the further reason that it would tax heavily their time and extend their investigatlo a into questions for which at this distance of time it would be difficult to bring together the necessary witnesses. If, however, the court wish, or should think it proper, I aum ready to go also into that part of my military hist~ry. But, without seeking to limit the court or wishing to limit myself, if hereafter it should seem advisable to extend the investigation, I do not propose now to go further back than shall be necessary to bring before the court so much of my coudnet as a general officer as has beemi under my commission as major-general. This to take in such events as had commenced before and were passing when that com- mission was conferred. The questiomi which stands forth prominently in this case, and which may he assumed as the charge to which all the other points can be regarded as speci~cations, is that of treason. Knowing of no specific act, none having been charged, I have the difficult task of proving a negative. By direct l)roof this is of course impossible, and the only way I know of doing so is by such evidence as shall cause innocence to be inferred. It was with this in view I wrote to the President the letter now before the court, and asked an investigation on such points as would, if the result of the investigation shonid prove favorable, leave no doubts to my prejudice. In addition, therefore, to the (luestion of my general conduct as an executive and administrative officer, I have asked inquiry to be made on those points I supposed may have had in the minds of others a direct bearing on the main question, as fol- lows: 1st. An investigation of my correspondence with the enemys commanders or with any one within the enemys lines. If the present limitation I have indicated he adopted, the on] y correspondence I am aware of was with the secession commander opposite Fredericksburg, which my chief of staff, Colonel Sebriver, can produce. If it is wished or should be wished to go back to my command of the Department Not reprinted in appendix Page 42 42 OPERAtIONS IN N. VA., \V. VA., AND MD. [~nAr. XXIV. of Northeastern Virginia, there will be found some correspondence with the secession commander at Manassas, and which was forwarded at the time to the Headquarters of the Army. I know of no correspondence with any one within the enemys lines, unless it be with Mrs. Robert E. Lee and Mrs. Fitzhugh, who wrote from Raveuswood on some personal matters in June and July, 1~il, and whose letters, with my replies, were forwarded at the time to the Headcinarters of the Army, and are, I suppose, now in the War Dc- partineut. 2d. An investigation of my conduct end the policy pursued by me toward the inha~bit ants of the country occupied by our troops with reference to themselves or their properly. This matter has been severely commented upon throughout the country and in both Houses of Congress, anti may possibly have bad much to do with the charge of trea- son. As to my conduct toward the inhabitants with reference to themselves, I wish to Brigadier-Ceneral ofibr my general ordrs concerning rape, robbery, and pillage, and Haupt, Colonul Schriner, those concerning the laterfercuc with the railroads and telegraph, Maj J ~ XXII ird and the testimony of these ofileers mentioned in the margin. As to m~ conduct toward the inhabitanis with reference to their property, I wish Tirigidier (eneral to offer my general or(lers and instructions concerning contributions H upt CoIa~eI chriver, and the taking of suppliesthe form of certificate to be gi yen for sup- :~ta~ Xrt ra4~Z plies takn ; and as to the particular cases of a Mr. hoffman, whose Major 5inder~an O1(CVt~ -, and that of the flinces around the rnia~ary r fences were ~~ to lie ruarded, N u Breck, u~atant wheat fields of Chatham, or the Lacy house, which had been de adjutant gineril Mj of those Baratow B jar XX hard; sty yed and were or(lere(l to be reidaced, I wish the testimony Captain lodge mentioned in the mar~iu. 3d As to whether or not I hare been faithful to those placed over sue, 4c. For so much of my service as was under him, and particularly with reference to the events which immediately preceded the embarkation of the bulk of his army for the Peninstila, anti the plans, so far as they may be necessary for the investigation, & c., which led to that campaign, I wish the testimony of Major-General McClellan, Gov- ernor Dennison, of Ohio; Brigadier-General Wadsworth, and Colonel Key, aide-dc- camp. For so much of my service as was under him, I wish the testimony of Major-Gen- eral Pope, and of Brigadier-General Roberts, General Welch, cotumissary general New York; Colonel Morgan, aide-do-camp; Lieutenmt-Colonel Smith, First Ohio Cavalry; Colonel Ruggles, assistant adjutant-general; Colonel Schriver, & c and if the court see fit to go back that far, that of Lieutenant-General Scott (by deposition, for I should dislike to trouble him with a disagreeable journey) for so much of my service as was under him. 4th. pIca to whether I ha me foiled through any unworthy personal motives to go to the aid of, or send re-eeforcevnessts to, my brother comm anders. I wish inquiry made as to whether, whilst in co imand of the Department of the Rappabannock, I did or not, so far as my nicans and instructions permitted, operate so as to aid, or endeavor to aid, Major-General McClellan in his caumpaigo on the Penin- sula; whether or not I was active, zealous, and ciii cient in the discharge of the duties Qf my command in preparing it for this object. Whether or not I refused, neglected, or failed to go to him before Richmond when I had my forces at Fredericksbnrr; anti, if so, Xvhy? Whether or not at the last moment I left Fredericksburg for the valley of the Shen- andoah to avoid coming a uder Major-General McClellans command. Whether or not, when the compaign in the Shenandoah Valley was considered as ended I Brigadier-Generam , emideavored to take active measures to go to his aid before Wadoworth, Major Titt Rmchmon d. son, Mane arilIrryt On the foregoing I have mostly to offer the official. correspondence ~ N,~r~tieth between myself amid His Excellency the President, the honorable 5cc- terra; Cotonet miiddte, retary of XVar, Major-General McClellan, and others, and the testi- Ninety-fifth New York. mony of those mentioned in the margin. I wish inquiry made as to whether, when ordered to co-operate with Major-Gen- BritadierOeneraTo eral Fr6mont for the relief of Major-General Banks, I took active Ricketto and Hartaufi measures to do so. and Haute, CotoneT built niy official n~ and wish the Sehrivrr. On this I have to su corrcspon5~ence, evitlence of those mentiommed in the margin. I wish inquiry muade as to whether, in the late Army of Virginia, I at any time neg- lected or failed to go to the aid of, or send re-enforcements to, either Major-General Banks or Major-General Sigel, comrnandimg the Second and First Major-Generats Pope Armmav (orps, Xvheu it was my to do and with and Pigel. Brigadier-Orn- -, duty so, particularly erat iticketta, Colonet reference to General Banks at the battle. of Cedar Mountain and Buchanan, smajor TitIan, Genem-al Sigel at the b or Manassas. Captain, c a it g attic of ~roveion, Itrebo, and Jr ant, Brig- On this I have to submit official papers, and wish the evidence of adier-Generat Rokerta. those mentioned in the margin Page 43 CHAr. XXIV.] GENERAL REPORTS. 43 5th. Finally, I ask an investigation into the charge very generally made against me, and which affects s jously my character, to wit, that of dreakenm-ss. On this I wish the evi(leflce of the following persons (those absent by deposition): Lieutenant General Scott, Major-Generals hunter, Pope, Wool, Sumner, Heinizelman, Keyes, Franklin, 1-looker, Schuyler Hamilton; Brig. Getis. Loreuzo Thomas, Andrew Porter, King, Ricketts, Wadsworth, Marti ndale, Barry, Butterfield, Hancock, I rench, Brannan, Wood, (T. J.,) Augur, Patrick, Hartstiff, Gibbon, Morris (William); Colonel D~lafield, Engineers; Colonel Taylor, commissary-general; Proli~ssors Mahan, Bart- lett, and Church, Military Academy; Colonel Townsend, assistant adjutant-general; Lieutenant-Colonel Clitz, commanding ca(lets; Colonel Schriver, Majors Shiras and J. C. Willard, Messrs. Goold, Hoyt, and Herman Leroy and T. dOrimienlx, New York City; Mr. Henry Burden, Troy, N. Y. ; Mr. Gouverneur Kemble, Cold Spring, N. Y.; W. B. Cozzens, West Point; Mr. J. W. Andrews and Judge Joseph Swan, Columbus, Ohio; Michael Snilivant, Illinois. As far as p~ssible I beg leave to suggest that it may be well to take up the subjects in chronological order. If in the toregoing it shall appear I have omitted anything, I trust to the indulgence of the court to permit nie to add whatever may be wanting. Very respectfully, IRVIN McDOWELL, Afajor- General. The court was cleared. The court was opened, when it was decided to adjourn until to-mor- row, the 27th November, 1862, at 11 oclock a. m. SIXTH DAY. CouRT-l~oo1I, November 27, 186211 a. m. * * * * * * * The court was cleared. The court was opened, and its decision respecting a plan of investiga- tion anfloullced. The court, having carefully considered the foregoing proposition of Major-General McDowell, decide to proceed to the investigation in accordance with the following, making hereafter snch modifications or amplifications as may be suggested by the course of the proceedings and be deemed necessary: To examine and inquire into any and all accusations or imputations of treachery or disloyalty ou the part of General McDowell, and to examine and inquire into his whole conduct ds a general officer since August 24, 1861, being the date on which General McClellan assumed command of the Armny of the Potomac. For the convenience of the investigation the aforementioned time will be divided as follows, being the periods of time when General McDowell commanded: 1st. A division in the Army of the Potomac, nnder Major-General McClellan, from August 24, 1861, to March 13, 1862. 2d. The First Army Corps, Army of the Potomac, under Major-Gen- eral McClellan, from March 13, 1862, to April 4, S62. 3d. The Department of the Rappahannock, nuder the orders of the President and the War Department, from April 4, 1862, to June 26, 1862. 4th. The Third Army Corps, Army of Virginia, under V ujor-General ~Pope, from June 26 to September 6, 1862. lATith a view to a statelnelit of facts and an expression of opinion the court will 1st. Examine the correspondence of General McDowell with the enemys commanders or with any one within the enemys lines Page 44 44 OPEflATIONS IN N. VA., W. VA., AND MD. tOHA~. xxiv. 2d. Examine and inquire into the conduct pursued by General Mc- Dowell toward the inhabitants of the country occupied by United States forces with reference to themselves or their property. 3d. Inquire whether General McDowell has fulfilled his duty as a commander to those placed under him and as a subordinate officer to those placed over him, giving heartily, and to the extent of his capacity, all the snpport in his power. 4th. Inquire whether General McDowell has or has not failed to go to the aid of, or send re-eiiforcements to, a brother commander; and, if he has so failed, for what reasons. The attention of the court was called to an article in a newspaper of which the following is a copy, and the recorder was directed to summon the writer as a witness to appear before the court: 68 SAINT MARKS PLACE, New York, September 24, 1862. General IRVIN MCDOWELL: SIR: I have recently noticed in the New York Herald your modest request, by let- ter, that the President would cause a court to be instituted to investigate charges brought against you by a dying officer, & c. In your letter you also send forth the following challenge: That this subject of my alleged treachery or disloyalty may be fully inquired into, I beg that all officers, soldiers, or civilians who know, or think they know, of any act of mine liable to the charge in question be allowed and invited to make it known to the court. Now, sir, I dont know what frame of mind you was in when you wrote such a defi- ant letter. I cannot say you were then under the influence of liquor, as I have seen you at other times, both iu the field and out, but that you are one of those brazen- faced Christians who bid defiance to truth I have not the least doubt. And as I have no greater hope than yourself that any such court will be called, I will take this opportunity of making a few brief statements of facts, which you may also deny. On the 3d of July, 1861, I was in Ellsworths camp; I there visited and heard the sad stories of many sick soldierssick, purged, and vomited from living on musty crackers, salt fat junk, and bad water. This was all the food allowed them. They offered to pay for vegetables, but the rebels of Alexandria would not sell theni. One man was complained of for plucking an ear of corn. You, as a general, instead of see- ing to the wants of your army, issued an order to the rebels, authorizing them to shoot any man who would trespass upon their property; but you did not make auy provis- ion for the health of your troops. These same men were constantly being shot at while on picket duty, but your peremptory orders were not to return fire upon the rebels. A negro servant, owned by Richard Windsor, went to Ellsworths camp, and in- formed against his master as being a colonel in the rebel army and then about to go to his regiment. The captain in command went with a squad of his men and overtook Colonel Windsor on the road. He had his carpet-bag, containing his uniform, a brace of pistols, dirk, & c., with him. He offered the captain all his money (~5OO) if he would let him off, but the captain was one of thsse who would not be bought. The temper of the rebel then gave way, and he declared that he was a secessionist, and would never be anything else; also that he would soon be out of the scrape. He forthwith wrote a letter to you, general, when y~u promptly sent orders for your friends release, at the same time ordering the brave captain into confinement because he had done what he thought was his duty, but whom you never brought to trial. These, with others, were the causes of mutiny in the regiment, as some may reinem- ber. The men declared they would not stand up to be shot whilst they were not allowed to defend themselves. Is this what you call loyalty? If this alone be true (and I do believe my many authors, both officers and men), I wonder you have escaped hanging. If a drunken man is incapable of holding office I am satisfied you are, for I have seen the proofs at Fairfax Court-House and in Washington, and I am sorry to say there are more of the same sort in command of our army, whose time would be short if we had not such a good-natured man for President. We have the bravest soldiers the world ever saw, and I wish I could say the same of their leaders; but it Is a long lane that has no turning. Your obedient servant, Colonel H. D. GOODWIN Page 45 CHAP. XXIV.] GENERAL REPORTS. 45 The court informed Major-General McDowell that it would receive the depositions of the witnesses named by him on the charge of drunk- enuess. The court instructed the recorder to address a communication to the assistant adjutant-general, Headquarters of the Army, requesting that the following-named witnesses be summoned to appear and give evi- dence before this court, viz: Major-Generals McClellan, Pope, and Sigel; I3ri oadier-Generals Ricketts, Roberts, Hartsuff, ilaupt, Wadsworth; 0 Cols. E. Sebriver, Key, aide-de-camp, Morgan, aide-de-camp, Lyle, Nine- tieth Pennsylvania Volunteers, Biddle, Ninety-fifth New York Volun- teers, iRuggles, assist ant adjutant-general, Buchanan, U. S. Army; Lieutenant-Colonels Myers, assistant quartermaster, Smith, First Ohio Cavalry; Majrs. J. C. Willard, Sanderson, commissary of subsistence, S. Breek, assistant adjutantgeneral, S. Th Barstow, assistant adjutant- general, Tilison, Maine Artillery; Captains Krebbs, Jewett, Cutting, and lodge The court adjourned to meet to-morrow, the 28th instant, at 11 oclock a. m. SEVENTH DAY. CoURT-RooM, 467 SOUTH FOURTEENTH STREET, Washington, D. 0., November 28, 186211 a. m. * * * * * * * The recorder stated that, in compliance with instructions of the court at its last sitting, he addressed the following communication to the Headquarters cL the Army. CoURT-ROOM, 467 SouTH FOURTEENTH STREET, Waehington, D. 0., November 27, 1862. ASSISTANT ADJUTANT- GENERAL, Headqitarters of the Army, Washington, D. C.: COLONEL: I am instructed by the court of inquiry convened pursuant to Special Orders, No. 330, current series, from the Headquarters of the Army, to request that the following-named witnesses may be summoned to give evidence before the court, viz: Major-Generals McClellan, Pope, and Sigel; Brigadier-Generals Ricketts, Roberts, Hartsuft, Haupt, Wadsworth, Augur (if he can be spared), and Welch, commissary- general, of New York; Cols. E. Schriver, aide-de-camp, Key, aide-dc-camp, Morgan, aide-dc-camp, Ruggles, assistant adjutant-general, Lyle, Ninetieth Pennsylvania Vol- unteers, and Biddle, Ninety-fifth New York Volunteers; Lieutenant-Colonels Myers, assistant quartermaster, and Smith, First Ohio Cavalry; Majrs- J. C. Willard, San- derson, commissary of subsistence, S. Breck, assistant adjutant-general, S. F. Barstow, assistant adjutant-general, and Tilison, Maine Artillery; Captains Krebbs, Jewett, Cutting, and Ilodge. I am, very respectfully, your obedient servant, L. H. PELOUZE, Lieutenant-ColosieL and Recorder. To the foregoing an answer was received as follows: HEADQUARTERS OF THE ARMY, Wa8hiagton, D. C., November 28, 1862. Lient. Col. Louis H. PELOUZE, Recorder Court Inquiry: COLONEL: In reply to your communication of the 27th I am directed by the Gen- eral-in-Chief to authorize you to summon (paragraph 890, Army Regniations) the fol- lowing-named officers, viz: Major-Generals McClellan, Pope, and Sigel ; Brigadier- Generals Ricketts, Roberts, Hartsuff, Haupt, and Wadsworth, and Commissary-General Welch, of New York; Colonels Schriver, Key, Morgan, Ruggles; Lieutenant-COlQU~l Smith, and Major ~Brec Page 46 46 OPERATIONS IN N. VA., W. VA., AND MD. [CHAr. XXIV. The other officers called for by the court are in the field, or are supposed to be in charge of duties from which they cannot be spared. Very respectfully, your obedient servant, J. C. KELTON, Assistant Adjutant- General. The recorder stated that, in pursuance of the instructions of the court of yesterday, he summoned Col. R. D. Goodwill to appear as a witness before this court, as follows: CounT-RooM, 467 SOUTH FOURTEENTH STEE1~T, Washington, D. C., Norember 27, 1862. Col. R. D. GOODWIN, No. 68 Saint Marks Place, New York City: I am instructed to summon you as a witness, to appear l)efore the court of inqniry in the case of Mujor-Gencral McDowell, U. S. Volunteers, now in session in this city, and convened pnrsuant to Special Orders, No. 350, from the Headquarters of ihe Army, (lated Adjutant-Generals OdicO, Washington, D. C., November 17, 1862. I am, very respectfully, your obedient servant, L. H. PELOUZE, Lieutenant- Colonel and Becorder. The court was cleared. The court was opened. The recorder was directed to a(ldress a communication to the Head- quarters of the Army, requesting that the following official records be furnished the court for examination: 1st. Those pertaining to the division of the Army of the Potomac, commanded by General McDowell, from August 24, 1861, till March 13, 1862. 2d. Those pertaining to the First Army Corps, Ar my of the Potomac, commanded by Geni~ral McDowell, from March 13, 1862, till April 4, 1862. 3d. Those pertaining to the I)epartment of the Ilappahannock, com- manded by General McDowell, from April 4, 1862, till June 26, 1862. 4th. Those pertaining, to the Third Army Corps, Army of Virginia, commanded by General McDowell, from June 26, 1862, till Sc ptember 6, 1862. General McDowell was informed that the court would receive for ex- amination the official papers referred to in his communication to the court, dated November 26, 1862, and the recorder was instructed to call for the same. General McDowell stated he would be pleased if the court would add a fifth clause under the general heading, which embodies the subject- matter for immvestigationa clause that will embrace the subject of drunkenness. The question was discussed in open court, and General McDowell in- formed that the plan of iuvestigation as proposed by the court would not exclude evidence on the charge of (lr unkenness, and that if in the course of the investigation such additional clause should be deemed necessary the court would have it adopted. General McDowell here requested that Colonel Schriver be first called, to give evidence on the matter of correspondence with the enemys com- manders. Colonel SCHRIYER, ai(le-de-camp, a witness, was duly sworn. Question by General MCDOWELL. State your rank and position on General McDowells staff and how long you have been with him. Answer. I am colonel and chief of his staff. I hwrc been with him about eight ~months, ~ncl in the capacity of chief of Page 47 CHAP. XXIV.] GENERAL REPORTS. 47 Question by General MCDOWELL. Lay before the court all the cor- respondence had between Major-General McDowell and any of the enemys commanders. The witness handed the recorder a l)al)er, which the witness stated was a letter from Brig. Gen. J. R. Anderson to General McDowell, dated May 18, 1862, which letter was rea(l by the recorder as follows, and which is appended to these proceedings and marked G:* HEADQUARTERS Ai~r~ or THE RAPPAHANNOCK, May 18, 1862. Maj. Gen. InvIN MCDOWELL, Commanding U. S. Forces: GENERAL: You are 1)erhal)s informed of the circumstances connected with the death of the Hon. Robert E. Scott, of Fauquier County, one of the most respected. and renowned citizens of this Commonwealth. his widow and her family of small children are left in a painful situation. I seuti one of my aides, Captain Worthington, under a flag of truce, to inquire whether you will permit her brother, Dr. Lyons, to pass your lines to her residence near Warrenton, and to bring her, with her family, within my lines. If so, will you allow me to scud an escort of five mounted men, armed, with Dr. Lyons, or woul(l you prefer to send an escort, all of course under a safe-con- duct from you to go and return. Awaiting your reply, I have the honor to subscribe myself, general, your obedient servant, J. R. ANDERSON, Brigadier- General, Commanding. One private accompanies Captain Worthington. ~. R. A. Colonel Schriver, the witness, here presented to the court a book, as containing General McDowells answer to the foregoing letter, which answer is dated lleadqnarters l)epartment of the Rappahannock, oppo- site Fredericksbnr~, Va., May 18, 1862, and reads as tollows: HEADQUARTERS DEPARTMENT OF TIlE RAPPAILANNOCK, Opposite Frc(lerieksberg, V ., May 18, 1862. Brig. Gen. JosEPH R. ANDERSON, Commanding near ]Ie8sapoaaX GENERAL: I have just received your comumunication of this date. It was only to- day I heard of the death to which you refer. It gave tue great pain, and I assure you it is with real distress I cannot find it consistent with my duty to grant your request for Dr. Lyons to return after ~)assing thromigh tny lines. He may come within them and go to Mis. Scotts and bring her and her tanmily to Fredericksburg, if that will in any way be mmgreeable to them and himn, amid I will sea he has safe conduct in doing so; i)ut niore than this I am unable to grant. I regret to have detained yonr aide- dc-camp so long aimd to have put him to some unnecessary inconvenience. It grew out of the negligence or ignoramice of umy trooL)s. I have the honor to be, general, very respectfully, your most obedient servant, IRVIN McDOWELL, Major-General, Commanding. The witness stated that reply was sent at the time of its date, and is recor(led in the book of letters kept at the headquarters. (The book submitted.) The witness here snbniittcd a second letter, dated May 19, 1862, from the same commander to Major-General McDowell, which was read by the recorder as follows, and is t~pp~nded to the proceedings and marked II :* Not repritited in appendix Page 48 48 OPERATIONS IN N. VA., W. VA., AND MD. [CHAP. XXIV. HEADQUARTERS ARMY OF THE RAPPAHANNOCK, May 19, 1862. Maj. Gen. IRVIN MCDOWELL, Commanding U. S. Forces: GENERAL: Your communication of 18th current was duly received. I beg you will excuse me for troubling you further upon this subject. In my brief note of yesterday I omitted seine delicate details of the case, supposing that the usages of civilization would guarantee to the widow of a fallen citizen a passport to the home of her kindred. It is, however, proper before you make a final disposition of the ap- plication that I should make you acquainted with facts which I think invite to it the sympathies of our humanity. The laruented Scott was not connected with the military service of his country, but was, as I am informed, quietly residing on his farm, when he was called to unite with his neighbors of like status to defend their doauiciles from the depredations of an un- authorized marauding party from your army. In a conflict with these assassins he fell in defense of all that xxas (leaicst to 1cm 1 say this party was unauthorized, be- cause I ani sure such a n utare on non comb itants would never receive your sanc- tion, and am satisfied you will cuu~ an investi(ration to be made and the guilty par- ties to be punished if the facts h iv hem conectix reported to nie. But to icy immediate subjcct Lx the dcath ot her husband I learn that Mrs. Scott is left alone with her childicu thc I imdx of her husband having fled from that sed- tion. She expects soon to give bir~l to a child ~xho xviii never be privileged to be- hold the manly form of its gifted. nndcicd I rth r It is natural, general, that tins entle rcfined deeply bereaved lady would anx- iously desire to return to her unfix e city to receux e the consolation and friendly offices of her fanilly in the day of her deep tribulation. I respectfully leave the case in your hands, adding an extract from a letter just received from her father: I received yesterday a few lines from my poor child, begging imploringly for relief. I have not yet been able to communicate the irraugement proposed in your letter of yesterday to the family, but think I would be safe in saying it would be impracti- cable: First, because the iniportaut point with f lie afflicted lady is to be restored to her family, whilst in Fredericksburg she would be among strangers. Secondly,, it would seem that her brother would not be allowed to return to his home through your lines, though I dont think you design that construction to be p1 aced upon your letter. This letter will be carried by one of my aides-de-eamp, Captain Worthington. I have the honor to be; general, your humble and obedient servant, J. R. ANDERSON, Brigcdtcr- General, Commanding. The witness stated that the reply to the comumun~ca.tion just read is recorded in the same letter-book, and dated iVhiy 21, 1862, which re- ply the recorder read as folloxvs: HEADQUARTERS DEPARTMENT OF TIlE RAPPAHANNOCK, Oppo~ite Fredericksburg, Va., May 21, 1862. Brig. Gen. JOSEPh R. ANDERSON, Commanding nec, Massaponax: GENERAL: I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the 19th instant. I am fully disposed to do whatever is in my power for the relief of the lady to whom you refer. If, as I understand, she is noxv near Warrenton, I will, if it should be agreeable to her and her family, haxe the general commanding near that place see that suitable transportation for her and her childrena separate car, if pos- sibleis l)rovuded by railroad to Alexandria, auid thence by steaniboat and railroad to this place, and will see that she is serif in a proper way hence to your headquar- ters. To insure this being done in a manner as little trying to the lady as possible, and to guard as far as may be against inconvenience to her, I xviii send an officer of icy personal staff to see that this is carried out and to your lines. to accompany her from Warrenton You cannot be more anxious than I am that this war should be conducted with the least anuount of suffering to the innocent and the non-combatants. I know of few, if any, who labor as incessantly and untiringly to this end as I have done and am doing. I take some l)leasuire in the fact that the bitterest of the inhabitants of Fredericksburg are in candor constrained to admit the ~ood conduct and discipline of the troops now with them Page 49 Ca& ir. XXIV.1 GENERAL REPORTS. 49 The letters you sent me for parties in Fredericksburg havo been sent to the mayor for distribution. I have the honor to be, general, very respectfully, your most obedient servant, IRViN McDOWELL, Major- General, Commanding. The witness here presented a communication from Brig. Gen. Joseph R. Anderson to Major-General McDowell, dated headquarters, May 22, 1862, which the recorder read as follows, and which is appended to the proceedings. and marked I * IIEADQUAIITEES, May 22, 1862. Maj. Gen. IRVIN MCDOWELL, Commanding: GENERAL: I avail myself of the flag of truce this morning to acknowledge receipt of your courteous letter of yesterdays date. The~lan you propose for bringing Mrs. Scott and her famV tn this neighborhood I will at once communicate to her relatives at Richmond. I have the honor to remain, general, your very obedient servant, J. Th ANDERSON, Brigadier-General, Commanding. Question by General MCDOWELL. Were or not the letters for per- sons in Fredericksburg, alluded to in my letter to General Anderson of May 21, 1862, received from him opened, and were they examined at my headquarters before being sent to the mayor for distribution? Answer. They were. This same commander, General Anderson, wrote a letter con- cerning Generals Buckner and Tilghman, dated 22d May, 1862. General McDowell replied, and his letter is recorded on page 208 in the letter-book submitted to the court. The recorder then read the letter: HEADQUARTERS DEPARTMENT OF THE RAPPAHANNOCK, Opposite Fredericksburg, Va., May 22, 1862. Brig. Gen. JOSEPH R. ANDERSON, Commanding near assaponax: GENERAL: I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of yesterdays date, inclosing a letter concerning Generals Buckner and Tilghman. I have no knowledge whatever of the treatment shown these gentlemen, and am nuable to state anything concerning them. The letter you have inclosed will be immediately transmitted to Washington, whence only authentic information on the point in question can come. As soon as I receive any it will be immediately communicated to you. I have the honor to be, general, very respectfully, your most obedient servant, IRVIN McDOWELL, Major- General, Commanding. The witness continued: On the 24th May General McDowell nddressed to General J. R. Anderson a letter on the same subject, which is recorded at page 2t2 in the letter-book. The recorder read the letter as follows: HEADQUARTERS DEPARTMENT OF THE RAPPAHANNOCK, Opposite Fredericksburg, Va., May 24, 1862. Brig. Gen. JOSEPH R. ANDERSON, Commanding near Massaponax: GENERAL: I have just received the following from the Secretary of War: You may answer that Generals Buckner and Tilghman are not confined in dun- geons. I have directed a specific report to be made as to how they are confined, which when received will be transmitted to you. I have only to add that when that report shall he received I will lose no time in communicating with you again on the subject. I have the honor to be, very respectfully, your obedient servant, IRVIN McDOWELL, Major- General, Commanding. * Not reprinted in appendix. 4 R RVOL XI Page 50 50 OPERATIONS IN N. VA., W. VA., AND MD. [CHAP. XXIV. The witness continued: That is all the correspondence I am aware of that took place between General Mc- Dowell and the Confederate commanders. Question by the COURT. Do you know, or have you reason to suspect, that any correspondence of any kind was held by General McDowell with the eneniv while you were on his staff not included in that which has just been produced by you? Answer. I know of none and have no reason to suspect that any existed. 1. Question I)y the COURT. Can von state when you entered on the (intics of chief of staff of General McDowell? Answer. General McDowell issued an ornler on the 28th March, 1862, announcing me as chief of staffI think between the 16th and 28th March, 1862. 2. Question by the COURT. When was the record of the letters in the letter-book of General McDowell made with reference to their date? An~wer. Sometimes letters are recorded at their date, sometimes days after. I cannot at~swcr about those particular letters, whether they ~vere recorded irninedi- ately or not. 3. Question by the COURT. In respect to the receipt of open letters from the enemys lines and distributed through the mayor of Fredericks- burg, state whether such practice was according to the usages of war. Answer. I do not know the usages of war on that subject, but I have heard that commanders in our Army in this contest have sent open letters to their address. 4. Question by the COURT. By whom were the letters received from or forwarded to parties within the enemys lines examined? Answer. By General McDowell or some of his staff. 5. Question by the COURT. Was any record made of such letters; and, if so, what? Answer. I am not aware of any. Col. JOSEPH TAYLOR, commissary-general of subsistence, was duly sworn. Question by General MCDOWELL. Were you acquainted with the late Robert B. Scott, of Fanquier County, Virginia? If so, state what char- acter he bore, whether a Union man or secessionist, where he lived, how he died, and in what place he left his family. Answer. I knew Mr. Robert Scott intimately for years. I regarded him as a Union man, and have talked with him frequently on that subject. He was residing about 5 miles from Warrenton, Fauquier Couuty, Virginia. I do not know when or where he was killed. I have seen letters from his family dated at the homestead since his death. The court had no questions to ask this witness. Colonel Schriver the first witness before the court, stated that since giving his testimony certain other matters had been recalled to memory which should form part of the testimony required from him. Colonel Schriver was re- quested to have the same put in form for reception by the court tQ~ morrow. The court adjourned to meet to-mo~row~ 29th Koyember, 1862 Page 51 CHAP. XXIV.] GENERAL REPORTS. 51 EIGHTH DAY. CouRT-i~ooM, Washington, D. 0., November 29, 1862. * * * * * * * The recorder stated that, in compliance with the instructions of the court, he addressed a communication to the Headquarters of the Army, as follows: COURT-ROOM, 467 SOUTH FOURTEENTH STREET, Washington, D. C., November 28, 1862. ASSISTANT ADJUTANT-GENERAL, Headquarters of the Army, Washington, D. C.: COLONEL: I am instructed by the court of inquiry convened pursuant to Special Orders, No. 350, current series, from the Headquarters of the Army, to request that the following official records be furnished for examination by the court: 1st. Those nertailling to the division of the Army of the Potomac commanded General McDowell, from 24th August, 1861, to the 13th March, 1~62. by 2d. Those pertaining to the First Army Corps, Army of the Potomac, commanded by General McDowell, from 13th March, 1862, till the 4th of April, 1862. 3d. Those pertaining to the Department of the Rappahanunek, commanded by Gen- eral Dowell, from 4th April, 1862, till 26th June, 1862. 4th. Those pertaining to the Third Army Corps, Army of Virginia, commanded by General McDowell, from 26th June, 1862, to the 6th September, 1862. I have the honor to be, very respectfully, your obedient servant L. H. PELOUZE, Lieutenant- Colonel and Recorder. Mr. WILLIAM D. WALLACH, a witness, was duly sworn. Question by General MCDOWELL. Did yon know J~obert E. Scott, of Fauquier County, Virginia ~ If so, state what was his character, Union man or secessionist, the manner of his death, and the place (ex- posed or otherwise) in which his widow was left at his death. Answer. I (lid know Robert E. Scott for between thirty and forty years before lie was killed. He was universally regarded, not only as a gentleman of high personal character and great public utility, but as the Union leader in the State of Virginia. He was understood to bave been perhaps the last man in the Virginia Convention that adopted the ordinance of secession to submit to its enactment or adoption, declining, if I am rightly informed, even to sign the or(linance as a member of that body. After its aioption be returned to his estate in Fauquier, and I lost sight of him personally, thonok it was ~vell un(lerstood in his county and in mine, a(1~oining each other, that while submitting to the rule of secession in arms, he did not change his sentiments with reference to the entire impropriety of tile act. It is notorious in the counties of Fauquier and Culpeper that from the time of his return to Richmond until his mur- der be was continua fly under the surveillance of the authorities, according to the common understand mo in the county in -- he resided and those 0 which surrounding him. I-Ic was killed under the following circumstances: A small party of d~.-erters from the Union forces then in Fauquier County were roaming that region with arms in their hands, entering the houses, marauding and ravishing in the neighborhood. They had ravished two respectable females residing within a few miles from Mr. Scotts home. He hearing of it sent a message to the nearest Union command, urging the apprehension of these desperadoes, and at the same time starte(l, accompanied by his overseer and a half-dozen neighbors, and in attempting to apprehend these men they shot him and killed him. His death caused infinite con- sternation mu the community, as the marauders escaped, and did more to destroy the remaining Union feeling existing in that section of Virginia than amiy other event of the war that had occurred up to that time. The court had no questions to ask this witness. Col. Em~IUNI~ SCHRIVER, aide-de-camp, a witness, was recalled. Question by the COURT. Have you examined the book of letters and, ~f so, on what pages are those to be found to which the attention of th Page 52 52 OPERATiONS IN N. VA., W. VA., AND MD. (CHir. XXIV. court was called by you yesterday, after your testimony was con- chided? Answer. They are respectively numbered140, page 173; number 153, page 177; number 230, page 213, in the official letter-book of Headquarters Department of the Rappahaunock. The court was closed with a view of examining said letters ere they were received. The court was opened and the following decision announced: That the evidence contained in said papers is immaterial to the mat- ter for investigation before the court and would not be received. Question by General MCDOWELL. Lay before the court General Orders, Nos. 12 and 19, Headquarters Department of the iRappahannock. The recorder read General Orders, Nos. 12 and 19, from Headquar- ters Department of the IRappahannock, datedthe former dated oppo- site Fredericksburg, Va., May 16, 1862, the latter Front Royal, Va., June 5, 1862, as follows: GENERAL ORDERS, HEADQUARTERS DEPARTMENT OF THE RAPPAHANNOCK, No. 12. 5 Opposite Fredericksburg, Ye., Allay 16, 1862. It has come to the knowledge of the major-general commanding that some of the few men among us who are evilly disposed have attempted the commission of a crime which will justly draw upon the troops universal condemnation. It is due to the good men of the army, to the service, to the counfry, to the sisters, daughters, mothers, and wives of all that the stain be effaced by the infliction of the only fit punishment due such acts. That we are here with arms in our hands, and that the people have no practical redress from our wrong-doings but heightens our obligation to protect the helpless. That this may be done promptly and effectively military commissions will be instituted in each division for the punishment of all crimes committed by any one in the military service or by any one following the army, and which may not be cognizable by courts-martial. For ordinary offenses or crimes such commissions will be detailed from the roster in the same way as a court-martial; but whenever it shall be deemed necessary by the division commander, or orders to that eflbct shall be received by him from the head- quarters, a special military commission, to consist in each division of the brigade com- manders, the chiefs of the division artillery and cavalry, and two of the regimental commanders, or as many, not less than a majority, as can be immediately convened, will be assembled to try such cases, as, from the persons implicated or the crime coni- mitted, the interests of the service shall require to be disposed of in a summary manner. The form of the proceedings in the case of an ordinary commission shall be the same as that of court-martial. The form of proceedings in the case of a special com- mission will be such a~ the division commander may determine; but will not be such as will interfere with summary justice. The punishment for rape will be death; and any violence offered a female,, white or colored, with the evident intent or purpose to commit a rape, will be considered as one, and punished accordingly. In cases of conviction and sentence for rape, as above defined, the division com- mander, if he approve the findings and sentence, will order immediate execution by hanging, or by shooting if the former should not be convenient. That the order may have full effect, all good men in the army, whether officers, non-commissioned officers, musicians, or privates, and all who may be in any way connected with or following the army are especially charged and entreated to do whatever in them lies to bring this crime to its merited punishment. By command of Major-General McDowell: SAML. BRECK, Assistant Adjutant-General. GENERAL ORDERS, HEADQUARTERS DEPARTMENT OF THE RAPPAHANNOCK, No. 19. $ Front Royal, Va., June 5, 1562. Any person detected in placing obstructions on the track of any of the railroads used by the United States for military purposes, or of injuring the bridges, or doing anything with the object of interrupting military trains, ~vill be shot on the spot. Residents in the vicinity of accidents occurring from hostile act will beheld responsible in their persons and property, and will not be suffered to remain passive, but must use vigi- lance and personal influence to prevent injury. The same will apply to injury to the military telegraph lines. ~3y command of Major-General McDowell: SAML. BRECK, 4ssistant Adjutant-General Page 53 CHAP. xxrv.i GENERAL 11EPOR1~S. Question by General MCDOWELL. Lay before the court Special Orders, No. 65, and paragraph 2, General Orders, No. 10, Headquar- ters Department of the Rappahannock. Answer. The order is recorded in the general-order book, page 116, and special-order book, page 135, submitted to the court. The recorder read the order, as follows: SPECIAL ORDERS, ~ HEADQUARTERS DEPARTMENT OF THE RAPPAHANNOCK, No. 65. ~ Opposite Fredericksburg, Va., May 13, 1862. In visiting this afternoon the ~raves of those who fell in the advance on this place the major-general commanding was pained at seeing that in paying a tribute of re- spect to their companions some of the men of his command had despoiled a neighbor- ing tombthat of a woman. Such conduct is undonbtedly to be ascribed to nothing worse than thoughtlessness; yet how thoughtless to pay respect to the dead of to-day by a desecration of the dead of yesterday. Can the graves of these brave men be re- spected hereafter when it is seen that their friends have,not respected that of her who sleeps beside them? Brigadier-General Augur will detail a party of bricklayers and others, and will obtain the necessary materials for fully restoring the tombs which have been injured, and will at the same time have suitable head-pieces placed over the graves of our men, giving full names, residence, company, and regiment, and inelose the little cem- etery neatly and substantially. By command of Major-General McDowell: SAML. BRECK, Assi8tant Adjutant- General. GENERAL ORDERS, HEAD QUARTERS DEPARTMENT OF THE RAPPAHANNOCK, No. 10. 5 Opposite Frederick8burg, May 10, 1862. * * * * * * II. The colored fugitives who have sought the protection of the army will be taken up for the public service, and will be enrolled and registered as heretofore prescribed. This is made necessary to relieve, as far as possil)le, the troops from labor at depots and on railroads. These fugitives will wear a uniform badge, to be furnished by the quartermasters department, made to designate them in gangs of tens and hundreds. By command of Major-General McDowell; SAML. BRECK, Assistant Adjutant- General. Question by General MCDOWELL. Lay before the court General Orders, No. 8 and No. 18, and form of certificate ordered to be given for property taken for the public service. Answer. General Orders, No. 5, is found on page 115, general-order book, and Gen- eral Order, No. 18, on page 121, general-order book, and the form of certificate may be found on the same page. These orders-and form read, as follows: GENERAL ORDERS, HEAD QUARTERS DEPARTMENT OF THE RAPPAHANNOCK, No. 8. $ Opposite Fredericksbury, May 7, 1862. The following is announced as the only recognized method of taking supplies of al descriptions, such as forage, provisions, animals, tools, & c., from citizens. The authority of the division commander, or brigade commander of troops not belonging to division, must first be obtained; nothing will be taken without this authority. Receipts for the property taken must be made out in duplicate, according to prescribed form, and signed; one copy to be given to the person from whom the articles are taken and one to he forwarded at the end of the month, with an abstract of all re- ceipts given during the month, to the chief of the staff department for which the supplies are taken, at these headquarters. The only persons authorized to sign the above receipts are the division and brigade quartermasters and commissaries and persons specially authorized to do so from these headquarters. Blank forms will be furnished on application to the chief quartermaster of this department. By command of Major-General McDowell: SAML. BRECK, Assistant 4djtstant-General Page 54 54 OPERATIONS IN N. VA., W. VA., AND MD. [CHAP. XXIV. Llnclosure.] GENERAL ORDERS, HEADQUARTERS DEPARTMENT OF THE RAPPAHANNOCK, No. 1t~. Front Royal, Va., June 3, 1362. There has been recently so much irregularity on the subject of levying contribu- tions, and so much misconception on the part of many commanders and other officers as to their powers aud duties in this respect, thst it has beconie necessary to call the attention of all concerned to the subject, to the end that the gross abuses which have been committed may cease. Paragraph 491, Arrnrj Regulations. When the wants of the Army absolutely re- quire it, and in other cases under special instructions from the War Department, the general commanding the Army may levy cormtributions in money or kind in the en- emys country occupied by tioups. No other commander can levy such contributions without written authority from the general cotumnander-in-chief. This paragraph applies to domestic as well as to foreitra enemies. No other com- mander than the gemmeral-in-chief of an army can levy contributions without time written authority froum said gCneral-in-chief. Yet not only do other commanders, but corporals and privates even nmmdertake to assume the power without authority from army one. Such conduct is siurple pillage, theft, or robbery. When in the judgment of the major-general co urmnndirmg the wants of the arumy under his command require it, he will exercmseas he has already most freely donethis extraordinary power, and will prescribe fnlly by whormm, when, in what way, to what extent, aud in what nature these contributions shall he levied. The allowance of the Government to the Arumy, issued through the quartermasters aimd subsistence departmermts, are to be ob- tained by commanders, by requisitions on the proper officers of these departments; and if they have not the supplies to meet these reqmiisitions they will apply to their superiors in the departmnemmt, aird the articks will be furnished, if on hand, if the re- qui~ition be approved, or means will be taken to procure them. No one has the right to take private property for l)tmblic uses than those whom tire mnnjor-general command- ing may authorize. Those who take for private uses will be tried by a military com- mission for stealing. Commanders are especially enjoined to protect growing crops, and not suffer timeum to be trodden down save in eases of manifist necessity. No one has a right to enter private Imouses, and thus disturb non-combatants, women, and children. The al)ove, without in any way wishing to seem even to interfere or sug- gest to others time course to be pursued in respect to the subject here in questiomm, will apply to the troops of the Department of the Rappahannock, whether within or be- yond the department limuit. By command of Major-General McDowell: SAML. BRECK, Assistant Adjutant-General. DEPARTMENT OF THE RAPPAHANNOCK, , 1862. This certifies that there has been received from the farm of the follow ing irrilitary supplies: . Such supplies will be accounted for on the property re- turns of , quartermaster, U. S. Army, for the quarter of . The owner of said property will be entitled to be paid for the same after the suppression of the rebellion, upon proof that he has, from this date, conducted himself as a loyal citizen of the Urmited States, and has not given aid or courfort to th~ rebels. Done under authority of Quartermaster. The recorder here stated to the court that he believed he had as much matter as he would have time to record. The cotirt authorized the recorder to employ a citizen as clerk at a daily compeiisatioti to be fixed at a tuture period. The recorder was directed to summon Professor Teift, now or late chaplain of a Massachusetts regiment, whose name has been commu- nicated to the court as having knowledge of facts inculpating General McDowell. The court adjourned to meet on Monday, December 1, 1862, at 11 oclock a. m Page 55 I Cnir. XXIV.l GENERAL REPORTS. 55 NINTH DAY. CouttT-iRoowt, Washington, D. C., December 1, 1862k 4p * * * * * * Col. EDMLT~D SCHEIVER, a witness, was recalled. Question by General MCDOWELL. Lay before the court your letter of Juiie 4, 1862, to Brigadier-General Shields. Answer. The letter is numbered 270, and is found on page 233 official letter-book, dated Headquarters Department of the Rappahannock, Front Royal, Va., June 4, 1862, which the witness read, as fellows: HEADQUARTERS DEPARTMENT OF THE RAPPAHANNOCK, Front Royal, Va., June 4, 1862. Maj. Gen. JAMES SHIELDS, Commending Division: GENERAL: In trausmittin~ the inclosed general order~ I am directed l)y the major- general commanding to convey to you authority, while your division is acting at a distance from these ieadquarters, to take such supplies as the troops may need; but in doing so the regular receipts issued tor the government of the supplying (impart- nients are to be strictly observed. It is impossible to snpply your command with forage, and yen mnst rely upon graz- ing for the support of the animals. The same freshet which is delaying your march has taken away both bridges in tha Shenandoah, and those in rear of us are reported as going also. This may endanger our supplies. Subsistence for your army has been supplied here to your quartermas- ter for transportation. Very respectfully, your obedient servant, ED. SCHRIVER, Golonel and Chuf of Staff. P. 8.There is no communication with Generals Fr6mont 01 Banks. Question by General McDowELL. Where was General Shields at the time this letter was written ~ Answer. Near Luray and up the valley of the Shenandoah. Question by General MCDOWELL. Do you, or not, know if supplies for the army were not frequently and largely ordered to be taken from the inhabitants of the couiitry in which we were operating~? Answer. I do. Question by General Mcl)owELL. What knowledge have you that supplies have, been ordered to be taken in large quantities from the inhabitants for the use of the army? Answer. I have heard General McDowell give such orders repeatedly and I have given them myself in his name. Question by the COURT. Was there any account kept at your head- quarters of supplies drawn from the inhabitants ot the country for the sul)port of General McDowells command ~ it you answer yes, where is that account? Answer. I know that orders were given to chiefs of Ihe supplying departments to keel) such accounts, but 1(10 not know that it was done regularly or that the accounts would show all the property that. ~vas seize(t under their direct ion. There were some accounts kept, l)ut I (10 not know that Ihey were kept regularly, for want of returns from the subordinates or froni those who muale the seizures. Question by the CouRT. XVhat attention, if any, was given by Gen- eral McDowell or any member of his staff under him to compel the re * No. 18, of June 3, p. 54 Page 56 56 OPERATIONS IN N. VA., W. VA., AND MD. (CHAP. XXIV. turns or to ascertain what certificates had been given by his commis- saries or quartermasters pursuant to his General Orders, Kos. 8 and 18? Answer. I have repeatedly myself called attention of the chief quartermasters and chief commissaries to the importance of a compliance with the requirements of those orders, and they as frequently replied by stating the difficulties of getting reports and returns of the articles seized. This was done by General McDowells direction. Question by the COURT. Have those orders in respect to returns of proI)erty seized ever beeu complied with? Answer. Yes, in both of the supplying departments. Question by the COURT. Do you know whether General McDowell gave attention to the sanitary condition and comfort of the troops under his corn inand, by personal inspection, by orders, or in any other manner? And, if yes, state what he has done on the subjects of which you have knowledge. Answer. I know that General McDowell was solicitous on that subject, and by orders and communications to the commanders and the staff he enjoined upen them atten- tion to the subject, and by his own inspection or through his own staff officers he ascertained the condition of the command in that respect. Question by the COURT. State what was the condition of the troops under General McDowell in this respect while you were chief of staff. Answer. It varied; sometimes perfectly satisfactory in my opinion; at other times, after forced or rapid marches, men suffered, and of course were more or less sick. Question by the COURT. When these circumstances of unusual sick- ness occurred did General McDowell give any special attention to the subject; and, if so, what? Answer. Whenever it was necessary, directions were given to the medical depart- ment as to the disposition to be made of the sick and of providing necessaries for their comfort. Question by the COURT. Did General McDowell make the instruc- tion and discipline of his troops the subject of his personal attention? And, if yes, state in what manner, by what means, and to what extent. General McDowell here stated that he had endeavored to bring the evidence before the court in the order adopted by the court as its plan of investigation. The question has bearing on the fourth clause of said plan, and as yet the testimony on the second clause has not been exhausted. General McDowell stated to the court, however, that he did not make these remarks as an objection to the mode of proceeding, but that the witnesses present were intended to give evidence on matter pertaining to the second clause. The court was cleared. The court was opened, and the following decision announced by the recor(ler: The court are desirous to pursue, as far as they can properly do so, the general course indicated by them for the examination. Embarrass- ment has arisen in the case in the absence of charges, specifications, witnesses, and judge advocate. When, therefore, a witness is on the stand the court will make such pertinent examination on the whole subject as will assist them in finding and procuring material for further investigation, and will call forth answers to matters arising in the case which are suggested by the witnesses testimony and the subjects in- troduced. Answer. He did, by the issuing of verbal and written orders to the commanders under him, and by inspections, with a view to the enforcement of those orders an Page 57 CHAP. XXI~.J GENERAL REPORTS. 57 instrnctions, by the correction of abuses on tlie spot when they came to his knowledge, entering into minutia~ not nufrequently himself, when other meansthe usnal means did not effect the object desired. Question by the COURT. How did the troops under General MeDow- elis command compare with the troops of the other Corps which you have seen in respect to their instruction and discipline? Answer. I have had no opportunity of making comparisons, except when a division, for instance, joined his corps from abroad and became part of his command. These I fonnd invariably inferior in every respect, as far as I could judge, to his command. I mean by that his command before they joined. Question by the COURT. Have you any knowledge that his treatment of his officers or men was the occasion of any complaint against him by them or any of them? Answer. I cannot call to mind any cases at present. Question by the COURT. Have you been present with him at engage. ments with the enemy; and, if so, state when and where? State fully. Answer. I have, at the battle of Cedar Monntain, on the 9th of August, I think; battle of Bull Run, on the 29th and 30th, I think they were, and three days engage- ment, more or less, at the Rappahannock Station some time in August. Qnestion by the COURT. Have you knowledge of any complaints made by his officers or men as to his conduct in battle; and without now stating what the complaints, if any, were, name the persons making them? Answer. Not of my own knowledge. Question by the COURT. Have you knowledge of any complaints made by his officers or men as to his arrangement of troops in battle; and without now stating what the complaints, if any, were, name the per- sons making them? Answer. No, sir. Question by the COURT. Have you seen anything in his conduct or management of his troops at such times showing indecision, indiscre- tion, or want of proper qualities for tbe command of a division, corps, or department? If so, state fully and particularly what you have seen. Answer. I have not. Question by the COURT. Have you known of any occasion of engage- ment with the enemy by the troops of any other commander or portions of his command when he could have co-operated with them or rendered assistance and failed to do so? If you answer yes, state the occasion and the reasons for such omission? Answer. I answer no. Question by the COURT. How long since you entered the military service of the country and during how many y& trs have you served? Answer. I entered the Military Academy in 1829 and remained in the service till 1846, and resigned. I re-entered the service at the beginning of this war; was reap- pointed in the service in May, 1861, and have been in the Army since that time. The court took a recess of 10 minutes. Question by the COURT. State what orders were given, if any, dis- criininating between loyal and rebel property-holders iii respect to the seizure of supplies for the army, and in respect to the detail of guards and other measures for the protection of persons and property Page 58 58 OPERATIONS IN N. VA., W. VA., AND MD. [CHAP. XXIV~. Answer. Not being able to call to mind at present any particular cases of discrimi- nation, I will answer that the aim of General McDowell was to protect Union men, and to take the property of rebels for the use of the army without paying for the same. I know two or three cases of Union mens property being taken, which was paid for on it being proven that they were really Union men. I remember also of one safeguard having been given to a Union man. Guards were given, when it was thought proper, to Union and rebel people. Question by the COURT. State what divisions, brigades, regiments, and batteries composed the different commands of General McDowell, dating from the time of his assignment to a division in the Army of the Potomac, and the names of the officers commanding said divisions, brigades, and regiments. Answer. I am not prepared to answer it now b early moment. ut will endeavor to submit it at an Question by the COURT. Do you know any other matter or thing relating to the conduct of General McDowell as a general officer, and tending to show that he had at anytime been treacherous, inefficient, incapable, or unfaithful? And, if you do, state it fully, as though you were thereto particularly interrogated. Answer. I do not. Question by General MCDOWELL. What was General McDowells command whilst you were with him? Was it ever less than a corps? Answer. No. Question by General MCDOWELL. What was done by General Mc- Dowell to promote the efficiency of his troopstheir mobility and their discipline? Answer. By making timely calls upon the sub-commanders for reports, or returns, as to the state or condition of stipplies of all kinds in possession of their respective commands, with a view to the procurement of any deficiencies in the same, and by ordering the chiefs of the supplying departments to take inimediate measures to sup- ply what was needed; by causing commanders of divisions to divest themselves or their troops of all unnecessary articles that would require more transport ation than was & emed fit and proper, and by impressing upon them frequently the importance of reducing their trains before going into the field or on marches to the smallest pos- sible limit. With respect to discipline, the issuing of orders and their enforcement, as far as possible, had his particular attention. Question by General MCDOWELL. Examine the records, and lay before the court the orders and instructions given by General McDow- ell for promoting the mobility of his army or any part of it. Answer. I am unable to do it at present, but will submit it. Question by General MCDOWELL. What was done by General Mc- Dowell at liectortown for the care and comfort of the men left from sickness when he arrived there on his march to Front Royal? Answer. Fimjing a detachment of men left there, made up I suppose of different regiments or corps, uncared-for sick men, the general took especial pains personally to have their wants supplied and to rebuke the stirgeon in charge for neglecting this important ditty toward the men of his command. Questioti by General MCDOWELL. What was done by General Mc- Dowell in the case of several sick men ordered to Washington from Fredericksburg and who were not cared for by the surgeon in charge? Answer. On ascertaining the fact he caused the subject to be inquired particularly into, and ordered the arrest and trial of the delinquent officer. The court adjourned to meet December 2, 1862, at 11 oclock a. m. Page 59 CHAP. XXIV.] GENERAL REPORTS. 59. IENTH DAY. COURT-ROOM, Washington, D. O, December 2, 1862. * * * * * * * Col. B. D. GOODWIN, a witness, was duly sworn. Question by the COURT. The witness will examine the letter now handed to him, dated 68 Saint Marks Place, New YQrk, September 24 1862, addressed to General irvin McDowell, signed B. D. Goodwin, and say if he was the anthor of that letter. The witness examined the let- ter and said: Answer. I presume it is. The letter is dated September 24, and is contained in the Sunday Mercury of September 28, 1862, and the letter was written on the 6th Sep- teml)er. The editor of the paper changed it to the 24th. The witness handed to the court a copy of the paper referred to, which letter is same as recorded in proceedings of sixth day. The witness said: I beg the court to take into consideration the fact that I have not had sleep for some time, and wish to take this letter and consider it. I do not feel in condition to testify. I feel somewhat nervous this morning, having been detained on the road on my way hither to attend this court. I feel willing, however, if ths court insist npon it, to go on. In order, however, to do justice to all parties, and myself in particular, I ask until to-morro~v to explain. I do not feel bright enongh to go into a lengthy in- vestigation. I will feel better to-morrow. The court informed the witness that nnder the circnmstances of the case his testimony would not be taken till to-morrow at 11 oclock a. m. General McDowell read to the court an extract from the proceedings of Congress of June 25, contained on page 2930 Congressional Globe, of June 27, as follows: (See appendix to this days proceedings.) Maj. DAVIS TILLSON, Maine Artillery, was duly sworn: Question by General MCDOWELL. What was your rank and where were you stationed in May, 1862 t Answer. I was captain of artillery, and stationed at least a portion of the month at Belle Plain, Va. I am not sure of exact dates; I may have been part of my time thele and part of the time at Falmouth. Question by General MCDOWELL. What knowledge have you of a Mr. B offman, of Belle Plain Stafford County, Virginia, and of his property, taken for the public service ~ Answer. I recollect distinctly having seen a person of that name at Belle Plain, Va., who stated that lie was the owner of the property in that vicinity, including two buildings containing corn. I recollect that he asked me repeatedly how he was to obtain payment for the corn, as it was being taken from these buildings by ihe quarter- master for the use of public animals; and that, further, I witnessed the removal of the corn from time to time until it all had been taken from the two buildings to which I refer. Question by General MCDOWELL. How far from the landing at Belle Plain was Mr. Hoffmans house? Answer. I am unable to say. I do not recollect having been to his house or of hav- ing had it pointed out to me. Question by General MCDOWELL. What do you know of a clover field belonging to Mr. floffman used for Government cattle? Answer. I recollect that some quarter of a mile beyond the encampment of my bat- tery there was a fine field of clover and it was well fenced, and tJaat soon after m Page 60 GO OPERATIONS IN N. VA., W. VA., AND MD. [OBAP. ~XIV~ arrival at Belle Plain this field was used to graze public animals until the field wa~ completely exhausted. I think the field was afterward nsed for purposes of drilling. I think I so used iL myself. Question by General MCDOWELL. Have you ever formed an estimate, or can you now form an estimate, of the number of bushels of corn contained in the two houses you refer to? Answer. I did not make the estimate and have never made it. Question by General MCDOWELL. How long were you stationed at Belle Plain? Answer. About a fortnight. Question by the COURT. Had you knowledge of Special Orders, No. 08, a copy of which has been read to you this morning? Answer. \I had, so far as that portion of it referring to destruction of fences. Question by the COURT. At what time had the corn in the barns been all taken away? Answer. Some five or six days, I should say, before my battery was ordered to Fal- monthsome time in May. Question by the COURT. Do you know to what corn this special order of the 26th May is intended to apply? [The order was here shown the witness.] Answer. I do not know to what particular quantity of corn the,order referred. Question by the COURT. How large was the estate occupied by Mr. Hofhnan? Answer. I have somewhat indistinct recollections of his telling me that it contained 5Oi~C three or four thousand acres. I know that he told me the number of acres, but I do not remeniber distinctly how many. Question by the COURT. State, as far as you can from observation, how extensively it was fenced. Answer. I only saw a comparatively small portion of the estate that portion, how- ever, was quite well fenced, being divided into several tracts, one of which was a large corn field. Perhaps some two hundred acres may have come under my observation. Question by the COURT. Was Mr. Hoffman reported to be a Union man or a rebel? Answer. He avowed himself to be entirely neutral. I can only say, to please the court, that among the soldiersthe only persons presenthe had the reputation of being a rebel. General McDowell here explained, at the suggestion of the court, what he proposed to prove on the subject of this order in connection with the testimony of the witness. Question by the COURT. Have you knowledge that there were mem- bers of Mr. HoftThans family on his estate, and servants; and, if so, how many persons were there in all? Answer. I have no knowledge whatever as to the number of persons in his fitmily. Maj. CLARENCE BROWN, aide-de-camp, a witness, was duly sworn. Question by General MCDOWELL. What is your rank and position in the military service? Answer. I am major in the District of Columbia Militia and aide-de-camp to Major General McDowell. Question by General MCDOWELL. State what you recollect of a Mr. ~Ioffman, of Belle Plain, coming to see General McDowell in May last Page 61 CHAP. XXIV.l GENERAL REPORTS 61 near Brookes Station, in Stafford County, Virginia, concerning pay- ment for property taken by the army and protection for his home and growing crop. State who were present on the occasion and what was said. Answer. A Mr. Hoffman, of Belle Plain, asked General McDowell, at Brookes Sta- tion, for a guard to protect his houses and barns. He also asked that the cattle might be kept out of a field of growing grain, and that the Government cattle were tramp- ing down the grain. He stated he had already received an order to have his field protected, and had applied to the officer commanding at Belle Plain to no purpose. General McDowell told me to write to the officer commanding at Belle Plain to furnish gnar(ls to protect Mr. Hoffmans property, to rebuild the portion of the fence burned and around the growing grain, and to report compliance with the order to these head- quarters. General McDowell said that he could not pay for the property that had been takenthe grain; told Mr. Hoffman to got receipts from the quartermasters who took it. There were present at Brookes Station at the time Mr. Hoffman was there the Secretary of XYar, the Secretary of the Treasury, and the Secretary of State, and some gentlemen accompanying them. There were two gentlemen within hearing, and whom, I think, approved the order writtenthe Secretary of the Treasury, and I do not re- member the name of the other. There was another gentleman there. Question by General MCDOWELL. Does the witness recollect hearing General McDowell say why he would not pay the claimant? Answer. I do not recollect. Question by General MCDOWELL. Have you a copy of the note that you wrote on that occasion? Answer. I gave it in at the adjutant-generals office headquarters. Question by General MCDOWELL. Was the guard detailed to protect Mr. Hoffmans house and growing crop in the vicinity of it or his whole plantation? Answer. The guard was merely to protect what was necessary to the sustenance of Mr. Hoffinan~ family and the buildings they lived in. Question by General MCDOWELL. Does the witness know the where- abouts of Mr. Hoffmans house? Answer. I do not, and never was there. Question by General MCDOWELL. Was the strength of the guard specified or was it left to the discretion of the commanding officer? Auswev. The strength of the guard was not specified. Question by the COURT. State whether you have knowledge that any other orders, similar in stringency, were given by General McDowell for the protection of the property of loyal citizens. Answer. I know that in all cases when it was possible General McDowell protected growing grain and gave orders to that effect. Question by the COURT. In giving such orders did he discriminate between rebels and Union men; that is, in his orders respecting grow- ing grain? Answer. I do not remember the orders sufficiently well to answer. General McDowell here admitted to the court that he protected all growing grain. Maj. SAMUEL BRECK, assistant adjutant-general, U. S. Army, a wit- ness, was duly sworn. Question by General MCDOWELL. What position did you occupy in May last on the staff of General McDowell Page 62 62 OPERATIONS IN N. VA., W. VA., AND MD. (Cm~r. XXIV. Answer. That of assistant adjutant-general. Question by General MCDOWELL. Under what circumstances was Special Orders, No. 68, of May 26, issued ~ The witness here referred to the special-order-book before the court. Answer. General McDowell directed me to order Colonel Meredith to have the house and corn of Mr. Hoffman protected, and he told me at the same time that a similar order had already been given, and directed me to make this order strong and peremp- tory. With these directions I wrote the order. General McDowell did not see the order I drew up to my knowledge. Those directions that I speak of was all he had to do with it, so far as I know. Question by General MCDOWELL. Did the witness understand the instruction to make the order peremptory to refer to the failure of the commanding officer to comply with previous orders ~ Answer. I understood that the cause of the previous directions given me to make the order peremptory was because the first order had not betn obeyed, the property hn~v- ing beeu injured since; and, further, to enforce military discipline. Question by the COURT. Did General McDowell, in giving you in- structions to prepare this order, indicate to you where thd corn was, whether in the house or in the barns 0 Answer. I do not recollect. I will say further that the impression left on my mind was that Colonel Meredith had violated an express written order, and he was to be given to understand that he had one more opportunity, and only one, to comply with it. Question by the COURT. Did he indicate to you that corn had been taken from the property of Hoffman for public use or anything on that subject ~ Answer. I have no recollection of anything about corn or grain for public use. Question by the COURT. Have you knowledge whether any measures were taken under the direction of General McDowell to ascertain how much corn would be protected by that order or how many persons would be fed upon it? Answer. I can only give my general impression. All that I know in regard to this matter, except the directions of General McDowell himself in regard to the order, was derived from cdnversation with other persons. My impression was that General Mc- Dowell had been at Belle Plain, and was familiar with all the circumstances of the case. What other ends he may have had in view, besides those expressed in his direc- tions to me, I did not know. Question by the COURT. Was there any general rule established by General McDowell defining the quantity of corn or other food to be reserved for persons belonging to the family of the owner? Answer. None that I know of. Question by the COURT. Were there any means or sources of infor- mation through which the officers and men under the command of Gen- eral McDo~vell were instructed as to the special reasons why this order was issued? Answer. That question I cannot answer. I dont know that there were any, of my own kimowledge. Question by General MCDOWELL. Were not the subjects of obtain- ing supplies and taking property from the inhabitants more especially the duties of the administrative branches of the staff? Answer. Certainly. Question by General MCDOWELL. Please lay before the court letter of May 16, 1862, to Inspector-General Van Rensselaer, particularly so much as indicates a rule for taking supplies Page 63 CHAr. XXIV.~ GENERAL REPORTS. 63 Answer. This letter is found on page 189, letter-book, Headquarters Department of the Rappahannock, dated Opposite Fredericksburg, Va., May 16, 1862, which the witness read, as follows: HEADQUARTERS DEPARTMENT OF THE RAPPAHANNOCK, Opposite Fredericksburg, Va., May 16, 1862. Brigadier-General VAN RENSSELAER, Inspector- General, 4-c.: GENERAL: It is the direction of the major-~eneral commauding that you proceed with a suitable escort to the cavalry camps of Bayard and Wyndham and thoroughly inspect the same. You are desired to give special attention to the subject of supplies for the men and. boi ses of their commands, with a view to ascertain what, if any of these, have been improperly acquired from the inhabitants living in the vicinity; such as taking the same withoiir giving the specified receipt to the owner, omittin~ to take up the same on the quartermasters and subsistence returns, and issuing them regularly as other sul)plies. You will also inquire whether in any ease persons have been left without a reasonable quantity sufficient for the uses of their households. An examination of copies f requisitions for the various rations for the last twenty days or more will show whether these regiments have relied chiefly on the regular sources of supply or have resorted to seizures. If the latter, then the necessary re- ceipts, & c., will have to be produced. Mrs. Se(ldon, Mrs. Gray, and Mrs. Morson (the latters letter of complaint is inclosed) have preferred complaints to the general. He desires you to visit these persons, and, by inquiring of others as well as from them, to learn the justice of their allegations, which are serious. The general does not wish you to confine your visits to the houses of the persons above named, but expects you to go to others in the neighborhood of the camps, with a view to learning what you can to enable you to make a full report on the subject of these repeated depredations, as alleged. I am, general, very respectfully, your obedient servant~ED. SCHRIVUR, Chief of Staff. The court adjourned to meet at 11 a. m. December 3. APPENDIX. I have here an order from General McDowell that I ask to have read, just to show the principle upon which this accursed war is prosecuted. The secretary read as follows: SPECiAL ORDERS, ~ HEADQUARTERS DEPARTMENT OF THE RAPPAHANNOCK, No. 68. ~ Opposite Fredericksburg, Va., May 26, 1862. Colonel Meredith, commanding the Fifty-sixth Pennsylvania Volunteer8, will fur- nish from his regiment a guard for the house and property of Mr. L. J. Hoffman, who lives near Belle Plain. Colonel Meredith xviii see that uo more corn is taken from Mr. Hoffman and that no more fencing is disturbed. The guard will he so placed as to make this sure, even if it should be necessary to place a sentinel over every panel of fence. By command of Major-General McDo~vell: SAML. BRECK, Assistant Adjutant- General. Mr. WADE. I am told that that Hoffman, whose every panel of fence is to be guarded by a soldier paid for out of our pockets, is as arrant a traitor as there is on the face of Gods earth. Now, sir, what say you ~ Can we reach that property? Can we forage on the enemy? The Senator says no. Restrained by the Constitution, are we? We cannot even take it in the field. ~J?rue copy. L. H. PELOUZE, J~-ienteuant- Colonel and Recorder. Court of Iin~uiry Page 64 64. OPERATIONS IN N. VA., W. VA., AND MD. LCun. XXIV. ELEVENTH DAY. CoURT-RooM, Washington, D. 0., December 3, 1862. * * * * * * * The recorder stated to the court that the letter contained in the Sun- day Mercury of September 28, 1862, presented the court by Col. R. D. Goodwin as a true copy of a letter from himself, is correctly copied in the body of the record of the proceedings of the court on pages 3135. Col. iR. D. GOODWIN, a witness, was recalled. Question by the COURT. In your letter you state concerning General McDowell that you have seen him under the influence of liquor both in the field and out. 1st. llaye you so seen him? 2d. If so, state fully and particularly when and where. Answer. I believe I have so seen him. I have seen the general several times in various i~laces. The times I have reference tofirst, the first time I thought I noticed him under the influence of liquor was on Pennsylvania avenue, betwee~i Fourteenth and Thirteenth streets. We were walking in the same directiontoward Thirteenth Btreetand my attention was drawn toward him when he reached that portion of the Avenue where there is a kind of inclosure. The general had on an overcoat, which he usually wore in them days, his hand resting upon the hilt of the sword, and walk- ing, not on the sidewalk, l)ut partially towar(l the middle of the street. He was on foot. I made up my mind at the tinie of observation that he was certainly under the influence of liquor from the manner in which he was walking and his gent-ral appear- ance. This period I have reference to was previous to General McClellans going with the army to Fairfax Court-House. It might have been a week; it may have been more; I did not charge my mind with the matter at the time. Question by the COURT. In this connection state what were the manner and the appearance of General McDowell which gave you the impression that he was under the influence of liquor. Answer. As I have stated before, I have seen the general at various times. I knew his appearance to be that of a gentleman of full habits, ruddy complexion, & e., but I have never seen him in such a blooming appearance before. his manner of walk- ing seemed to be that of a zigzag manner, apparently very much heated. I am in the habit of seeing parties in that condition, and as it was fashionable here in those days I did not take as much notice of it as I might have otherwise. Question by the COURT. How near were you to General McDowell on the occasion referred to? State if you had any conversation with him at the time. State more fully the time and place. Answer. The general passed on the right of me and got a little ahead of me before I noticed his presence; it might have probably been S or 10 feet before me, to the front and to the right of me. I did not have any conversation with the general. As regards the hour of the day I could not be positive. I thinkI know it was in the afternoon, but what period of the afternoon I cannot readily state. My memory as to time and dates is rather treacherous. The next occasion was at Fairfax Court- House. I was there when General McClellan had a portion of his army there. I think, if my memory serves me, the day I have reference to might have been on the 12th, 13th, or 14th March. It was either the day hefore or the same day upon which General McClellan ordered a counter-march to Alexandria from that station. From that place I went up to see General McClellan, to have a conversation with him if I could. In front of his headquarters I met General McDowell. I advanced to speak with the general, ~vhen I again thonght I discovered that he was nuder the influence of liquor, so much so that I myself felt bad at the time, and I recollect asking myself the question, What we could expect of our Army if they were to be led by such generals? I turned from hhn sorry and with a considerable degree of disgust. I did not speak with him. I went into the headquarters and did my business theremy errand. I came out. The general was still in front of the building. I did not choose to speak with him. I went on ahont my husiness. That is about the sum and sub- stance of what Ive got to say on those two points. Question by the COURT. On this last occasion were there any other persons with you or with General McDowelL Page 65 CHAP. XXIV.] GENERAL REPORTS. 65 Answer. There were no persons with me. I went alone. There were no officers present on the occasion that I could designate. I did not know a soul present except the general. There were other officers present. There might have been four or five persons. They were to the right of meto the right-hand side of the building as I was going up. Some four or five persons were there. The general was near enough to me to touch clothes. Question by the COURT. Describe the manner and appearance of (3eneral McDowell which attracted your attention. Answer. I do not know that I have the powers to describethat I have to judge when I see a man under the influence of liquorbut I will describe as near as I can. He had a loose, unsteady appearance; his eyes dull. I caught his eye when I looked at him He did not look as he generally looks. In all he bore that appearance that is customary to a man under the influence of liquor. There seemed to be a laxity of the nervous systemrather a careless appearance. There seemed an unsteady gait as he sauntered around. I seen him pause and look vacant. I stood upon the steps of the buildings. I turned around and stood upon the step of the building for the purpose of observing. I here wish to state, Mr. President and gentlemen, I am a friend to humanity, and it grieves me to have to say what I have said; but when I rea(1 the generals letter in the Herald I got up from the dinner table The witness was here interrupted by the court, which informed him that explan- atn)ns of the kind were unnecessary, and would only tend to confuse and increase the length of the record. Question by the COURT. Were you in Ellsworths camp on the 3d of July, 1861? Answer. I have in my possession a pass from Colonel Heintzelman dated on that day, and on that day I visited that camp. Question by the COURT. How long did you remain at that camp? Answer. I cannot positively say, sir, how longin the neighborhood of two hours. Question by the COURT. Was that the occasion to which you refer in your letter, when you visited sick soldiers and heard their stories? Answer. It was. Question by the COURT. Had you any opportunity at that time to learn, of your own knowledge, what was the food allowed to the sol- dieis l Answer. I think I had; I saw some of their food. Question by the COURT. What did you see? Answer. I saw some very hard-looking fat meat, that I would be very hungry to eat it. I was shown a piece of cracker; Ive pretty good teeth, but it would be a hard job for me to masticate; I think I tried it. I tasted of the water; it wasnt palatable to me. That is all the food that I understood they had. Question by the COURT. Where did you see this food? Answer. In the camp. Question by the COURT. Did you know the person who exhibited it to you? Answer. They were all strangers to me. Question by the COURT. While you were there were you present at any delivery of rations to the men? Answer. I was not. Question by the COURT. Was the informationthe knowledge ratherof the food furnished to the men, which you acquired at that tune, wholly derived from complaints or statements made to you? Answer. Yes, sir. 5 H RVOL XI Page 66 66 OPERATIONS IN N. VA., W. VA., AND MD. [Cnii~. XXIV. Question by the COURT. Did you see any attempt by the soldiers to purchase vegetables I Answer. I did not, sir. Question by the COURT. Was the information which you got on that subject derived from the same persons who showed to you the crackers and meat of which you have spoken? Answer. No, sir. Question by the COURT. From whom then did you get this informa- tion? Answer. Several soldiers verified the fact. Question by the COURT. Have you any personal knowledge that any soldier was complained of for plucking an ear of corn? Answer. Nothing but from the statements made by those parties. Question by the COURT. Have you any personal knowledge that General McDowell published an order to the rebels authorizing the shooting of any man who trespassed on the property of rebels? Answer. I have not seen snch an order; nothing but the same statement I got in the camp on that occasion. Ive heard it talked of by others since. The Court took a recess of five minutes. Question by the COURT. Have you any personal knowledge that these same men referred to in your letter were shot at while on picket duty? Answer. I have not seen them shot at. Question by the COURT. Have you any personal knowledge of any orders by General McDowell not to return fire upon the rebels? Answer. I have seen no such orders, except what might appear in newspaper state- ments. Question by the COURT. Did you inspect to see what provision was made for the health of General McDowells troops? Answer. On that occasion I did, as far as a man without authority could do. I have reference to the occasion when I passed two hours at Alexandria. Question by the COURT. Are you able to communicate to the court the names of officers or men who can testify as to their knowledge of those facts referred to in your letter and about which you have now been interrogated? Answer. I am able to give you the name of the leading party who conversed with me on that occasionJohn A. Smith. I hold in my hand a memorandum-book which I had with me on that occasion. I dont know where he resides, sir. He was one of Ellsworths Zonavesif I recollect aright, a sergeant. There were quite a crowd of them rallied around me in front of the main entrance of the camp. This was after I visited the tents and seen the sick soldiers lying there. They were in a very excited condition; stated they would not serve; seemed to be in a state of mutiny. I begged of them for Gods sake to remember their duty to their country. They brought me forward and showed me the place they had been shot atat [a] little dis- tance from the camp, on the skirt of a ravine, near woods that were there. I have here the name of John Johnson. Question by the COURT. Did you seek on that occasion an interview with any of the officers belonging to the regiment and did you pro- cure it? Answer. I did, sir. I asked only after the colonel. I found the colonel was absent from the camp. I did not see any other officer by request Page 67 CHAP. XXIV.] GENERAL REPORTS. 67 Question by the COURT. Did you talk with any officers belonging to the camp on that occasion? Answer. I did. Question by the COURT. Who were they? Answer. I dont know the name of any person except the person whose name I have given. Question by the COURT. Can you state the rank of the officer or officers with whom you conversed? Answer. I think they were both lieutenants. Question by the COURT. Did you ask for their names? Answer. I did not, sir; but I received the name of the captain who was arrested, or said to be arrested. The presiding officer of the court read to the witness that part of his letter contained between the words A negro and never brought to trial, inclusive, found on page 44 of this record. Question by the COURT. Have you any personal knowledge of any of the facts contained in the paragraph just read to you? Answer. The only knowledge I have of such facts are that they are verbatim as told me by this Smith and verified by those surrounding us. Question by the COURT. Was this part of the information which you obtained on the occasion of your visit to Alexandria, July 3, 1861? Answer. Yes, sir. Question by the COURT. Have you any personal knowledge of a mutiny in that camp? Answer. I have heard it. As I understand mutiny, I would think insubordination was mutiny. Those parties told me that they were discouraged, and one or more em- phatically damned if they would obey any more orders. They would not stand up to be shot at when they had not the opportunity of returning fire; stated that they believed General McDowell to be a rebel sympathizer. I begged them to keep cool, and so on. Question by the COURT. Is this your personal knowledge of a mutiny? Answer. That is about all, sir. I was only in the camp about two hours. Question by the COURT. These parties to whom you refer in your answer next preceding the last, were they the same from whom you received the complaints regarding food? Answer. I dont know as any of them were paesent who complained of the food; they were those mostly confined in their tents sick whom I seen in reference to the food. Question by the COURT. Will you give us a statement of persons who can testify from personal knowledge as to the facts set forth in the paragraph of your letter just read to you? Answer. As I stated before, I was a stranger in that camp. The only name I put to paper was John A. Smith, as an informant. I should think you could get the cap- tams namecertainly the colonelsthe captain who was arrested. The court here stated to the witness that if, pending the examina- tion of this case, he can obtain any knowledge of the names of any witnesses whose testimony may be material on any of the points con- tained in his letter they would wish him to communicate them to the court. Question by General MCDOWELL. What is the position of the wit- ness in the military service of the United States or of his own State Page 68 68 OPERATIONS IN N. VA., W. VA., AND MD. [CaAP. XXIV. Answer. I belong to the outside department just now. It is a question to me of doubt, sir. I have my authority from the President and Secretary of War as a colonel, which has never been revoked, but I have not the command. Question by General MCDOWELL. What does the witness mean by his statement that he has the authority of the President and Secretary of War as a colonel; a colonel of what~ Answer. A colonel of volunteers, from the State of New York. Question by General MCDOWELL. Of what regiment and what arm of volunteers of the State of New York I Answer. That known as the Presidents Life Guards. Infantry, sir. Gotten up by myself. Question by General MCDOWELL. Did such a regiment as the Presi- dents Life Guards, a regiment of volunteers of the State of New York, as the witness refers to actually exist at the time the witness states he had the authority in question? Answer. At one time I had under my control 1,200 men. At one tim& part of the regiment was mustered into service. I base my claim as a colonel on the decision of the Attorney-General of the United States in the case of William Weir, nud which I am determined to force upon the Government. I dont wish to mislead the court. I wish to answer questions honorably and truthfully. I have got my letter of with- drawal from the second regiment I was appointed to. I will answer that the regi- ment did exist under authority of the United States, not under the authority of Governor Morgan, whose authority I ignored, rather as a politician thana patriot. I got my letter of withdrawal from my second regiment at my own request before I got authority to raise the Presidents Life Guard. I got my letters of acceptance from the President and Secretary of War. Question by General MCDOWELL. Was the authority given the wit- ness an authority for him to be received as a colonel in a certain con- tingency, or did it confer upon him the grade of colonel at and from the time it was given him? Answer. I consider that it conferred upon me the grade of colonel from the time it wns given me. I can produce the letter. Question by General MCDOWELL. Have you ever issued circulars, & c., stating that you were authorized to raise a brigade? If so, state who gave you the authority. Answer. I have issued those circulars, and the authority was given me by the Pres- ident of the United States on the 29th day of August, 1861 three o prior to Governor Morgans following me here to get his r four days, I believe, orders. Question by General MCDOWELL. Have you ever issued circulars signing yourself General,~~ and by what authority? Answer. I have, and by the same authority. Question by General MCDOWELL. Were you ever in the United States service as a general officer? Answer. I have never been. Question by General MCDOWELL. Have you ever been in the State service as a general officer? If not, by what authority did you sign yourself a general officer? Answer. I have never been in the State service as a general officer, and the only authority I have for so doing I have already stated. My authority as colonel is in writing. My authority as general is oral, from the President, who solemnly assured me my men shou]d be accepted. lie reiterated that pledge. Question by General MCDOWELL. Was the regiment of volunteer8 which the witness states he was authorized to raise ever raised and organized? If so, why was it not mustered into service? Answer. I have stated that it was in part mustered into the service of the Unite Page 69 CHAP. XXIV.] GENERAL REPORTS. 69 States during my stay in New York. There was one full company and fragments of others, as they came in. I had sworn in myself about 800 men. As far as I could organize it, it was. The way I understand it, sir, I would not think the regiment organized until it was entirely full. They were regularly mustered into the service by an order which reads as follows: The witness read: WAR DEPARTMENT, July 22, 1861. Col. R. D. GOODWIN, Commanding Pre8ident8 Life Guard, Pre8ent: SIR: Your regiment is accepted, and will be mustered in at once. Respectfully, your obedient servant, By order of Secretary f War: JAMES LESLEY, JR., Chief Clerk. And that 1 might go on toward completion I requested the President to assure me that my men should be accepted if I laid out any money. The court authorized the payment of *3 per. diem to clerk e~mployed by the court. The court adjourned to meet at 11 a. m. December 4, 1862. TWELFTH DAY. COURT-ROOM, No. 467 SOUTH FOURTEENTH STREET, Washington, D. C., December 4, 1862. * * * 9 * * * Question by General MCDOWELL. What organization had the regi- ment to which you have referred; how many. companies? What field officers, if any, besides yourself I Was any enrollment made? If so, was this enrollment by companies? Answer. May it please this much respected court, previous to going into the cross- examination, believing I notice a disposition on the part of the gentlemanGeneral McDowellto try and impeach my veracity and lessen me in my own estimation, if not that of the nation The court objected to the course which the reply of the witness was taking as containing matter wholly irrelevant. The witness continued: I simply ask the opportunity of asking a few questions one or twoand offer a few remarks, that may expedite the proceedings of the court. I owe this to myself and do it in my own defense. I do not propose an address. I came here as an unwilling witness, and am fully aware of the grave charges I have made against the officer. The court here informed the witness that he had the right to state his objection to any question, against answering which he is entitled to protection. The witness continued: I would ask the general if he means to impeach my veracity. The court informed the witness that it did not see that the questions thus far propounded gave rise to the construction placed upon them by. the witness. The recorder again repeated the question. Answer. On yesterday I stated there was one full company enrolled and mustered in by the regular United States officer, fully armed and equipped and uniformed, and provided for by the United States under me, and, by my authority as colonel, I ap- pointed, I forget the first namethe surnameI think it was George W. Fisher; how- ever, it was Fisher, as my lieutenant-colonel; also Whitney as my major. George W. Fisher had been an officer in the service and Major Whitney had served as a colonel in the New Hampshire Militia. The post of adjutant remained vacant, as I wished to fill it by a very competent person Page 70 70 OPERATIONS IN N. VA., W. VA., AND MD. [CHAP. XXIV. At the instance of a member the court was cleared. The court was opened and the following decision was announced. On cross-examination of a witness General McDowell has the right to elicit facts tending to impair the credibility of the testimony against him. Within reasonable limits he may inquire into the previous history of the witness, bnt the answers must be directly responsive. if this line of examination shall appear to the court to be unduly ex- tended the court will arrest it. The court directs that so much of the answers of the witness as de- scribe the qualifications of his officers and his reasons for omitting to appoint an adjutant be erased from the record. The court directed the recorder to read again the question. By the WIrsrsss. Previous to the reading of the question, will the court permit me to state that I have some important facts The court interrupted the witness, informing him that a question for his answer is now before the court. The recorder read the question. Answer. I find on my regimental rolls Charles J. Whitney as my major. The witness continued: Pardon my simplicity. I wish to answer the questions prop- erly. I do not understand a field officer The court interrupted the witness, and requested that the answer of the witness might be responsive to the question. The witness continued: I had my lieutenant-colonel and my major as field officers. If you want my line officers, I will say I had my captains and lieutenants. They were enrolled by myself. There was an enrollment made by companies and sanctioned by the Government of the United States. There was a legal enrollment made. There was but one full company. Question by General MCDOWELL. In your last answer you state there was but one full company. How many incomplete companies had you? Answer. I suppose the court is aware how those regiments were organizingin- complete companies, if I take my own view of the matter all the companies were incomplete except one; that is full. I had nine incomplete companies. Question by General MCDOWELL. Does the witness remember where his complete company was mustered into the service of the United States, and by what United States officer it was so mustered in? Answer. On Staten Island, in Camp Washington, by Captain Hemans [Hayman?) ~ think it was Seventh Regiment U. S. Regulars. Question by General MCDOWELL. Did the witness mail to General McDowells address or otherwise send to him the letter which was published in the New York Sunday Mercury? Answer. I did not know [the] gen9rals address. I did not know where he was did not know his address at the time, and did not care. Question by General MCDOWELL. Witness states he wrote the letter which is dated September 24, 1862, on September 6,1862. Is the witness positive as to the date on which he actually wrote the letter in question? Answer. I could only say it was on the same day that the letter was published in the New York Herald. I think it was on the 6th. Question by General MCDOWELL. At the time you state you saw Gen- eral McDowell on Pennsylvania avenue under the influence of liquor, state if the general continued to walk in the roadway of the Avenue itself as long as he remained within your sight Page 71 Cx& r. XXIV.] GENERAL REPORTS. 71 Answer. You walked in the roadway, sir, as long as I saw you at that time. Question by General MCDOWELL. How far from the sidewalk? Answer. It might have beenif you recollect at that point there is a street diverg- ing; from that there is a a which crosses the converging point. It might have been 6, 8, or 10 feet south o~tl~e north side of the Pennsylvania avenue, or where pedestrians walk. Question by General MCDOWELL. low near was he to Fourteenth street when you first saw him? Answer. I cant exactly say how far. Question by General MCDOWELL. Where were you at the time you first saw General McDowell on that occasion? Answer. I was walking on the avenue. Question by General MCDOWELL. What particular part of the Av- enue? Answer. Just at the converging point there of the Avenue. I think it was E street. I took the course toward E street. Question by General MCDOWELL. How far up the Avenue toward E street did you walk, having, as you have stated, General McDowell to the front and right of you? Answer. I walked toward the junction of those two streets. I took E street and he went on the Avenue. Question by General MCDOWELL. How long did you have General McDowell in sight when you went up E street and he went up the avenue? Answer. Not but a very short time. I did not turn my attention toward him after we separated. Question by General MCDOWELL. Did you speak to him? Answer. I never spoke to the general in my life until in the court. Question by General MCDOWELL. Did he speak to you or to any one at the time you saw him? Answer. No, sir; not that I see. Question by General McDOWELL. What object did the general seem to have in view at the time he was walking up the Avenue? Were there any persons in the Avenue near him either on foot or on horseback. Answer. I am sure I could not tell you what his object was; there was people around as usualnothing remarkablenothing that I remarked, except himself. Question by the COURT. To what letter do you refer as having read it in the Herald and as being defiant, and which you think was on the 6th of September? Answer. The letter purporting to come from General McDowell, addressed to the President of the United States. Question by the COURT. When you first observed General McDowell, and thought him under the influence of liquor, do you mean to be un- derstood that he was near the crossing over E street? Answer. Well, he took the Avenue direct. I took the Avenue direct to the crossing over E street. It was near to the crossing. Question by the COURT. Can you state the month in which this oc- curred? Answer. Yes; it must have either been the commencement of March or the latter part of February Page 72 72 OPERATIONS IN N. VA., W. VA., AND MD. [CHAP. XXIY. Question by the COURT. Do you remember whether the roads were dry or muddy at the time? Answer. Well, I cannot very well. I dont think that they were very dry. I do not recollect. (The witness was shown a diagram.) Question by the COURT. Point out on the diagram as near as you can where General McDowell was when you saw him. The witness pointed out upon the diagram the relative position occu- pied by General McDowell and self on the diagram, which is appended to this days proceedings. * Question by fhe COURT. On which side of E street did you continue your walk? (The witness referred to the diagram.) Answer. I crossed over E street, and passed along ~he north side. The court informed the witness that they would receive from him a written list of any witnesses who could give important testimony in the case, and that the question or statement which he stated he desired to make will be considered if in writing. The evidence of the witness was read by the recorder. The witness here desired that the following corrections be made: I think you called my lieutenant.colonel Whitely when you men- tioned him the second time his name is Whitney. You are again in error in saying Charles J.; it should be Charles K. Col. GEORGE B. RUGGLES, aide.de.camp, and assistant adjutant- general, a witness, was duly sworn. Question by General MCDOWELL. What was your military rank and position in the summer of 1861? Answer. On the 1st day of July, 1861, 1 was assistant adjutant-general in the Reg- ular Army, with the rank of captain. I held that position daring the remainder of the summer. In the month of June I was lieutenant and adjutant Second Regiment of infantry. Question by General MCDOWELL. By your official position in the Adjutant-Generals Office was it your special province to keep the records, & c., of all the volunteer forces? Answer. It was, from the time I entered the office on duty on the 2d day of July, 1861, till I left it on the 28th June, 1862. Question by General MODOWELL. Do you know of a R. D. Goodwin having been a colonel of volunteers in the United States service in the summer of ]8~J1~ and also whether he was in the United States mili- tary service as an officer of any other rank in 1861? Answer. He never was in the United States service. I know such a man. Question by General MCDOWELL. Are you acquainted with R. D. Goodwin and had you any official intercourse with him? If so, please state it. Answer. I am acquainted with him. I had official intercourse with him during the year I was rn the Adjutant-Generals Office. I first saw him 22d July, 1861. He came to the War Department, offering to the Secretary of War a regiment of volunteers. He stated that he had then 500 men on the Battery in New York, and could raise many more. This regiment was accepted on that day. The court desire to know of General McDowell what he desires to prove by the question propounded the witness before the court. * Omitted as unimportant Page 73 CHAP. XXIV.] GENERAL REPORTS. 73 General McDowell replied the character and credibility of the wit. ness. The court was cleared. The court was opened, and the following decision announced: General McDowell having avowed that the object of his question was to impeach the character and credibility of the witness, the court rule that the question is incompetent for that purpose, so far as it calls for facts contradicting the testimony of the witness in relation to the organi- zation, & c., of his regiment or brigade. The cross-examination on that subject was by General McDowell on collateral points, in respect to which he cannot make new issues and introduce rebutting witnesses for the purpose of impeachment; but the court will receive competent testimony to contradict the witness in his evidence on material points or impeach his general character for truth and veracity. The court adjourned to meet to-morrow, the 5th December, 1862, at 11 oclock a. m. THIRTEENTH DAY. COURT-ROOM, No. 467 SOUTH FOURTEENTH STREET, Washington, D. 0., December 5, 1862. The court met pursuant to adjournment. Present, * * * Col. GEORGE D. BUGGLES, aide-de-camp and assistant adjutant-gen- eral, the witness under examination. * * * * * * * The recorder informed the court that he has received a communica- lion from R. D. Goodwin, dated W-ashington, December 5, 1862, which was read, as follows: Louis H. PELOUZE, Lieutenant-Colonel and Recorder, Court of Inqairy: By request of the court I do hereby inform you that P. Clark, esq., late of Fredericks- burg, Va., now stopping at Willards Hotel, in this city, has informed me of very grave charges which he can make against Major-General McDowell as to his disloyalty, & c. He may leave the city soon if not summoned. I expect more facts this evening from another person; if so, I will inform you. Respectfully, your obedient servant, R. D. GOODWIN. WASHINGTON, D. C., December 5, 1862. The court instructed the recorder to send for Mr. Clark, with a view to ascertaining what is the character of his testimony as pertaining to the matter under investigation. Question by General MCDOWELL. What do you know of the general character of IR. D. Goodwin for veracity and what is his character in that respect? The court was cleared at the instance of a member. The court was opened, and the following decision announced: The question is incompetent. The witness cannot be examined as to particular facts, but ought first to be asked substantially whether he has the means of knowing the general character of the witness for truth and veracity. If the witness answers that he has such knowledge, then the question will be competent, inquiring as to the character in that respect. General McDowell here presented to the court a paper, which was read by the recorder, and which is appended to this days proceedings Page 74 74 OPERATIONS IN N. VA., W. VA., AND MD. (CIu2. XXIV. General McDowell stated that he had no more questions to ask this witness at present. The court had no questions to ask the witness. Maj. Gen. S. P. IIEINTZELMAN, U. S. Volunteer Army, witness, was duly sworn. Question by General MCDOWELL. What command had you on the 3d of July, 18611 About how long prior to the 3d of July, 1861, did you exercise that command I Answer. I commanded the troops stationed in and around Alexandria. I think I went to Alexandria about the last day of May from here. Question by General MCDOWELL. Was the regiment of volunteers known as Ellsworths a part of your command at the time mentioned? If so, in whose brigade was it and where was it stationed ~ Answer. It was part of my command. It was stationed near Fort Ellsworth. I am not certain, but think it was in Wilicoxs brigade. Question by General MCDOWELL. Examine the letter of B. D. Good- win of September 24, 1862, and state what you know concerning the statements therein made. The letter referred to was handed to the witness. Answer. Some of these statements I know nothing about; bnt those that I am familiar with are not true. In relation to drunkenness, I have known thd general a long time, and have never seen him drink. I have sat at the table for weeks at a time with him and have met him at various times and places. He was at my headquar- ~ters on the 3d July. (I recollect the date from a conversation we had about some military matters relating to the Army.) Ellsworthsreginient was remarkably healthy at that time. I dont recollect any complaints about musty crackers, bad provisions, or bad water. When the men first came out to the field they wouldnt drink out of a clear running stream, but would crowd around a pump or a spring. As to whether the rebels would sell them vegetables or not I know nothing about it. I never saw any order authorizing rebels to shoot people for trespassing. There were great efforts to stop this picket firing. About the case of Richard Windsor I know nothing at all; never heard of it before that I recollect. Such cases usually came to me. There was a man by the name of Windsor, who lives a few miles below Alexandria. I believe he is a secessionist. He was outside our lines for a long time. I dont recollect that there was any mutinous conduct in the regiment of Zouaves or not; they were very troublesome and hard to manage. There were constant complaints of their depredations by the inhabitants. The volunteers disliked the hard bread very much, and there were constant complaints on that subject. The hard bread was good. There was no difficulty in getting pro- visions. If there was any deficiency, it was owing to the neglect of their own officers. There were no greater difficulties there than there always are when new troops come into the field. Question by General MCDOWELL. What do you understand to be the practice at present sought to be maintained in the army as to picket filing, so called? Answer. We made every effort on the Peninsula to discourage it. Question by the COURT. During how many years have you been in. tiinately acquainted with General McDowell? AnsWer. I do not recollect. Tis so long that Ive forgotten the number of yea& ~s. Question by the COURT. During the time you have known him have his habits, in respect to the use of intoxicating liquors, been the subject of any particular observation and remark I Answer. Yes. I have heard it frequently spoken of. He w ~s considered remarkably abstemious. I believe he dont drink tea or coffee, no win~ or liquors; totally ab- stemious. Question by the COURT. Would an order from General McDowell, a Page 75 CHAP. lilY.] GENERAL REPORTS. 75 the time you were under his command, from May to July, 1861, author- izing soldiers to be shot when trespassing on property, have passed through your office? Answer. Orders of that kind would pass through my office. Question by the COURT. If there had been any official complaint as to the provisions, would they have been known to you and have passed through you to General McDowell? Answer. That is the usual course; but persons have often gone to the President and Secretary of War, and we have got complaints from that quarter. I frequently got complaints of depredations by the Zouaves from General Scott and the Secretary of War generally through General McDowell, who was commander of the troops on the other side of the river. I might add, there were no well-founded complaints about provisions that could not have been remedied by the officers of the regiments them- Belves. The Government made ample provision for the feeding of the troops. Question by the COURT.. Did you hear of the arrest of Colonel Wind- sor by a captain and squad of men belonging to the Ellsworth regi- ment, referred to in the letter of Colonel Goodwin? Answer. Ive no recollection of anything of the kind. Those men did so many out- rageous things, I dont know what they didnt do. Such matters usually came to me, and I decided them. Question by the COURT. Was there any order for the arrest of a cap- tain of the Ellsworth regiment, transmitted by General McDowell, hav- ing any relation to Mr. Windsor? Answer. I dont recollect anything of the kind, and I dont think there was. Question by the COURT. Did the orders at that time prohibit firing by our pickets when such pickets were fired at by the rebels? Answer. ~ dont recollect that there were any specific orders on the subject, but I think not. We tried to prevent it in every way we could. The testimony of the witness was read by the recorder. Major-General lleintzelman stated that the words I think not,,~ in his answer to the last question, are intended as a reply to the question as it reads. The witness added: I do not mean to say that there were no orders on the subject of picket firing. .Maj. CLARENCE BROWN, aide-de-camp, a witness, was re~alled. Question by General MCDOWELL. Did you ever make any inspection by order of General McDowell. to see that the property taken from the inhabitants of the countty for the use of the troops was regularly taken up and accounted for? Answer. I did, opposite Fredericksburg, at Falmouth; the Second New York Vol- unteer Cavalry. The court had no questions to ask the witness. The court adjourned to meet to-morrow, December 6, 1862, at 11 oclock a. m. APPENDIX. I am and have been loth to consume the trial and tax the patience of the court in the matter of the character of li. D. Goodwin. I have thought in this case, which the court has already ruled was an excep- tional one, I could show what I am assured and believe is the fact, that the witness has attempted to pass forged papers on the Government, and has been an inmate of one of the New York penitentiaries. I am not acquainted with the practice of civil courts, and have felt in thi Page 76 76 OPERATIONS IN N. VA., W. VA., AND MD. (Ca& p. XXIV. case such acts must be sufficient to discredit the witness among mill. tary men. IRVIN McDOWELL, Major- General. DECEMBER 5, 1862. FOURTEENTH DAY. COURT-ROOM, No. 467 SOUTH FOURTEENTH STREET, Washington, D. 0., December 6, 1862. * * * * * * * Brig. Gen. HERMAN hUrT, U. S. Volunteers, a witness, was duly sworn. Question by General MCDOWELL. What official connection had you with the late Department of the Rappahannock? Answer. I held the position of chief of constrtiction and transportation on the miii- - tary railroads. Question by General MCDOWELL. What was the principal work you performed in connection with the construction and management of the railroads in the late Department of the Rappahannock? Answer. The reconstrnction of the wharf and buildings at Aquia Creek; the recon- struction of about 3 miles of railroad which had been trn up and the iron removed by the enemy, and the bridges across Accokeek and Rappahaniock Rivers and Poto- mac Creek. In addition to this, the reconstruction of seven bridges on the Manassas Gap road, the relaying of a portion of the track on that road, and the forwarding of supplies to the army by both roads. Question by General MCDOWELL. What is your present position with respect to the railroads in Virginia? Have you again had to rebuild some of the Aquia Creek Railroad? Answer. I have at present the general charge of the construction and transportation of the railroads in Virginia and Maryland, with other duties prescribed in Special Orders, ~248, Adjutant-Generals Office, and I have again rebuilt a portion of the Fred- ericksburg and Potomac Railroad. Question by General MCDOWELL. Look at the statement herewith in the New York Tribune, comparing the time required to rebuild the Aquia and Fredericksburg Railroad under General McDowells admin- istration and the time taken under the presentcommander in Virginia, and state if the contrast is a just one; if not, wherein is it not so. The statement, as embraced between the words a ride and inspi- ration is as follows: A ride npon the cars to Aquia Creek to-day gave me a view of what General Haupt has accomplished within the past ten days in repairing the road from the Potomac to Falinouth. What it look nearly ten months last spring to reconstruct has been accom- plished in about one-sixth of that time. Nearly all the labor then was performed by soldiers, this time by contrabands; or, to call them by a better name, loyal blacks have performed nearly all the hard labor. I saw hundreds of them at work to-day all along the line of the road, at the depots, upon the wharves, on the boats, or wherever there was anything to be lifted, carried, driven, or raised. They were working, too, with a will, not with one arm slowly following the other up and down, or one leg moving after the other as if they were on their way to the gallows, but with a rapid swing and a quick step, giving one to see in every blow and every movement that fifty cents a day, food and rations, and individual freedom are the sources of inspiration. Answer. The statements in the Tribune are correct in s ev~ral particulars. The work was not commenced on the Aquin Creek and Fredericksburg road before the 1st day of May, 1862, and before the 1st day of June we were operating on the Manassas Ga Page 77 CHAP. XXIV.] GENERAL REPORTS. 77 road; consequently the time required to reconstruct that road was less than one month, instead of requiring ten days, as has been stated. The difficulties at that time in per- forming the work were much greater than at present. The weather was rainy, the roads excessively muddy, the nights very dark, and rails were laid at night by the use of lanterns; whereas in the recent reconstruction the night work was done by the light of the moon; the amount to be reconstrncted was not so large as at first, and the destruction of the wharf was not as complete as in the first place, and no portion of I he track had been torn up. This would be sufficient to account for the difference in time, the exertions in both cases being equal. When first reconstructed General McDowell was daily upon the work, giving it his personal attention and urging it forward with all possible celerity. There was less bridge work during the last recon- struction than on the former occasion, part of the bridges being found standing. Question by General MCDOWELL. Were colored fugitives employed by General McDowells orders in the construction and management of the railroads in the departments under his command? If so, to what extent? Answer. They were employed, and to the extent of all that could possibly be pro- cured. I will remark, informally, that at that time it was very difficult to keep men on the road. They were all bound for Washington, as they said, to see Massa Lin- coln. Question by General MCDOWELL. Under what regulations as to food, pay, & c., were they so employed? Answer. The amount of pay was prescribed in a printed order, I believe, issued by General McDowell, giving them, I believe, one ration and a certain price per day. The amount now I do not recollect. I think it was 40 cents, but I am not positively certain. Question by General MCDOWELL. Was the amoant of pay graduated according to industry or capacity? Answer. I dont remember any special orders on that subject; but those who would not ~voi k were promptly discharged. Question by General MCDOWELL. What rule did General McDowell establish as to the property of the inhabitants of the country required for the use of the troops under his command? Answer. That it should lie taken whenever necessary for the use of the army, but always by proper requisition. General McDowell claimed the privilege, as he fre- quently said, of being the only plunderer in the Army of the Rappahannock. He would take what he needed for the use of the army, but would not permit his men to plunder on private account. When property was taken, receipts were given as evidence of the fact. Orders were given to leave subsistence sufficient to keep fami- lies from starvation. Question by General MCDOWELL. To what extent was the property of the inhabitants taken for the reconstruction of the railroad and the bridges over the Rappahannock, Potomac Creek, & c., and for the man- agement of the road in Fredericksburg? Answer. Lumber was taken wherever it could be found. Nearly all the timbersuit- able for bridging was exhausted in the vicinity of Potomac Creek, and all of the tim- ber of suitable dimensions that could be found in Fredericksburg was used in recon- structing the bridge across the Rappahannqck. A large machine shop and foundery, with all the machinery and tools pertaining thereto and the materials on hand w appropriated for the use of the road in Fredericksburg. ere Question by General MCDOWELL. What attention did General Mc- Dowell give to the preparation of his command and the improvement of the means of communication with his forces and preparations for their advance beyond Fredericksburg? Answer. The attention given by General McDowell to the details of the work fre- quently excited my surprise. He was almost constantly upon the road, and sometimes anticipated wants before I had thought of them myself. This was particularly illus- trated in ordering a large number of oxen to haul timber at Potomac Creek before any workmen were upon the ground. He was daily engaged in discussing with me plane to secure the earlier completion of the communications, and was very impatient t Page 78 78 OPERATIONS IN N. VA., W. VA., AND MD. (CHAP. XXIV. advance beyond Fredericksburg, with a view to co-operate with General McClellan ~n his movements against Richmond. Question by General MCDowELL. What arrangements were made by General McDowell for the reconstruction of the bridge over the Massa- ponax, south of Fredericksburg, at the time it was in the possession of the enemy? Answer. That the enemy had prepared combustibles and placed them in position for the purpose of burning the bridge across the Massaponax, 6 miles south of Fred- ericksburg; that the reconstruction of this bridge would give him 25 continuous miles of railroad over which supplies could be thrown. He asked me if it were not possible to have a bridge ready, and what time would be required to reconstruct it. I replied that I could have a bridge framed and loaded on cars and put it up in half a day. The arrangement then was to move forward on the following Monday, leaving me to re- construct the communications and forward the supplies, until which time he would rely upon his wagons. It was on Monday, 26th of May, that the forward movement was to take place, this time having been arranged a day or two previousI do not recol- lect how long, but it was on the occasion of a visit from the President. I recollect that General McDowell was anxious to march on Sunday. General McDowell used expressions to this effect to the President in my presence: I will not be quite ready to move on Saturday, as Shields command is badly off for supplies, which will be re ceived on that day, but by Sunday morning I will be ready. The President re marked, Take a good ready, and move on Monday morning, or words to that effect Question by General MCDOWELL. What means of communication had General McDowell established over the Rappahannock at Fred- ericksburg for the passage of his army? Answer. A very substantial bridge of barges and a pontoon bridge, previous to the construction of the railroad bridge. By his direction the railroad bridge was also planked to admit of the transportation of artillery, infantry, and wagons; t~ubse- quently a wire-suspension bridge was constructed; also a trestle bridge.; in all, four bridges. Question by General MCDOWELL. Had you an opportunity of seeing General McDowells forces at Fredericksburg? If so, state what was their state as to discipline and efficiency, and how supplied and equipped at the time they were about to leave for Richmond. Ans~ver. I merely saw a portion of the forces in passing to and from headquarters. I know that they were well supplied, but can give no information in regard to other particulars. Question by General MCDOWELL. What was the effect of the murder of Robert E. Scott on the inhabitants of the country? Did you mention this to General McDowell? Answer. The effect was to excite a very strong feeling of indignation throughout the community, and the fact was used against us with great effect. Robert E. Scott was represented as a very influential man, opposed to secession, and so strongly in favor of the Union as to gain the ill-will of many of his friends and neighbors. He was shot down, as I understood, by our men when in the performance of some friendly mission. The case was frequently referred to by residents along the line of the road as an evidence of the character of the Union forces. I believe that I did repeat to General McDowell the representation that had been made to me on this subject. Question by General McDowell. What acts of violence on the women of the country came to your knowledge near Fredericksburg? Did you report anything of this to General McDowell? Answer. I reported one case, which occurred within 3 miles of Potomac Bridge. A rape was committed upon the daughter of a farmer who had rendered me material assistance in searching for timber through the woods. I inquired of the parents in regard to the facts, and found that the act had been perpetrated by one of the mimer- ous stragglers who were continually passing through the country in every direction, and from whose ravages not a single farm-house in the vicinity of the road was ex- empt, except when guarded, and not always even then. While searching for timber I met these stragglers in every direction, often miles from the road. I reported these facts to General McDowell previous to the issue of his order on the subject of rape Page 79 CHAP. XXIV.] GENERAL REPORTS. 79 Question by General MCDOWELL. What discrimiAation did General McDowell make in paying for property taken by his order; whom did he pay and whom not? Answer. I am not familiar with that subject. I oniy recollect in general that h. directed receipts to be given, payable on the termination of the war, on proof of loyalty. I am not even certain that this is the precise condition on which receipts were given, but it was something to that effect. Question by General MCDOWELL. What do you know of General McDowells conduct at Bectortown, when he first arrived there on his way to Front Royal last May, with respect to the men left sick at that place by the advance divisions? Answer. All I recollect about it is the use of some very strong expressions of india- nation against some surgeon who had not properly attended to the sick under his charge. Question by the COURT. Do you know any matter or thing tending to show that General McDowell has been treacherous, incompetent, or inefficient as a general officer, or that he has failed in the employment of his forces to co-operate with other commanders as far as he had any discretionary power? Answer. No facts have ever come to my knowledge tending to show that such was the case. All that I have seen or heard from reliable sources would tend to convey the contrary impression. Question by the COURT. Have you personal knowledge that his treat- ment of his officers or men was the occasion of any complaint against him by them or any of them? Answer. I have some knowledge of that subject. I have heardeomplaints bymem- bers of his staff that he worked them to death; and on one occasion, at which I was personally present, three officers of his staff were sent to Piedmont through a drench- ing rain, and required to remain all night7 to superintend personally the unloading of cars. This was a subject of some complaint at the time. No facts have come to my knowledge in regard to the treatment of the men. Question by the CoU1~T. Have you knowledge of any complaint made by his officers or men as to his conduct in battle or of his arrangement of troops in battle? Answer. I have no knowledge of any complaints. I have heard members of his staff speak highly of his conduct in battle and of the personal courage he had ex- hibited on several occasions. I have heard no criticism on the subject of his arrange- ments of troops from either his officers or men. Question by the COURT. Have you seen anything in his conduct or management of troops showing indecision., indiscretion, or want of proper qualities for the command of a division, corps, or department? If so, state fully and particularly what you have seen? Answer. My answer is, I have not. Question by the COURT. When did you first enter the military serv- ice and how long have you been in it? Answer. I entered as a cadet at West Point in 1831; resigned from the Army in the fall of 1835, and was not again engaged in the military service until last spring, when telegraphed by the Secretary of War to come to Washington. Question by General MCDOWELL. What were the circumstances or exigencies of the service at the time you refer, of complaints on the part of certain officers of their being required to superintend the un- loading of cars in the rain? Answer. A necessity existed for a prompt unloading of the cars in order to return them for additionalsupplies. I dont recollect any other exigency at this time Page 80 80 OPERATIONS IN N. VA., W. VA., AND MD. [CRAP. XXIV. Question by General MCDOWELL. Had you not great difficulty in getting cars unloaded at this time, and were we not on a forced march to reach Front Royal by a given time for an important purpose ~ Answer. Such is the fact. Question by General MCDOWELL. Was not General McDowell him. self actively engaged during that same night, directing the operations for opening the road, unloading the cars at Rectortown ~ Answer. I cant tell whether it was the same night or the preceding night he was so engaged. It was one or the other; and either the same night or the next night he rode to Front Royal on horseback. Maj. DAVIS TILLSON, Maine Artillery, a witness, was recalled. Question by General MCDOWELL. You have testified in your previous examination that you were in command of a battery at Belle Plain, Va., in May, 1862. State, as far as you know, the position of Belle Plain as respects the military operations then going on at Fredericksburg. Answer. Belle Plain is 8 miles, I think, below Aquia Creek. Upon m~ arrival there there were no wharves, bridges, or lreparations of any kind for landing troops or supplies. It was immediately made a depot by the erection of the necessary works. Lieutenant Ross was placed in command, and large amounts of stores of different kinds were landed, from whence they were taken to Fredericksburg. Question by General MCDOWELL. What personal attention, if any, did Major-General McDowell give to this station, the works progress. ing, and the troops stationed there? Answer. General McDowell went from Aquia Creek with the troops under the com- mand of Lieutenant-Colonel Leech, Ninetieth Pennsylvania Volunteers, the first, I think, that was sent there. My own battery arrived soon after. Before the troops were landed General McDowell went up to the place selected for landing, and per- sonally superintended the construction of a small bridge from the bank to one or more canal-boats that were fastened conveniently for that purpose. Soon after, on the same day or the next, the men of my own battery were landed, and under the immediate supervision of General McDowell cut down the lumber and built a new bridge, over which horses, mules, and a battery of artillery, and a heavily loaded train of pontoon wagons were disembarked. I recollect this bridge occupied in its construction be- tween three and four hours. I afterward had the curiosity to measure it, and found it to be a little over 70 feet in length. I saw General McDowell repeatedly after this at this station, and received from him orders to do everything possible to forward supplies with the greatest rapidity. I know that he gave similar orders to a Lieu- tenant Ross and other offic9rs. Question by General MCDOWELL. What supplies, if any, for your command did you take from the neighborhood, under what orders, and through what forms? Answer. I took, I think, just 41 bushels of corn for the use of my battery horses. I did this in compliance with orders from Lieutenant-Colonel Myers, General McDowells chief quartermaster. The form was in substance this: It stated the place and per- son to whom the property belonged, the amount taken, and that it would be paid by the United States at the expiration of the war should the owner there.f be able to prove satisfactorily that he had been a true and loyal man from the date of the cer- tificate. My own certificate given in this instance may have varied somewhat from this. Question by General MCDOWELL. What orders, if any, did you receive, as chief of artillery, as to the employment of colored men as drivers of battery wagons, & c.? On what basis was the rate of pay established, if you know? Answer. While at Falmouth, and having already employed several negroes as drivers of army transportation wagons, I received an order from the division head- quarters to which I was attachedan order stating, in substance, that contrabands would no longer be employed as drivers, they having showii themselves unfit to have the care of public animals. As the batteries could not well dispense with the services of these negroes, or contrabands, I went to the department headquarters and inquire Page 81 CHAP. XXIV.] GENERAL REPORTS. 81 of MajorMyers, General McDowells chief quartermaster, as to what should be done in the case. He directed me to continue employing them as drivers, and gave them an order setting forth the rates of pay which they were to receive. I am quite sure that the lowest price was one ration and 25 cents per day, and the higest one ration and 40 cents. Some lime I think in JulyIm not sure as to the dateI made formal appli- cation to be allowed to employ negroes as drivers of battery wagons and forges of the batteries. The application went up to General McDowell through the usual chan- nels, and an order was received from him giving permission to so employ negroes. I recollect also that all the negroes coming to Belle Plain were employed by Quarter- master Ross in various waysin unloading subsistence and moving stores. Question by General MCDOWELL. What was the condition of Gen- eral McDowells command as to discipline and efficiency? How did it compare wil h other commands that have come under your observation? Answer. Its discipline and efficiency compared very favorably with any troops I have seen, surpassing in almost every respect the troops that joined his command while at Fredericksburg. I mean General Shields division. I remember that when General Shields troops encamped beside my own encampment they immediately began to destroy and burn up the fences, cut down shade trees, and in other ways utterly disregarding the orders relative to the preservation of property, and I know that previous to their arrival such acts were not, committed by the troops encamped in the vicinity of my own battery. A letter was submitted to the court signed B. D. Goodwin, of this date, requesting that General McDowell be permitte(l to prove all or any charges against the writer, giving him the right to defend hirnself, which letter was read, as follows: WASHINGTON, D. C., December 6, 1562. May itplea8e thi8 honorable court: Inasmuch as a letter of impeachment (by way of protest) was read to the court yes- terday from General McDowell, I beg that the general be permitted to prove all of any charges against me, giving me the right to defend myself. 1 here emphatically deny that I ever was in prison for any crime or that I ever tried to defraud the Government; but I cannot deny that the Government h~s defrauded me. I believe as far as I stated in my New York letter of General McDowell I have sustained my position before this court. But drunkenness in our nation may be con- sidered no crime. This nation has been on a drunken frolic for years, during which she has been eating up niggers, body and soul, and drinking the hearts blood of the poor white man, whilst she hunted down and manured her soil withthe flesh and blood of thered man. But now the doctor has given her an emetic, from which she is suffer- ing. Her brain is maddened and her blood is at fever heat. She has delirium tremeus, and is now tearing the flesh off her own bones, premeditating self-destruction. The head is deranged. I mean the Cabinet is not a unit; the Congress is divided, and the heads of our Army are distracted, not knowing what to do or how to do it. But our Great Father will bring her to know herself. He will give her a cathartic and will purge her of all her dross and filth, after which she will become cool and col- lected, when she will again return to her senses, and be found clothed and sitting in her right mind once more. I am the friend of God and humanity, and shall condemn wickedness wherever I see it. Yours, for truth, R. D. GOODWIN. The court decided that in the examination before them such an in- quiry would be irrelevant and could not be permitted. The court adjourned to meet on Monday, December 8, 1862, at 11 oclock a. m. FIFTEENTH DAY. COURT-IROOM, 467 SOUTH FOURTEENTH STREET, Washington, D. 0., December 8, 1862. The court met pursuant to adjournment. Present, * * * Maj. DAVIS TILLSON, Maine Artillery, the witness under examination. * * * * * * * 6 R BVOL XI Page 82 82 OPERATIONS IN N. VA., W. VA., AND MD. [CaM. XXTV. Question by General MCDOWELL. What, if anything, was done by General McDowell as respects the mobility of his troops? Answer. I received orders while at Falmouth to make a return of my camp and garrisou equipage and means of tranbpurtation. It came to my knowledge that other troops encamped near had received similar orders. Immediately thereupon an order was received setting forth the amount of equipage and transportation that would be allowed the troops, and greatly reducing the amount then in our possession. Question by General MCDOWELL. Was this reduction of baggage in the division to which you were then attached the cause of complaint or dissatisfaction or grumbling? Answer. It was. The court had no questions to ask this witness. The court was cleared. The court was opened. Mr. PELEG CLARKE, jr., late of Fredericksburg, Va., wa~ duly sworn. Question by the COURT. Where did you reside in the month of April last; and if at Fredericksburg, Va., when and nuder what circumstances did you leave there? Answer. I resided in Fredericksburg, Va., and left to escape arrest by the rebels about the 23d, 24th, or 25th of April. I cant give the exact date; about a week after the Federal Army arrived. They arrived there about the 18th. Question by the COURT. On leaving, to what place did you go; and if to the Federal Army, where was that army at that time? Answer. I crossed the river into Stafford County at General Kings headquarters, which was at the Phillips house, where his army or division, or whatever he com- manded, was there, or a portion of them was there. General Augurs division at that time was at Falmouth. Question by the COURT. At that time did you know a man by the name of William A. Little; and, if so, what knowledge did you then have that he was in the rebel service? Answer. I did know a man by the name of William A. Little. He did reside in Fredericksburg at that time. I knew that is, by the papers at Richmond and our Fredericksburg papers, by readin~ the fact in the papersthat William A. Little, of Fredericksburg, had an adjutant s appointment. This was four or five months pre- vious to the arrival of the Federal Army. I saw him during this time, after having seen the felice in the papers, repeatedly on the streets of Fredericksburg in rebel uniform whilst the rebel army was quartered there, and mounted, on the streets of Fredericksburg, acting in the capacity of adjutant. I have seen where he had signed his name several times during the winter in that capacity. Saw him on the streets, I think, in that capacity the same day the Federal Army arrived at Falmouth; that is, the day the rebel army evacuated Fredericksburg. Question by the COURT. After you left Fredericksburg and reached the United States forces did you see this William A. Little; and, if so, where, When, and under what circumstances? Answer. I did. Saw him at General Kings headquarters or directly in front of the house of his headquarters. I saw him at various p laces within the lines of the Fed- eral Army at various times. The first time I saw him I think I had been across the iverthe second day I was thereand I saw him after that nearly every day that I remained acro~s the river. It was nearly eleven days in all. Question by the COURT. Did you have any conversation with said adjutant during the eleven days? Answer. Nothing, except speaking as we passed each other. Question by the COURT. Did you communicate to General King who this Little was and did he refer you to General McDowell? Did yo Page 83 CRAP. XXIV.] GENERAL REPORTS. 83 inform General McDowell what you had said to General King and what he had said to you? And, if you answer that you did, then narrate what took place between you and General King and you and General McDowell. Answer. At the time I mentioned of seeing Mr. Little, in the first place my atten- tion was called to him and two other gentlemen by a Mr. De Johns, whose tent I sat in reading a newspaper. He came in and asked me to get np and look out of the tent to see if I knew who they were. I done so, and told him that I knew them, and gave him the names of each, and told him that this Mr. Little was an adjutant in the rebel army. I afterward saw General King; told him who the man was and his position. He referred me to General McDowell. I think the same evening or the next day saw General McDowell, and told him that this man Little was in his lines and beyond doubt a spy for the rebels. I dont think I told General McDowell of the conversation I had with General King or that I was referred by General King. I dont think I did. General McDowell replied that he had no doubt that there would be spies within his lines and were there every day. It was always the case with large armies that they had spies in each others lines; that he had sometimes spies in their lines. I dont think I told General McDowell at this interview that Little was an officer in the rebel service, but told him that fact on the second interview. This second interview was, I think, the next day after. Seeing Little in tbe ,lines, and having learned that morning, from parties from Fredericksburg who I knew to be Union men, that Little was met on returning back to Frederieksburg in the afternoon by Mayor Slaughter, Thomas Barton, Maryn, and others, citizens ~f Fredericksburg; that on his arrival they escorted him to the mayors office one day and another day to Bartons office, and after being in with closed doors some fifteen minutes or a half hour they came out with packages of letters, and dispatched, by a man in each case, a package of letters out of Fredericksburg toward General Fields headquarters, which was about 6 miles in rear of Fredericksburg, as near as I learned. On that day I called on General McDowell and told him the above facts. I then told General McDowell, after informing him of the above facts, this man Little was an adjutant in the rebel army. General McDowell turned so as to face me, and, in a stern voice, sai(l,Mr. Clarke, can you swear that that man Little ever held a commission in the rebel army? I replied that I, never having seen his commission, would not, but that I had seen notice of his appointment in the Richmond papers, and seen lAm riding the streets, as I have stated before, in the character of adjutant. General McDowell replied that we could hardly convict him of being a spy under such proof. The night of this day, about sunset, there were some six or eight other men, that were in the Federal lines under the same circumstances as myself, came to see me in regard to this man Little, to know if I ha(l mentioned the fact of his being in the lines to any of the commanding officers. I told them I had, but the trouble was to prove that he ever held a commission in the rebel army. Mr. George Morrison and two Aruistrongs said that everybody knew that; that he was adjutant of the regiment that they belonged to. Mr. George Morrison then handed me a paper from his pocket, which was given him by this Mr. Little, where he signed his name as adjutant of the Fonrteenth Virginia Regiment. It was a written paper, and which I knew to be in the handwriting of Mr. William A. Little. I took that paper the next daysaw Mr. Little again in the linescalled to General McDowells headquarters; was told by the clerk, a young man in his office, that he had rode up to General Kings head- quarters. General McDowell arrived. I handed him this paper that Morrison handed me, telling him at the same time the question he put to me the day before, which I was unable to reply to, was there solved, and that I would swear that was Littles handwriting, and that Little was that day in the lines again. General McDowell took the paper and read it; handed it back to me, an d remarked if Little told noth- ing but the truth it would do him no harm, and that if he lied it would do the rebels no good. Question by the COURT. How was Little dressed when you saw him 011 these various occasions within the Federal lines? What did he do; where did he go? Answer. He was dressed in citizens dress and was always on horseback; he went in almost all directions, as a new division or any move seemed to be taking place or any change. He seemed to be posted up and went through. If a new division came in, when he came up he would turn to the right or left and go to it or go through it. Question by the COURT. Had he any other business in the Federal lines, except as you have stated, that you have any knowledge of? Answer. This man Little was one of the committee who were appointed by the tow Page 84 84 OPERATIONS IN .N. VA., W. VA., AND MD. [CHAP. XX1V~ council of Fredericksburg to meet General Augur in regard to the surrender of the town to the Federal forces of Fredericksburg. I might say, further, that Mr. Little is interested as part owner of a farm about 3 or 3j miles north of the Rappahannock River, in Stafford County. Question by the COURT. What was the contents of the paper which you handed to General McDowell and signed by Little I Answer. As near as I remember This is to show that the bearer, Mr. George Morrison, is employed at Scott & Slaughters iron furnace, in Spottsylvania County, Virginia, they having a contract to furnish the Confederate Government with a large amount of iron ,~io long as said Morrison is thus employed he is exempt from all military duty or militia duty [military duty I think it was]. WILLIAM A. LITTLE, Adjutant Fourteenth Virginia Regiment. The date of the paper I have forgotten, but it was about eighteen days old when it was handed to me. Question by the COURT. You say that Mr. Little was the adjutant of the same regiment to which the two loyal citizens of Fredericksburg whom you have named belonged? State whether he was th~ adjutant of a regiment which then was, or had been, in the rebel service. Answer. Yes, sir; the regiment bad been in the rebel service, and one of the men I speak of had done service in the regiment. I have seen him in the regiment on duty. These men were conscripts, and one of them bad deserted the regimentMr. Arm- strongand gome into the Federal lines, and the Mr. Morrison had got exempt from the fact that he was employed on work for the rebel government, as the paper stated. Question by the COURT. Have you personal knowledge of any other matter or thing tending to show treasonable or unfaithful conduct of General McDowell a~ a general officer? Answer. Not of my own knowledge, sir. The court informed the witness that if he had knowledge of any other witnesses who could communicate facts to the court material to its in- vestigation he was invited to send to the court the names of such in writing. Question by the COURT. State whether you know if Mr. Little was subsequently in active servicethat is, in the rebel army, and where he nOw is, and what position he now holds. Answer. I know nothing about the position he now holds; he was in the service of the rebel army last winter. Subsequently to the period named I have no knowledge of him or where he is now. Question by General MCDOWELL. You state you first saw Mr. Little at General Kings headquarters; please state when it was you saw him. Answer. I cant give the date. It was the second day after I went into the Federal lines across the river. It might have been a week after the advance of the Federal Army arrived; it might have been more. I recollect of seeing General McDowells wagons at the Lacyhouse-,--just north of the Lacy house, in the yardon the covering marked General McDowells Headquarters. Question by General MCDOWELL. Where was General McDowell when you first saw Mr. Little; near General Kings headquarters? Answer. I do not know, sir; I do not think I bad ever seen General McDowell. The Ilrst time I saw General McDowell was the day I went to him the first time. Dont think I ever saw him before. Question by General MCDOWELL. What time was it you told General ~King of Littles presence within the lines of the Union Army? What time with reference to your leaving Fredericksburg? Answer. I think it was the second day I was in the Federal lines; it might have been the third day; it was not the first, I know Page 85 CHAP. XXIV.] GENERAL REPORTS. 85 Question by General MCDOWELL. How did you cross the river when you first caine within the Federal lines? Answer. I crossed at Falmouth in a small skiff. Question by General MCDOWELL. On which side of the river was Lit- tle living at the time you first saw him near General Kings quarters O~ Answer. Living in Fredericksburg, on the south side of the river. Question by General MCDOWELL. How long after you first came across the river was it-before you returned to Fredericksburg? Answer. I returned the next night after dark, and then returned back the next morning, or during the night, and remained on this side of the river eight or ten days, until the Federal Ai my crossed the river, as near as I can recollect. Question by General MCDOWELL. You say you saw Mr. Little within the lines of the army some eleven days in all; do you mean eleven days from the day you first saw him? Answer. I dont think I said I saw him eleven days in all; dont think I ~nade such a statement. Question by General MCDOWELL. What transactions did you have with the rebel Government prior to the arrival of the Union Army op- posite Fredericksburg? Answer. I never had any. I will state that I have sold the rebel army lumber and had ixiade in my establishment ho4pital bedsteads for the rebel armythat is, for the snrgeons in the hospitals in charge of the sick. Question by General MCDOWELL. Did you not seize rebel property and endeavor to have General McDowell pay you United States money for the same in order thus to get your pay from the rebels? Answer. No, sir; I never seized any rebel property and never applied to General McDowell to pay me for any. Tne court was cleared at the instance of a member. The court was opened. The court directed the recorder to dispatch a telegram to Major-Gen- eral McClellan, stating that The court is awaiting your arrival. The court adjourned to meet on Tuesday, December 9, 1862, at 11 oclock a. m. SIXTEENTH DAY. COURT-ROOM. No. 467 SOUTH FOURTEENTH STREET, Washington, D. 0., December 9, 1862. The court met pursuant to adjournment. Present, * * * Mr. PELEG CLARKE, jr., the witness under examination. * * * * * * * Question by General MCDOWELL. Why, in your first interview with General McDowell, did you not tell him Little was in the rebel service? Answer. My interview was very shorf; General McDowell seemed to be engaged and in a hurry to attend to other business. It~as with considerable difficulty, after waiting some time, that I saw him at all. Question by General MCDOWELL. At what place had you this inter- view with General McDowell? Answer. I think it was at the Lacy house; Im sure it was at the Lacy house. He came out of his office on his way out of the house, and I met him in the hail on his way Page 86 86 OPERATIONS IN N. VA., W. VA., AND MD. [(air. XXIV. Question by General MCDOWELL. Who was present on the occasion? Answer. I could not tell, sir. It was the first time I had been there; nearly all of his officers and men were strangers. I had never seen any of them before. Question by General MCDOWELL. Were there other officers besides General McDowell? Answer. I think there were other officers sitting on their horses at the door.. I could not say that there were any in the hall at that time or that there were not. The hail was as wide as this room nearly. Question by General MCDOWELL. Where was General McDowell on the second interview you had with him? Answer. I think it was at the Lacy houseon the west portico of the house. The witness here stated I stated yesterday that I had three interviews with General McDowell; it may have been four. Question by Geneial MCDOWELL. Who was present on that occa- sionof your second interview? Answer. I dont know, sir, that any one was directly present. I do not remember. General McDowells men were all busy and passing by. Question by General MCDOWELL. Where was General McDowell the third interview you had with him? Answer. I stated in my direct examination yesterday on the east steps of the Lacy honse; that was the interviewthe last onewhen I handed him the paper. Question by General MCDOWELL. Who was present on that occasion? Answer. There was at the foot of the steps, I suppose, some twenty or thirty men on horseback. Question by General MCDOWELL. You state you had a fourth inter- view with General McDowell. State where that interview occurred and who were present. Answer. I believe I didnt state I had a fourth interview. It may have been four. I had communication with General McDowell the day the English officers were there and had a review ~u front of General Kings headquarters. I then handed him a paper, which was, I think, in regard to some ot~er matters. Question by General MCDOWELL. What was the paper you handed him? Answer. It was in regard to some rebel deserters who had come into his lines and were then there present; some fonr of them, I think. Question by General MCDOWELL. What was the purport of that paper? Answer. It was in regard, I think, to those four rebel deserters. I was asked by some officer to look at those prisoners and report to General McDowell, I think, whether they werd spies or rebel deserters. Question by General MCDOWELL. Had you permission to pass and repass the river at Fredericksburg? Answer. I had after the Federal Army crossed into Fredericksburg. I dont think I had any pass nntil about the time tho Federal Army crossed the river. Question by General MCDO1~LL. Did you ever mention Littles case to General Patrick, the governor of Fredericksburg? Answer. I dont know that I ever did. I had a great many interviews with General Patrick after his headquarters was in Fredericksburg. Never knew or spoke to Gen- - eral Patrick before. Question by General MCDOWELL. Where were General McDowells headquarters during the eleven days in all you state you saw Little Page 87 CHAP. X~TV.] GENERAL REPORTS. 87 Answer. I never knew of General McDowells headquarters being in any other place than the Lacy house. Question by General MCDOWELL. Did you frequently see General McDowell during those eleven days besides the times you state you had interviews with him? Answer. I dont know that I did, sir. I might have seen him as he was riding through the fields. Question by General MCDOWELL. How do you know that Little went up to and through the divisions as they e~me up, as you have stated? Answer. I dont know that he went through all of them as they carae up, hut saw him in several cases soon atter divisions came up riding in the lines and through them. Question by General MCDOWELL. What else did you manufacture for the rebel aimy besides bedsteads. Answer. Hospital accouterments, tables, and I think I made some tent poles. Question by General MCDOWELL. How old a person was Little and what was his general appearance? Answer. I suppose Little must be thirty-five years old; small man; a man, I sup- pose, weighing 120 or 130 pounds; well dressed, and smart looking man, and is a smart man; lawyer by profession. Question by General MCDOWELL. Did you speak to General King more than once about Little? Answer. I dont think I did. After he referred me to General McDowell I had no occasion to. Question by General MCDOWELL. Was there complaint of Union men being taken from Fredericksburg and property being carried off after the Union Army reached Falmouth and before it crossed to Fred- ericksburg? Answer. Yes, sir; there was. A large portion of the machinery of a woolen mill was carried out of Fredericksburg after the arrival of the Federal Army; also rice, corn, bacon, and other stores. Question by General MCDOWELL. Who was said to be to blame for this? Answer. Well, it was charged on the Federal officers in command there. Question by General MCDOWELL. What Federal officers? Answer. I dont know any names of any particular persons. The charge was gen- eraL Questionby General MCDOWELL. Was General McDowell ever blamed for this? Answer. I dont think that he was, sir; I dont know that General McDowells head- quarters were on the Rappahannock at the time this was done. Question by General MCDOWELL. Have you ever seen General Mc- Dowell under the influence of intoxicating liquors? Answer. I never have, sir. Question by General MCDOWELL. Do you know from others in the vicinity of Fredericksburg that he ha~ been so seen? Answer. No, sir; I never hoard such a charge made against General McDowell till after I went North, about the 1st of June. The question was asked me frequently, almost daily, with reference to his being drunk while I was traveling through the North. General McDowell, I will say, was very much sunburnedhis complexion and looked as if he had been out in the weather a good deal. I was surprised when Much question was put to me. I found it common report there Page 88 88 OPERATIONS IN N. VA., W. VA., AND MD. [CnAP. XXIV. Question by General MCDOWELL. Who asked you such questions when you went North and in what places (towns) were they asked ? Answer. I was asked in the city of Washington, and in every place I went through, large and small; heard it in hospitals and every place almost I went to. Question by the COURT. State whether to your knowledge the enemy received salt, coffee, sugar, boots, shoes, small-arms, or supplies of any kind from us while General McDowell was in command opposite Fred- ericksburg. Answer. No, sir; not from the army, but they passed through the lines. Question by the COURT. State whether any regular mails or cominu- nication of aiiy kind were passed through General McDowells lines with the apparent knowledge of General McDowell or of any of his sub- ordinate officers. Answer. I thinkyes, sir; I dont know that there ivere any regular mails every day or every second day. I think they were as often as every second day and some- times every day, but not to my knowledge or to General McDowells knowledge. Question by the COURT. State whether notorious rebels were to your knowledge passed from or into our lines. Answer. They were. William S. Scott, Dr. Herudon, George Guest, John F. Scott, William P. Brodburst, Montgomery Slaughter, Henry A. Jones, and a man by the name of Smith, who lived out in the country; James L. Vagine, James Kendall, John L. Maryc, jr., and some othersCharles Scott. I can name quite a number of others William H. Morton, Adam Cox. Question by the COURT. Do you know the name or names of any officer or officers by whom these persons were passed into or without our lines; those persons or any other rebels I Answer. I do. Captain Mansfield, who acted provost-marshal, passed the most of them. General Patrick passed some of them. Those parties claimed to be British subjects; and after I found GeneralPatrick was passing them back and forth, he (Gen- eral Patrick) told me Mr. George Guest, one particular instance I have reference to, had papers claiming to be a British subject. I told Genera~l Patrick that he had been voting there br the last four yeirs to my certain knowledge and had been oue of the leaders of the rebellion. General Patrick replied that his lines that day were extended beyo-~ d Mr. Gue4s house and lie should not go beyond them. People came in through the lines with the pretense that they had business in townin Fredericksburg; two of them I knew to be in ihe rebel service at the lime. General Patrick took immediate steps to stop their passing back und forth as soon as he was informed of the facts. Question by the COURT. State whether you know that guards were placed over houses belonging to or inhabited by rebels and whether any orders were issued by General McDowell prohibitin~ his own mcii from obtaining water or seeking temporary shelter from the rain under the front porch, or portico. Answer. I do; that answers the first part. Y do not; that answers the latter part. I know that parties whose poperty was so guarded prohibited the soldiers who were ou guard from coming onto their porch w& en it rained or from getting water from the welt. By whose orders the guard was so stationed of course I know not, but under Captain Mansfields instruction, as I was told. Question by the COURT. At the time you furnished lumber, bed- steads, and hospital accouterments and tent poles to the rebel army, what was your regular business? Answer. Manufacturing lumber, steam-planing mill; wood-working machinery of nearly all kinds, and keeping a lumber-yaid. Ill state when the rebellion broke out I stopped all operations entirely, and before I commenced this was carried by special orders to Quartermaster Cone, and then notified tht~t I was either to go to work with my establishn~ent or go to Richmond jail, and they would take possession of uty prop- erty Page 89 CHAP. XXIV.] GENERAL REPORTS. 89 Question by the COURT. Were the rebel forces then in possession of Fredericksburg and were you residing there with your f~mi1y? Answer. Yes, sir. Question by General MCDOWELL. Do you know if these cases of per- sons refusing to allow sentinels to enter their porches or obtain water were ever reported to the governor of the town or his superiors? Whose was the house where this occurred? Answer. I understood they reported to Captain Mansfield. I know that they were reported to Captain Mansfield. Mrs. Owens is one, and house where Mr. Temple lived was another. Question by General MCDOWELL. When did these occurrences take place; between what dates? Answer. Those that came under my observation were in July. I cant give the exact date; about the 6th, 8th, or 10th. Question by General MCDOWELL. Where were General MclIiowells headquarters at that time; were they at or near Fredericksburg I Answer. I dont know. I dont think they were, sir. Question by General MCDOWELL. Between what dates or periods were these supplies you have referred to, such as shoes, salt, & c., allowed to pass through the lines at Fredericksburg? Answer. About the same time I speak of just prior to that. Question by General MCDOWELL. Who was military governor of Fredericksburg at those times? Answer. I think bat General King had his headquarters on this side of the river. There ~vas considerable changing about. I am not sure. Captain Mansfield seemed to have the matter in hand. Question by General MCDOWELL. In what way were these supplies allowed to pass? Answer. By teams coming in from the country beyond our lines, and get; ing small parcels. perhaps a sack or two of salt, depositing them beyond I be lines uni ii they ebtained enough to load a two-horse wagon, and then put out to Richmond, as par- ties have since told me. Question by General MCDOWELL. Were these practices ever report~d to the military governor of Fredericksburg or General King, whom you 8tate had his headquarters on this side of the river? Answer. I have been told by parties who said they notified both Mansfield and General King. Question by General MCDOWELL. Do you know if any practice such as you have stated occurred prior to July last? Answer. I left there about the 27th May, I think it was and retu of July; that is, early in July, and knew of no such thinguntil rued the forepart after my return. Question by General MCDOWELL. Do you know if General McDowell was ever informed by yourself or others of these occurrences; that is, of irregular mails, supplies, & c., having passed to the enemy? Answer. I do not, sir. Col. EDMTJND SCHRIVER, aide-dc-camp, a witness, was re~a1led. Question by General MCDOWELL. State to the court the rules esta Page 90 90 OPERATIONS IN N. VA., W. VA., AND MD. (CHAP. XXIV. lished by General McDowell for the government of the town of Fred- ericksburg and for granting passes to and fro. Answer. The subject was with General King, who had full power in the ease. King also had the government of the town. Question by General MCDOWELL. Did General McDowell, save in some exceptional cases, interfere and in person take charge of the sub- jectthe government of the town or intercourse with its inhabitants? Answer. No. Question by General MCDOWELL. When were General McDowells headquarters established near Fredericksburg? When did they leave there? Answer. Early in May they were establishedthe 4th or 5th of May, I think, and they were removed then on the evening of the 26th of May to various places. Front Royal was the destination of the general when he left Fredericksburg. Question by General MCDOWELL. During his command of the left of the liappahannock were his headquarters ever again e& tablished at Fredericksburg after he left there? Answer. No. Question by General MCDOWELL. Were any cases ever reported to General McDowell of persons passing supplies of salt, shoes, sugar, & c., or passing noted rebels through the lines of Fredericksburg either be- fore or after his headquarters were removed from that place? Answer. None to my knowledge. Question by General MCDOWELL. What were General McDowells personal habits with respect to intercourse with the inhabitants of Fredericksburg? Answer. I never knew him to go-there or to associate in any way with the inhabit- ants of Fredericksburg, or to see them, except on business. Question by General MCDOWELL. What were the rules established by General McDowell with respect to the constant attendance of an aide-dc-camp? Who were the aides required for service with him per- sonally? Answer. Daily one of four aides was detailed to be in attendance on the general from early in the morning until in the evening. The four were Major Brown, Captain Wadsworth, Captain Dronillard, and Captain Cutting. I want it to be understood the aides served twenty-four hours, day and night; if their service was required. Question by the COURT. Had you information, while you were on the Rappahannock, that any officer or officers in the rebel service were sulftred to pass through your camps, with opportunity to collect infer- mation, and then return to the rebel lines without arrest or hinderanee? Ahswer. Never heard of any. Question by the COURT. Had such a circumstance come to your knowledge would you have deemed it your duty to report the fact and take immediate measures for the arrest of such officer or officers? Answer. Yes. Question by General MCDOWELL. What rules as to trade betweeii Fredericksburg and the loyal States were enforced whilst Genei-al Mc- Dowell was at Fredericksburg? State as far as you can of any in- stance where the subject came before General McDowell. Answer. General [McDowell] refused license to trade or to establish shops in Fred- ericksburg, because the rules of the blockade would be violated thereby. The court took a recess of five minutes Page 91 CHAP. XXIV.] GENERAL REPORTS. 91 Maj. Gen. GEORGE B. MCCLELLAN, U. S. Army, as witness, was duly sworn. Question by General MCDowELL I desire General McClellaii to in- form the court as fully and as distinctly as he can on the following heads: First. As to General McDowells conduct whilst in command of a division in the Army of the Potomac. Second. As to General McDowells conduct whilst in command of the First Army Corps, Army of the Potomac. Third. As to General McDowells conduct so far as it bore on his J)lans and operations whilst lie was in command of the Department of the Rappahannock. Answer. In regard to the first questP~n, the conduct of General McDowell, so far as he was a division commander, was entirely satisfactory. His division was in an ex- cellent condition and all that I could wish. While the general was in command of the First Army Corps, prior to the movements on the Peninsula, I received the fullest co-operation at his hands in preparing the plans and arranging for the moveiue~nt gen- erally. In fact he frequently, at my request, went beyond his strict duties as a corps commander to facilitate preparations. I dont know that I can make it more full, but I wish to impress the idea that I received from General McDowells hands the fullest co-operation in the prepara ions for the Peninsula Campaign. I know nothing per- sonally of General McDowells conduct while in the Department of the Rappahannock, eKcept that I received two telegrams from him, about the 20th of May, I think; the first informing me that by a certain date he would move to my assistance; the other that some unlooked-for circumstance had caused a delay of a few days in his prepara- tion. 1 do not know officially, but have every reason to be morally certain that tke cause of his failure to advance to my assistance was due to circumstances beyond his control. Question by General MCDOWELL. Do you remember if the regiments assigned to constitute General McDowells division were especially desig- nated or were they taken indiscriminately and with reference totheir stations at the time? Answer. My recollection is that they were selected with reference to their stations, being in the vicinity of Arlington, with some few changes subsequently made for par- ticular reasons. Question by General MCDOWELL. How did this division compare in discipline, drill, and efficiency with your other divisions? Answer. Very favorably. I might add to that, so much so that upon one occasion a general order was issued complimentary to tlxe division. Question by General MCDOWELL. Was there a second occasion when the hard labor done by this division on the outworks on the Virginia side attracted your especial attention? Answer. In the construction of the works in the vicinity of Uptons Hill my atten- tion was drawn to the remarkable rapidity with which troops of this division com- pleted the works. Question by General MCDOWELL. Do you know l)ersonally or by report whether General McDowell took nnusual pains in the drill of his division as a division (i. e., the entire body drilled together in the same field) when it was under your command? Answer. I think he did. I think he paid more attention to the division drill than some other commanders. I think there were no division commanders who paid more attention to it. Question by General MCDOWELL. Whilst he was under your com- majid was General McDowell ever intrusted by you with the handling on the same field of all the divisions on the Virginia side of the Pot Page 92 92 OPERATIONS IN N. VA., W. VA., AND MD. [CHAP. XXLV. mac? If so, state the occasion and state the manner in which the duty was discharged. Answer. On the occasion of a review of all the troops on the Virginia side, in the month of November, 1 think, h~ was intrusted with the selection of the ground and the entire conboI of the review, and discharged the (luty in the most satisfactory manner. The court adjourned to meet to-morrow, the 10th December, 1862, at 11 oclock a~ m. SEVENTEENTH DAY. COURT-ROOM, No. 4G7 SOUTH FOURTEENTH STREET, Waskiizgton, D. C., Wednesday, December 10, 1862. Court met pursuant to adjournment. Piesent: * * * Maj. Gen. GEORGE B. MCCLELLAN, U. S. Army, the witness under examination. * * * * * * * Question by General MCDOWELL. What communication from the President, by General Franklin or otherwise, did you receive as to the separatioti of General McDowells corps from your army? Please state fully what you know concerning that separatlo, so far as relates to General McDowell, and what comnmunication,if any, you have made to the President concerning him in that connection? Answer. The substance of the eointnrinicatio,i by General Franklin from the Presi- dent was that the President assume~t the responsibility of the change of destination of General McDowells corps, regarding that corps as necessary for the defense of the troops actually left in Wa~hin(r Washington a1thon~h ,,tou and in front of it, disposable for its defense, were rather more than donbie the garrison fixed by the engineer and artillery officers, and considerably more than the largest number recom- mended by auy of the corps commanders to be left in the viciuity of Washington. I do not at present recall any communication made to the President in regard to the separation of General McDowells coi~ps. It would be necessary for me to consult my papers ere I could answer the question. Question by General MCDOWELL. Do you recollect having received any telegram from General Franklin, l)rior to his joining you in the Peninsula, concerning General McDowell, in connection with the sep- aration of the latter corps from your army? Answer. Yes. I remember merely the general tenor of the dispatch, which wag, in General Franklins opiuion, froiii his knowledge of the case, General McDowell had nothing to do with the separation of his corps from the Army of the Potomac. Question by General MCDOWELL. What Was General Franklins official Position with respect to General McDowell at the time he wrote that dispatch? Answer. He commanded a division, and was in the corps of General McDowell. [Here paper was handed to witness.] Question by General MCDOWELL. Please examine this copy of the New York Herald, of October 3, containing the speech of the bit. J. B. ilaskin, at Tarrytown, N. Y., and state if the following remarks therein attributed to you, to wit-.-~ I have been nufortunate in not taking Richmond in consequence of my (your) plan not having been carried out, because McDowell did not re-enforce me, as he should have done and as it was agreed woild be done, are either true, in either letter or spirit, so far as relates to General McDowell. If not true in either, wherein are they not so Page 93 Cnir. XXIV.] GENERAL REPORTS. 93 Answer. The incident related in the speech is entirely new to me. I never received any dispatches informing me that General Halleck was made Commander-in-Chief, and am very sure I never made the remark attributed to me in the connection as stated. I have no doubt said, for it has ever been my opinion, that the Army of the Potomac would have taken Richm~nd had not the corps of General McDowell been separated from it. It is also my opinion that, had the command of General McDowell joined the Army of the Potomac in the month of May by way of Hanover Court- House from Fredericksburg, we would have had Richmond within a week after the junction. I do not hold General McDowell responsible in my own mind for the failure to join me on either occasion. Question by General MCDOWELL. Did or not General Franklin, on his joining you on the Peninsula, give you a verbal message from General McDowell that he would endeavor to make a demonstration or diversion in your favor by going to Fredericksburg? Answer. I think he did. Question by General MCDOWELL. After the change of base to Fort Monroe and Yorktown, on the Peninsula, was it any part of your plan that any of your forces should go to Fredericksburg? Answer. If you mean the original pla, no; it was not. All the aclive troops were to move in the general direction of the Peninsula. General McDowell stated that he wished at this stage of the pro- ceedings to introduce to the court certain correspondence heretofore referred to by him, if the court would suspend for a short time the examination of the witness. Colonel Schriver, aide-de-camp and chief of staff to General Mc- Dowell, here presented to the court a number of papers, stating they have been authenticated by Colonel Stager, superintendent of military telegraphs, by himself, as chief of staff, and by Captain Cutting, one of the generals aides, and Colonel Schriver read the same. These papers arc as follows, and are appended to the proceedings of this day.* 1. Dated War Department, April 11, 1862, from Edwin M. Stanton, Secretary of ~var, to Major-General McDowell. 2. Dated War Department, Washington City, D. C., April 24, 1862, from Secretary of War to Major-General McDowell. 3. Headquarters Department of the Rappahannock, Aqnia, April 22, 1862, from Major-General McDowell to Secretary of War. 4. Dated Headquarters Department of the Rappahannock, Aquia Creek, April 26, 1862, from General McDowell to Secretary of War. 5. Headquarters Department of the Rappahaunock, near Aquia Creek Landing, April 29, P362, from General McDowell to Secretary of War. 6. Dated Washington, April 30, 1862, from Inspector-General Van Rensselaer to Major-General McDowell. 7. Dated War Department, Washington City, D. C., May 17, 1862, from Secretary of War to Major-General McDowell. 8. War Department, Washington City, D. C., May 17, 1862, from Secretary of War to Maj. Gen. George B. McClellan. 9. Dated Headquarters Department of the Rappahannock, May 20,1862, from Gen- eral McDowell to Secretary of War. 10. Dated Headquarters Department of the Rappahannock, May 21, 1862, from General McDowell to Secretary of War. 11. Dated Headquarters Department of the Rappahannock, May 22, 1862, from Gen- eral McDowell to Secretary of War. 12. Dated Headquarters Department of the Rappahannock, May 22, 1862, from Gen- eral McDowell to General McClellan. 13. Dated War Department, May 24, 1862, from Secretary of War to Major-General McDowell. 14. Dated Headquarters Department of the Rappahannock, May 24, 1862, from Gen- eral McDowell to Secretary of War. *Omitted, except Nos. 7 and 8, from appendix. They will be printed in chronolog- ical order in the Correspondence, etc., Part III Page 94 94 OPERATIONS IN N. VA., W. VA, AND MD. (CnAP. XXIV. 15. Dated War Department, May 24, 1862, from Abraham Lincoln to General Mc- Dowell. 16. (Same), May 24, 1862, from General McDowell to the President. 17. War Department, May 24, 1562, from Abraham Lincoln to General McDowell. 15. Dated Beadqnarters Department of the Rappahannock, May 24, 1862, from Gen- eral McDowell to his Excellency the President. The examination of Major-General McClellan was resumed. A book was here handed the witness containing telegrams, and the telegrams referred to in the following questions are appended to the proceedings of this day and marked Alpha and Beta. Question by General MCDOWELL. Examine the telegrams, pages 252 and 266 and dated June 10 and June 12, and state if you received them. Answer. I received them. Question by General MCDOWELL. Did you also receive the telegram of May 22, 1862, which has been read to the court? Answer. Yes. Question by General MCDOWELL. Did you frequently and daily see General McDowell when he was at Fairfax Court-House in March last past, an(l did you see him on the day the troops were ordered back to Alexandria? If so, state what was his condiFion at that time or at any time he was at Fairfax Court-House when the army was there in March last, as to his being or not under the influence of intoxicating liquor. How long have you known General McDowell; and have the habits of General McDowell, as to the use of, or abstinence from, every species of distilled vinous or fermented liquors been a subject of remark among those who know hiin? If so, what has been his habit or is the general character borne by him in this regard? Answer. I saw General McDowell several times every day in March last at Fairfax Court-House and also on the day the troops were ordered back to Alexandria. He was in his usual condition, entirely free from any effect of intoxicating liquors. I have known General McDowell for nearly twenty years, and have known him as one who abstained entirely from the use of any wiiie or spirituous liquors, and I think even from tea and coffee. I know that has been his reputation among all who have known him, and I can imagine nothing more absurd than the charge of his being in any way nuder the influence of intoxicating liquor. Question by the COURT. State whether General McDowell was under your command at the time of your movement from the Potomac to the Peninsula. Answer. He was. Question by the COURT. What orders were given by you to General McDowell having reference to the movement to the Peninsula and how did those orders affect the general plan of movements for the Army of the Potomac? Answer. The orders were for General McDowell to embark his corps npon the re- turn of the transports then engaged in carrying troops, and having his whole com- niand enibarkel to report to me for further orders at Fort Monroe or wherever else I might happen to be, the intention being to move that corps as aunit by the York or Sovcrn River, according to circumstances; that movement being an esscntial part of the plan of the campaign. Question by the COURT. Were these orders ever changed by you or by others higher in authority; and, if so, how? Answer. They were not changed by me, but by the President of the United States. When in front of Yorktown, with a considerable portion of the army nuder fire, I re- ceived the first intimation of any intention to change the destination of General Mc- Dowells corps. That intimation was a telegraphic dispatch from the War Department, informing me that General McDowells corps had been withdrawn from the Army of the Potomac Page 95 CRAP. XXIV.] GENERAL REPORTS. 95 Question by the COURT. Did you, after the investment of Yorktown, send any orders to General McDowell or did you request any orders to be sent to General McDowell? If so, what were the tenor and object of such orders and what reply was received from General McDowell or from those to whom the request was made? Answer. I sent no orders to General McDowell after the investment of Yorktown, for the reason that I received the information that he was detached from my command on the very day we arrived in front of Yorktown. Question by the COURT. When you caused the occupation of Hanover Court-House did you expect the co-operation of General McDowells corps? On what were such expectations based, for what purpose was the co-operation desired, and what would have been the probable rc- suit of a junction of McDowell and Porter at that time or shortly after- ward? Answer. I hoped for the co-operation of General McDowells army, although that expectation was not the only reason for occupying Hanover Court-House. The hope of co-operation was based on information I receivedat various times from XVa~hington. The purpose for which co-operation was desired was to increase our available strength sufficiently to insure the capture of Richmond, and, in my opinion, the junction of McDowell and Porter would have enabled us to have accomplished the object of the campaign; that is, the capture of Richmond. Question by the COURT. Was such co-operation practicable and by what routes, and was it consistent, in your opinion, with the safety of the capital? Answer. The co-operation was practicable either by the direct land route from Fredericksburg to Hanover Court-House or by the water route, and was consistent, in my opinion, with the safety of the capital. Question by a MEMBER. What forces at that time could the enemy have disposed of for the threatening of Washington, and by what routes and in what time could they have been moved? Answer. The witness here desired permission to ask whether or not the questions propounded were relevant to the matter under investigation. The court was cleared. The court was opened and the following decision announced: That the question be withdrawn. Question by the COURT. What was the distance at any one time be- tween the pickets of Generals McDowell and Porter? Answer. I do not know what the position of General McDowells pickets were. I understood some time after the occupation of Hanover Court-House by General Porter that when General Porter was at Hanover Court-House General McDowells cavalry force (which I understood to be a reconnaissance) were 12 miles from them, but I do not know the position of General McDowells pickets. Question by the COURT. You state that you received the fullest co- operation from General McDowell in preparing the plans for the Penin- sular Campaign as corps commander; bad he knowledge of those plans and was he consulted in respect to them? Answer. Yes. Question by the COURT. Were those plans for the Peninsula Cam- paign which embraced the employment of the corps of General Mc- Dowell known to the War Department or the President? Answer. Yes. Question by the COURT. You have stated that troops were retained for the defenses of Washington. Did those plans provide for a force to be retained from the troops then under your command; and, if so Page 96 96 OPERATIONS IN N. VA., W. VA., AND MD. [CHAr. XXIV. how large was the force to be detained and what troops were to com- pose it? Answer. The witness stated that he had no objection to answer the question if withi; the latitude of the court, but was under the impression that it was outside of the inquiry. The court informed the witness that the series of questions now being propounded have been considered with a view of avoidiiig the clearing of the court. The witness here asked that, as a new branch of inquiry was being opened, he might have time to consider the question. The answer to this question was postponed. Qnestion by the COURT. Have you knowledge of the circumstances which led to the detention of General McDowell and the formation of the Department of the Bappahannock at the time that department was formed? Answer. I had none at the time. Question by the COURT. Did the formation of that depiirtment and the detention of General McDowell reduce the means which had been arranged before you left Washington to prosecute the campaign? Answer. Yes. Question by the COURT. Do you know whether General McDowell had any complicity in promoting or inducing the formation of the De- partment of the IRappahannock or reducing your force? Answer. I do not. Question by the COURT. Was there any reply by you to the telegrams of General McDowell or other notice to him showing that you desired his co-operation? Answer. I think no reply to General McDowell, but the War Department was in- formed that I wanted troops. Question by General MCDOWELL. Do you recollect of the order to General McDowell informing him his corps would be the last to embark, i. e., after Sumners was sent to him from the steamer Commodore after you had left for the Peninsula? Answer. I think it was. I wrote a great many papers on the Commodore, and I think such an order was sent from that steamer. The court now adjourned to meet to-morrow, December ii, 1862, at 11 oclock a. m. APPENDIX. Alpha. WAR DEPARTMENT, Washington, D. 0., June 1O,* 1862. Major-General MCCLELLAN, Commanding Department of Virginia, before Richmond: For the third time J am ordered to join you, and this time I hope to get through. In view of the remarks made with reference to my leaving you and my not joining you before by your friends, and of something I have Another copy of this dispatch is dated June 5 Page 97 Ciu~p. XXIV.] GENERAL REPORTS. 97 heard as coming from you on that subject, I wish to say that I go with the greatest satisfaction, and hope to arrive with my main body in time to be of service. McCall goes in advance by water. I will be with you in ten days with the remainder by land from Fredericksburg. IRVIN McDOWELL, Major- General, Commanding Department Rappahannock. Beta. IIDQRS. DEPARTMENT OF THE BAPPAHANNOCK, Manassas, June 12, 18~il2. Maj. Gen. GEORGE B. MCCLELLAN, Commanding Department of Virginia, before Richmond: The delay of Major-General Banks to relieve the division of my com- mand in the valley beyond the time I had calculated on will prevent my joining you with remainder of the troops I am to take below at as early a day as I named. My Third Division, McCalls, is now on the way. Please do me the favor to so place it that it may be in a positioii to join the others as they come down from Fredericksburg. IRVIN McDOWELL, Major-General, Comdg. Department of the Rappahannock. No.7. WAR DEPARTMENT, Washington, May 17, 1862. ~Zleneral MCDOWELL, Commanding Department of the Rappahannock: GENERAL: Upon being joined by General Shields division you will move upon Richmond by the general route of the Richmond and Fred- ericksburg Railroad, co-operating with the forces under General McClel- Ian now threatening Richmond from the line of the Pamunkey and York Rivers. While seeking to establish as soon as possible a communication be- tween your left wing and the right wing of General McClellan you will hold yourself always in such position as to cover the capital of the na- tion against a sudden dash of any large body of the rebel forces. General McClellan will be furnished with a copy of these instructions, and will ibe directed to hold himself in readiness to establish communi- cation with your left wing, and to prevent the main body of the enemys army from leaving Richmond and throwing itself upon your column be- fore a junction of the two armies is effected. A copy of his instructions in regard to the employment of your force is annexed. By order of the President :* EDWIN M. STANTON Secretary of ?War. No. 8. WASHINGTON, May 17, 1862. Maj. Gen. GEORGE B. MCCLELLAN, Commanding Army of the Potomac, before Richmond: GENERAL: Your dispatch to the President asking re-enforcements has been received and carefully considered. * See aleo memorandum of eame date in Series I, Vol. XI, Part III, p. 176. 7 R RVOL XI Page 98 98 OPERATIONS IN N. VA., W. VA., AND MD. C~ir. xxrv. The President is not willing to uncox er the capital entirely, and it is believed that even if this were prudent it would require more time t& effect a junction between your army and that of the Rappahannock by the way of the Potomac and York Rivers than by a land march. In order, therefore, to increase the strength of the attack upon Richmond at the earliest moment General McDowell has been ordered to march upon that city by the shortest route. He is orderedkeeping himself always in position to save the capital from all possible attackso t& operate as to put his left wing in communication with your right wing, and you are instructed to co-operate, so as to establish this communica- tion as soon as possible, by extending your right wing to the north of Richmond. It is believed that this communication can be safely estab. lished either north or south of the Pamunkey River. In any event you will be able to prevent the main body of the enemys forces from leaving Richmond and falling in overwhelming force upon General McDowell. He will move with between 35,000 and 40,000 men. A copy of the instructions to General McDowell are with, this. The specific task assigned to his command has been to provide against any danger to the capital of the nation. At your earnest call for re-enforcements he is sent forward to co- operate in the reduction of Richmond, but charged, in attempting this, not to uncover the city of Washington, and you will give no order, either before or after your junction, which can put him out of position to cover this city. You and he will communicate with each other by telegraph or otherwise as frequently as may be necessary for sufficient co-operation. When General McDowell is in position on your right his supplies must be drawn from West Point, and you will instruct your staff officers to be prepared to supply him by that route. The President desires that General McDowell retain the command of the Department of the Rappahannock and of the forces with which he moves forward. By order of the President: EDWIN M. STANTON, Secretary of War. EIGHTEENTH DAY. COURT-ROOM, No. 467 SOUTH FOURTEENTH STREET, Washington, D. C., Thursday, December 11, 1862. The court met pursuant to adjournment. Present, * * * Maj. Gen. GEORGE B. MCCLELLAN, U. S. Army, the witness under examination. * * * * * * * The recorder then read the question proposed yesterday and held by the witness for consideration. Question by the COURT. You have stated that troops were retained for the defense of Washington. Did these plans provide for a force tG be retained from the troops then under yonr command; and, if so, how large was the force to be retained and what troops were to compose it? Answer. The troops to be retained for the defense of Washington were almost en- tirely from those under my immediate command. I cannot give from memory alone an accurate statement of their composition and strength. On the 1st April, I think it was, I wrote a letter to the Secretary of War, giving full information in regard to these points. I have not a copy of that letter with me, but will submit it to the court a& won as I can reach my papers. The force left disposable for the defense of Washing Page 99 CH~. XXIV.] GENERAL REPORTS. 99 ton and its dependencies was about 70,600 men, independent of the troops of Gen- eral McDowell. Question by the COURT. Will the letter to which you refer disclose what portion of the troops, 70,000 in number, were present and fit for duty; and, if it does not, state your knowledge on the subject. Answer. No; the letter does not. My recollection is that the number stated in th~ letter were present with their regiments. I cannot answer the questions without re- ferring to the returns, which I will do. Question by the COURT. Explain what you refer to as the dependen- cies of Washington. Answer. I referred then to the approaches to Washington, both in the direction of the Orange and Alexandria Railroad and by the Shenandoah Valley. The instruc- tions given in regard to the position of these troops contemplated posting the mass of them in the vicinity of Manassas, and on the line of the Manassas Gap Railroad near Front Royal, so that the whole force would be available on either approach t~ the city. On the 12th April, the date of the letter referred to, I wrote a letter of in- struction to General Banks, for his guidance in posting troops in front of Wasl~ington, which letter would be a more full answer to the question than the general one I have given, which I will also submit to the court, if they desire it. Question by the COURT. General McDowell having made known to the court that in his opinion it was safe and proper for him to proceed to co-operate with you against Richmond and having yielded his pur- pose so to do only in obedience to higher orders, you will state your judgment as to the soundness of that opinion and the military propri- ety of that purpose on the part of General McDowell, and to that end you will inform the court what, in your judguient, was the object of Jacksons movement against Banks on or about the 24th of May ~ what were the probabilities of the success of that movement if left unaided by the forces of the enemy at Richmond and if Richmond were at the time additionally threatened by McDowells proposed co- operation with you; what forces had the enemy to spare at that time to aid Jackson or otherwise to threaten Washington; what were the probabilities of forces so disposed of reaching Washington and at what time and in what manner ~ Answer. I think that General McDowell was correct in his opinion that it was safe and proper for him to unite with the Army of Potomac. I think that iminediately after the occupation of Hanover Court-House by a portion of the Army of the Potomac there was no rebel force of any consequence between Hanover Court-House and Gen- eral McDowell. I think that the main object of Jacksons movement against General Banks was to prevent re-enforcements being sent to the Army of the Potomac, and expressed that opinion in a telegram to the President within a day or two from th& time I received information of Jacksons movements. I think thatif General McDowell had moved directly upon Hanover Court-House instead of in the direction of Front Royal Jackson would have rapidly retraced his steps to rejoin the main rebel army at Richmond. With a strong army of our own in the vicinity of Richmond and threatening it I do not think the rebels would ever detach a sufficient force to seriously endanger the safety of Washington. Question by the COURT. Had General McDowell knowledge of your letter to the Secretary of War and what it contained, communicating information as to the strength and composition of the troops left to cover Washington? Answer. I dont know that he had. I sent him no copy. Question by the COURT. Had General McDowell knowledge of the facts disclosed in that communication, either derived from consultations with you or otherwise, especially in respect to the number of troops left to cover Washington Page 100 100 OPERATIONS IN N. VA., W. VA., AND MD. [CHAP. XXIV. Answer. I think he had a general knowledge of the facts resulting from the conver- ~ations we had, but probably not a full knowledge as to the number of troops left. Question by the COURT. State as nearly as you can what knowledge he had on that point. Answer. I cannot recollect. Busy with the details of an expedition so large as that, I would not pretendto recollect what knowledge General McDowell had. We talked, however, very fully over the details. Question by the COURT. Did you, in your consultations to which General McDowell was a party, talk over the number of troops which would be left when you should move with the bulk of the army for the Peninsula I Answer. Yes. Question by the COURT. What was the largest number of troops sag. gested by any corps commander to be left to cover Washington and its dependencies? And in this connectiou state, if you can, the number proposed by General McDowell. Answer. My recollection is that the suggestions as to the forces to be left varied from 40,000 to 50,000. I think General McDowell proposed the latter number. Of one thing I am confident, that with the facts fresh in my mind I thonght that I left more than suggested by any corps commander. Question by General MCDOWELL. After Jackson marched to attack General Banks did not forces leave Richmond to re-enforce him before he joined the enemys main army, or had you not reliable information that such was the case, and did you not so report to the Government? Answer. Yes. Question by General MCDOWELL. Does the witness recollect if it was Tnot at one time, prior to his own embarkation at Alexandria, arranged or und.erstood that General Sumners corps should remain in front of Washington till we should learn the enemys force at Gordonsville had ~fallen back and should be opposed by the corps first sent off? Answer. Yes. Question by General MCDOWELL. Do you recollect if this was not the understanding up to the time you changed the order of embarkation and directed Sumners corps to precede that of McDowells? Answer. I think it was. Question by General MCDOWELL. Were the other corps command. ~ers besides General McDowell advised or informed in any way by you as to the composition or number of the forces to be left for the defense of XYashington? Answer. They were not informed in writing and only in a general way in conversa- tion. My recollection is that I talked over the matter with them individually and collectively. Question by General MCDOWELL. Will the witness please state if the force to be left in the Shenandoah Valley was counted in the num- ber for the defense of Washington? Answer. Yes. Questionby General MCDOWELL. Can the witness state from memory about the strength of the command to be left in the Shenandoah Valley? Answer. I cannot recall it, but the letter of instructions to General Banks, to which I have referred, will give full information on the whole subject. Question by the COURT. Do you mean to be understood that on Page 101 Ow. XXIV.] GENERAL REPORTS. 101 corps designed to be employed in your movement by the route of th~ Peninsula was to be left to cover Washington until the first corps sent~ off~ to the Peninsula should be opposed by the enemys force falling back from Gordonsville; and, if so, was General McDowells corps left behind for that duty ~ Answer. The means of water transportation we had rendered it necessary to embark the army in successive portions, andt he idea was to leave a corps or more, which would be the last to embark, in position to cover Washington so long as there was danger of its being attacked by the enemy. Before I left Washington I was satisfied that it was not then in danger, and I directed Sumners corps to be embarked before General McDowell for the reason that I wished to employ General McDowells corps as a unit. I did not leave General McDowells corps behind for the purpose of covering Wash- ington. 1 expected it to follow me the moment transportation for it was ready. Question by the CoURT. Had General McDowell orders to that effect? Answer. Yes; that is, to follow me when transportation was ready. General McDowell presented to the court a communication marked A, which was read by the recorder and is appended to the proceedings of this day. Maj. Gen. ERASMUS D. KEYES, U. S. Volunteers, a witness, was duly sworn. Question by General MCDOWELL. Please state to the court your present rank and command, and if you have served under General Mc- Dowell when he commanded a division in the Army of the Potomae and with him as commanding army corps in that army ~ Answer. My present rank is major-general of volunteers. I command the Fourth Army Corps. I served under Major-General McDowell when be commanded a divis- ion, as brigadier in the Army of the Potomac. lialso served with him as a corps com- mander, that is, he commanded the First and I the Fourth Army Corps, but not for a great length of time. Question by General MCDOWELL. State to the court as fully as you can concerning General McDowells conduct as division commander whilst you served under him. Answer. I served under General McDowell as a division commander from about the 1st of August till about the middle of November following as a brigadier. The con- duct of General McDowell during that time was in my opinion that of an attentive officer, who understood the duties of his command perfectly well. It was my impres- sion and knowledge that he examined the details of his command daily. He would pass through the camp very frequently; make frequent and very careful inspections of the men; saw his command frequently under arms and exercised them all. That is my answer to his military conduct. Question by General MCDOWELL. State to the court as fully as you can concerning General McDowells conduct as army corps commander whilst you and he served in that capacity in the Army of the Potomac. Answer. While I served with him as corps commander, which was not far from the 12th of March until the end of the mouth, when I left for the Peninsula, I saw him frequently. During that time I did not see him actually on the field more than two or three times; that I had frequent conversation and discussions with him in reference to the plan of campaign and the conduct of the war. General McDowell appeared to be very active, and it struck nie he had studied the subject of the campaign thoroughly and that he understood and performed the duties of his command with a great deai of alacrity and intelligence. I thought his conduct indicated that his heart was zealous in the cause. It was my impression that his ability and his intelligence were fully equal to his command. I should add, at the time I refer to, about the 10th March, the discussions of corps commanders were very important of course, as the subject of the campaign was under frequent dissussion, and I saw more of General McDowell and heard his views more in detail than I did those of any other corps com- mander. Question by General MCDOWELL. Were you ever present at any con Page 102 102 OPERATIONS IN N. VA., W. VA., AND MD. [CHAP. XVIV. sultation with General McDowell when General McClellan informed you, him, or any other corps commander of the amount and composition of the force which he intended to leave for the capital? If so, state the amount and composition of the force he intended so to leave. Answer. I was present at a consultation of General McDowell, when General Mc- Clellan spoke to me, General McDowell, and other corps commanders of the force to 1e left behind for the defense of Washington, but I do not remember whether General 3lcClellan proposed any definite amount or composition of the forces to be left. Question by General MCDOWELL. Were you present at any other consultation with the corps commanders after the one you refer to at Fairfax Court-House, when General McClellan informed you or General McDowell of the amount and composition of the forces to be left behind? Answer. I was present, I think, on a subsequent Qecasion, when General McClellan spoke of the force to be left behind; bnt I dont remember whether it was a consulta- tion of all the corps commanders or not. The subject having been settled by the corps .eomnanders, I allowed the matter to pass from my mind in subsequent discussion. Ueneral McDowell, it is my impres~iou, was present on a subsequent occasion when that subject was mooted. Question by General MCDOWELL. Can the witness recollect when this occurred? Answer. I dont remember at this moment. Question by General MCDOWELL. Does the witness remember what troops General McClellan designated at that time as those he intended should form the defense of Washington? Answer. The witness desired time to refresh his memory ere he answered the ques- tion. The court instructed the recorder to make a preliminary examination of such persons as may be represented to the court as knowing matter pertaining to the subjects under investigation by this court. The court adjourned to meet to-morrow, December 12, 1862, at 11 a. in. APPENDIX. A. In laying before the court such official communications as have seemed to me to bear more especially on the matter in hand, I may have omitted some which if they were known to the court it might con- sider important. I therefore beg to say that I have here, for the inspec- tion of the court, my order books, letter book, and books of telegrams received and sent; and if at any time the court should think any par- ticular event or subject might or should be more fully given than I should present it, I beg the recorder may have leave to examine the Fooks with reference to the same. IRVIN McDOWELL, Major- General. NINETEENTH DAY. COuRT-Roomi, 467 SOUTH FOURTEENTH STREET, Washington, D. C., December 12, 1862. The court met pursuant to adjournment. Present * * * Maj. Gen. ERASMUS D. KEYES, U. S. Volunteers, the witness under examination. * * * * * Page 103 CRAP. XXIV.] GENERAL REPORTS. 103 The recorder repeated the following question, propounded yesterday and held by the witness under consideration: Question by General MCDOWELL. Does the witness remember what troops General McClellan designated at that time as those he in- tended should form the defense of Washington? Answer. To the best of my remembrance he spoke of some troops then in the Shen- andoali Valley as one portion, and another portion were unattached regiments in the neighborhood of Washington; that is, regiments that had not been attached to any corps, and I think he referred to other troops expected to arrive in Washington, but tiot in definite terms. Question by General MCDOWELL. What was the resolution adopted by the corps commanders at Fairfax Court-House as to the force to be left for the defense of Washington? Answer. It was resolved by the corps commanders, at a meeting at Fairfax Court- House, held about the 12th of March, that all the forts on the Virginia side of the Potomac, right bank, must be fully garrisoned and all the forts on the Washington side occupied, and that there should be in addition a covering force or movable force of 25,000 troops on the Virginia side. This was the opinion of three of the corps com- manders; that is, McDowell, Heintzelman, and myself. General Sumners opinion was that the whole number of troops to be left for the defense of Washington, in- cluding the forts, should be 40,000. Question by General MCDOWELL. What were the duties imposed on the corps commanders by the President with reference to the move- ment of the Army of the Potomac and the force to be left for the de- fense of Washington? Answer. The President imposed upon the corps commanders the duty of making definite arrangements for the defense of the capital, and he required that they should specify the force to be left behindnot the definite regiments, but the amount of force. I understood he required this arrangement to be made before he would permit the army 10 change its base. Question by General MCDOWELL. After the occasion you refer to at Fairfax Court-House, were the corps commanders ever assembled as a body for consultation, advice, or other purpose? Answer. They were notbefore moving to the Peninsula. Question by General MCDOWELL. Were the corps commanders ever as a body informed as to action taken or to be taken by General Mc- Clellan with a view to a fulfillment of the orders of the President con- cerning the amount of force to be left behind for the defense of Wash- ington? Answer. They were not. Question by General MCDOWELL. How long have you known Gen- eral McDowell intimately? What are his habits as to the use of in- toxicating liquors? Answer. Ive known him intimately since the month of June, 1844. His habits, so far m I have ever seen or known or heard, until recently, were those of total absti- nence from the use of intoxicating liquors. Recently I have seen in the papers and have heard it said that he drank too much; but this change, if there be such a change, is entirely unknown to me. Question by General MCDOWELL. What was the feeling expressed in the Peninsula concerning General McDowell for his not coming from Frcdericksburg to join the Army of the Potomac before Richmond? This question was objected to by a member, as tending to elicit mat- ter not essential to the defense of General McDowell. General McDowell stated, at the instance of a member of the court, that he had been maligned and abused in the Army of the Peninsula; that there existed a strong feeling against him, and that for months th Page 104 104 OPERATIONS IN N. VA., W. VA., AND MD. (Ca& r XXIV. press seemed filled with every species of abuse, attributing to him bad motives for not joining the Army of the Potomac. A member stated it was not the province of the court to inquire into imputations on the ~part of the public by false accu~afions; but rather whether General McDowells conduct has been such as to justify accu- sation. General McDowell stated that the fact, if admitted by the court, would be all that he deemed necessary in the case. General McDowell was informed that a statement, in writing, of his wishes on the subject would be received by the court. Question by the COURT. At the consultation of corps commanders referred to by you did the force of 40,000 named by General Sumner or the garrisons of the forts and movable force of 25,000 agreed to in the resolution passed by the majority of the commanders in any way in- clude the force in the Shenandoah Valley? Answer. It did not. Question by the COURT. Did you or do you consider the force that was then or afterward in the Shenandoah Valley as properly applica- ble to the defense of Washington and to be properly included in the number which were to be left for said defense in obedience to the in- quiry of the President? Answer. I did not consider that force as properly applicable to the defense of Wash- ington at that discussion myself. A paper (or slip) was read by the recorder and handed the witness, which is appended to proceedings of this day, and marked A. Question by General MCDOWELL. Will the witness examine this slip and see if it is the rough of the resolution adopted by the corps com- manders at Fairfax Court-House at the time in question? Answer. It is. Question by the COURT. Was General McClellan present at the con- sultation where this resolution was adopted ~? Answer. He was present in the same house, and in and out of the room several times while the discussion was going on, and it was announced and made known to him at the time at his headquarters, Tairfax Court-House. General McDowell having been summoned to attend the court-mar- tial in the case of General Fitz John Porter as a witness, the court ad- journed until to-morrow, December 13, 1862, at 11 oclock a. m. APPENDIX. A. That with the forts on the right bank of the Potomac fully garri- soned and those on the left bank occupied a covering force in front of the Virginia line of 25,000 men would suffice. KEYES. HEINTZELMAK. MCDOWELL. A total of 40,000 men for the defense of the city would suffice. SUMNER Page 105 Cxi~ XXIV.] GENERAL REPORTS. 105 TWENTY-FIRST DAY.* COURT-ROOM, No. 467 SOUTH FOURTEENTH STREET, Washington, D. 0., December 15, 1862. * * * * * * * Col. EDMUND SCHRIVER, aide-de-camp and chief of staff to Major- General McDowell, a witness, was recalled. Question by General MCDOWELL. State what orders were given by General McDowell concerning the fences around some wheat field& near the Lacy house in April or May last. Answer. Finding them in a condition that endangered the growing crops of wheat, the general ordered them to be restored. I think it was by Colonel Wyndham, com- manding cavalry regiment. There was another case in that vicinity where the fences were ordered to be restored by some of General Kings division that was encamped near the place. I remember another order that was given to General McCall to re- store the fences of a colored man, I think, in the neighborhood of his camp. None others occur to me now. Question by General MCDOWELL. Was there any wood near at hand to these wheat fields or to the cabin of the colored man which couki have been used for fuel by the troops I Answer. An abnndance. Question by General MCDOWELL. Were any orders given to General Shields division, or any part of it, requiring them to rebuild fences, or to return to near the Lacy house, when they had marched away from. it, for this purpose I Answer. I have no knowledge of any such order having been given. The court took a recess for thirty minutes. General McDowell here requested that the following official papera be laid before the court; which papers were read by Colonel Schriver, the witness under examination, and are appended to the proceedinga of this day and in the following order: t 1. From Major-General McDowell to P. H. Watson, Assistant Secretary of War, dated Headqnarters Department of the Happahannock, opposite Fredericksburg,. May 11, 1862. 2. From Major-General Shields to E. M. Stanton, Secretary of War, dated Head- quarters Shields division, Fredericksburg, May 24, 1862. 3. From E. M. Stanton, Secretary of War, to Major-General McDowell, at Freder- icksburg, dated War Department, Washington City, D. C., May 25, 1862. 4. From Mnjor-General McDowell to E. M. Stanton, Secretary of War, dated same,. May 25, 1862. 5. From E. M. Stanton, Secretary of War, to Major-General McDowell, dated War Department, Washington City, D. C., May 25, 1862. 6. From E. M. Stanton, Secretary of War, to Major-General McDowell, at Falmouth,. dated War Department, Washington, May 25, 1862. 7. From Major-General McDowell to Secretary of War, dated Headquarters Depart- inent of the Rappahannock, May 25, 1862. 8. From Major-General McDowell to Secretary of War, dated Headquarters Depart- ment of the Eappahannock, May 25, 1862. 9. From I~. M. Stanton, Secretary of War, to Major-General McDowell, dated United States Military Telegraph, War Department, Washington City, D.C., May 25,1862. 10. From E. M. Stanton, Secretary of War, to Major-General McDowell, at Freder- icksburg, dated War Department, Washington City, D C May 25 1862. 11. From E. M. Stanton, Secretary of War, to Major-deneral McDowell, at Fal- month, dated Washington, May 25,1862. 12. From Major-General McDowell to Secretary of War, dated Headquarters De- partment of the Rappahannock,~May 25,1862. 13. From Major-General McDowell to Secretary of War, dated Headquarters De- partment of the Rappahanuock, May 25, 1862. * On the twentieth day, December 13, the court met and immediately adjourned, Major-General McDowell being detained as a witness in the Fitz John Porter trial. t Omitted from appendix. They will appear in chronological order in Correspond- once, etc., Part III Page 106 106 OPERATIONS IN N. VA., W. VA., AND MD. (CHAP. XXIV. 14. From Major-General McDowell to Secretary of War, dated Headquarters Dc- partment oC the Rappahannock, May 25,1862. 15. From Najor-General McDowell to Secretary of War, dated Headquarters De- partment of the Rappahannock, May 25, 1862. 16. From Major-General McDowell to Secretary of War, dated Headquarters Depart- ment of the Rappahannock, May 25. 17. From Major-General McDowell to Secretary of War, dated Headquarters Depart- ment of the Rappahannock, May 26, 1862. 18. From Major-General McDowell to Brigadier-General Rickette, dated May 26, 1862. 19. From A. Lincoln to Major-General McDowell, dated Washington, May 26, 1862. 20. From Major-General McDowell to His Excellency the President, dated Freder- icksburg, May 26, 1862. 21. From General J. W. Geary (signed E. M. Stanton) to Major-General McDow- eli, dated Washington, May 26, 1862. 22. From General J. XV. Geary (signed E. M. Stanton) to Major-General McDow- eli, dated Washington, May 26,1862. 23. From Maj. Gen. E. 0. C. Ord to Major-General McDowell, dated Aquia Creek, May 26, 1862. 24. From Maj. Gen. E. 0. C. Ord to Major-General McDowell, dated Aqula Creek May 26, 1862. 25. From Maj. Gen. E. 0. C. Ord to Major-General McDowell, dated Aquia Creek, May 26, 1862. 26. From E. M. Stanton, Secretary of War, to Major-General McDowell, dated Wash- ington, May 27, 1862. 27. From Major-General McDowell to General Shields, at Catletts, dated Washing- ton, May 27, 1862. 28. From Major-General McDowell to Secretary of War, dated Headquarters Manas- sas, May 27, 1862. 29. From Major-General McDowell to Secretary of War, dated Manassas, May 27, 1862. Maj. Gen. GEORGE L. HARTSUFF, U. S. Volunteers, a witness, was duly sworn. Question by General MCDOWELL. What command have you held under General McDowell? Wheu did you come under his command? In what condition was the brigade when you first joined it? Answer. I commanded a brigade under General McDowell. I came under his corn- inand on the 1st of last May. The general condition of the brigade was good. Question by General MCDOWELL. How was it as to means of trans- portation, and camp equipage when you joined it? Answer. The means of transportation and the amount of camp equipage were very ab:ndant; unusually so. Question by General MCDOWELL. What reduction was made in the means of transportation and in the camp equipage on your coming un(ler General McDowells immediate command at Fredericksburg? Answer. The number of wagons to each regiment was reduced to seven or eight, I think. The Sibley tents, with which the command were furnished, were changed to shelter-tents; officers baggage was necessarily considerably reduced, and the baggage ~of c~inpany messes, and baggage generally of officers and men. Question by General MCDOWELL. Do you know if the reduction of means of transportation and camp equipage was the cause of any feel- ing or the subject of any remark in the brigade? Answer. It was the cause of considerable feeling and of many remarks of ill-feeling or ill-will 1oward General McDowell by officers and men. I did not hear the remarks of the men, but am satisfied remarks of the kind were made. Question by General MCDOWELL. State if you know of another cause of ill-feeling toward General McDowell or dissatisfaction with him in that brigade connected with their having been under auother depart- inent commander, where these restrictions had not been made Page 107 CRAP. XXIV.] GENERAL REPORTS. lOg Answer. Three of the four regiments composing my brhrade had been under the command of General Banks. The briuade was, as they believed, temporarily attached to General McDowells command. They were very desirous of getting back under General Banks command, believing the amount of transportation they brought to General McDowells command would be restored to them, and with it their baggage and comforts. Question by General McDowEI~. Was anything done at Front Royal or at Warrenton to lead these regiments to continue in this belief that they would not continue under General McDowell? Answer. At Front Royal some officers of Massachusetts regiments visited General Banks, who was then, I believe, at Middletown and bro that t e brigade would soon he again under his ught from him the assurance command. At Warrenton, in July last, General Banks visited the command one evening and spoke to the regiments sepa- rately, I believe, telling them, as I heard, that they would soon be again under his com- Inand; that he was making efforts to get them back. I did not hear him myself. Question by General MCDOWELL. What was the nature of the forced march, as to severity, of the brigade from Alexandria to Front Royal? Answer. The weather at that time was very hot, and the march, consider~ing the weather, was made as quickly as troops could perform it and be at all efficient at the end of the march. Question by General MCDOWELL. Was that march the cause of com- plaint, so far as you know, in the brigade? Answer. It was the cause of complaint, and I saw afterward letters written by ofticers of the brigade and published in Boston newspapers containing severe strictures on General McDowell as the author of suffering on the marches. The letter was ~lled with falsehoods. Question by General MCDOWELL. Was there any complaint that the men were forced over the Blue Ridge in the rain and without tents or shelter? Answer. There was such complaint. Question by General MCDOWELL. Where did the brigade stop and how were they occupied the night before they reached Front Royal? Answer. They stopped between 2 and 3 miles of the town of Front Royal, and biv- ouacked in some pine bushes by .the road-side. Question by General MCDOWELL. ~Vhat kind of weather was it that night? Answer. There was a severe rain-storm during nearly the whole of the night. The court adjourned to meet to-morrow, December 16, 1862, at 12 oclock m. TWENTY-SECOND DAY. COuRT-ROOM, 467 SOUTH FOURTEENTH STREET, Washington, D. 0., December 16, 1862. * * * .* * * * Maj. Gen. GEORGE L. HARTSUFF, U. S. Volunteers, the witnes8 under examination. * * * * * * * Question by the COURT. Do you know any matter or thing tending to show that General McDowell was treacherons, incompetent, unfaith- ful, or otherwise disqualified for the command of a division, corps, or department; and if you do, state what you know as fully as though you were specifically interrogated in respect thereto? Arswer. I do not know any such cause Page 108 108 OPERATIONS IN N. VA., W. VA., AND MD. (CHAP. XXIV. The court requested that General McDowell would state the names of necessary witnesses whom he proposes to introduce and the points to which their evidence will relate. Major-General McDowell presented to the court the following papers, which were read by the recorder, and will be appended to the proceed- ings of this day.~ 1. From General Shields to Major-General McDowell, dated Manassas, May 27, 1862. 2. From Secretary of War to Major-General McDowell, dated Washington, May 27, 1862. 3. From Major-General McDowell to General Wadsworth, dated Manassas, May 28, 1862. 4. From General Wadsworth to Major-General McDowell, dated Washington, May 28, 1862. 5. From Major-General McDowell to Secretary of War, dated Headquarters Depart- ment of the Rappahannock, Manassas, May 28, 1862. 6. From General Saxton to Major-General McDowell, dated Washington, 7 p. in., May 28. 7. From General Shields to General McDowell, dated Catletts, May 27, 1862. 8. From General Sbields to General McDowell, dated Catletts, May~27, 1862. 9. From General Shields to General McDowell, dated May 27, 1862. 10. From General Shields to General McDowell, dated Catletts, May 27, 1862. 11. From General Shields to General McDowell, dated Catletts, May 27, 1862. 12. From General Shields to General McDowell, dated Catletts, May 27, 1862. 13. From General Shields to General McDowell, dated Catletts, May 27, 1862. 14. From General McDowell to Secretary of War, dated Manassas, May 27, 1862. 15. From Colonel Schriver to General Shields, dated Headquarters, Alexandria, May 27, 1862. 16. From General McDowell to General Shields, dated Washington. May 27, 1862. 17. From Gen~ral Saxton to Major-General McDowell, dated Washington, May 28, 1862. 18. From Secretary of War to General McDowell, dated Washington, May 28, 1862. 19. From Secretary of War to General McDowell, dated Washington, May 28, 1862. 20. From A. Lincoln to General McDowell, dated Washington, May 28, 1862. 21. From General Shields to Colonel Schriver, dated Rectortown, May 28, 1862. 22. From Secretary of War to General McDowell, dated Washington, May 28, 1862. 23. From A. Lincoln to General McDow~4l, dated Washington, May 28, 1862. 24. From same to same, same date. 25. From Secretary of War to General McDowell, dated Fredericksburg, May 28, 1862. 26. From same to same, dated Washington, May 29,1862. 27. From General McDowell to Secretary of War, dated Headquarters, Manassas, May 28, 1862. 28. From same to same, same date. 29. From same to same, same date. 30. From same to General Shields, dated Headquarters Department, May, 1862. 31. From same to Secretary of War, dated Headquarters Department of the Rappa- hannock, May 28, 1862. 32. From same to same, dated headquarters, May 28,1862. 33. From same to His Excellency the President, dated Headquarters Department of the Rappahannock, May 28, 1862. 34. From same to same, same date. 35. From same to Secretary of War, dated Headquarters Department of the Rappa- hannock, May 28, 1862. 36. From same to same, same date. 37. From General McCall to General McDowell, dated Falmouth, May 28. 38. From A. Lincoln to same, dated Washitigton, May 28. 39. From General Shields to same, dated Rectortown, May . 40. From same to same, dated Rectortown, May 29, 1862. 41. From same to Colonel Seliriver, dated Rectortown, May 29, 1862. 42. From Secretary of War to General McDowell, dated Washington City, D. C., May 29, 18624.30 p. m. 43. From General Frdmont to the President, dated Moorefield, May 29, 1862. 44. From the Presideut to General McDowell, dated War Department, Washington, D. C., May 29, 186212 in. 45. From General Shields to General McDowell, dated Rectortown, May 29, 1862. * Omitted from appendix. They may be found in chronological order in Corre- spondence, -etc., Part III Page 109 GENERAL REPORTS. CHAP. XXIV.] 109 46. From same to same, same date. 47. From same to same, same date. 48. From same to same, same date. 49. From same to same, same date. 50. From same to same, same date. 51. From General McDowell to Secretary of War, dated Headquarters Department of the Rappahannock, Manassas, May 29,1862. 52. From same to same, dated Headquarters, Manassas, May 29, 1862. 53. From same to General Shields, dated Headquarters Department, Manassas, May 29. 1862. 54. From same to same, same date. 55. From same to same, same date. 56. From same to same, same date. 57. From same to same, same date. 58. From same to same, same date. 59. From same to same, same date. 60. From A. Lincoln to General McDowell, dated War Department, Washington City, May 30, 18629.30 p. m. 61. From General Saxt.rn to Secretary of War, dated Harpers Ferry, May 30, 1862. 62. From General Wadsworth to General McDowell, dated War Depattment, May 30, 1862. 63. From Secretary of War to General McDowell, dated War Department~ May 30, 1862. 64. From A. Lincoln to same, dated War Department, Washington, May 30, 1862 10 a. m. 65. From Secretary of War to same, same date. 66. From same to same, same date. 67. From A. Lincoln to same, same date. 68. From same to same, same date. 439. From Secretary of War to same, same date. 70. From General King to General McDowell, dated Catletts Station, May 30. 71. From General Shields to same, dated Front Royal, May 30, 1862. 72. From same to same, same date. 73. From General McDowell to Secretary of War, dated Rectortown, May 30, 1862. 74. From same to same, same date. 75. From same to General Shields, no date. 76. From same to same, dated Manassas, May 30, 1862. 77. From same to President, same date. 78. From P. H. Watson (Assistant Secretary of War) to General McDowell, dated Washington, May 30, 1862. i9. From Secretary of War to same, same date. 80. From General Saxton to same, same date. 81. From Secretary of War to same, same date. 82. From General Banks to same, same date. 83. From General Saxton to same, same date. 84. From General McDowell to Secretary of War, dated Reotortown, May 31,1862. 85. From same to same, same date. 86. From same to same, same date. 87. From Secretary of War to General McDowell, dated Washington, June 1, 1862. 88. From same to same, same date. 89. From General McDowell to Secretary of War, dated Front Royal, June 1. 90. From same to same, same date. 91. From General Shields to Colonel Schriver, dated Monday morning, 5 a. m. 92. From Secretary of War to Generals McDowell and Frdmont, dated Washington, June 2, 1862. 93. From A. Lincoln to General McDowell, dated Washington, June 3, 1862. 94. From General McDowell to Secretary of War, dated Front Royal, June 3, 1862. 95. From same to same, dated Headquarters Department of the Rappahannock, Front Royal, June 3, 1862. 96. From same to same, dated Headquarters Department of the Rappahannoek, June 3, 1862. 97. From same to same, dated Headquarters Department of the Rappahannock, Front Royal, June 4, 1862. 98. From same to same, same date. 99. From same to same, same date. 100. From same to same, same date. The court adjourned to meet in the room southwest corner of Penn- sylvania avenue and Fourteenth street to.morrow, December 17, 1862, at 11 a. m Page 110 lit) OPERATIONS IN N. VA., W. VA., AND MD. (CL~& r. XXIV. TWENTY-THIRD DAY. CouRT-RooM, SW. COR. PA. AVE. AND FOURTEENTH ST., Washington, D 0., December 17, 1862. * * * * * * * Brig. Gen. RUFUS KING, U. S. Volunteers, a witness, was duly sworn. Question by General MCDOWELL. How long have you served under General McDowell and what commands have you held under him 0? Answer. I have served about a year under General McDowell; first as commander of a brigade, afterward as commander of a division. Question by General MCDOWELL. At the time your division was op- posite Fredericksburg, in April and May last, how was it posted 0? Who was governor of Fredericksburg, and what were the duties which were devolved oi~ you, as commander of the division, with reference to passes to and from the town I Answer. One brigade of my division was posted in Fredericksburg. Three on this side of the river, opposite the town. General Patrick was the acting military gov- ernor. I dont recollect that I had special instructions ou the snbject of passes to and from the town, though there was an order on the subject, the terms of which I do not now recollect. Question by General MCDOWELL. What knowledge have you of a man named Little, said to be a rebel adjutant? Answer. I recollect a man by that name, whom I supposed then, and still suppose, to be a private citizen of Fredericksburg. He was frequently at my headquarters, and I understood, either from him or some friend of his, that he had been in the mill- tin of Virginia some months previous, but was not so any longer. I think he told me so himself. Question by General MCDOWELL. Do you recollect if any report was made to you by Peleg Clarke of Littles being a spy and asking you to have him arrested or of his being a rebel adjutant then in the service? Answer. No, sir; except that he told me that Little was or had been a rebel adju- tant. Question by General MCDOWELL. Was any report made to you from General Patrick concerning this Little of his being a spy or rebel officer? Answer. No, sir. Question by General MCDOWELL. State what was done with the growing grain (wheat) which was in the fields near Chatham house, and which had been protected by General McDowell whilst his head- quarters were opposite Fredericksburg. Answer. The instructions, I recollect, were to protect the growing crops in our neighborhood, and the reason assigned was that we should need the wheat if the rebels didnt. Question by General MCDOWELL. Was the wheat in those fields harvested for the Government? Answer. I think it was, but am not sure. Question by General MCDOWELL. State the effect on the discipline of the troops of General McDowells orders and the policy pursued by him with reference to marauding or taking property without authority. Answer. The effect upon the troops was excellent, and the policy, in my judgment, the best that could have been pursued. Question by General MCDOWELL. Was a supposed change in that policy the source of any falling off in the discipline Page 111 Cnir. XXIV.] GENERAL REPORTS. lilt Answer. Yes, sir; very great and serious. Question by General MCDOWELL. Was that falling off in discipline the cause of any representation to the then commanding general ~ If so, what was the effect of that representation ~ Answer. I dont distinctly recollect what the representation made was. My im- pression is that it led to such ordex s as made a change for the better, but am not cer-~ tam. Question by General MCDOWELL. Do you know if the arrival near your division of troops more abundantly provided than they were with wagons, tents, & c., was the cause of any remark or feeling with refer- ence to the allowances made to your division: Answer. It was. Question by General MCDOWELL. What do you know of Peleg Clarke,. at Fredericksburg, in connection with the presence of our army at that place, and in reference to rebel mails and illicit trade said to be au- thorized or permitted at that place, and with reference to his ow~ii con- nection with the property of the rebel army left by it in Fredericks- burg~ Answer. I knew Mr. Peleg Clarke, and when I first went to Fredericksburg he was~ represented to me as one of the three or four Union men in that town. I dont recol- lect that he had any connection with the rebel mails or illicit trade. I do remember on the day we entered Fredericksburg that my quartermaster was directed to proceed to. the railroad station an(l seize some grain said to be there and belonging to the rebel Government. He reported to me that he found 20,000 bushels of corn in sacks, marked C. S. A., which I directed him to take and use for forage for our army. This Mr. Clarke soon alterward claimed 2,000 bushels of that corn. I referred the question to- my quartermaster, Captain Robinson, and directed him to investigate the c1aim,~ which he did, and reported to me. The witness was here interrupted by a member, who stated, in sub- stance, that the statement of the quartermaster on this competent testimony. point is not The court was cleared, and the objection of the member sustained. The witness continued. I was about stating my knowledge of the last clause of the question when I was- interrupted, my knowledge of the facts being derived from that report, which I be- lieve is an official paper, in writing, and may be found. Question by General MCDOWELL. Will the witness please explain more fully his answer to the question as to what was done with the growing wheat near Chatham house i Answer. I stated, I think, that we were directed to protect it; that if the rebels- did not need it we would. I meant by that to say, and so understood it at the time, that we were to protect it for our own use. Question by the COURT. Do you remember whether or not Peleg Clarke made any communication to you in regard to Little I Answer. I think he did. I think he told me that Little was or had been an adjutant in the rebel service. Question by the COURT. Are you able to say whether or not, aftei~ an interview between you and Peleg Clarke, you did not refer him te General McDowell? Answer. My recollection is not distinct about that, though I think it is quite likely that I did refer him to General McDowell, as my commanding officer. Question by General MCDOWELL. State what orders, if any, were given by General McDowell for the guidance of his officers in respect to the admission of disloyal citizens into and out of his lines Page 112 112 OPERATIONS IN N. VA, W. VA., AND MD. [CHAr. XXIV~. Answer. I cant remember precisely the orders given. I can only state my general impression from the instructions we had; these were that no disloyal citizens should be permitted to come within our lines. Question by the COURT. Do you know any matter or thing tending to show that General McDowell, as a general officer, has been treacher- ous or inattentive to his duties, or wanting in reasonable discretion or personal bravery, or delinquent in the proper disposition of his troops for battle, or in using earnest efforts to co-operate with his brother commanders? If you answer in the affirmative in respect to either of these particulars, then state what you know on the subject fully, as though you were specifically interrogated. Answer. All I know of General McDowell, all that Ive seen of him during the years service under his command, has satisfied me entirely of his zeal, fidelity to the Gov *,rnrnent, and devotion to dut3t. I have seen him under fire, and have no doubt as to his personal courage, his skill in the disposition of his troops, and.his readiness to co- operate with any and every officer associated with him in the armies of the Republic. I know no matter or thing tending to show the contrary. Question by the COURT. Have you information of any matter or thing (not within your personal knowledge) tending to inculpate Gen- eral McDowell in either of the particulars specified in the foregoing interrogatory, and which, in your judgment, is entitled to the consider- ation of the court? If you have, please communicate that information in writing to the recorder for the consideration of the court. Answer. None whatever, sir. Question by the COURT. Does the court understand you to state that ~ou have no knowledge that any disloyal citizen was ever permitted to pass into or from our lines while General McDowell was in command at or near Fredericksburg? Answer. I dont recollect. I dont think I can give a positive answer to the question. Brig. Gen. JA~n~s S. WADSWORTH, U. S. Volunteers, a witness, was duly sworn. Question by General MCDOWELL. What is your rank in the United States servicet Answer. Brigadier-general of volunteers. Question by General MCDOWELL. What official relations have you had with General McDowell since you have been in the United States service? Answer. I served on his staff as a volunteer aide from 29th June till 9th August, 1861, and from 9th August to 15th March I commanded a brigade in his division. Question by General MCDOWELL. What was General McDowells conduct as division commander? Did he pay unusual attention to the instruction of his division? How was he as to its discipline and police? How as to the administrative duties of the division? Answer. It was my impression at the time, from what I saw of other divisions near us, that General McDowells division drilled quite as much as any and much more than some, and the general himself gave a great deal of attention to the drills, the police, and the discipline of his division. Question by General MCDOWELL. What was General McDowells conduct toward the inhabitants of the country whilst he was division commander, either as respects themselves or their property? Answer. As respects their persons, he protected non-cdmbatants from disturbance or molestation by the soldiers as far as possible. As respects their property, he took a large amount of forage for the public service at the time when it was neededmuch neededpaying loyal citizens in money, and giving to those of questionable loyalt Page 113 CRAP. XXIV.] GENERAL REPORTS. 113 verbal or written assurances that they would be paid after the war if they were loyal from that time on. He did not allow marauding by soldiers. Question by General MCDOWELL. Was the same policy or conduct continued by him whilst he commanded the Department of the Rappa- hannock I Answer. As far as I know. Question by General MCDOWELL. What position and command have you had in the service since you zwere relieved from General McDowells division? Answer. From the 15th March up to about the 20th or 25th of November I have been military governor of the District of Columbia, and for the first three or four months of that time in command of the troops assigned for the defense of the capital. Question by General MCDOWELL. Were you not under General McDowells command whilst the Department of the Rappahannock existed? Answer. I was. Question by General MCDOWELL. What was General McDowells conduct whilst in command ef the Department of the Bappahannock with reference to the efficiency and mobility of his army and his con~ duct in preparing his command for active service? Answer. It appeared to me that he exhibited great activity in preparing for the field. I cannot answer the other questions. My command was not intended for the field. Question by General MCDOWELL. State if your official position and connection with the Government and your personal relations with Gen- eral McDowell were such at the time as to enable you to know or to give y~n good grounds for judging as to General McDowells having or not, in April last, sought, induced, or procured the separation of his army corps from the Army of ths Potomac with a view to having a separate command for himself; and, if so, whether or not the retention of the corps was, to the best of your knowledge and belief, sought, induced, or procared by him or was made by the Government for public reasons, based on the representations of others? Answer. I can only say that, from General McDowells declarations to me, his sepa- ratioi~ from the Army of the Potomac was a matter of serious regret to him, and from what I saw when he received intelligence of the organization of the Department of Rappahannock from the Secretary of War it was a sujprise to him. Question by General MCDOWELL. What was the force, what was its composition and character, which was left under your command for the defenses of the city of Washington by General McClellan at the time he embarked, in April, 1862, for the Peninsula, and what drafts were ordered from that force by him at that time? Answer. About the 2d of April, the time of his embarkation, my report shows that I had betweem 19,200 and 19,400 effective men under my command. This embraced six companies of cavalry mounted, and no light artillery fit for service. I can give other details from my reports, which I can lay before the court if they desire it. I had received orders at that time to dispatch four of the best regiments from that force to the Army of the Potomac. I received orders likewise to send 4,000 men to Man- assas to relieve General Sumner. I considered this force, however, as part of the force for the defense of the capital, and was part of the aforementioned 19 000 and odd men. The troops nndera command for this purpose were the newest and least effective from the Army of the Potomac. Question by General MCDOWELL. State if your personal relations to General McDowell have been such as to enable you to know as to his 8 R RVOL XI Page 114 114 OPERATIONS IN N. VA., W. VA., AND MD. (CHAP. XXIV. habits with respect to the use of intoxicating liquors, and whether you know of the reputation he bears as to the use of intoxicating liquors with those who are intimate with him. If so, state what his habits are or what they are reputed to be in this particular. Answer. I never knew him to drink anything but water. I believe it is notorious in the Army that he does not drink anything but water. Question by General MCDOWELL. Do you recollect if General Mc- Dowell did not write or telegraph you to discourage the coming of traders to Fredericksburg at the time his headquarters were opposite that place? Answer. I recollect of receiving a communication of that sort from him. Question by the COURT. Can you state the reasons and causes for the detention of General McDowell from the Army of the Pototnac, to- gether with his corps, and the consolidation of that corps with the troops left for the defense of Washington under his command? Answer. I can give my impression. Because the troops left for the def~nse of Wish- ington were not deemed adequate. Question by the COURT. Can you state at what points the 19,400 men named by you were located when General McClellan embarked for the Peninsula; especially was this force or not wholly in the fortifications or did it include any movable force? Answer. The force employed in provost-guard duty was about 3,500 men. I think there was about as many more that were movable; not located in the forts, but ready for dnty wherever they might be required. Some of these troops which I reported as movable were two regiments of cavalry, without horses or arms except sabers. Question by the COURT. Where was the movable force to cover the city of Washington located? Answer. I have stated all that was under my command and of which I have any direct knowledge. I understood that General Abercrombie was at Warrenton or Cat- letts with a brigade of infantry and some cavalry. Tworegiments from that brigade shortly afo-r came in here to be paid off, their term of service having expired. Gen- eral Banks was at Winchester, the other side of the Blue Ridge, and about 80 miles from here; but I cannot think his force was intended to cover Washington. I know of no other troops in any way connected with the defenses of Washington or avail- able for its defense. Question by the COURT. When you were left in command of the de- fenses of the city were you furnished with statements showing the lo- cation of the troops confided to your command? To what means did you resort to ascertain the number and location of the troops? Ari~wer. I was not furnished with an accurate list. 1 took the command just as the troops were leaving for the Peninsula. I published an order for the commanders of all troops within my command to report to me. Question by the COURT. State whether you consider the troops at Centreville, Manassas, in the valley of the Shenandoah, at Baltimore, or elsewhere in the department then commanded by Major-General Dix as being part of the forces designed for or properly applicable to the defense of Washington? Answer. I should consider troops at Centreville and Manassas as covering Washing- ton, but not troops the other side of Bull Run Mountains or at Baltimore or elsewhere in the department oC General Dix. I understood that there were very few troops at Baltimore, not more than was required for the police duty and safety of the place. I ought to add, perhaps, that I had a communication from General McClellan indicat- ing that my right would rest on General Banks left at Manassas. I, however, re- ceived the subsequent order to send 4,000 troops to Manassds. Question by the COURT. How many troops did General Abererombi Page 115 CHAP. XXIV.) GENERAL REPORTS. 115 have in the brigade to which you referred and how much was it re- duced by the discharge of the two regiments whose time had expired? How many troops had General Banks under his command? Answer. I cannot answer as to General Abercrombie any nearer than I have. 1 sup- posed that he had a brigade, but do not know its strength. From subsequent devel- opments I should say that General Banks had about 17,000 nien in Winchester and the valley of the Shenandoah. Question by the COURT. Do you know of any communication ad- dressed by General McClellan to the Government giving the number of troops left for the defense of Washington and their location? If so, state whether the forces in the valley of the Shenandoah and in Mary- land wete not included in said list, and whether such enumeration and assignment were not virtually adopted by the Government, and these troops relied upon for the defense of the capital? Answer. I know nothing of it. The court adjourned to meet to-morrow, December 18, 18k62~ at 12 oclock m. TWENTY-FOURTH DAY. COURT-ROOM, COR. PA. AYE. AND FOURTEENTH ST., Wa8hington, D. 0., December 18, 1862. * * * * * * * Lient. Col. FREDERICK MYERS, aide-de-camp and assistant quarter- master, U. S. Army, a witness, was duly sworn. Question by General MCDOWELL. What was your pesition on Gen- eral McDowells staff whilst he was in command in Virginia, during the present year, 1862? Answer. I was his chief quartermaster. Question by General MCDOWELL. Lay before the court such of your reports or returns as you may have at hand of property taken from the inhabitants of the country occupied by our troops when you were under General McDowells command. State the amount and kind of stores taken, the amount paid for, if any, and the amount and kind for which claim was made on you for payment; and, if any payment was refused state the grounds for so refusing, and whether you paid any disloyal person or refused to pay any person; and, if so, state fully why you so refused. The witness referred to a book, showing means of transportation, quarterma5ter~s stores taken up, and colored fugitives from service employed. Answer. I have no other returns than those contained in the book, for the reason that the others were captured by the enemy at Catletts Station. I have no recollec- tion of any stores being paid for except in one case, which was paid on my order by Captain Loomis, at Warrenton. It was to a loyal citizen, who voted against seces- sion, as the records of the county clerks office in Warrenton will show. He was one of the four who voted against secession in that county. His name I ha~re forgotten. In taking stores, a certificate of that form was made out and issued to all the quar- termasters. (A form was handed the recorder and was read by the witness, and is appended to the proceedings of this day, and is marked A.) The witness continued: Here is a copy of an order to General Abererombie Page 116 116 OPERATIONS IN N. VA., W. VA., AND MD. [CuAP. XXIV. (Which letter the witness read, and is appended to this days pro- ceedings and marked B.) The witness read a letter to Captain Willard, acting quartermaster, which is appended to this days proceedingfi and marked 0. The witness continued: Here is a letter directed to a quartermaster to get corn from certain farms. (Which letter is appended to this days proceedings and marked D.) The witness continued: Similar letters were written to other quartermasters; also a letter te General Pat- rick, directing the examination of certain reported pressed hay. (Which letter is appended to the proceedings of this day and marked E.) The witness continued: The letters I hold, written by myself~, I will read as part of my answer to the ques- tion propounded. (The letters were read by the witness, and are appended to ~this days proceedings and marked F, G, H, and L) The witness continued: As far as I have returns for there were taken 682,895 pounds of corn, 12,416 pounds of oats, 19,574 pounds of hay, 13,850 pounds of fodder, and 5. mules. There was of this corn taken 147 702 pounds marked Confederate States, taken from the store-house of Peleg Clari~e, and certificate given by Capt. J. Sprin gstead, assistant quartermaster, and 99,272 pounds corn marked Confederate States, taken from store-house of Peleg Clarke, and certificate. given by same person, Captain Springstead. I think claim was made on mc for nearly all these stores. None were paid for, however, as far as my knowledge goes. Payment was refused on the ground of their being rebels, antagonistic to the Government. Payment was always refused to disloyal persons, on the ground that they were disloyal. Mr. Clarke never made any claim on me for payment. He was known to me by sight, but never spoke to me. Question by General MCDOWELL. You say you refused payment to Mr. Clarke for his claim on account of property taken from his store- house marked Confederate States; ~ on what ground did you so refuse? Answer. I did not so state. Mr. Clarke never called upon me for payment. Question by General MCDOWELL. Did Mr. Clarke, as far as you know, ever call on any of your subordinates for payment for the Confederate corn found in his store-house? The court was cleared at the instance of a member. The court was opened and the following decision announced: The question is immaterial and is excluded. The court has already decided that evidence will not be received to contradict the testimony of Mr. Clarke on matterg wholly collateral, nor to impeach him except by proof of general character, and not of particular parts of his con- duct. It is desired that this decision will not be overlooked in propound- ing questions to the witness. The court had no questions to ask this witness. General McDowell here submitted to the court a book containing of. ficial letters emanating from the Headquarters Department of the Rap. pahannock, from which book the recorder read the letters dated and marked as follows, copies of which are to be appended to the pro- ceedings of this day.* 1. From General McDowell to General James Shields, dated Headquarters Depart- ment of the Rappahaunock, opposite Fredericksburg, May 25, 1862. 2. From Lieutenant-Colonel Schriver, chief of staff, to Maj. Gen. E. 0. C. Ord, Omitted from appendix, to appear in chronological order in Correspondence, etc., Part III Page 117 CHAr. XXIV.] GENERAL REPORTS. 117 dated Headquarters Department of the Rappahannock, Rectortown, Va., May 31, 1862. 3. From Lient. Col. Ed. Schriver, chief of staff, to General Shields, dated Head- quarters Department of the Rappahannock, Rectortown, Va., May 31, 1862. 4. From Lieutenant-Colonel Schriver, chief of staff, to Brig. Gen. J. W. Geary, dated Headquarters Department of the Rappahannock, Piedmont, Va., May 31, 1862. 5. From Lieutenant-Colonel Schriver to Brig. Gen. J. B. Ricketts, dated Headquar- ters Department of the Rappahannock, Front Royal, Va., June 111 a. m. 6. From Lieut. Col. E. Schriver, a memorandum for General Ricketts, dated Head- quarters Department of the Rappahannock, Front Royal, June 1, 1862~ 7. From Lieutenant-Colonel Schriver, chief of staff, to Brigadier-General Bayard, dated Headquarters Department of the Rappahannock, Front Royal, June 1, 1862. 8. From Lieutenant Colonel Schriver to commanding officer First Maine Cavalry, dated Headquarters Department of the Rappahannock, Front Royal, Va., June 2, 1862. 8~. From General McDowell to Maj. Gen. John C. Fr6niont, dated Headquarters De- partment of the Rappahannock, Strasburg, June 2, 1862. 9. From Lieut. Col. E. Schriver to Lieutenant-Colonel Thompson, chief quarter- master Shields division) dated Headquarters Department of the Rappahannock, Front Royal, Va., June 3, 1862. 10. From Colonel Schriver to Brig. Gen. J. W. Geary, dated Headquarters Depart- ment of the Rappahannock, Front Royal, June 3, 1862. 11. From Colonel Schriver to Maj. Gen. E. 0. C. Ord, dated Headqnart~rs Depart- mnent of the Rappahannock, Front Royal, Va., June 3 1862 12. From Major-General McDowell to Maj. Gen. J. 6. Fr6rnont, dated Headquarters Department of the Rappahannock, Front Royal, June 3, 1862. 13. From Col. E. Schriver to commanding officer United States troops at Strasbnrg, dated Headquarters Department of the Rappahannock, Front Royal, Va., June 3, 1862. 14. From Colonel Schriver to Maj. Gen. E. 0. C. Ord, dated Headqnarters Depart- ment of the Rappahannock, Front Royal, Va., June 3, 1862. 15. From Colonel Schriver to Maj. Gen. E. 0. C. Ord, dated Headquarters Depart- ijient of the Rappahannock, Front Royal, Va., June 3, 1862. 16. From Col. E. Schriver to Maj. Gen. E. 0. C. Ord, dated Headquarters Depart- nwnt of the Rappahannock, Front Royal, Va., June 3, 1862. 17. From Colonel Schriver to Maj. Gen. B. 0. C. Ord, dated Headquarters Depart- ment of the Rappahannock, Front Royal, Va., June 3, 1862. 171. From Col. E. Schriver to Major-(ieneral Shields, dated Headquarters Depart- ment of the Rappahannock, Front Royal, June 3, 1862. l7~. From Col. Ed. Schriver to Maj. Gen. B. 0. C. Ord, dated Headquarters Depart- ment of the Rappahannock, Front Royal, Va., June 4, 1862. 18. From Samuel Breck, assistant adjutant-general, to Major-General Shields, dated Headquarters Department of the Rappahannock, Front Royal, June 6, 1862. 19. Samuel Breck, assistant adjutant-general, to Maj. Gen. E. 0. C. Ord, command- ing division, dated Headquarters Department of the Rappahannock, Front Royal, June 6, 1862. 20. From General McDowell to Maj. Gen. N. P. Banks, dated Headquarters Depart- ment of the Rappahannock, Front Royal, Va., June 5, 1862. 21. From General McDowell to Major-General Fr6mont, dated Headquarters Depart- ment of the Rappahannock, Front Royal, Va., June 6, 1862. The court adjourned to meet to-morrow, December 19, 1862, at 11 oclock a. m. APPENDIX. A. Form of certificate. DEPARTMENT OF THE RAPPAHANNOCK, , 1862. Thi5 certifies that there has been received from the farm of the following military supplies Such supplies will be accounted for on the property returns of The quartermaster, U. S. Army, for the quarter of 186. owner of said property will be entitled to be paid for the sam Page 118 118 OPERATIONS IN N. VA., W. VA., AND MD. tOiw. XXIV. after the suppression of the rebellion upon proof that he has from this date conducted himself as a loyal citizen of the United States and has not given aid or comfort to the rebels. Done under authority of Quartermaster. Instructions. CHIEF QUARTERMASTERS OFFICE, April 24, 1862. For all quartermasters supplies so received a receipt will be given, as in the preceding form, to the person of whom such supplies were re- ceived. A report in abstract form will be made at the end of each month to this office, giving the date, the name of the person from whom, the place where, and the quantity, received. FRED .MYERS, Captain, Assistant Quartermaster and Chief Quartermaster. B. IIDQRS. DEPARTMENT OF THE RAPPAHANNOCK, CHIEF QUARTERMASTERS OFFICE Oatletts 8tation, April 18, 1862.. General ABERCROMBIE, Commanding, & c., Warrenton Junction: I have the honor to request that your quartermaster be directed to obtain all the information he can in reference to forage in advance of your division, and advise me as early as possible in the premises. Very respectfully, & c., FRED. MYERS, Captain, Assistant Quartermaster and Chtef Quarterma~er. C. HDQRS. DEPARTMENT oF THE RAPPAHANNOOK, CHIEF QUARTERMASTERS OFFICE, Opposite Fredericksburg, Va., April 23, 1862.. Capt. J. C. WILLARD, Acting Assistant Quartermaster, Headquarters: I understand that you can obtain corn at the farm of Mr. about 2 miles from here. You will send your teams to haul sufficient from there to this place for this days supply for animals at these headquarters. Very respectfully, & c., Assistant Quartermaster FRED. MYERS, Captain, and Chief Quartermaster. D. IIDQRS. DEPARTMENT OF THE RAPPAHANNOCK, CHIEF QUARTERMASTERS OFFICE, Opposite Fredericksburg, April 24, 1862. Capt. J. lODGE, Assistant Quartermaster, General Augurs Brigade: You will report at these headquarters on this day, the 24th instant Page 119 CHAP. XXIY.] GENERAL REPORTS. 119 at 8 oclock a. in., with a sufficient number of teams, to collect and trans port forage for two days for the animals in General Augurs brigade, including cavalry and artillery. Very respectfully, & c., FRED. MYERS, Oaptain, Assistant Quartermaster and Chief Quartermaster. E. IIDQRS. DEPARTMENT OF THE RAPPAHANNOCK, CHIEF QUARTERMASTERS OFFICE, Opposite Fredericksburg, May 6, 1862. Brig. Gen. M. R. PATRICK, U. S. A., Fredericksburg, Va.: Major.General McDowell informs me that there is reported a lot of pressed hay near the basin. He (general commanding) wishes it to be examined and reported to this office, as early as possible, whet~her such is the fact, or whether it is only baled straw or wheat. Very respectfully, & c., FRED. MYERS, Captain, Assistant Quartermaster and Chief Quartermaster. F. HDQRS. DEPARTMENT OF THE RAPPAHANNOCK, CHIEF QUARTERMASTERS OFFICE, Lieut. E. Ross, Opposite Fredericksburg, May 9, 1862. Acting Assistant Quartermaster, Aquia Creek Depot: The major.general commanding directs that all property useful to the Government brought into your depot by colored fugitives from service be taken in charge by you for the benefit of the United States. You will take up such property on your returns, as required by para. graphs 786 and 1013 Revised Army Regulations. Very respectfully, & c., FRED. MYERS, / Captain and Chief Quartermaster. (Copy sent to Capt. H. A. Lacy, assistant quartermaster at Falmouth4 G. UDQRS. DEPARTMENT OF THE RAPPAHANNOCK, CHIEF QUARTERMASTERS OFFICE, Opposite Fredericksburg, May 12, 1862. Capt. C. HALL, Assistant Quartermaster, Generat McCalls Division: The major general commanding directs me to call your immediate at- tention to General Orders, No. 8. You will make a return without delay to these headquarters of all quartermasters stores taken up by you from citizens in the month of April, 1862. You will direct each of the brigade quartermasters who have not already done so to forward at the earliest moment possible to these headquarters a report of all quartermasters stores that have been taken up by their respective brigades in the month of April Page 120 120 OPERATIONS IN N. VA., W. VA., AND MD. [CHAP. XXIV. Your attention is called to my letter of the 7th instant, inclosing Gen- eral Orders, No. 4, to which your response has not been received. Very respectfully, & c., FRED. MYERS, Captain and Chief Quart ermaster. H. HDQRS. DEPARTMENT OF THE RAPPAHANNOCK, CHIEF QUARTERMASTERS OFFICE, Opposite Fredericksburg, May 15, 1862. Capt. JUSTIN lODGE, Assistant Quartermaster, General Augurs Brigade: In answer to your letter of the 13th instant I would state that Mr. J. H. Hoffman should make his affidavit of the facts in reference to the corn taken by the troops at Belle Plain, for which no receipts were taken, to accompany your statement and explanation in reference thereto. For the corn taken up by you your receipt in duplfcate should be given, blank copies of which I herewith inclose. You will also find inclosed General Orders, No. 8, in reference to all supplies taken up from citizens. Very respectfully, & c., FRED. MYERS, Captain and Ck.ief Quartermaster. I. HDQRS. DEPARTMENT OF THE RAPPAHANNOCK, CHIEF QUARTERMASTERS OFFICE, Opposite Fredericksburg, May 24, 1862. Capt. H. A. LACY, Assistant Quartermaster, at Depot: You will without delay take possession, for the use of the United States of a lot of lumber at the saw-mill near the headquarters of Gen- eral McCall, for the purpose of constructing temporary warehouses, sheds, stables, & c. You will call upon Brigadier-General Doubleday, commanding at this place, for what assistance you may require in erecting such buildings. By order of Major-General McDowell FRED. MYERS, Major and Chief Quartermaster. TWENTY-FIFTH DAY. COURT-ROOM, COR. FOURTEENTH ST. AND PA. AVE., Washington, D. C., December 19, 1862. * * * * * * * The recorder then read from the official books of telegrams received at and sent from the Headquarters of Department of the Rappahan- nock the following telegrams, which are appended to the proceedings of this day,* as follows: * Omitted from appendix, to appear in chronological order in Correspondence, etc., Part III Page 121 CIL& P. XXIV.] GENERAL REPORTS. 121 1. From Secretary of War to Major-General McDowell, dated Washington, June 4, 18& . 2. From Colonel Haupt, aide-de-camp, to Majsr-General McDowell, dated Rector- town, June 4, 1~62. 3. From General McDowell to Hon. E~ M. Stanton, dated Headquarters Department of the Rappahannock, Front Royal, June 5, 1862. 4. From General McDowell to Hon. E. M. Stanton, dated Headquarters Department of ifie Rappahannock, Front Royal, June 5, 1862. 5. From E. M. Stanton, Secretary of War, to General McDowell, dated Washington, June 6, 1862. 6. From L. Thomas, Adjutant-General, to Major-General McDowell, dated Wash- iugtou, June 6, 1862. The court took a recess of thirty minutes. 7. From General McDowell to Hon. E. M. Stanton, dated Headquarters, Front Royal, Y~ June 6, 1862. 8. From General McDowell to Edmund Schriver, chief of staff, dated Washington, June 7, 1862. 9. From same to same, dated Washington, Jane 8, 1862. 9)~. From same to same, same date. iO. From same to same, same date. 11. From J. DeW. Cutting, captain and aide-de-camp to Colonel Schri4er, dated Washington, June 8, 1862. 12. From General McDowell to Colonel Schriver, chief of staff, dated Washington, June 8, 1862. 13. From same to same, same date. 14. From same to same, same date. 15. From same to same, same date. 16. From same to same, same date. General McDowell here handed the recorder a copy of a letter (ex- tract) from L. Thomas, Adjutant-General, to Major-General McDowell, dated War Department, Adjutant-Generals Office, Washington, June 8, 1862; which was read by the recorder, and is appended to the pro- ceedings of this day, and marked A * The recorder continued the reading of the dispatches sent from and received at Headquarters Department of the Rappahannock, and which are appended, as follows: 17. From Col. E. Schriver, chief of staff; to General Shields, Luray, dated Front Royal, June 8, 1862. l~. From E. Schriver to Major-General McDowell, dated Front Royal, June 8, 1862. 19. From E. Schriver to Major-General Shields, dated Front Royal, June 8, 1862. 20. From General McDowell to Colonel Schriver, dated Washington, June 9, 1862. 21. From same to same, same date. 22. From same to same, same date. 23. From Brig. Gen. George A. McCall to Major-General McDowell, dated Seven miles below Fredericksburg, June 9, 1862. 24. From Ed. Schriver, chief of staff, to Major-General Shields, dated Front Royal, June 9, 1862. 25. From same to same, same date. 26. From same to salbe, same date. 27. From General McDowell to Col. Ed. Seliriver, dated Washington, June 10, 1862. 28. From Gen. Rufus King to General McDowell, dated Catletts, June 10, 1862. 0 ~9. From General McDowell to Col. E Schriver, dated Washington, June 10, 1862. 30. From same to same, same date. 31. From L. Thomas, Adjutant-General, to Major-General Fr6mont, dated Adjutant- Generals Office Washington, June 10, 1862. 32. From General McDowell to Major-General Shields, dated Washington, June 10, 1862. 33. From R. Morris Copeland, major and assistant adjutant-general, to Col. Ed. Sebriver, dated Headquarters Department of the Shenandoah, Winchester, June 11, 1862. 34. From General Shields to General McDowell, dated Luray, June 12, 1862. 35. From Maj. Gen. N. P. Banks to Hon. E. M. Stanton, dated Headquarters De- partment of the Shenandoah, Winchester, June 12, 1862. * To appear in Correspondence, etc., Part III Page 122 122 OPERATIONS IN N. VA., W. VA., AND MD. [CHAP. XXIV. 36. From E. M. Stanton to Major-General McDowell, dated Washington, June 12, 1862. 37. From Major-General Shields to Colonel , dated June 12, 1862Columbia Bridge 9 a. m. :38. From Ed. Scliriver, colonel and chief of staff, to Hon. E. M. Stanton, dated Headquarters Department, Manassas, June 12, 1862. 39. From Ed. Schriver, colonel and chief of staff, to Major-General Shields, dated Manassas, June 12, 1862. 40. From Ed. Schriver, colonel and chief of staft to General Ricketts, dated Manas- sas, June 12, 18624 p. m. 41. From same to same, dated Headquarters Department, Manaseas, June 12, 1862. 42. From same to same, dated Headquarters Department of the Rappahannock, Manassas, June 123.30 p. in. The telegrams referred to in the foregoing are numbered 37 aimd 38, this series. 43. From Col. Ed. Schriver, chief of staff, to General Ricketts, dated Headquarters Department of the Rappahannock, June 12, 1862. 44. From General McDowell to Hon. E. M. Stanton, dated Headquarters Depart- ment, Manassas, June 12, 1862. 45. From same to same, dated Headquarters Department of the Rappahannock, Manassas, June 12, 1862. 46. From Brigadier-General Bayard to Col. E. Schriver, dated New Market, June 12, 1862. 47. From Brig. Gen. R. King to Colonel Schriver, chief of staff; dated Catletts, June 12, 1862. 48. From General McDowell to Ron. E. M. Stanton, dated Headquarters Depart- ment of the Rappahannock, Manassas, June , 1862. 49. From General McDowell to Major-General Banks, dated Headquarters Depart- ment of the Rappahannock, Manassas, June 13, 1862. 50. From General McDowell to Hon. E. M. Stanton, dated Headquarters Depart- ment of the Rappahannock, Manassas, June 13, 1862. SL From General McDowell to Hon. E. M. Stanton, dated Headquarters Depart- ment of the Rappahannock, Manassas, June , 1862. 52. From Colonel Schriver, chief of staff, to Brigadier-GenerafRicketts, dated Head- quarters Department of the Rappahannock, Manassas, June 13, 1862. 53. From Colonel Schriver, chief of staff, to Major-General Shields, dated Head- quarters Department, Manassas, June 13, 1862. 54. From Brigadier-General King to Major-General McDowell, dated Catletts, June 13, 1862. 55. From Brigadier-General Ricketta to Colonel Schriver, dated Front Royal, ,J~ine 13, 1862. 56. From E. M. Stanton to General McDowell, dated Washington, June 13, 1862. 57. From General N. P. Banks to General McDowell, dated Winchester, June 13, i862. 58. From E. M. Stanton to Major-General McDowell, dated Washington, June 14, 1862. 59. From General N. P. Banks to General McDowell, dated Winchester, June 14, 1862. The court adjourned to meet to-morrow, December 20, 1862, at 11 oclock a. m. TWENTY-SIXTH DAY. COURT-ROOM, COR. FOURTEENTH ST. AND PA. Av]~x, Washington, D. 0., December 20, 1862. * * * * * * * Maj. MALCOLM MCDOWELL, additional paymaster, U. S. Volunteers, a witness, was duly sworn. Question by General MCDOWELL. What relation are you to Major- General McDowell 0? What relation or connection, by blood or marriage, is there or has there been, between General McDowell and the Hon. S. P. Chase, Secretary of the Treasury, or the Hon. E. M. Stanton, Secre- tary of War Page 123 CHAP. XXIV.] GENERAL REPORTS. 128 Answer. I am his own full brother. To the latter question I answer there is no relation whatever. Question by General MCDOWELL. Is there or has there been any re- lationship or connection, by marriage or blood, between General Mc- Dowell and any of the enemys generals? Answer. None that I know of. The court had no questions to aek this witness. lVIaj. Gen. FRANZ SIGEL, U. S. Volunteers, a witness, was duly sworn~ Question by the COURT. What is your rank in the service of the Uiiited States? Answer. I am major-general of volunteers. Question by the COURT. Have you held command in any corps or de- partment where you have operated in connection with General McDow- eli or in a department contiguous to one in which General McDowell had command; and, if so, when and where? Describe fully and par- ticularly. Answer. At the time when General Banks was in the Shenandoah Valley and Gen- eral Fr6m,nt I marched from Harpers Ferry to Winchester, where I learned that the forces of General McDowell were at Front Royal. Afterward, during the campaign of General Pope, I knew that the forces of General McDowell were at Warrenton and the vicinity, whilst my corps was at Sperryville and Luray. During the operations on the Rappahannock I was nnder the direct orders of Gen- eral Pope, co-operating with General McDowell. After the engagements at Freemans Ford, Sulphur Springs, and Waterloo Bridge I received an order from General Pope that my corps was attached to the command of Gener~d McDowell. I regarded myself under his orders from this time until after the battle of Bull Run. I cannot give exact dates without reference to my papers. I cannot give the date when I b-ft Harpers Ferry for Winchester. It was, however, about the 4th of June we arrived at Harpers Ferry, and I left the same day for Winchester with the troops I found at Harpers Ferry. We marched to Sperryville from Winchester and Middletown about the last of June or first of July. I arrived at Culpeper on the 9th of August, during the battle of Gen- eral Banks at Cedar Mountain. After the battle of Cedar Mountain my corps marched to Robertson River and Crooked Creek. We left this position in the middle of August and marched by Aestham River to Sulphur Springs, and from Sulphur Springs to Rap- pahannock Station, where we joined General McDowells corps. On the 24th August we were at Waterloo Bridge, and on the 27th in Warrenton. On the 28th we marched from Gainesville toward Manassas, General McDowell following the First Corpsmy corpsat that time the First Corps, Army of Virginia. I do not know how far Gen- eral McDowell followed my movements on that day. I had orders to march to Manas- sas, and took the shortest road I could find. During this march from Gaiuesville to d aitassas I heard firing to my left, marched toward that point, and formed in line of battle, when I received orders from General McDowell to march-to Manassas. When my advanced guard arrived at Manassas it was reported that there was no eneniy there, and that he had retreated toward Centreville. I therefore sent my aide-de- camp to General Pope to get permit to march to New Market. He there directed me ()march to Centreville. On this march, and arriving near New Market, I met a detachment of the enemy, which I attacked immediately and advanced toward Groveton. During this engage- ment we heard firing on our left, which we supposed was coming from l)art of Genem al McDowells corps. It had become dark, and we encamped that night on the heights m~ear Mrs. Henrys farm, near Groveton. On the morning of 29th I received direct orders from General Pope to attack the enemy, which I did about 6 oclock in the scorning. I did not know where General McDowells corps was at that time orwhere any other troops were except those of the enemy. During the 29th, and toward noon, when all the troops of my corps were engaged with the enemy, I received a dispatch from General Pope, saying that General McDowell and General Porter would attack the enemys right flank and would come in on my left, and that we had probably to go back to Centreville that night to get provisions. This is what I remember: I can probably find the original dispatch of General Pope in regard to this matter. I do. not know whether any attack was made by Genera Page 124 124 OPERATIONS IN N. VA., W. VA., AND MD. [Ca& ~. XXIV. McDowell or when his troops arrived on my left, because I was too much occupied on the right, where the battle was fought principally. I did not see General McDowell during that day until 6.30 minutes p. in., when I saw him and his staff arrivin~. On the next day, the 30th August, I did not know where General McDowell s corps was, and I did not see General McDowell during the whole day, as much as I can re- member, but I knew that General Reynolds division was on the left of our line, or near the left of our line, on the 29th and 30th. During the 30th August, same day when General Porter made his attack on the center and was forced to retreat, I re- ceived a dispatch, which I believe was transmitted to me by an officer of General Mc- Dowells staff, but the dispatch was written by General Porter, as much as I can re- member. In this dispatch it was said that probably the conflict would end fatally, and that General McDowell should pushmy corpsforward. I didnot receive an order, but made all preparations to assist General Porter or to take his troops up, who were at that time coming out bysquadsout of the woods by squads. I did not receive any order from General McDowell during the day. I have also to add in regard to the connection between this corps and that of General McDowell, that when at Sulphur Springs General Pope wrote to me that General Mc- Dowell would support me at Waterloo Bridge, but I did not see any troops of General McDowells there for some miles from that point; and at Waterloo Bridge on that same day I received an order, through General McDowell of which one page was missing, so that I do not know what my orders were. I immediately sent to General McDowell for instructions, but he answered that he could not give m~ any. I am not sure when I received my order from General Pope, which showed exactly when my corps was attathed to General McDowells, but I can find it out. The officer whom I had sent to General McDowell then proceeded to Warrenton Junction to find Gencral Pope. He returned when it was nearly dark with an order of General Popes for my corps to march to Warrenton that night, which I did. When the corps was at War- renton with the main force, and I came in with the rear guard about 2.30 a. m. On the next day I met an officer of General McDowells .at the entrance of the town, who delivered me a dispatch, in which it was said that I should force with my corps the passage of the bridge at Waterloo on that same morning, which was an impossibil- ity. This is to show that I received an order from General McDowell on that day at that hour. When my corps had arrived at Gainesville I received an order from Gcneral McDowell at about 3 oclock in the morning, saying that I should march to Manassas. I asked the orderly when he had left General McDowell, and he said that he had left him two hours ago, although the headquarters of General McDowell were not more than 200 paces from my own. These are the principal facts I can give you. Question by the COURT. Have you knowledge of any matter or thing occurring during the period of the operations detailed by you in the an- swer to the last interrogatory tending to shoW that General McDowell was either treacherous, inattentive to his duties as a general officer, neglectful or otherwise in co-operating with his associate commanders, or going to their aid or the aid of his subordinate commanders, or want. ing in personal courage or discretion in battle, or in the disposition of his troops, or otherwise unfaithful or inefficient as a general officer, and if you do, detail your knowledge specifically as though particularly in- terrogated in respect thereto? Answer. I must say, gentlemen, that these are axtensive questions, and you will allow me to take them up in detail. The first question, tending to show whether General McDowell has been treacherous, & c. Now treacherous might relate to his connection with me or the enemy. Now you want me, I suppose, to say with regard to the enemy. In regard to treachery, I have no proof or no knowledge of such ac- tions of General McDowell which deserves the name of treachery, as far as relates to connection with the enemy or communication with the enemy or other such acts. In regard to the second point, inattention to his duties as a general officer, as relates to myself and my judgment, he was not attentive enough, and to qualify myjudg- nient I will give you a few points. In the first l)lace I do not believe that General McDowell did what he could nuder the circumstances to hinder General Longstreet to join General Jackson. I am not certain, but I believe that he left not a sufficient force at Thoroughfare Gap, or in the neighborhood, to prevent the enemys troops to l)asS by this defile, which is very easy to defend. I further believe that there was not th& necessary co-operation between the two corps of the [two] corps on their way to Ma- nassasmy corps and that of General McDowellsby which want of co-operation we lost the opportunity to attack the enemy on h~s left flank while he was retreating from Manassas. On the 29th August, at the first battle of Bull Run, it would have been necessar Page 125 CHAr. XXIV.] GENERAL REPORTS. 125 that General McDowell had made a disposition by which our two corps could act with more unity. I believe that he could be on the battle-fleidwith the greater part of his troops at au earlier hour of the day. I also believe that he did not give his troops the right direction on the 29th, because instead of attacking the euemy on his right flank, by coming in on our left, his troops, as much as I could see, came in fromthe rear that is to say, instead of coming in the direction of New Market he came i~ the direc- tion of CentrcvilleI do .not know for what reason. I cannot understand for what reasons General McDowell left the position which he held on the 28th, in the evening, which would have been, according to my opinion, the right place for attacking the enemy in his right flank on the 29th. There is on the next point, neglectfal or otherwise in co-operating with his asso- ciate commanders. I think that General McDowell neglected to get a l)ersonal knowledge of the affairs of my corps on the 29th of August, and that it was therefore impossible for him to make his arrangements as they had to be made or as they were intended. I also must mention a remark of General McDowell, which he made to one of my staff officers during our march from Gainesville to Manassas. General McDowell asked, at this point in the examination, if this is proper evidence to be received by the court; that it was his impression that the court declined to receive like evidence coming from a witness a day or two since. The court was cleared. The court was opened. The court asked the witness the name of the staff officer to whom he referred where he is, and if his piesence before the court could be produceA. Answer. It is Captain Dahigren, one of my staff; he is here now present before the court. Th.e following decision of the court was announced: If it were in proof that General McDowell had made an improper remark, relating to the operations in question, to a staff officer of Gen- eral Sigel, it would be competent to prove that the remark was duly reported to General Sigel equally as though it were a written message sent to him. It is desirable to observe this order in obtaining the proof in this case if it were practicable, but General Sigel is now called from the field, and it appears to be necessary to receive the testimony. If not supported by direct proof that General McDowell made the remark to such staff officer, it will not operate to General McDowells preju- dice. The court informed General McDowell that if he considers that it might prejudice his case to continue the examination of General Sigel upon this point, they would suspend the farther examination of the wit- ness for the present, with a view to introducing the testimony imme- diately of Captain Dahigren. General McDowell stated that it would please him to have the pres- ent witness continue, but would ask that Captain IDahlgren might withdraw from the court while testimony is being given on the matter upon which Captain .Dahlgren is to be questioned. The court requested Captain Dahlgren to withdraw, and to hold him- self in readiness to appear as a witness before this court. The witness continued: When our troops were on their march to Manassas, the head of the column about 1 mile distant from Manassas, I was of the opinion that a battle would be fought near the point where the troops of General McDowell were at that time. I ordered all the troops back and formed them in line of battle, advancing about a mile toward Grove- ton, so as to come on the right of General McDowells corps. I sent first one of my engineers back to see where General McDowell was and to bring me instructions,. but as his answer was not satisfactory to me, as be did not speak English very well, I sent Captain Dahlgren, who came back and told me that General McDowell directed me to march to Manassas immediately, and that after having questioned General McDowell in regard to the position I should take the general made a remark, Ge Page 126 126 OPERATIONS IN N. VA., W. VA., AND MD. (CHAP. XXIV. oral Sigel shall fight his own corps. I said nothing and marched to Manassas, but I thought that this was a great mistake. This is what I have to say about that point. I must, although unwillingly, add that after the battle of Bull Run, induced by this remark of General McDowell, I refused to have any private conversation with Gen- eral McDowell, but to receive only his official communications. In regard to this pointgoing to their aidI have no special point which I could mention. In regard to personal courage or discretion in battle or in regard to the disposition of his troops, I had no opportunity to gain knowledge of General McDowell as to his personal courage or discretion. I was not in his own immediate neighborhood during the battle. In regard to the disposition of his troops for attack or defense I had not oppor- tunity enough to form a judgment. What relates to this point, otherwise unfaithful or inefficient as a general officer, my relations with General McDowell were only of a short duration. I only saw that he was an officer of great learning and military knowledge. I have given the facts independent from the general coherence of military operations, which may naturally modifv my own judgment. I think I have now answered the question. 1 would like to make an explanation with regard to my movement after having formed in line of battle between Gainesville and Mana~as. By saying that it was a mistake, I meant to say that the troops lost time in marching and cour~ter-marching to come to the same point, nearly, on the evening, which they left at noon, in compliance with the orders of General McDowell. The testimony of. the witness was read by the recorder, when he stated as follows: The division of General Reynolds was on the 29th near our left wing, commanded by General Scheuck, but I do not know whether they had taken any action on that day and whether they had been ordered to attack the enemy. The troops of General McDowell, who came from the (,entreville road when it was nearly dark, were, as much as I could distinguish, those of General King, which troops had fought on the evening before at or near Groveton. The court adjourned to meet on Monday, December 22, 1862, at 11 oclock a. m. TWENTY-SEVENTH DAY. COURT-ROOM, COR. FOURTEENTH AND PA. AVENUE, Washington, D. 0., December 22, 1862. The court met pursuant to adjournment. Present, * * * and Maj. Gen. FRANZ SIGEL, U. S. Volunteers, the witness nuder examina- tion. The proceedings of the preceding day were read by the recorder and approved by the court, when General Sigel asked permission to make additional remarks respecting his testimony of preceding day, which was granted by the court. I take liberty to say that I felt exceedingly of the attack made on General Kings division on that evening by the enemy, on the 28th, under such circumstances, be- cause this division had to fight alone, whilst it could have been supported by my corps at the right time. I thought that these troops of General .King became unnecessarily exposed. I farther forgot to say in my record what was reported to have been said by General Milroy regarding his asking assistance from General McDowell, as is con- tained in the official report of General Milroy. Question by the COURT. Was General Milroy in your command? - Answer. Yes. Question by the COURT. Did General Milroy communicate to you the matter referred to in his report; and, if so, when and where? Answer. General Milroy did not report to me this fact himself except in his official report after the battle Page 127 UnAr. XXIV.] GENERAL REPORTS. 127 The witness was asked by the court if he had any further remarks to make ou the record of his testimony of the preceding day, to which he replied: Answer. I have nothing to say at present. Question by the COURT. Where were you when you received an order from General Pope placing you and your corps under command of Gen~ eral McDowell and where was General McDowell? Answer. I believe I received that order after my arrival at Warrenton, where I found General McDowell, and reported to him in his tent. I remember that he wished me to state the strength of my troops. Question by the COURT. Did you report to General McDowell when you found him in his tent in pursuance of such order, and did he give orders to you, as your immediate commander, agreeably to the order of General Pope? Answer. Whether the order attaching my corps to the corps of General McDowell came directly from General Pope to me or from General McDowell I dont r9member very well, but I found the order in my book, so that I know it was given me. I. reported to him, as much as I remember, because he directed me to do so. I remember that when we were together (General McDowell and myself) conversing about our sit- uation and that the enemy had marched to Manassas, he questioned me whether it was not good to march to Salem with our troops; whereupon I proposed to march to Gainesville with the whole army, so as to come between Jackson and Longstreet. General McDowell approved, and said that he would report to General Pope in regard tQ this movement. During the day I read a telegraphic dispatch from General Pope, wherein ~ said that General McDowell should execute the movement proposed by him (General McDowell). I afterward received the order by General McDowell to march to Buckland Mills, on the road to Gainesville. Whether it was a written or verbal order I cannot remember. Question by the COURT. On what day did you send to General Pope to get orders to march to Ceuterville? Where were you at that time? Answer. It was on the 28th of August, at noon, when my advance guard, under Gen- eral Milroy, had arrived at Manassas Junction, and the main force was near Bethlehem Church. I sent my adjutant to Manassas Junction to gain knowledge about matters there and to report to General Pope, to tell him where we were. The adjutant came back with a verbal order of General Popes. (I must add that I proposed to General Pope to march to New Market instead of Manassas, for the enemy had left Manassas.) Question by the COURT. If you were then under the command of General McDowell, why did you not send to him. Answer. I knew about the position of the corps of General McDowell, and I sent my adjutant forward because I did not know anything that was going on at Man- assas. The recorder was instructed to repeat the question. Answer. It was not my intention to send for orders but for my adjutant to see what was going on in front, and to report to General Pope where we were. I supposed General McDowell knew that we were on our way to Manassas, and I thought it was unnecessary to send to him. Question by the COURT. Did you furnish General McDowell with a statement, orally or hi writing, in answer to his application to you for information as to the strength of your corps? Answer. As much as I know, I did immediately, in writing. Question by the COURT. When did General Longstreet join General Jackson, and where, by what route? What did General McDowell omit to do, which he could and ought to have done, to prevent such junction? Answer. When we arrived at Gainesville with the corps, after a skirmish at Buck- land Mills, between Warrenton and Gainesville, we made about 300 prisoners, an Page 128 128 OPERATIONS IN N. VA., W. VA., AND MD. [CHAP. XXIV. upon examination of many of them we found that no one of them belonged to the corps of General Longstreet. These troops which were made prisoners came through Thoroughfare Gap on their way to Gainesvifle. The day before this happened, on the 27th, I received news by my scouting parties that General Longstreet was on his way, by Salem and White Plains, to Manassas (that leads by Thoroughfare Gap to Hopeville) [Hopewell], and that Jackson had already passed Thoroughfare Gap to Manassas. Dur- ing the battle of the 29th General Longstreet was reported to me, at about 1 oclock, on his march from Gainesville to the battle-field, which I reported to General Kearny. I thought that General Longstreet must have passed Thoroughfare Gap and Gaines- ville on the night of the 28th or morning of the 29th. 1 believe that on the 28th, in the morning, one division should have been posted so as to hinder General Longstreet to pass either Thoroughfare Gap or Hay Market, if it was too late to occupy the Gal). Question by the COURT. What knowledge have you that General McDowell was aware of the approach of Longstreet? Did you com- municate to him the facts which you had learned from your scouts on the 27th? Answer. I communicated this fact to General McDowell the night of the 27th, at Gainesville, when he proposed to march to Salem. I said to him that Longatreet must be between Salem and Gainesville, and if we were marching to SaleIn, Longstreet and Jackson would unite and separate General Pope and our troops. Besides this, I received an order from General McDowell, at Warrenton, to send my whole cavalry force with General Bayard to Salem on an expedition. I gave the order to this effect to Colonel Beardsley, the commander of my cavalry, who was at Salem, and when he returned to me on the 29th, during the battle, he said that Longstreets forces were near Salem. I supposed, as it was natural, that General McDowell had received the report from the commander of the cavalry to which my cavalry was attached. On the same night of the 27th the question arose between General McDowell and myself what troops should stay against General Longstreet, and I left it with GeAiral Mc- Dowell to make his dispositions, which shows that General McDowell was aware of the approach of General Longstreet. Question by the COURT. How far would it have been necessary to march a division to reach Thoroughfare Gap? By what route was it practicable to do so? What was the number of Longstreets force? Answer. Thoroughfare Gap is about 5 miles from Gainesville and 3j miles from Hay Market. The best road leads from Gainesville by Hay Market to the Gap; another road from Buckland Mills by Carters Switch, leaving Hay Market to the right. I believe that General Longstreet had about 35,000 meninfantry, cavalry, and artil- lery. Question by the COURT. Where were the divisions, and what ones, which could have been sent to Thoroughfare Gap? Answer. My whole corps could have been sent there, and General McDowells corps was behind me at Buckland Mills. It is 3 miles from Buckland Mille to Gainesville and 5 miles by Hay Market. The direct route from Buckland Mills by Cartors Switch to Thoroughfare Gap must be shorter. The road from Gainesville to Thoroughfare Gap is excellent. Question by the COURT. At that time what was the numerical strength of your corps and of the part of the army of General Mc- Dowell then with him? Where was Jackson at that time and what was the numerical strength of his command? Answer. My corps was about 11,000 men strong, with one brigade of cavalry and nine batteries of artillery inclnded. I did not know at that time what troops be- longed to General McDowells corps and do not know it exactly now. I saw, when I returned from Gainesville that night, the Pennsylvania Reserves at Buckland Mills. I also learned that General Kings division was there. I think that General McDowells corps, then with him, was at least 15,000 men. It was night, and I could not see very well what troops were there. Jackson must have been at that time near Manassas Junction and beyond, toward Kettle Rnn; so at least I thought at that time. From his stragglers and other sources I learned that he had with him his own division, that of Ewell, and that of General A. P. Hill, amounting to about 40,000 men. Question by the COURT. What number of troops would have su Page 129 CuAp. XXIV.] GENERAL REPORTS. 129 ficed to defend Thoroughfare Gap against the 35,000 men under Long- street? Answer. I would have sent about 10,000 men, with the intention to retard the movements of General Longstreet. I do not believe that these troops are sufficient to fight them all day, but I think they were sufficient to retard his movements. Question by the COURT. Did General McDowell make any, and, if so, what, efforts to hold Thoroughfare Gap against the approach of Longstreet? Answer. I cannot answer the question. It was my impression tbat it must have been easy for General Longstreet to march through the Gap and to march to the battle-field. I did not hear of any engagement near Hay Market and the Gap. This induces me to say I do not believe the necessary arrangements were made to hinder Longstreet from joining the army. Question by the COURT. What advantages~would have resulted from preventing or delaying the passage of Thoroughfare Gap by Long- street on the night of the 28th and morning of the 29th of August? Answer. The troops of General Longstreet had made a long march, and if they had to form in line of battle near Thoroughfare Gap or Hay Market they ~vould not have arrived, probably, in the afternoon of the 29th at Groveton, and would not have been able to support General Jackson on the evening of the 29th, and to make the great attack against our left wing on the next day, which attack resulted in the defeat of our army. Question by the COURT. State particularly the points in which there was want of co-operation between your corps and that of General McDowell on the 29th of August on the march to Manassas. What did General McDowell omit to do which he ought to have done, and through which omission opportunity was lost to attack the left flank of the enemy; and in this connection state what forces of the enemy could have been so attacked, at what place, and with what results. State particularly. Answer. When General McDowells troops and my own wero on the march to Manassas Jackson changed his position, and was on his march between Manassas and Gainesville. He therefore was not in order of battle, and presented us hisleft flank. If my corps and a division of General McDowells would have attacked him he would not have been able to come so early to the point which he intended to reach a point between Groveton, Centreville, and New Market; and, secondly, if my corps had not been ordered to march to Manassas, we would have been able to assist General King, or those troops which were attacked, on the evening of the 28th. By sending away my corps either of these opportunities were lostfirst to attack the enemy, and second to assist the division under General King. I do not think it probable that they would have defeated the enemy, but we would have retarded his movements, brought him to a stand, where he, perhaps, would not have liked to fight, and given an opportunity to the commander-in-chief to see clearly where was the enemys posi- tion and to what points he should direct his troops. Question by the COURT. On the 29th what particular disposition of the troops of your corps and General McDowells did he omit, and which he could have made, so that the two corps would have acted in unity at Bull Run? What advantage would have resulted from such disposi- tlOn? Answer. From the letter of General Pope I supposed that the whole corps of General McDowell would attack the enemy on the right, and I would stay in front with my corps to check the enemy in his advance or to follow up advantages. Under this supposition I covered the whole front and extended my lines more than I would have done under other circumstances, to make the enemy believe we were very strong in front. The enemy directed his principal attack against our center and right wing, which was about 7,000 men strong. My left I had to cover by one division, as I did not know in the morning and up to 12 or 1 oclock that General Reynolds was on my left. I could not make any disposition of the division of General Schenck to assist my right wing and the center, because he had to cover my left wing. I also did not re- 9 R RVOL XI Page 130 OPEIIATIONS IN N. VA., W. VA., ANtI MD. [CHAP. XXIV. celve a report when I sent different officers that General McDowell had really arrived on my left. Now, if this corps of General McDowells had advanced toward Grove- ton and continued the movement they must have come into the rear and on the right flank of the enemy. I do not know what ordersthe division of General Reynolds had and what they did. My opinion is that they did not understand their taskto attack the enemy in his right flank or in his rear. I also am of the opinion that if the divis- ion of General King had been united with that of General Reynolds on that same day at noon or in the afternoon, that is, if 15,000 men had marched forward against the right flank of the enemy, he must have been routed. Question by the COURT. At what hour did General McDowell arrive with his troops on the battle-field on the 29th? Where had he passed the preceding night, and at what distance from the battle-field? Answer. I speak, in answering, about the division of General King. I supposed that this division, after the fight, had remained on the field at the place where the fight wason the night of the 28th. I supposed that these troops were, on the morning of the 29th, about 5 or 6 miles from the battle-field of the 29th and not more, and as I did not know, and do not now, which road they had taken, and supposed that they should have taken the shortest road to the battle-field, which was about 5 or 6 miles, I did not and cannot understand why they arrived on the battle-field at sunset on the 29th. I supposed that the division of General King had remained wher& they were on the night of the 28th, and I did not know where the division of General Reynolds was. Question by the COURT. If General McDowells troops had come from New Market, on your left, on the 29th, what would have been the re- sult? What did General McDowell omit to do, which he ought to have done and could have done, to obtain a personal knowledge of the affairs of your corps on the 29th? Answer. In regard to the first part of this question, I think that Jackson could hardly resist an attack in front, especially when General Heintzelmans troops, under Generals Hooker and Kearny, had arrived. I believe that~ Jackson wanted all his men to protect himself in front and on his left, and that therefore he cannot have had many troops or a sufficienL number of troops to oppose an attack of General McDewell, and therefore he could have been routed or forced at least to give up his position. In regard to the second part of the question, I think that it was the duty of General Mc- Dowell to gain a personal knowledge of the position of my troops and of the extension of the battle-field, so as to be able to give his own corps the necessary directions. I would have gone to him personally, but could not leave the battle-field, and, as much as I remember, sent an officer to General McDowell, who could not find him. I do not know whether it was possible for General McDowell to have come personally to the battle-field, but I think it would have been of advantage to our operations. I do not remember that General McDowell sent a staff officer to me to obtain the information he might have desired to have. On the 28th, in the morning, I sent an officer to see where General McDowell was, and I received news that General McDowell would be at Centreville, in some house, of which the name I do not remember. I do not remem- ber that he sent to nine on the ~29th and 30th, except what I have stated in regard to those dispatches in regard to General Porter. There is something which reminds me of my connection with General McDowells troops on the 29th. On the 29th or 30th I I sent Lieutenant Colonel Deans [Deems] to the left to see what troops were there and how matters were going on; besides this, I sent an officer of General Milroys [to] the left, but the latter was made a prisoner, and the other was also nearly made a prisoner, and lost one or two of his orderlies. Question by the COURT. Where were lleintzelmans troops, under Kearny and llooker~ at the time that you were in line of battle on the 29th, and when General McDowell came from the direction of Centre- ville, in your rear, instead of New Market, on your left ~ Answer. I do not know and did not know where they were. Question by the COURT. What force was opposed to Jackson at the time when McDowell approached from Centreville, in your rear, so that Jackson would have been unable to oppose him had McDowell ap- proached on your left from New Market ~ Answer. Between 5 and 6 oclock in the evening, when General Kings division, which I suppose it was, came from the rear, our line was formed of the following troops, * See p. 131 Page 131 CHAP. XXIV.] GRNERAL REPORTS. 131 as much 881 088 remember: On the right was General Kearny; in the center w~s my corps and that of General Hookers troops, Which had partially relieved my corps, but the troops so relieved were again in good order and ready to advance; on the left of this line was General Reno, in support of General Schenek. General Stevens com- manded one brigade of Renos, and it was posted with two regiments and one battery in the line of General Scheuck. The whole number of these forces must have been abont 30,000 men, which is a low number, not including Reynolds division or any of General McDowells. The enemy had lost ground during the whole day and in the afternoon. The court adjourned to meet to-morrow, December 23, at 11 Qclock a. m. TWENTY-EIGHTH DAY. COURT-ROOM, COR. PA. Aviix AND FOURTEENTH ST., Washington, D. 0., December 23, ~1862. The court met pursuant to adjournment. Present * * * , and Maj. Gen. FRANZ SIGEL, U. S. Volunteers, the witness under exam- ination. * * * * * * * The witness desired to correct the first answer, recorded on page 314 of the record [p. 130], which is in words as follows: I do not know and did not know where they were. From some oversight in reading the question I said I did not know where Generals Kearnys and Hookers troops were, which is incorrect, as will be seen from the answer to the subsequent question. I probably had in mind the troops of General Sumner or General Porter, of which I did know nothing. Question by General McDOWELL. You say that after the battle of Bull Run you were induced by a- remark of General McDowell, made to your aide-de-camp, that you should fight your own corps, to refuse to have any private conversation with General McDowell, & c. Was this remark the single and only cause of your so refusing? Answer. It was not; but it was the principal cause. Question by General MCDOWELL. Please state the other cause. Answer. Although I did regard this matter as a private matter, which I will now bring before the court, and which I did avoid to mention, as I thought that some un- derstanding could hereafter take place between General McDowell and myself in a private way, I will mention it. When on the march from Gainesville to Manassas I sent Captain Asmussen, one of my staff officers, back to General McDowell to report to him some matters in regard to our march and to see whether he could not find out something relative to the Iiring on our left. Captain Asmussen came back and re- ported to me that General McDowell seemed very irritated, and used, in presence of his staff officers, expressions which seemed to him (Captain Asmussen) improper. This report regarding the behavior of General McDowell Captain Asmussen made to me in private. This is the cause. Question by General MCDOWELL. Will the witness please state if this cause just stated is the only additional cause. If not, will the wit iiess please give the other causes ~ Answer. I have nothing to say about this matter, as I do not believe that they are of importance in regard to our operations. I must say, further, that these two causes, one mentiojied before and the latter mentioned to-day, did influence my mind, and hi-ought me to the remark I made to General McDowell. The recorder was instructed to repeat the question. Answer. This is the only additional cause which induced me to my private remark to General McDowell. Question by General MCDOWELL. The witness refers in his last au Page 132 132 OPERATIONS IN N. VA., W. VA., AND MD. [CHAP. XZIV. swer to unimportant matters, not in his judgment bearing on the sub- ject of our operations, but which he refers to in connection with the hiuestion as to the cause of his refusing private conversation with Gen- eral McDowell; were these matters such as to irritate and influence the witness in his personal feelings toward General McDowell? If so, will the witness please state them? Answer. There was no point in my whole communication with General McDowell which I can say irritated me, but I regarded expressions used by General McDowell toward two of my staff officers us a personal insult to me, and therefore I thought that it was due to my honor to make him understand that I felt this insult or impro- priety of conduct toward a general officer. All matters of a military character which may have influenced my judgment in regard to General McDowell as a command- ing officer I do not believe bearing to this personal affair. I think that is the sub- stance of the question answered. The court was cleared at the instance of a member. The court was opened, when the following was read by the recorder: The court desires the witness to state whether there were or were not any other incidents which irritated or influenced his feeliiigs against General McDowell than those already named by him. The witness can answer Yes or No. Answer. Well then I answer Yes. Question by General MCDOWELL. What are the causes of bias in your mind? Answer. I stated two reasons which I regarded as personal. I will now state some reasons which induce me to believe that General McDowell did not like to co-operate with me. These reasons formed my judgment in regard to the political and military character of General McDowell at that time, when we were operating together, but I have given to this judgment a proper expression when I said that I did not think General McDowell a traitor, as there are many things in military operations which cannot be explained fully unless we know all the circumstances connected with them. I will now give the different instances which were occupying my mind before and after the operatiQus with General McDowell. I hope the court will allow me to state all these instances in chronological order and as short as possible. 1st. XVhen I was at Winchester and General Fr6mont at Mount Jackson and Port Republic I could not perceive why the corps of General McDowell did not assist better the troops under General Fr~mont, and that Jackson was allowed to overcome General Shields aud to go to Richmond to fight against General McClellan. 2d. When our troops had arrived at Culpeper, on the day of the battle at Cedar Mountain, after a march of one day and one night, and were unable to march 7 miles farther to assist General Banks, I was of the opinion that General McDowells troops were at Culpeper before, and I did iiot understand why they did not assist General Banks on that day, and why he had to fight alone with 9,000 men against 25,000, the battle resulting almost in the destruction of General Banks corps. I thought also that General Pope and General McDowell must have been informed of the strength of General Jackson, as I had sent a letter to General Pope front Madison Court-House or S~~erryvihle stating that Jackson was advancing against Culpeper with 25,000 men. 3d. When at Waterloo Bridge I was under the supposition that General McDowell would support my corps, at least protect my right wing, according to a letter received front General Pope. As this was not done, and as General Roberts, chief of staff of Gen- eral Pope, had expressly told me that the cavalry of General McDowell would be on my right, and as I, under the supposition, sent away nearly my whole cavalry to Sul- l)htir Springs, exposing thereby toy own position, and as I afterward found out this cavalry was 4 or 5 miles behind me and not on my right, I thought that something must be wrong in this matter, either by neglect or otherwise. 4th. I have already stated in my evidence matters in regard to the movements of General McDowells troops which I also could not well explain to myselt These cir- cumstauces, in connection with the oldremernbrauce of Fredericksburg and the first bat- tle of Bull Run, did not contribute to give me full and undivided confidence in Major- General McDowell, but I must also declare that this is only an individual opinion, which I never and under no circumstances have proclainiedand defended publicly, for the simple reason that I had not the true knowledge of all these matters ia their con- nection with higher authorities, and as I have not to this day read an official report which could give me satisfaction. I was never irritated against General McDowell Page 133 CHAP. :~xiv.i GENERAL REPORTS. 133 and maintained in private conversation with my friends that I was not, and I would not like to belong to that class of men who take the misfortune of a man as treason or in- tentiona ma i~nity, an(l that thepeople [are] ordinarily more led by sudden impressions in regard to military operations than by clear understanding of the case. I have to add, as a proof to this, that under no circumstances I neglected to hold communica- tion with General McDowell and to execute all orders given me. Question by General MCDOWELL. Will the witness please explain what he means by Fredericksburg, which he refers to as a cause of bias, and by what the words political character, as connected with Gen- eral McDowell? Answer. In regard to Fredericksburg I mean that General McDowell was at one time at Fredericksburg, according to my knowledge, when General McClellan was near Richmond. It was said that General McDowel~ could have assisted General Mc- Clellan in his movement against Richmond, and I did never hear for what reason that it was not done. Under political character, I meant that if I thought all his military acts as intentional he could be called a traitor to his country, but as I had no proof of such an intention I did not regard aim as a traitor. This is why I spoke about his political character. Question by General MCDOWELL. You have stated that an order from General Pope attached your corps to the corps of General MeDow- eli after the engagements at Freemans Ford, Sulphur Springs, and Waterloo, and that you regarded yourself under his orders from this time until after the battle of Bull Run. Have you not stated in your official report of September 16, 1862, of the operations of your corps in the late campaign in Virginia, that you were under General McDow- elis command from the time of your arrival at Waterloo? Answer. I must say that in giving my evidence on this point that I was not very much certain when I got the order from General Pope, and in writing my official re- port I did not think it of much importance. It may be that I have received the order at Waterloo Bridge, but I am not certain. What I said in my official report I thought was true. Question by General MCDOWELL. You have stated in regard to the connection between your corps and that of General McDowell that Gen- eral Pope wrote to you that General McDowell would support you at Waterloo Bridge, but that you did not see any troops of General Mc- Dowell there for some miles from that point. What day was this, and how far were these troops of General McDowell from Waterloo at the time to which you refer? Answer. I believe I received a dispatch from General Pope on the 24th at Sulphur Springs, or on the 25th of August at Waterloo Bridge. On these two days I supposed that the troops of General McDowell were at Warrenton, about 10 miles I think, and on the 25th a brigade of cavalry was between Warrenton and Waterloo Bridge; such at least is my recollection. Question by General MCDOWELL. With reference to the connection of the First and Third Corps at Waterloo, as related by you, have you not stated in your official report, which has appeared in the public papers, that when you retreated under cover of the night of the 25th of August from Waterloo to Warrenton there were no troops within 8 or 10 miles of you at the time, except the cavalry of General Buford? Answer. Certainly, that I have stated; but whether it was the cavalry of General Buford or that of General Bayard I cannot say. Question by General MCDOWELL. Did you not know, or were you not informed, that there was a division of General McDowells corps between you and Warrenton, and did not General Roberts report to you that General Ricketts division would support you? This on your re- treat from Waterloo Bridge or preceding that retreat? Answer, I am ~ot aw~re ~f that~ because I had sent three or four times 4uring th Page 134 134 OPERATIONS IN N. VA., W. VA., AND MD. (CHAP. XXIV. day officers and mounted orderlies from Waterloo Bridge to Warrenton to see if any troops were on the roads, and they did not find any; so at least they reported to me. I must, however, state that I personally did not take the direct road from Waterloo Bridge to Warrenton that night of the 25th. This road was taken by the division of General Schurz and the brigade of General Milroy. I marched with General Scheneks division across the fields to strike the Warrenton turnpike; arrived at the joining point or crossing point of the roads, I let pass all my troops toward Warrenton and waited for the rear guard of General Milroy. As soon as they had arrived I rode to Warrenton. I did see no troops of General McDowells on my way except a large wagon train, which was said to belong to the cavalry. General Roberts told me that I would be supported, but I do not know whether he spoke about General Ricketts division. I told him that I hoped that at least the cavalry would come on my right. Question by General MCDOWELL. You state that at Waterloo Bridge, on that same day you arrived there, you received an order throngh Gen- eral McDowell one page of which was missing, so that you did not know what your orders were. Did you not state in your official report that you received this order or dispatch from General McDowell I State also where this order or dispatch was written or by whom signed, and to what did it seem to relate, and in what way or to what extent Gen- eral McDowell was concerned in it or connected with it, otherwise than to furnish the means of its being transmitted to you. Answer. As much as I remember I received the order through General McDowell, and I really do not know whether it was signed by General McDowell or General Pope or one of their officers, or whether it was signed at all. My impression is that it was signed, and I believe by a staff officer of General Pope. I do not know whether the order was written at Warrenton or Warrenton Junction. As I was greatly sur- prised and embarrassed I showed the order immediately to General Schenck, as I did not like to take alone the responsibility, and with the intention to show hini in what form I received the Papers. These papers consisted of two sheets of yellow paper; one of the papers was addressed to Geaeral Banks and was finished. In this paper General Banks was asked why he did not send any information, or that he should send information. The other sheet contained only a few lines, with no address, and no commencing lines or introduction. Something was said about my pontoon train, so that General Schenck and myself were of the opinion that this was an end of an order; that one sheet was missing, -which must have contained the principal points. I sent this order as it was to General Banks, to hear what was his opinion about my movements, whilst I also sent to General Pope and to General McDowell to Warren- ton to receive an explanation. The officer who was sent there came back in the even- ing, and said to me that he could not get any instructions from General McDowell and that he could not find General Pope, and had to go to Warrenton Junction. The officers name was, as I remember, Major Fish, on the staff of General Schenck. Whether he brought me the final order from General Pope to march to Warreuton I cannot say with certainty. A piece of yellow tissue paper was here laid before the witness which is appended to the proceedings of this day, marked L. II. P. Question by General MCDOWELL. What kind of yellow paper was it on which the order was given; like this now before you or was it a thick yellow paper I Answer. I think it was a thin paper like this. I did not make a thorough investi- gation of the paper, bat think it was a thin paper. I am almost sure it was a thin paper. Question by General MCDOWELL. You state you received at the entrance of the town of Warrenton a dispatch from an officer of Gen- eral McDowell, in which it was said that you should force with your corps the passage of the bridge at Waterloo that same morning. State, as far as you know, what connection General McDowell had with that dispatch other than that the officer who carried it to you was on his staff. Answer. I do not know any other connection General McDowell had with this order. Que& ~tion by General MCDOWELL. Do you know he had any connec- tion with it I Answer. No, except that his officer brought the order to me. I did not ask him Page 135 CEAP. XXIV.J GENERAL REPORTS. 135 Question by General MCDOWELL. Is the witness to be understood, as he has stated, that he received an order from General Pope for his corps to march from Waterloo Bridge to Warrenton in the night, and that this order was received by the witness at Waterloo before his corps had commenced to march, and that it was in obedience to this order of General Popes that witness marched hiscorps in the night from Water- loo to Warrenton, as is stated in his official report? If so, will the witness please state if the order was written or verbal? Answer. The order sent to me was written; it directed me to march to Warronton. When I received the order I made my preparation to evacuate my position and to march to Fayetteville, because I thought from the reference in the paper that I would find my pontoon train at Fayetteville. I thought that the original programme was taken up, and that my first order, of which a part was missing, was an order direct- ing me to march to Fayetteville. D~uring these preparations, and when my corps had not left yet its position, I received the order from General Pope. It was not dark yet when I received this order, and it was perfectly dark when my first troops marched off from the field. Whether it was said that I should march at night or net I cannot well remember. I thought only that it was necessary under the circumstances to march as soon as possible, because I thought we would have a battle near Warrenton, and as I thought this my position was really exposed, the enemy having already flanked it. The court adjourned to meet to-morrow, December 24, 1862, at Li oclock a. m. TWENTY-NINTH DAY. COURT-ROOM, COB. FOURTEENTH AND PA. AVENUE., Washington, D. 0., December 24, 1862. The court met pursuant to adjournment. Present, * * * , and Maj. Gen. FRANZ SIGEL, U. S. Volunteers, the witness under exam- ination. * * * * * * * Question by General MCDOWELL. Did the order you refer to in your last answer of yesterday require you to march to Warrenton ~ Answer. As much as I remember, it was said in the order either that I should march to Warrenton or the neighborhood of Warrenton, which I understood was Warrenton, or a place in the neighborhood of Warrenton, where troops can be camped. Question by General MCDOWELL. With reference to the connection between the First and Third Corps and the support you say General McDowell was to give you at Waterloo Bridge, have you not stated iu your. official report that, in accordance with an order of General Pope, General Milroy should have been relieved in the morning by a brigade of General McDowell ~ If so, state what order of General Popes was it that required General McDowell to send a brigade to Waterloo and one to Sulphur Springs? Answer. There were diff~reut orders given to me in regard to the movement of our army or of my corps at that time. One order directed me to march to Waterloo Bridge. The next order was an order from General Pope. I do not know exactly at what time I had received this order, but it was a general order, giving instructions to all the different commanders of corps. According to this order my corps should have marched to Fayetteville, and General & IcDowell, as much as I can remember, should occupy Warrenton, and send a brigade to Waterloo Bridge and one to Sulphur Springs. During the day I was waiting for his brigade because I did not like to evacuate a position in the face of a strong enemy without having other troops there, and I really thought that one brigade would not be enough. Whilst I was waiting for the brigade of General McDowell General Roberts brought me the verbal order that I should not tnarch to Fayetteville, but stay at Waterloo Bridge. Whilst I was waiting for the Woops of Gemwral McDowell~ and ~d ~eceiyed tba4t fra~mentar~i paper of which I hav Page 136 136 OPERATIONS IN N. VA., W. VA., AND MD. (CHAP. lilY. spoken, I expected that General McDowell would tell my officer whom I had sent to him what were his instructions and how I should move, so as I should direct myself according to his movement; and when this movement was past, and I had received orders by General Roberts to stay at Waterloo Bridge, he promised me assistance from General McDowell, at least by his cavalry, which I did not receive, although I had no cavalry with me, because I had sent mine to Sulphur Springs, to prevent the enemy to come into my rear and on my flank. When I say I had no cavalry, I mean no cavalry exce~t the small force mentioned in my official report. There are therefore two points w ~ch have a tendency to this question. First, that I was not relieved, and could therefore not march to Fayetteville, as I could have done. Second, that what General Roberts promised to me was not fulfilled. There is another dispatch of General Pope, which I, as much as I remember, received at Sulphur Springs, wherein General Pope said that in marching against Waterloo Bridge General McDowell would sup- port me. Question by General MCDOWELL. You say you were not relieved at Waterloo Bridge. Did you or did you not receive an order from Gen- eral Pope telling you that you were not to wait at Waterloo Bridge for General McDowell? Answer. I did not, as much as I remember; and if I did, this order must have been in conflict with other orders or circumstances of which I have no knowledge now. I would like to add that if I had received that order at the moment when I saw the enemys army across the river I would have sent immediately to General Pope to ap- prise him of the fact and to get further instructions. Question by General MCDOWELL. What forces of our army were in your rear at the time you sent your cavalry to Sulphur Springs, when you were, as you state, at Waterloo Bridge? Answer. There were no forces in my rear within 4 or 5 miles. I hint to that cav- alry which was 4 or 5 miles behind us, but I did not know at the time when I sent my cavalry that there was any force between my corps and Warrenton, and I had no control over these forces which might have been behind me. Question by General MCDOWELL. Were not the commands of Gen- eral Banks and General Reno in your rear, or on your rear and left, at the time you refer to, or on the 25th of August? Answer. I supposed at that time that they were there, but when I sent my officer with that fragmentary dispatch of General Banks he said that General Reno and General Banks had marched to Fayetteville. They were at least not within my reach, and must have been at that time about 8 miles from me. I would not pretend to say when they had to march. Question by General MCDOWELL. How far is it from Sulphur Springs to Waterloo Bridge? Answer. I think it is about 5 miles to march with troops. Question by General MCDOWELL. Where was General Banks or General Reno at the time your cavalry were at Sulphur Springs? Answer. I cannot say where they were. I only knew that they had marched off, because General Banks told me by the officer that he had orders to move away, and that he would advise me to march. Question by General MCDOWELL. At the time you refer to, of a visit to General McDowells tent at Warrenton, you have stated he wanted to march on Salem. Are you to be understood as saying it was his purpose or plan to march the whole force to Salem or a reconnoitering party only? Answer. I was under the impression that he meant *at we should march; that is, his corps and mine, to Salem, and there was no question about a reconnoitering party, but about an operation of our army. Question by General MCDOWELL. You state you (lid not know what troops belonged to General McDowells corps. Did you not receive a note from General McDowell informing you of the divisions which were following you on your niarch to Bucklaud Mills Page 137 CHAP. XXIV-.] GENERAL REPORTS. 137 Answer. I did not state that I did not know what troops belonged to General McDowells corps. I said that I had seen the Pennsylvania Reserves at Buckland Mills. Question by General MCDOWELL. Referring to your interview with General McDowell ou the morning of the 27th of August, state where this interview took place, and what were the dispositions General Mc- Dowell made that evening for the next day. Answer. The interview took place in my own headquarters, near Buckland Mills. We were speaking about what troops should be left at Thoroughfare Gap. During the conversation, and when General McDowell had not given me yet definite instruc- tions, I told him that I was very much tired, and, as much as I remember, laid down on the sofa, but told General McDowell that as soon as he had come to an understand- ing with himself he should please notify me. I think it was between 11 and 12 oclock at night, and this is what I remember. Question by General MCDOWELL. When you were on the sofa was not General McDowell writing at the piano in the same room ~ Answer. I do not know whether he was writing or not. He was at the piano, and had his map, and was thinking about our operations. I do not know that he. was writing. Question by General MCDOWELL. Did you go to sleep on the sofa whilst General McDowell was writing or examining maps on the piano? Answer. I think so, because I had not slept for three days, I believe, and was marching day and night. Question by General MCDOWELL. Does the witness remember what General McDowell said to him would be the disposition for the suc- ceeding day? Does he remember ~vhether it was the witness corps, or the witness corps with a division of General McDowells added to it, that General McIYowell decided to leave for the defense of Thor- ou.ghfare Gap? Answer. I do not know anything about that; at least it must have been so indefi- nitely said to me that I did not mind it. Question by General MCDOWELL. What did General McDowell pro- pose to witness at his headquarters concerning the defense of Thor- oughfare Gap and holding the enemy in check at that point? Answer. He did not make any definite proposition. Question by General MCDOWELL. Did ~ziot the witness understand he was to have a division of General McDowells corps added to his own and did he not send word to General McDowell after he had left his ~General Sigels) headquarters to ask what division it would be, and to ask that the division might be directed to report to him? Answer. I have no knowledge about such an understanding, because I would have been very glad to have it; at least our discussion was not in the form of an iustruc- tion or order, but only an exchange of opinions or expressions of opinion of General McDowell. I am certain that I did never know anything about a division added to my corps from General McDowells corps, and I do not remember that I did send to General McDowell in regard to the division to be attached to me. Question by General MCDOWELL. What were those opinions or ex- pressions of General McDowell on that occasion with reference to the subject of holding the enemy in check at Thoroughfare Gap or this side of it? Answer. Many different opinions were expressed by General McDowell. He was not sure whether a corps should be sent there or a division, or what corps or what division, and I therefore, as I did not like to impress upon him my own judgment, left it with him to decide ~tnd to order and to give me instructions Page 138 138 OPERATIONS IN N. VA., W. VA., AND MD. [CHAP. XXIV. Question by General MCDOWELL. When you left Buckland Mills, on the morning of the 28th, did you or did you not know General Mc- Dowell had made any provision for meeting Longstreet at or this side of Thoroughfare Gap? Answer. I did not know anything at all. (A paper was laid before the witness, which is appended to the pro- ceedings of this day and marked A.) Question by General MCDOWELL. Will the witness see if this is acknowledgment of the order for his march from Buckland Mills to Manassas Junction, and dated at 2.45? Answer. This is. A paper purporting to be a copy of General Orders, No. 10, dated Headquarters Third Corps, Reynolds Camp, August 28, 1862, was handed the witness, and which paper is appended to the proceedings of this day and marked B. Question by General MCDOWELL. Will the witness state if this is not a copy of the order of march of which he acknowledged the receipt? Answer. I confess that I have never read this order, at least I do not remember to have read it, because it is in contradiction with my acts and my understanding of our situation at that time, and if I had read it it would be in my memory I think. The General Orders, No. 10, just referred to, was read by the recorder. The witneas desired to make a correction of his last answer. From a reperusal of the order I would like to have the words because it is in con- tradiction with my acts and my understanding of our situation at that time con- sidered no part of my answer. I add, in regard to this, that the order I received was written on thin paper, and I believe in pencil. Question by General MCDOWELL. What order did you receive from General McDowell of which you acknowledged the receipt, and in com- pliance with which you marched from Buckland Mills? Answer. I received the order to march to Manassas Junction, and it may be that it is the same order as this here, but I do not remember that it was such a general order. General McDowell here asked a suspension of the examination of the witness with a view of proving the delivery of this order on that day. The court informed General McDowell that a delay or a suspension in the examination of this witness for the reason stated was unnecessary. The witness continued:. Very often, when a general order is received by a corps commander, he only takes in his mind that part of the order which affects his own corps, and that therefore I may not remember very well now, after the elapse of many weeks, that I received this general order. Question by General MCDOWELL. Does the witness mean to be understood that the whole of that general order did not affect him, and does not the name or designation even of general order indicate this? Answer. Certainly, I admit that the whole order, if I ~ad read it, did refer to me, but especially what is referred to in the first point, which point I fully admit I under- stood and acted upon itI mean the order directing me to march to Manassas Junction. Question by General MCDOWELL. Was it not your duty to have made yourself acquainted with every part of a general order sent you, especially one involving co-operation of your forces with those of another ~ Ans~ver. Certainly it was my duty, but it this was the order sent to me I must have regarded it as pretty indefinite, all things taken into consideration. Question by General MCPOW~LL. Yoi~ state that when yoI~ lef Page 139 Ca& p. XXIV.] GENERAL REPORTS. 139 Buckland Mills, on the morning of the 28th, you did not know any- thing at all of any provision being made by General McDowell for meeting Longstreet at or this side of Thoroughfare Gap. Does or does not the General Order, No. 10, for the march make provisions for this? Answer. The order mentioned makes a provision. The court adjourned to meet on Friday, December 26, 1862, at ii oclock a. m. APPENDIX. A. Received the order at 2.45. F. SIGEL, Major- General. B. GENERAL ORDERS, HEADQUARTERS THIRD CORPS, No. 10. Reynolds Camp, August 28, 1862. I. Major-General Sigel will immediately march with his whole corps on Manassas Junction, his right resting on the Manassas IRailroad. II. Brigadier-General Reynolds will march on the turnpike immedi- ately in the rear of General Sigel, and form his division ou the left of General Sigel, and march upon Manassas Junction. III. Brigadier-General King will follow immediately after General Reynolds, and form his division on General Reynolds left, and direct his march upon Manassas Junction. IV. Brigadier-General Ricketts will follow Brigadier-General King and march to Gainesville; and it; on arriving there, no indication shall appear of the approach of the enemy from Thoroughfare Gap, he will continue his march along the turnpike, form on the left of General King, and march on Manassas Jniiction. He will be constantly on the look- eut for an attack from the direction of Thoroughfare Gap, and, in case one is threatened, he will form his division to the left and march to re- sist it. The headquarters of the corps will be at Kings division. By command of Major-General McDowell ED. SCHRIYER, Colonel, Chief of Staff. THIRTIETH DAY. COURT-ROOM, COR. FOURTEENTH AND PA.. AVENUE, Washington, D. C., December 26, 1862. The court met pursuant to adjournment. Present * * * ,and Maj. Gen. FRANZ SIG~L, IT. S. Volunteers, the witness under exam- ination. * * * * * * * The witness desired to know if he had permission to make some re- marks regarding his testimony of yesterday, he having received certain papers since. General McDowell objected to the reception of any remarks from the witness at this time, stating that the witness was undergoing a cross Page 140 140 OPERATIONS IN N. VA., W. VA., AND MD. (CHAP. XXIV. examination; that yesterdays record had been read twice to the wit- ness, and that, at this stage of the examination, he thought it improper for the reception of any remarks. The court was cleared. The court was opened and the following decision announced: If the witness now remembers, after examining his papers, that his statements, or any of them, have been inaccurate, he may correct those inaccuracies; but all other explanations must be delayed until the close of the cross-examination. The witness replied: I do not remember any inaccuracies in my evi- dence given. Question by General MCDOWELL. You have stated the general order for the march made provision for meeting Longstreet. Did you or did you not then, or do you or do you not now, know what was the strength of Ricketts division, indicated in the order for this duty? Did you or not know, or do you or not now know, it consisted of four brigades or sixteen regiments of infantry and four batteries of artillery of twenty- four pieces? Answer. It is impossible for me General McDowell here stated that this interrogatory was one that admitted of an answer affirmatively or negatively. The witness continued: It is impossible for me now to know what I knew four months ago on this point, and now I do not know at all what was the strength of Ricketts division. I hardly remember anything about Eicketts division. Question by General MCDOWELL. Did you or not know that the Rhode Island Cavalry had been sent up from New Baltimore on the west side of Bull Run Ridge to be on the enemys flank as he should be marching through or to Thoroughfare Gap? Answer. I did not and do not know anything about that. I would say I do not know anything about that. Question by General MCDOWELL. Did you or not know, or do you or not now know, that, in addition to Ricketts division, two brigades of cavalry, under Generals Bayard and Buford, were also sent to aid Ricketts division to meet Longstreet? Answer. I do not know. Question by General MCDOWELL. Would you have considered, un- der the circumstances, that four brigades or sixteen regiments of in- fantry, twenty-four pieces of artillery, and two brigades of cavalry, in the aggregate between 11,000 and 12,000 men, a sufficient provision to hold Longstreet in check? Answer. I would have regarded it as a sufficient provision if these troops were placed at the right point at the right time. Question by General MCDOWELL. Do you know that Longstreet did not come through Hopewell Gap, about 5 miles to the north of Thorough- fare Gap? And do you know he actually did come through Thorough- fare Gap? Answer. I do not know exactly whether he caine by Thoroughfare Gap or by Hope - well Gap. I, however, think he came by Thoroughfare Gap. Ithink that Thorough- fare Gap is 3 miles from Hopewell Gap. Question by General MCDOWELL. You say you did not know that any- thing had been done to hinder Longstreet. Do you not know now there wits ap engagepwpt between Ricketta ~n4 Longstreet at the Gap o Page 141 CUAP. XXIY.J GENERAL REPORTS. 141 between it and Hays Market, and that Longstreet was actually held in check? Answer. I know now, from a report of General Longstreet himself, which was pub- lished iu the papers, as much as I remember, that a skirmish had taken place at or near Thoroughfare Gap. From the description it was my impression that the skir- mish was of an insignificant character in regard to the resistance made. This is all the knowledge I have upon that subject. Question by General MCDoWELL. You have stated that you believed that General McDowell did not do what he could under the circum- stances to hinder General Longstreet to join General Jackson. You afterward say you cannot answer the question as to what General Mc- Dowell did to prevent Longstreet coming through Thoroughfare Gap? How, then, do you know he did not do all that you say he should have done? Answer. Because first I have an exact knowledge of what was done in general; and, secondly, my i~emarks were made in regard to the result, as I knew that General Longstreet was coming up on the 29th or has come up ou the 29th, and I also knew that he has co-operated with General Jacksou on the next day, on the 30th of August. Question by General MCDOWELL. You have stated you believe Gen- eral McDowell did not have a sufficient force at Thoroughfare Gap or in the neighborhood to prevent the enemys troops from passing by this defile, which is very easy to defend, and you have afterward stated you did not know what General McDowell did to prevent Longstreet com- ing through that Gap. How, then, do you know he did not leave a suf- ficient force? Answer. I said that General McDowell did not leave a sufficient force, because it is my impression that a serious fight would have takeu place, of which I would have gained knowledge, and, as I did not, I supposed that there was not a sufficient force there. Question by General MCDOWELL. You have stated yoi~ saw General McDowell at your headquarters, in a house near Buckland Mills, on the night of the 27th August. Did you again see General McDowell before you marched from Buckland Mills? Answer. I think I saw him, and I think it was in his tent. I believe that I went to him that night, and was led there by au officer. Question by General McDoWELL. What occurred at this second meeting? Answer. I do not know. Question by General MCDOWELL. Was there any conversation be- tween you and General McDowell? Answer. I do not know. Question by General MCDOWELL. Did you make any report to Gen- eral McDowell? Answer. I do not know. Question by General MCDOWELL. You have stated you received the order for the march upon Manassas Junction at 2.45 oclock in the morning and that the head of your corps was at Gainesville. What time was it when your corps had all passed Gainesville? Answer. This I cannot state exactly, because I was at the head of the column, find- ( ing out the road to Manassas Junction. Question by General MCDOWELL. When did you leave Gainesville yourself; with what part of your corps did you march? Answer. I left Gainesville, according to my knowledge, before daybreakwhen i Page 142 142 OPERATIONS IN N. VA., W. VA., AND MD. [CRAP. XXIV. was dark yetbecause I tried myself to bring my troops in order of march as sooa as possible. I marched first with the brigade of General Milroy from Gainesville. After- ward I was with Generals Schurz and Steinwebrs divisions and the reserve artillery, forming them in line of battle; then I went to the division of General Schenck. Question by General MCDOWELL. Does the witness recollect what hour it was he left Gainesville 0? Answer. No. Question by General MCDOWELL. Does the witness recollect any im- pediment in the road in getting his own troops forward? Answer. There may have been, but I do not recollect any. Question by General MCDOWELL. Did you or did you not .receiy~ orders from General McDowell, at Buckland Mills, on the mornin gdf August 28, 1862, to march your corps immediately to Manassas Junc- tion, with your right on the Manassas Railroad? Answer. I did. Question by General MCDOWELL. Was ~ was not this order again given you after you had left Gainesville? Answer. Soon after leaving Gainesville. I do not believe that this order was re- peated to me; but after having formed in line of battle on my march to Manassas I received it again. Question by General MCDOWELL. Was or was not any other order of march than to march on Manassas Junction with your right on the Manassas Railroad given you by General McDowell on the occasion of your march from Gainesville? Answer. I do not remember such order. Question by General MCDOWELL. You have stated that your troops had to march 5 or 6 miles farther to come again at the evening near the place where they started from and that the men were tired, and you were made to lose time in marching by marching and counter- marching, and that this was in compliance with General McDowells orders. How could your men have been counter-marching in compliance with General McDowells orders when those orders required of you to march in one direction only, that is, to Manassas Junction, and how could those orders bring you back to near where you started from? Answer. In making this remark about marching and conuter-marching I did not mean Gainesville as the point, but the place between Gainesville and Manassas Junc- tion, where I formed my corps, or a part of my corps, against the enemy; and, as far as I remember my statement, I did not state that I lost time by the orders of General McDowell, but my movements were in compliance with the orders of General Mc- Dowell. Question by General MCDOWELL. You have stated that your troops lost time in marching and counter-marching to come to the same points nearly in the evening which they left at noon in compliance with the orders of General McDowell. Is or is not the witness to be under- stood as saying it was by General McDowells orders he was made to counter-march to come to the same point nearly which he had left? Answer. I understand that it was by General McDowells orders that my corps left the point where it was formed in order of battle at noon, and that this~was a mistake, because when I had arrived near Manassas Junction I was ordered by General Pope to march by. (General McDowell here objected to the reception of such testimony. The question makes reference to an order from him (General McDoweLl) and not from General Pope Page 143 CHAr. XXIY.J GENEEAL ~rO~8. 143 General McDowell also made the following objection: It is objected to by General McDowell that the witness be now allowed to explain the movements made, qualify the evidence given in chief or make re- marks concerning the evidence so given, at least till after lie shall have directly and specifically answered the cross-interrogation propounded to him.) The court was cleared. The court was opened, and the following, its decisions on the objec- tions, announced: The first objection is not well taken. The question may involve a reference to an order of General Pope. The second objection is not applicable to the point before the court. By direction of the court the recorder read the following: The witness is directed to answer whether the counter-march made by going to and returning from Manassas was by General McDowells orders alone; and, if not, he will state directly by whose orders, ~n con- nection with General McDowells, it was made. Answer. It was not by General McDowells orders alone. I marched by orders of General McDowell toward Manassas, and by orders of General Popefrom near Manassas to New Market. The court adjourned to meet at 11 oclock a. m. to-morrow, December 27, 1862. THIRTY-FIRST DAY. COURT-ROOM, CoR. PA. AYE. AND FOURTEENTH ST., Washington, D. 0., December 27, 1862. The court met pursuant to adjournment. Present, * * * , and Maj. Gen. FRANZ SIGEL, IT. S. Volunteers, the witness under exam- ination. * * * * * * * Question by General MCDOWELL. You have stated (twenty-seventh days proceedings) that you proposed to General Pope to march your corps to New Market instead of Manassas, as ordered by General Mc- Dowell. State whether, therefore, it was not the order he issued for you to march to Centreville via New Market on your own proposal to march to New Market that your troops were counter-marched, if they were counter-marched. Answer. It was the order of General Pope which directed me to march to Centre yule, and it was my-proposal to General Pope that I should be permitted to march by New Market, as I was near the road leading by New Market to Centreville. It was by this order of General Pope that I marched to New Market and came back near to the point from which I had stdrted. I have to add that at this time General Milroy was at Manassas, or very near to Manassas, and that he joined me at New Market, whilst I asked General Pope to be allowed to march to New Market to avoid the circuitous road by Manassas. Question by General MCDOWELL. Was or was it not then on your proposal that troops were made to come back to near where they started from ~ Answer. Certainly, and especially because I thought that the enemy was not at Cen- treville, but some where between Centreville and Groveton and New Market, and as I thought that it was our object or my object to march against the enemy on the shortest Line Page 144 144 OPERATIONS IN N. VA., W. VA., AND MD. tUKAP. XXIV. Question by General MCDOWELL. Does the witness wish to l)e un- derstood as implying it was not the object of the other commanders to march against the enemy? Answer. I did not say anything about that, l)ecause I do not know it. I suppose it was so. Question by General MCDOWELL. You state with reference to your being under the command of General McDowell that you did not ap- ply to General Pope for orders when you sent your adjutant to see him at Manassas, but that General Pope gave you orders on your proposal. Did you or did you not report to General McDowell the change in your march which those orders you received from General Pope made? Answer. I object to this question, because it is said here that you did not apply to General Pope for orders when you sent your adjutant to see him at Manassas, but that General Pope gave you orders on your own proposal. He did not give rue orders on my proposal; he only permitted me to march by New Market in compliance with his order. Question by the COURT. Does the witness mean to object ~to the ques. tion as one which does not recite the evidence given by him? Answer. It does not. The recorder was directed to refer to the record and read extracts from pages 302 and 303. Question by the COURT. Is the ground of objection by the witness understood? Answer. I object to this, that General Pope gave me orders on my proposal, hecause I received the orders from him to march to Centreville, which proposition I did not make. I believe I sent to General McDowell whilst we were on the march, and as soon as we had arrived near New Mai-ket and became engaged with the enemy. I know that $he conversation took place between an officer of General Kings division and one of my staff officers, but I do not know whether this is the same officer whom I had sent to communicate with General McDowell. In regard to the first part of the ques- tion, I believe I first received the order from General Pope to march to Centreville, and that I sent my officer back to him asking permit to march by New Market instead of by Manassas. I refer to my official report, which I think will give the circum- stance as it was, and I do not make it a point whether I proposed to General Pope first and received then the order or that I had received first the order then marched to New Market. Question by General MCDOWELL. Was your report, proposition, or application to General Pope, which you sent your adjutant to make, a verbal one to be made by himself, or was he the bearer of a written dispatch, in which you yourself made direct to General Pope the prop- osition you have referred to? Was General Popes order verbal or written? Answer. I am almost certain that the order of General Pope was a verbal order; hut whether my communication to General Pope was written or verbal I cannot say. Captain Meysenberg, my adjutant-general, was the officer whom I had sent to General Pope and who had brought me the reply. Question by General MCDOWELL. Does or does not the witness re- member that General McDowell informed him at Buckland Mills that the cavalry he had sent out under Buford had caused Longstreet to de- ployhis army between Salem and White Plains, thus delaying his march? Answer. I do not remember that. Question by General MCDOWELL. Did not General McDowell inform you in writing of the troops he was marching to Buckland Mills? Answer. It may be so. I am not certain of it. Question by General MCDOWELL. After you left Gainesville, on th Page 145 CHAP. XXIV.] GENERAL REPORTS. 145 28th, did you continue with the troops or (lid you return to Gaines- ville that day? Answer. I did not return to Gainesville. I remained with the troops, paitly at the head and partly in the center. Question by General MCDOWELL. With reference to the co-operation of your corps and that of General McDowell, have you not stated in your official reports you were ordered to take position on your march to Manassas with your right resting on the railroad leading from .War- renton Junction to Manassas Junction? If so, who gave you this order? Answer. I ask to be allowed to see my official report, in order to see if this question is in accordance with my official report. The report in question was handed the witness. The witness continued: I find that this question is not in accordauc with my official report, because I did not say that I should take position on my march to Manassas with my right resting on the railroad. Question by General MCDOWELL. Please examine your official report at the part marked in the margin, and state who gave you the order to take position with your right resting on the railroad leading from War. renton Junction to Manassas Junction. The recorder read from the report the following, referred to in the foregoing question: During the night General McDowells corps arrived at Buckland Mills, and I re- ceived orders at 3 oclock in the morning to march to Manassas, and to take a position with my right resting on the railroad leading from Warrenton Junction to Manassas Junction; so at least I understood the order. Answer. I received this order from General McDowell, but I must say that I under- stood under Manassas Railroad that point of the railroad which is between Manassas Station and the junction of Manassas Gap Railroad and the Orange and the Alexan- dria Railroad. Therefore I said in my report my right resting on railroad leading from Warrenton Junction to Manassas Junction. - Question by General MCDOWELL. Was this order to you in writing? Answer. I think it was. Question by General MCDOWELL. When and where did you re- ceive it? Answer. I think it was the order I received at 2.45 a. m. on the 28th. Question by General MCDOWELL. Will the witness please produce the order? Answer. I will see whether I can find it. I have not received the papers for which I have sent. I suppose that it was a part of Order No. 10, and this may be taken as granted. Question by General MCDOWELL. Witness will please examine this note, dated Gainesville, Va., August 2~, 7.30 a. in., and state if it is not from him,and then say~insteadofits being before daybreak and dark when he left Gainesville, as he yesterday stated, it was not two hours after sunrise at least when he so left. The note referred to in the foregoing question was read by the re- corder, and is appended to the proceedings of this day, marked A. Answer. This is my note; it is from me. In the first place I rode forward on the Centreville turnpike, in advance of my troops, to see what was on that road, and after having made this personal reconnaissance I ordered this note to be written. I further state in my record of yesterday 10 R UVOL XI Page 146 146 OPEl~ArIONS IN N. VA., W. VA., AND Mt). tCliAr. XXiV. General McDowell here stated that he did not want the record of yesterday interfered with. The record had been read and approved. The witness continued: I spoke about Gainesville when I really meant Bucklarid Mills General McDowell stated that he would like to have the record of yesterday read over. The witness continued: And fherefore, as I was not allowed yesterday to make remarks about the record, I wrote this correction down here. Question by the COURT. Has the witness anything more to say on the point as to whether it was two hours after sunrise when he so left? Answer. I cannot answer this question directly, because I do not know how long it took me to reconnoiter the country before me, but I admit that it was 7.30 oclock when I was at Gainesville and sent this dispatch. Question by General MCDOWELL. How long did you remain at Gainesville after you sent the dispatch~ Answer. I do notknow exactly how long. Question by General MCDOWELL. Was it an hour or two hours, or half~an hour; cannot the witness give some idea of the time? Answer. I cannot really say whether it was half an hour or two hours. I believe it was rather half an hour than two hours. I only waited for General Milroy to bring in all his pickets and come into marching order. This was the reason why I person. ally remained at Gainesville, if I did so. Question by General MCDOWELL. Did General Milroys brigade constitute your advance? Answer. Yes. Question by General MCDOWELL. How long were you away from Gainesville in your personal reconnaissance on the Centreville road? How far did you go? Who did you see? Answer. I went forward on all the roads leading to Manassas Junction and Centre- ville; and, as much as I remember, it was my escort that met the enemys pickets and reported to me the fact. I do not exactly know how far I went and I myself did not see the enemy, but received the report on the road by my cavalrymen. Question by General MCDOWELL. What report did your escort make to you? Answer. They reported to me that they saw some of the enemys cavalry pickets on the road to Centreville. Question by General MCDOWELL. Is that all the report you received on that occasion? Answer. I re-ceived another report a little afterward from a part of my cavalry which I had sent to the right into the woods that they had met tha enemys cavalry in that direction. Question by General MCDOWELL. Were these two reports all that witness received? Answer. This is what I remember now in regard to this particular moment. Question by General MCDOWELL. As these reports of his cavalry scouts were all he received, how did the witness acquire the knowledge he reported of the enemys train being between Fairfax and Manassas Junction? How as to Andersons having apparently taken the north- ern road from Thoroughfare Gap? How that the main force seemed tc be still at Manassas Junction Page 147 ChAP. XXIV.] GENERAL I~EPORTS. 147 Answer. I remember now that I had with me several of my scouts, and I remember one by the name of Switzer, who accompanied me upon the march. I do not exactly know from what sources I received all this information or by what n~ans. It must have been my best knowledge that the enemy was in the neighborhood of Manassas Junction, that means in the direction of Manassas Junction, and with one part of his troops, whilst his main force was in the direction of New Market and Centreville. General McDowell here stated that this had nothing to do with the question. Question by the COURT. Do you know how you knew that the en- emys train was between Fairfax and Manassas Junction? Answer. It is a question about a moment when I was near Gainesville. On the march 1 inquired where the train was and received it from my officers. General McDowell here stated that this was not what he asked. The witness continued: This was at that particular time, and I believe I had that knowledge. I do not remember how I got it, except what I have said before in regard to the prisoners taken, and probably some of this information came from the prisoners. Question by General MCDOWELL. Does the witness mean to be un- derstood that his officers at any time saw the enemys traii~ in the place in which he reports it in his letter from Gainesville? Answer. Yes; I have the proof in writing that one of my officers saw the train. He was sent out by me with cavalry, but I do not know whether he informed me that the train was exactly on the place indicated in my dispatch to General McDowell. Question by General MCDOWELL. The question is: Whether his officers saw the enemys train between Fairfax and Manassas? Answer. I do not know whether the officer reported to me exactly that the train was between Fairfax and Manassas Junction. Question by General MCDOWELL. When it left Gainesville did your head of column go to the right or south side or the left ~r north side of the Manassas Railroad? Answer. We marched beyond Gainesville some distanceI believe three-quarters of a mile, then we took the road which leads nearly parallel and north of the Manas- sas Gap Railroad. We then crossed the railroad to the south side, and marched south of the railroad until we recrossed it in marching to New Market. Question by General MCDOWELL. Did you pass Bethlehem Church or Chapel before yo~ crossed the Manassas Railroad to go to New Market? Answer. I believe we did, but I am not sure. The witness was handed two papers, purporting to be duplicate orders from Major-General Pope to Major-General McDowell, dated Bristoe Station, August 27, 1862, 9 p. in., which papers are appended to this days proceedings and marked B. Question by General MCDOWELL. Does the witness not remember he was shown the following order from General Pope prior to his leav- ing Buckland Mills? Answer. I do not remember that this order was shown to me, but it may have been shown to me. Question by General MCDOWELL. Why did you fail to obey General McDowells order, which required you to march on Manassas Junction, with your right resting on the Manassas Railroad? Answer. I believe that I did not disobey the order of General McDowell, because I understood that I should march to Manassas Junction, and having arrived there, form my corps so that the right rested on the Manassas Railroad: 2d. If I would have undertaken to march to Manassas Junction with my righ Page 148 148 OPERATIONS IN N. VA., W. VA., AND MD. [CuAP. XXIV. always on the railroad it would have been impossible to do so, according to my best knowledge; and 3d. There seemed to me a contradiction in the order in saying that I should march to Manassas Junction and in the same time to rest with my right on the railroad. I understand that this word resting can only relate to the formation of troops, and not to their march. Question by General MCDOWELL. In accordance with orders re- ceived at 2.45 a. m. of the 28th of August, you were required to start immediately to Manassas, and why was your advance at 7.30 a. m. still at Gainesville, the place where they remained during the night? Answer. In the first place my troops were stationed as follows: The advance bri- gade of General Milroy at Gainesville; the division of General Schurz at North Fork Creek; the division of General Schenek between North Fork Creek and Buckland Mills, and my reserve division at Buckland Mills. This position they held because I encamped them where I could find water, and where they could defend their position against an attack from Hay Market or Thoroughfare Gap. I tried to bring up these divisions to Gainesville and then to march on with my whole corps, instead of march- ing with separate brigades and divisions. They needed a certain amount of time to form and to come to Gainesville. 2d. I could not march with the brig~de of Gen- eral Milroy from Gainesville or draw in his pickets, which were out for a great dis- tance. I ordered him to draw in his pickets only when I saw that the other troops were near his position. These are the facts. I myself went along the road from Buckland Millsto Gainesville to hasten up the troops and to bring them forward to Gainesville. I must also remark thet the whole of my reserve artillery and ammuni- tion train was with my reserve division, behind the bridge at Buckland Mills, which they had to pass. I also remark that the~e troops marched .before daylight, and that they had the greatest part of the night no rest at all after their arrival in thelr differ- ent positions. The court adjourned to meet on Monday, December 29, 1862, at 11 oclock a. m. APPENDIX. A. HEADQUARTERS FIRST Cours, ARMY OF VIRGINIA, Gainesville, Va., August 28, 18627.30 a. m. Major-General MCDOWELL, Commanding Third Corps: As yet I have only met some pickets on the Centreville turnpike, which, it seems to me, makes it necessary to send a force to Centreville to cover our left ilank. It might also be well to ~ena an entire division to Centreville, as the enemys train is between Fairfax and Manassas Junction, which force would at the same time separate the enemys forces; Anderson apparently having taken ~the northern road from Thoroughfare Gap, and which would also threaten the enemys rear. The main force of the enemy seems to be still at Manassas Junction. Respectfully, your obedient servant, F. SIGEL, Major- General. P. S.In regard to Anderson orLongstreet coming through Thorough- fare Gap, it may be that they take or have taken the more northern road to Centreville. B. HEADQUARTERS ARMY OF VIRGINIA, Bristoe Station, August 27, 18629 p. m. Major-General MCDOWELL: At daylight to-morrow morning march rapidly on Manassas Junctio Page 149 CHAP. XXIV.] GENERAL REPORTS. 149 with your whole force, resting your right on the Manassas Gap Railroad, throwing your le4~t well to east. Jackson, Ewell, and A. P. Hill are between Gainesville and Manassas Junction. We had a severe fight with them to-day, driving them back several miles along the railroad. If you will march promptly and rapidly at the earliest dawn of day upon Manassas Junction we shall bag the whole crowd. I have directed Reno to march from Greenwich at the same hour upon Mianassas Junc- tion, and Kearny, who is in his rear, to march on Bristoc at daybreak. Be expeditious, and the day is our own. JNO. POPE, Major- General, Commanding. Received dispatch for Major-General McIDowell August 28, 1.15 am. J. C. BRISCOE, Lieutenant and Engineer, Kearnys Division. THIRTY-SECOND DAY. CoURT-RooM, CoR. FOURTEENTH AND PA. AVENUE, Washington, D. C., December 29, 1862. The court met pursuant to adjournment. Present, * * * , and Maj. Gen. FRAl~z SIGEL, U. S. Volunteers, the witness under exami- nation. * * * * * * * Question by General MCDOWELL. I desire the witness to take Gen- eral McDowells General Orders, No. 10, of August 28, 1862, and show from what therein he is warranted in saying he was to take a position with his right resting ou the railroad leading from Warrenton Junction to Manassas Junction. Is or is not that railroad mentioned or referred to in that order ~ If so, where ~? The order in question, appended to the proceedings of the twenty- ninth day, was placed before the witness. Answer. When I wrote my report I had not tlie order of General McDowell before me. General McDowell stated that this is hardly an answer to the ques. tion. The witness asked whether the question referred to what is contained in his report or in his evidence. The court was then cleared. The court was opened and the following decision announced: The question has already been fully answered by the witness. during the proceedings of the thirty-first day and is overruled. Question by General MCDOWELL. Will the witness please point out on the map, as far as the map goes, the Orange and Alexandria Rail- road and the Manassas Railroad i The witness referred to the map from the Bureau of the Topographi- cal Engineers, dated August 1, 1862, of Northeastern Virginia and vicinity of Washington, which map is appended to the proceedings in the case.* The witness pointed out the railroads as marked on the ~iap, stating that a small portion of the road (about a half mile), to the west of Man- assas Station, was common to the two roads. - * To appear in Atlas Page 150 150 OPERATIONS IN N. VA., W. VA., AND MD. [OW. XXIV. Question by General MCDOWELL. Were th~ divisions of Generals Schurz and Sch~nck bivouacked on the turnpike between Buckland Mills and Gainesville on the evening of the 27th or the morning of the 28th? Answer. Yes; they were. Question by General MCDOWELL. How far were they respectively from Gainesville? Answer. The division of General Schurz was about a mile from Gainesville, proba- bly nearer to Gainesville than a mile. The division of General Scheuck was first about 2j miles from Gainesville, and then received orders to form behind the left wing of General Schurz during the night. Question by General MCDOWELL. Why did you delay the march of the whole force on account of the pickets of General Milroy? Answer. I did not delay the march. I only did not advance General Milroys bri. gade without having the whole corps assembled where he was. There mayhave been a delay for the reason that I wished to have General Milroys brigade at the head of my column, and that perhaps his preparations were not all made when the others came up. I have stated why his preparations were made at the last moment before our movement. In relation to General Milroys brigade, I think it my duty to say that they were under arms the whole night and expected an attack from the enemy. They had nearly no restlike the other troops of my corps. Question by General MCDOWELL. Was the position of your reserve artillery any cause for delay? If so, what~? Answer. I do not know any more, because my headquarters were on this side of Buckland Mills. I started when it was dark, went to General Scheuck, then to Gen. eral Milroy, to be at the head of my troops. There must have been a delay in cross- ing the bridge, but I would not say delay, because in all such movements we want time. Question by General MCDOWELL. What time did you require to march your reserve division from Buckland Mills to Gainesville, a dis- tance of 3 miles? Answer. I was not with them~, and therefore cannot say how much time they wanted, and I also see by the map that it is not 3 but almost 4 miles to Gainesville from Buck- land Mills. Question by General MCDOWELL. What is the usual ratfi of march per hour in your corps over good turnpike roads, which are unobstructed by anything but the troops themselves? Answer. I refuse to answer that question, if not ordered by the court. The court decided the question a proper one. The witness continued: In answering the question I remarked that I refusedto do so because this question is too general and does not apply to the case. According to circumstances we can march very quick on a good road, but ordinarily troops march 15 miles a day on good roads. This would, if we march 10 hours, be lj miles an hour. On the 28th August my corps marched 13 miles and the brigade of General Milroy 16, and this was in the presence of the enemy, where we could march only slowly and had to lock out well. Question by General MCDOWELL. Do you know of any cause of de- lay in your march on the morning of the 28th from your baggage wagons obstructing the roadthe turnpike from between Buckland Mills and Gainesvilleor from your men stopping in the turnpike to build fires to cook? Answer. I did not see myself that the baggage train was in the road; I at least do not remember it; but I remember that I rode up to the soldiers of General Scheuck, who were trying to cook coffee before daylight, and forced lhem to fall in and to march. Question by General McDow~jt, How far had your men marclie Page 151 CHAP. XXIV.] GENERAL REPORTS. 151 on the 27th, and had they not had the whole day and night of the 26th to rest themselves at Warrenton~ and what time did they finish their march on the 27th? Answer. On the 27th, that morning we marched from Warrenton toward BiLekiand Mills, but found the enemy this side of Buckland Mills. I was therefore compelled to halt and to get information. We then had :i skirmish at Buckland Mills with the eaemy. He retired and burned the bridge. I took possession of the shores of the creek, and had to restore the bridge by my pioneers, which took about two or three hours. During this time the greatest part of the troops formed on the right and left in line of battle, and were all under arms, and standing, because it was reported to me that 10,000 men were on our front and that 60,000 had marched toward Manassas, which report I sent to General McDowell. The march was finished and the troops had all crossed the bridge before sunset. I do not exactly know when we marched from Warrenton. After having crossed the bridge with all my troops I counter- marched my reserve division, because the troops of General McDowell had not arrived yet, and I feared an attack from Hay Market. We then marched slowly on toward Gainesville to gain that point. General Milvoy arrived at Gainesville at night8 or 9 oclock. The divisions of General Scburz and General Schenck were first kept back near Buckland Mills and then successively advanced, so that they changed their posi- tion during the night. One regiment was sent toward Hay Market and qne toward Greenwich, over a mile distant from the road. One-third of our troops, I think, were under arms and on picket, and General Milroys brigade especially. On the 26th and on the night of the 26th and 27th we were at Warrenton, and all my troops were resting. Question by General MCDOWELL. How long before snnset was it when you reached Buckland Mills? How far is it from Warrenton to Buckland Mills? Answer. I do not exactly know how long. It is from Warrenton to Buckland Mills about 9 or 10 miles. Qnestion by General MCDOWELL. Can the witness give no idea how long before snnset it was when he reached Buckland ~Mills; was it half and hour, an hour, or two hours ~ State abont how long. Answer. I cannot say how long. By General MCDOWELL. I beg to ask if the court considers this ques- tion responded tobefore sunset? The term used will take in the whole day, and therefore fixes notime at all after sunrise. Question by the COURT. Can y~n state about how near to sunset it was? Answer. It was in the afternoon and before sunset. I remember now that I sent from Buckland Mills an officer to Warrenton to General McDowell, which must have taken two hours, making it about 4 oclock. The officer wrote to me when he arrived there about 6 oclock p. m. It must have been therefore 4 or 5 oclock, accordin~j to this connection of things. The officer was Captain Este, of General Scheucks sta A paper dated Headquarters First Corps, Army of Virginia, Buck- land Bridge, Va., Angu~t 27, 1862, 11.40, was placed bet~ore the witness, which paper is appended to the proceedings of this day, marked A. Question by General MCDOWELL. State if this is not the note you sent at that time, dated at Buckland Mills,. at 11.40 a. m. Answer. This is the note which my adjutant has written. I had gone in advance probably to ditect the movement of General Milroy, and I remember that as he could not cross the bridge with his artillery, his cavalry, and afterward his infantry, or a l)art of it, crossed ne~nr the bridge. I also remember that the brigade of General Mu- roy was a great distance ahead Qf my principal column, as he was ordered to do so. Question by General MCDOWELL. Look at this order, dated Warren- ton, August 27, 1862, and state if it is the order under which you marched to Buckland Mills. A book was placed before the witness, from which a letter, Qf w14e14 Qie f~11~~In~ is ~ copy, was read by the recorder Page 152 152 OPERATIONS IN N. VA., W. VA., AND MD. (CHAP. XXIV. HEADQUARTERS THIRD CORPS, ARMY OF VIRGINIA, Warrenton, August 27, 18627.30 a. m. Major-General SIGEL: Push immediately a strong advance along the turnpike from WarrentoH to Gaines- ville, for the purpose of taking possession of the position of Buckland Mills, on Broad Run, and get your corps in hand as soon as possible to follow this advance. No wag- ons but for ammunition will accompany your corps on this road. Your baggage trains will immediately proceed to Catletts. Detach three batteries from your troops to re- port to Major-General Kearny, commanding division, who will be moving by the way of Greenwich to your support. Further instructions will be given as to the route by which these batteries are to join General Kearny; until they do, they will be kept with your command. By command of Major-General McDowell: ED. SCHEIVER, Colonel, Chief of Staff. Answer. Yes; that is the letter. Question by General MCDOWELL. State if these letters were not sent by you from Buckland Mills on the 27th, and if you l~now of any other reports made by you to General McDowell that day except the one just presented. Three papers were read by the recorder, then placed before the wit- ness. These papers are dated as follows: Headquarters, Buckland Bridge, August 2712.30 p. in. Headquarters First Corps, Army of Virginia, Buckland Bridge, Va., August 27, 18621.50 p. in. Headquarters First Corps, Army of Virginia, Bucklaud Bridge, Va., August 27, 18628 p. in., and are appended to the proceedings of this day, and marked B, C, ID. Answer. These letters have been sent by me to General McDowell. I do not remem- ber any other letter. I only remember that I sent that officer of which I have spoken, but I must remark that I do not believe that my troops held exactly the position which I indicated at 8 p. m. in my letter. This is the only remark I have to make al)out this matter. Question by General MCDOWELL. State if you received the letters dated August 27, recorded on page 327, of this letter-book. The official letter-book pertaining to the Headquarters Third Army Corps was placed before the witnese, from which the recorder read the following: HEADQUARTERS THIRD ARMY Conpe, ARMY OF VIRGINIA, August 27, 1862. Maj. Gen. FRANZ SIGEL, Commanding First Corps: GENERAL: The major-general commanding directs me to inform you [that] three regiments of cavalry, under General Bayard, have been ordered to join you until yours can be returned to you. Very respectfully, your obedient servant, ED. SCHRIVER, Colonel and Chief of Staff. HEADQUARTERS THIRD ARMY CORPS, ARMY OF VIRGINIA, August 27, 1862. Maj. Gen. FRANZ SIGEL, ~Jommanding First Corps: GENERAL: I have just received your note of l2.~O p. m. In default of your cavalry, which is not yet returned, I send you this morning General Bayard, wi~ three regi- ments. When yours return please send him back to me. I will send word to Cat- letts about your regimental provision wagons. Brigadier- General Reynolds division is immediately behind you. King and Ricketts follow. Very respectfully, your obedient servant, IRVIN McDOWELL, Major-General Page 153 CHAP. XXIV.] GENERAL REPORTS. 153 Answer. I do not remember very well whether these letters were sent to me, but I admit that they wer sent. In regard to the cavalry, I know that they arrived at Buckland MillsI think after dark. Question by General MCDOWELL. Did you see General McDowell at Warrenton on the 27th, before you marched for Buckland Mills? Answer. I do not know. Question by General MCDOWELL. Without asking as to the nature or quality of the combination or co-operation, I wish the witness - to state if the general order he received at 2.45 a. m. at Buckland Mills, August 28, did or did not imply or provide for a combined movement or co-operation of his own and General McDowells corps. Answer. I do not know exactly, but I admit it, because I think it very natural. Question by General MCDOWELL. Did or did not the order, in the opinion of the witness, imply that movement of his own corps and that of General McDowell should all be to the left of, or on the north side of the Manassas Railroad, that road being taken as the direcfing line of the movement? Answer. I did not hear anything about a directing line. I probably had on that night no definite idea what would be the best line of attack. Question by General MCDOWELL. Did you or did you not under- stand that your corps was to march on the left Ot?, or north side of, the Manassas Railroad? Answer. I could~not understand that fully. I probably thought that on my way I should keep as near as possible on the line of the railroad, and, if I should find the enemy between Gainesville and Manassas, that I should form my corps in line of battle, my right resting as near as possible to the railroad, my left extending to near Groveton or New Market, wherever I was. Question by General MCDOWELL. Did not an aide-dc-camp of General. McDowell come to the witness when he was at or just beyond Gaines- ville to tell him from General McDowell he was to march with his right on the Manassas Railroad, and did not the witness, when he was marching south of the road, receive through other officers of General McDowells staff similar instructions? Answer. I do not remember that an aide-de-camp of Geiteral McDowell came to me, but it may have been so; and, in regard to the other officers, I also do not know of having seen any one. Question by General MCDOWELL. The witness gives as a second reason (yesterdays proceedings) that he did not disobey General Mc- Dowells order, that if he, the witness, would have undertaken to march to Manassas Junction with his right always on the railroad it would have been impossible to do so, according to his best knowledge. Does the witness desire to be understood that when he receives an order for an important movement on which the whole army depends, and finds while executing it some part impracticable, that this absolves him from carrying out that part which is practicable, and that where a literal compliance is impossible the spirit of the order is not to be followed? The court considered this question objectionable and overruled it. The court decided that *5 per diem be paid the clerk of this court, as a fair compensation for his services, from and to include the 21st December, 1862. The court adjourned to meet to-morrow, December 30, 1862, at 11 oclock a. m Page 154 154 OPERATIONS IN N. VA., W. VA., AND MD. (CHAP. XXIV. APPENDIX. A. HEADQUARTERS FIRST CORPS, ARMY OF VIRGINIA, Buckland Bridge, Va., August 27, 186211.40. Major-General MCDOWELL, Commanding Third Corps: I have driven the enemys cavalry, which was one mile this side of the bridge, from the bridge. The bridge had been set on fire, which was extinguished, and I am now in possession of the same. Two pieces of artillery have been posted this side of the bridge. The bri- gade of General Milroy is now crossing. The enemy had some cavalry and one piece of artillery shown on the opposite side of the creek. The bridge will be repaired at once by my pioneers. Respectfully, yours, F. SIGEL. B. Major- General. HEADQUARTERS, Buckland Bridge, August 2712.30 p. m. Major.General MCDOWELL: GENERAL: I am not farther yet than at and over the bridge. Some troops of General Milroy have passed it. The firing of yesterday and to-day is said to have been at Manassas. This is said by all whom I have met and examined. It is also in accordance with all other informa- tion. If we concentrate quickly at Gainesville, or near Gainesville, put all oar disposable forces, with the exception of a few at the Rappahannock, we have the only and best chance to defeat the enemys plans and his army. We have several means and ways to operate from here. Jack- son may be at Manassas or elsewhere. We should all be here to-night and press forward to-morrow at daybreak. Yours, respectfully, F. SIGEL, Mojor- General, Gommanding First Corps. P. S.Please send me to-night without fail my cavalry (Fourth New York, Sixth Ohio, and Ninth New York), and my regimental provision wagons, wtuch I have ordered to Catletts Station. c. HEADQUARTERS FIRST CORPS, ARMY OF VIRGINIA, Buckland Bridge, August 27, 18621.50 p. m. Major-General MCDOWELL, Gommanding Third Corps: The brigade of General Milroy has advanced and is now 2 miles be- yond the bridge, after the enemy had made an attempt to burn the bridge. He is directed to push his cavalry on to Gainesville and then take position ou the fork to Thoronghfare Gap. General Milroy ob- served a train, which leaves no doubt that this is the eneniy~s rear guard which I have before me, and believe that the enemy is at Ma- nassas by this time, and has beaten our forces there, aul to procee4 from tJ~er~ to A1e~a~dvi~ tQ iestroy QIIV depots Page 155 CRAP. XXIV.] GENERAL REPORTS. 155 It seems to me necessary that our forces concentrate at Gainesville in pursuit of the enemy. Being almost without cavalry, I beg leave to request you to send me one regiment from Warrenton, as cavalry is th~ only arm which may be of some avail under these cir~umstances. I cannot be without cavalry. I have only 150 men. Please send the first regiment you can find. Let the troops advance at once, because the enemy may throw him. self on my advance and we could lose the bridge. Respectfully, yours, F. SIGEL, Major- General. P. S.Please take care of my train, which is now at Catletts Station. D. HEADQUARTERS FIRST CORPS, ARMY OF ViRGINiA, Buckland Bridge, Va., August 27, 18628 p. iu Major-General MCDOWELL, Commanding Third Corps: The First Corps is in bivouac between Gainesville and Broad Run, with the cavalry beyond Gainesville. General Milroy captured about 100 prisoners, stragglers of the rebel army. One brigade formed the rear guard, which was driven back by my adVance. It seems to me essential that we attack to-morrow, when it would be necessary to know the relations existing between the differ- ent commands here, and to know who will be in command in case of a battle if General Pope or yourself should not be here. Inasmuch as it is said that another force is said to advance from Salem, under command of General Longstreet, and that Jacksons troops are very tired and have used a great amount of ammunition, I think they should be attacked at once at Manassas Junction. Please inform me Where General Coxs command is, and whether there is any hope of his joi~ng me soon. I am, general, very respectfully, your obedient servant, F. SIGEL, Major- General, Commanding First Corps. I2HIRTY-THIRD DAY. COURT-ROOM, COR. FOURTEENTH ST. AND PA. AvE., Washington, D. C., December 30, 1862. The court met pursuant to adjournment. Present, * * * , and Maj. Gen. FRANZ SIGEL, U. S. Yolunteers, the witness under exami- nation. * * * * * * * Question by General MCDOWELL. You state you believe that Gen- eral McDowell did not give his troops the right direction on the 29th, be& ause instead of attacking the enemy on his right flank, by coming in on our left, his troops, as niuch as you could see, came in from the rear; that i~ to say, instead of coming in in the direction of New Market he came in in the direction of Centreville. You do not know flir ~vhat reason 0? Do you know that Qeperal ~JcPowel1~ tlQOI)S did not ~owo by the New Market road ~ An~w~r. I do not know Page 156 156 OPERATIONS IN N. VA., W. VA., AND MD. [CHAP. XXIV. Question by General MCDOWELL. You have stated you are of the opinion that had General Kings division been united to that of General Reynolds on that same day at noon or in the afternoonthat is,if 15,000 men had been marched forward against the right flank of the enemy, he must have been routed. Do you know that General Mc- Dowell was not moving forward to so unite them in the afternoon? Answer. I do not know, but if he did it was too late in the afternoon. Question by General MCDOWELL. Jn answering the question a~ to when General McDowells troops appeared on the field, you speak of their arriving on the battle-field at sunset on the 29th. You have also stated they came on the field from the direction of Centreville. Is that the first knowledge you had of Kings division of General McDowells troops being on the field on that day; that is, when they came up along the Warrenton turnpike? Answer. That is the first knowledge I had, as much as I can remember. Question by General MCDOWELL. Do you know what orders General McDowell had or under what instructions he acted concerning the bring. ing his troops into action on the afternoon of the 29th. If you say you do, please state them. If you say you do not, then please state how you know that the direction given General McDowells troops was given to them by General McDowell. Answer. I have my knowledge about the movements of General McDowells troops from a paper which I received from General Pope on the morning of the 29th of Au- gust, and which I lay before the conit. This is the only knowledge. The paper referred to by the witness was read by the recorder, and is appended to the proceedings of this day and marked A. Question by the COURT. Where was General Popes headquarters at this time? Answer. I think they were at Ceatreville. Question by General MCDOWELL. Wht time of the day was it you received this order which you have produced? Answer. It must have been at about 10 or 11 oclock iii the morning; but I am not sure of this. Question by General MCDOWELL. You said you did not know on the morning of the 29th and up to 19 or 1 oclock that General Reynolds was on your left, and that you could not make any disposition of Gen- eral Scheuck to assist your right wing and center because he had to cover your left wing, and that you do not know what orders the division of General Reynolds had and what they did, & c. Did you not send to General Reynolds division before you commenced the action and re- quest its co-operation? Answer. I believe I did not, because I wrote a note to General Pope on thatmorning, asking him who was on my left, whether it was Reno l Question by General MCDOWELL. Did not one of General Reynolds brigade commanders see you before you went into action on the 29th with reference to the co-operation of Reynolds division? Answer. I remember now that two officers were in my quarters, speaking with me very hastily. I supposed they were officers belonging to General McDowells corps; but whether there was any agreement between u~ I cannot say. I did neversuppose by this conversation that I had to give them any (lirection or had any command over them. I think they spoke about their troops, but I do nOt remember the particulars. it may have been about Reynolds division. Question by General MCDOWELL. You have stated, among the point Page 157 CHAP. XXiV~.] GENERAL REPORTS. 157 to qualify your testimony, that General McDowell was not attentive enough as relates to yourself; that you cannot understand for what reason he has left his position on the 28th, in the evening, & c. Have yon or have you not any official or personal knowledge of the orders given to General McDowell, or of those given by him to his corps, prior to the 29th, after you received orders from him to march to Manassas?. Answer. I have no knowledge about the orders given to General McDowell on the night of the 28th, or the evening of the 28th, after I had received this order to march to Manassas, and I also did not receive any knowledge of orders given to General Mc- Dowell during the day of the 28th. I do not know what orders he has given to his corps. Question by General MCDOWELL. Do you know anything of the move- ments of Kings division on the night of the 28th, after the engagement; where it went or by whose orders it moved V Answer. I know that I sent an officer to the place where Kings division was duiing or shortly after the engagement, and that he could not find it there any more. I do not know by what orders they moved or had moved and where they went. Question by General MCDOWELL. Who was the officer you sent to see General McDowell on the 28th and who reported to you that Gen- eral McDowell would be in a certain house in Centreville? What time of the day was this? Answer. The officer whom I sent toward Grov~ton to Kings division was, I believe, Captain Dahlgren. This must have been at night, and the officer aho spoke about the headquarters of General Pope and General McDowell was, I believe, Captain Kmnig. Question by General MCDOWELL. Did Captain Dahlgren report hav- ing seen General McDowell on this occasion? Answer. I think he reported that he did not see him and that he could not find him. Question by General MCDOWELL. You have stated you considered yourself under General McDowells orders during the battle at Bull Run and that you saw General McDowell come on the field in the evening of the 29th. State if you, on that occasion, reported to him or gave him any information. Answer. I did not report to him because I saw General McDowell at a distance going to General Popes headquarters, while I was going to the left of our position, and my presence was needed very much there. I thought that General McDowell would get all the information necessary from General Pope, with whom I was in direct communi- cation during the battle of the 29th. Question by General MCDOWELL. When did you consider yourself as no longer nnder General McDowells command ~ Answer. I regarded myself bound to obey all his orders sent to me until I was separated from his corps at Fairfax Court-House and marched to Vienna. This was on the last of August or the 1st of September. Question by General MCDOWELL. Did you report to him or send an officer to him to report for orders on the night of the 29th, on the morning of the 30th, or the night of the 30th ~ Did you do so at Cen- treville? Answer. I do not believe that 1 reported personally to General McDowell, and I do not know whether I have sent an officer to him on the night of the 29th or on the 30th. I was under the impression that General Pope and General McDowells head- ~ narters were at Centreville, and that General McDowell was in close connection with eneral Pope, and could receive information of all communications sent by me to General Pope, of whom I had a better knowledge where he was, and hesides this I thought that if General McDowell had to give me any orders he would send them to me. Question by General MCDOWELL. Did General McDowell send you any orders on the 29th or the 30th or after the 30th Page 158 158 OPERATIONS IN N. VA., W. VA., AND MD. tOHAP. XXIV. Answer. This I cannQt remember very well. Question by General MCDOWELL. You state you received a dispatch which you believe was transmitted to you by one of General McDowells staff which dispatch was written by General Porter. On what was that belief foundedthat this dispatch was given you by one of Gen- eral McDowells staff? Answer. I thought so because it was an officer of General McDowells staff; as much as I remember. Question by General MCDOWELL. Do you know who it was? Answer. No. Question by General MCDOWELL. Did you know by sight all of Gen. eral McDowells staff? Answer. I think I did not know every one of General McDowells staff. Question by General MCDOWELL. Did you know all of General Popes staff? Answer. I think not. Question by General MCDOWELL. When did you. report to General Pope the force of the enemy that was marching on Cedar Run Mount- ain? Answer. On the day before the 9th of August, when the battle took place, I received a letter from Colonel Cluseret, at Madison Court-House, wherein he stated that lie received information that Jackson would advance with 20,000 or 23,000 men. It is my impression that I sent this letter to General Pope. I also reported to General Pope, previous to this letter, what forces composed the army of General Jackson. Question by General MCDOWELL. Was this the occasion you reported Jackson.marching on Cedar Run Mountain? Answer. I did not say that I reported Jackson marching on Cedar Mountain. I said that my letter related to his marching on Culpeper. Question by General MCDOWELL. When were you at Madison Court- House? Answer. I was in Madison Court-House, or in the neighborhood of Madison Court- House, where Cluseret had his camp, one time or more than once. I do not remember exacily the day. Question by General MCDOWELL. How far from Madison Court- House was Colonel Cluserets camp? Answer. It was for some time in Madison Court-House and beyond, in a southern direction, and at the time I speak of I believe his camp was between Madison Court- House and the Robertson River. The nearest place to his camp was Madison Court- House. I would not say exactly how far it was, for I do not re~nember very well. Question by General MCDOWELL. Did you not report to General Pope on the 8th of August that heavy forces of the enemy were ad- vanoing through Madison Court-House? Answer. That may be. I do not know if I did. Question by General MCDOWELL. Do you know that General Buford was stationed in Madison Court-House and reported direct to General Pope; that near about the 8th of August heavy forces of the enemy moved upon Madison Court-House in the direction of Sp~rryville? Answer. I know that a brigade of General Bufords was at one time stationed be- yond Madison Court-House, and that this brigade had to be supported, if necessary, by Colonel Cluseret. Whether they were on the 8th at Madison Court-House I do not know. I suppose General Buford reported directly to General Pope on the 8th of August but I do not know. I do not remember that General Buford reported that heavy #orces of the enemy moved upon Madison Court-House in the direction of Sper- ryville Page 159 dEAF. XXIV.] GENEIIAL Rt~PORtS. 159 General McDowell stated he had no more questions to ask on the cross-examination. By the COURT. ilave you information of any matter or thing. not within your personal knowledge, and not testified to by you, tending to show misbehavior or want of proper qualifications in General Mc- Dowell as a general officer, and which information, in your judgment, deserves the consideration of the court 6? If you have such informa- tion will you communicate it in writing to the recorder for the consid- eration of the court and the names of witnesses by whom the facts may be established. Answer. I would like time to consider this question. If there is anything I will communicate it in writing to the court. The witness here asked the court if he had authority to lay before the court such papers as related to the evidence given by him and whether he could correct such portions of his evidence as his papers suggest to him. The court propounded the following question to the witness: Is there any portion of your cross-examination in respect to which you desire to make any explanation 6? If so, you can now make it. Answer. I would like to read over my evidence to-day and will make these expla- nations to-morrow. My explanations will be very short. Capt. ULRIC DAHLGREN additional aide-dc-camp, U. S. Army, a witness, was duly sworn. Question by the COURT. Were you a staff officer on the staff of Gen- eral Sigel during the month of August last 6? Answer. Yes, sir. Question by the COURT. Were you present with General Sigel ou the march of his corps from Gainesville toward Manassas on the 28th day of Angust last 6? Answer. Yes, sir. Question by the COURT. Were you sent by General Sigel with any oral or written message to General McDowell on that march; and, if so, what was that message 6? Answer. I was. General Sigel sent me to General McDowell for more definite in- structions, having previously received orders to halt where he was and form line, with his right resting on the railroad. We were then about a mile on the Manassas Railroad from Gainesville. I went back, aiid found General McDowell about a mile or a mile and a half to the rear of where we theh were. He was then sitting under a tree, with a large map before him. I stated to hini that an aide had just come to Gen- eral Sigel with an order to halt where he was and form line, with his right resting on the railroad, and that General Sigel wished more definite instructions. General Mc- Dowell replied that he had not sent any order to halt nor any order since the one direct- ing him to proceed to Manassas. I then asked, for my own information, so that I could explain it better, at what point at Manassas we should form. General Mc- Dowell replied, Let General Sigel fight his own corps, emphasizing the word fight. As I was about leaving General McDowell added that Gencial Sigel should be particular to take the nearest road to Manassas, showing me on the map a road which went to the right and near the railroad, distinguished from the road which, I helieve, passed hy Milford, to the right and south of Milford, and by Bethlehem Church also. Question by the COURT. What was the manner of General McDowell when he said General Sigel should fight his own corps 6? Answer. I would hardly call it angry; it was somewhat irritated or somewhat in- different as to what might happen to the corps. Question by the COURT. Did you encounter the enemy on that day. and where Page 160 160 OPERATIONS IN N. VA., W. VA., AND MD. [CHAP. XXIV. Answer. We did. Our cavalry were skirmishing and taking prisoners from the time we left Buckland Mills, but the first regular engagement was near Mrs. Henrys farm, as marked on the map. What transpired while I was with General McDowell I do not know. Question by the COURT. In the course of your march toward Ma- nassas did you ascertain where the enemy was iu force? Answer. We did or thought we did. I think our scouts reported they had left Ma- nassas, which report was soon confirmed by General Milroys advance. Question by the COURT. Where were you at that time on your route? Answer. Very near where the road which we were on intersects the road which passes through New Market. Question by the COURT. At what time of day was this? Answer. I am unable to say the exact time of day. It was in the afternoon, about 2 or 3 oclock; I am not certain. Question by the COURT. Which way did you learn that the enemy had moved? Answer. We learned that there was a force near Groveton, and we supposed it was the same which had left Manassas, but I do not know on which road they went, as there were many stragglers in every direction. Question by the COURT. Do you know whether any communication of this movement of the enemy from Manassas toward Groveton was made to General McDowell? Answer. I do not know. I think it was reported to General Pope. Question by General MCDOWELL. Is witness to be understood Gen- eral Sigel formed his line of battle in pursuance of an order which he supposed General McDowell had sent him? Answer. I do not know. I had just come up to General Sigel at the same time that the supposed order was brought from General McDowell. Question by General MCDOWELL. Does witness remember what time of day it was when he left General Sigel to go to General McDowell? Answer. No, sir. Question by General MCDOWELL. Does witness remember what officers were near General McDowell when he reported to him and saw him examining a map? Answer. I do not know or remember the officers. I remember the place very well. The recorder was directed to request the Secretary of War to trans- mit any reports or papers on file showing the forces left for the defense of Washington when General McClellan moved to the Peninsula last spring, and tending to explain the reasons and influences which led to the detention of the corps of General McDowell at that time. The court adjourned to meet to-morrow, December 31, 1862, at 11 oclock a. m. APPENDIX. A. HEADQUARTERS ARMY OF VIRGINIA, August 29, 1862. To Generals IIEINTZELMAN, RENO, and SIGEL If you find yourselves heavily pressed by superior numbers of the enemy you will not push matters further Page 161 CHAP. XXIV.] GENERAL REPORTS. 161 Fitz John Porter and Kings division, of McDowells corps, are mov- ing on Gainesville from Manassas Junction, and will come in on your left. They have about 20,000 men. The command must return to this place to-night or by morning on account of subsistence and forage. JNO. POPE, Major- General, Commanding. THIRTY-FOURTH DAY. CouRT-RooM, COR. FOURTEENTH AND PA. AVENUE, Washington, D. 0., December 31, 1862. * * * * * * A communication from Major-General Sigel, dated Washington, D. C., December 31, 1862, was read by the recorder, and is appended to the proceedings of this day and marked A. The recorder commuiuicated to the court that he had receivea a com- munication from Major-General McClellan, dated New York City, De- cember 21, 1862, with inclosures referred to in his testimony, which in- closures were read by the recorder, and are appended to the record of the pi oceedings of this day, marked B, C, and D, and subject to further verification. The recorder here stated to the court that he had as yet been unable to procure copies of the one hundred letters read by him in evidence on the twenty-second day and of many letters read since; and that, in order to avoid a greater confusion of the record, he would ask that the reading of further correspondence be delayed until copies of said letters be furnished. The court directed the recorder to employ additional assistance in order to complete the correspondence belonging to the back re~rd. Maj. JOSEPH C. WILLARD, additional aide-de-camp, U. S. Volun- teers, a witness, was duly sworn. Question by General MCDOWELL. Were you with General McDowell on the evening of the 27th of August last at Buckland Mills, on the oc- casion of his going to see General ~igel? Answer. I was. Question by General MCDOWELL. What position did you have on General McDowells staff on that occasion I Answer. I was aide-de-camp, with rank of major. Question by General McDowELL. Please state, as nearly as you can recollect, what passed, or the substance of what passed, between Gen- eral McDowell and General Sigel on that occasion, and particularly as to the dispositions of the forces for the next day. Answer. I went with General McDowell to the house that was the headquarters of General Sigel, and I heard General McDowell request General Sigel to go with his troops to Manassas, I think, and that he (General McDowell) would give him (Gen- eral Sigel) one of his divisions. I copied an order which mentioned plainly the place to which General Sigel was to go when General McDowell proposed to give him the division which was to accompany him. Question by General MCDOWELL. What was said about the defense of Thoroughfare Gap I Answer. I think, as near as I can remember, that General McDowell requested Gen- eral Sigel to go with his corps to Thoroughfare Gap. 11. R RVOL Xl Page 162 162 OPERATIONS IN N. VA., W. VA., AND MD. [CHAP. XXIV. Question by General MCDOWELL. Do you recollect if General Mc- Dowell offered for this purpose to give General Sigel a division? Answer. I do, sir. Question by General MCDOWELL. State if you prepared copies of General McDowells General Orders, No. 10, of August 28, 1862, pro- viding for the march of General Sigel and General McDowells corps from Buckland Mills to Manassas Junction. Answer. I did. Question by General MCDOWELL. Was the copy prepared for Gen. eral Sigel a full copy of that order and was it sent to General Sigel? Answer. It was, sir. Question by the COURT. Did General McDowell state that he con- sidered it expedient to send Sigels corps, with a division of his own corps, to the defense of Thoroughfare Gap; and, if ~o, for what reason? Answer. He considered it expedient, I think, because lie considered the enemy as coming through that way. Question by the COURT. Do you know why he did not send the force which he considered it expedient to send? Answer. I do not. Question by the COURT. Do you remember what General Sigel said in reply to the proposal of General McDowell; if so, state it as nearly as you remember? Answer. No; I do not remember. The court adjourned to meet on Monday, January 5,1863, at 11 oclock a. m. APPENDIX. A. WASHINGTON, D. C., Lieutenant.Colonel IPELoUZE, December 31, 1862. Recorder Court of Inquiry: COLONEL: It has been impossible for me to examine all my papers and arrange them for the purpose of laying them before the court or to prepare the statement in answer to the questions submitted to me by the court. I will endeavor to have everything ready before 11 oclock of Friday morning, if this will suit the convenience of the court. Very respectfully, yours, & c., F. SIGEL, Major- General. B. HEADQUARTERS ARMY OF THE PoToMkc, March 16, 1862. Brig. Gen. JAMES S. WADSWORTH, Military Governor of the District of Golumbia: SIR: The command to which you have been assigned by instructions from the President as military governor of the District of Columbi Page 163 CHAP. XXiV.] GENERAL REPORTS. 163 embraces the geographical limits of the District, arid will also include the city of Alexandria, the defensive works south of the Potomac from the Occoquan to Difficult Creek, and the post of Fort Washington I inclose a list of the troops and of the defenses embraced in these limits. General Banks will command at IVianassas Junction, with the divisions of Williams and Shields, composing the Fifth Corps; but you should nevertheless exercise vigilance in your front, carefully guard the ap- proaches in that quarter, and maintain the duties of advanced guards. You will use the same precautions on either flank. All trool)s not actually needed for the police of Washington and Georgetown, for the garrisons north of the Potomac, and for other indi- cated special duties should be moved to the south side of the river. In the center of your front you should post the main body of your troops and proper proportions at suitable distances toward your right and left flanks. Careful patrols will be made, in order thoroughly to scour the country in front from right to left. It is specially enjoined upon you to maintain the forts and their armaments in the best possible order, to look carefully to the instruc- tion and discipline of their garrisons, as well as all other troops under your command, and by frequent and rigid inspections to insure the attainment of these ends. The care of the railways, canals, depots, bridges, and ferries within the above-named limits will devolve upon you, and you are to insure their security and provide for their protection by every means in your power. You will also thoroughly protect the depots of the public stores and the transit of stores to the troops in active service. By means of patrols you will thoroughly scour the neighboring country south of the Eastern Branch, and also on your right, and you will use every possible precaution to intercept mails, goods, an(l persons pass- ing unauthorized to the enemys lines. The necessity of maintaining good order within your limits, and espe- cially in the capital of the nation, cannot be too stroiigly enforced. You will forward and facilitate the movement of all troops des~iued for the active part of the Army of the Potomac, and especially the transit of detachments to their proper regiments and corps. The charge of all new troops arriving in Washington aiid of all troops temporarily there will devolve upon you. You will form them into pro- visional brigades, promote their instruction and discipline, and facilitate their equipment. Report all ariivals of troops, their strength, compo- sition, and equipment by every opportunity. Besides the regular reports and returns which you will be required to render to the Adjutant-General of the Army, you will make to these headquarters a consolidated morning report of your command every Sunday morning and a monthly return on the first day of each month. The foregoing instructions are communicated by command of Major- General McClellan. Very respectfully, your obedient servant, S. WILLIAMS, A8sistant Adjutant- General Page 164 164 OPERATIONS IN N. VA., W. VA., AND MD. [CHAP. XXIV. C. HEADQUARTERS ARMY OF THE POTOMAC, March 16, 1862. Maj. Gen. N. P. BANKS, Commanding F?fth Corps, Army of the Potomac: SIR: You will post your command in the vicinity of Manassas, in- trench yourself strongly, and throw cavalry pickets well out to the front. Your first care will be the rebuilding of the railway from Washing- ton to Manassas and to Strasburg, in order to open your communica- tions with the valley of the Shenandoah. As soon as the Manassa~ Gap Railway is in running order, intrench a brigade of infantry, say four regiments, with two batteries, at or near the point where that rail- way crosses the Shenandoah. Something like two regiments of cavalry should be left in that vicinity to occupy Winchester and thoroughly scour the country south of the railway and up the Shenandoah Valley, as well as through Chester Gap, which might perhaps b& advanta- geously occupied by a detachment of infantry, well intrenched. Block-houses should be built at all the railway bridges. Occupy by grand guards Warrenton Junction or Warrenton itself, and also some still more advanced point on the Orange and Alexandria Railway as soon as the railway bridges are repaired. Great activity should be observed by the cavalry. Besides the two regiments at Manassas, another regiment of cavalry will be at your disposal to scout toward the Occoquan, and probably a fourth toward Leesburg. To recapitulate: The most important points which should engage your attention are as follows: 1st. A strong force well intrenched in the vicinity of Manassas, per- haps even Centreville, and another force (a brigade), also wellintrenched, near Strasburg. 2d. Block-houses at the railway bridges. 3d. Constant employment of cavalry well to the front. 4th. Grand guards at Warrenton, and in advance as far as the Rap- pahannock, if possible. 5th. Great care to be exercised to obtain full and early information as to the enemy. 6th. The general object is to cover the line of the Potomac and Washington. The foregoing is communicated by command of Major-General Mc- Clellan. Very respectfully, your obedient servant, S. WILLIAMS, Assistant Adjutant- General. D. HEADQUARTERS ARMY OF THE POTOMAC, Steamer Commodore, April 1, 1862. Brig. Gen. LORENZO THOMAS, Adjutant-General U. S. Army: GENERAL: I have to request that you will lay the following commu- nication before the honorable Secretary of War: The approximate numbers and positions of the troops left near and in rear of the Potomac are about as follows Page 165 CHAP. XXIV.] GENERAL REPORTS. 165 General Dix has, after guarding the railroads under his charge, suffi- cient troops to give him 5,000 for the defense Qf Baltimore, and 1,988 available for the Eastern Shore, Annapolis, & c. Fort Delaware is very well garrisoned by about 400 men. The garrisons of the forts around Washington amount to 10,600 men; other disposable troops now with General Wadsworth being about 11,400 men. The troops employed in guarding the various railways in Mary- land amount to some 3,359 men. These it is designed to relieve, being old regiments, by dismounted cavalry, and to send forward to Manassas. General Abercrombie occupies Warrenton with a force which, in- cluding Colonel Geary, at White Plains, and the cavalry to be at his disposal, will amount to some 7,780 men, with twelve pieces of artillery. I have the honor to request that all the troops organized for service in Pennsylvania and New York and in any of the Eastern States may be ordered to Washington. I learn from Governor Curtin that there are some 3,500 men now ready in Pennsylvania. This force I should be glad to have sent at once to Manassas. Four thousand ,men from General Wadsworth I desire to he ordered to Mana~sas. These troops, with the railroad guards above alluded to, will make up a force under the command of General Abercrombie to something like 18,639 men. It is my design to push General Blenkers division from Warrenton upon Strasburg. He should remain at Strasburg long enough to allow matters to assume a definite form in that region before proceeding to his ultimate destination. The troops in the valley of the Shenandoah will thusincluding Blenkers division, 10,028 strong, wiLh twenty-four pieces of artillery; Banks Fifth Corps, which embraces the command of General Shields, 19,687 strong, with forty-one guns; some 3,652 disposable cavalry and the railroad guard, about 2,100 menamount to about 35,467 men. It is designed to relieve General Hooker by one regiment, say 850 men, being, with some 500 cavalry, 1,350 men on the Lower Potomac. To recapitulate: At Warrenton there is to be 7,750 At Manassas, say 10,859 In the valley of the Shenandoah 35,467 On the Lower Potomac 1,350 In all 55,456 There would thus be left for the garrisons and the front of Washing- ton, under General Wadsworth, some 18,000 men, exclusive of the bat- teries nuder instructions. The troops organizing or ready for service in New York I learn will probably number wore than 4,000. These should be assembled at Washington, subject to disposition where their services may be most needed. I am, very respectfully, your obedient servant, GEG. B. MCCLELLAN, ILajor- General, Commanding. THIRTY-FIFTH DAY. COURT-ROOM, COR. FOURTEENTH AND PA. AVENUE, Washington, D. 0., January 5, 1863. * * * * * * * The recorder read from the record books pertaining to the Headqua Page 166 166 OPERATIONS IN N. VA., W. VA., AND MD. [Caip. XXIV. ters Department of the iRappahannock the following official corre- spondence, -copies of which are appended to the record of this days proceedings, in the following order: * 1. Maj. Gen. Irvin McDowell to Major-General Banks, dated Headquarters Depart- inent, June 14, 1862, Manassas. 2. Ed. Seliriver, colonel and chief of staff, to Major-General Shields, dated Head- quarters Department of the Rappahannock, Manassas, June 14, 1862. 3. Maj. Gen. Irvin McDowell to Hon. E. M. Stanton, Secretary of War, dated Head- quarters Department of the Rappahannock, Manassas, June 14, 1862. 4. M~or-General McDowell to Hon. E. M. Stanton, dated Manassas, June 14, 1862. 5. Ed. Schriver, colonel and chief of staff, to Major-General Shields, dated Head- quarters Department of the Rappahannock, Manassas, June 14, 1862. 6. Ed. Schriver, colonel and chief of staff, to Brigadier-General Ricketts, dated Headquarters Department of the Rappahannock, Manassas, June 14, 1862. 7. Major-General McDowell to Major-General Banks, dated Headquarters Depart- ment of the Rappahannock, Manassas, June 14, 1862. 8. Major-General McDowell to Hon. E. M. Stanton, dated Washington, D. C., Ma- nassas, June 14, 1862. 9. Irvin McDowell to Major-General Banks, dated Headquarters Department of the Rappahannock, Manassas, June 14, 1862. 10. E. M. Stanton, Secretary of War, to Major-General McDowell, dat& d Washing- ton, June 14, 1862. 11. N. P. Banks, major-general to Ma 14, 1862. , jor- General McDowell, dated Winchester, June 12. General Ricketts, dated Front Royal, June. 1862, communicating a dispatch from Major-General Banks. 13. Col. Ed. Schriver, chief of staff, to Brigadier-General Ricketts, dated Headquar- ters Department of the Rappahaunock, Manassas, June 15, 1862. 14. Col. Ed. Schriver, chief of staff, to Major-General Shields, dated Headquarters Department of the Rappahannock, Manassas, June 155.15 p. m. 15. Col. Ed. Schriver, chief of staff, to Brigadier-General Rh~ketts, dated Head- quarters Department of the Rappahannock, Manassas, June 15, 1862. 16. Col. Ed. Schriver, chief of staff, to Brigadier-General King, dated Headquarters Department of the Rappahannock, Manassas June 15 1862. 17. Colonel Schriver, chief of staff to Briga~dier-Gen~ral Rieketts, dated Headquar- ters Department of the Rappahannock, Manassas, June 1510.30 p. m. 18. Major-General McDowell to His Excellency the President, dated Headquarters Department of the Rappahannock, Manassas, June 15, 1862. 19. Major-General McDowell to Hon. E. M. Stanton, dated Headquarters Depart- ment of the Rappahannoek, Manassas, June 15, 186212.35 p. m. 20. Col. Ed. Sebriver, chief of staff, to Brigadier-General Ricketts, dated Head- quarters Department of the Rappahannock, Manassas, June 15, 18626 p. m. 21. Major-General McDowell to Hon. E. M. Stanton, dated Headquarters Depart- ment of the Rappahannock, Manassas, June 16s a. m. 22. Major-General McDowell to Hon. E. M. Stanton, Secretary of War, dated Ma- nassas, June 16, 18628.15 p. m. 23. Col. Ed. Schriver, chief of staff, to Brigadier-General Ricketts, dated Head- quarters Department of the Rappahannock, Manassas, June 1612.30 p. m. 24. Major-General Shields to Colonel Schriver, chief of staff, dated Headquarters First Division, Luray, June 15, 1862. 25. James Shields, commanding division, to Colonel Schriver, chief of staff; dated Milford, 12 miles from Front Royal, June 16, 1862. 26. Brig. Gen. Rufus King to Major-General McDowell, dated Falmouth, June 2, 1862. 27. Brig. Gen. James B. Ricketts to Col. Ed. Schriver, chief of staff, dated Front Royal, June l(i, 1862. 28. Major-General McDowell to Major-General Banks, dated Manassas, Va., June 17, 186210.45 p in. 29. Col. Ed. Schriver, chief of staff, to Major-General Shields, dated Headquarters Department of the Rappabannock, Manassas, June 17, 1862. 30. Col. Ed. Schriver, chief of staff, to Colonel Sanford, superintendent of the tele- graph, dated Manassas, June 18, 1862. 31. Major-General McDowell to Major-General Banks, dated Headquarters Depart- ment of the Rappahannock, Manassas, June 18, 1862. 32. Col. Ed. Schriver, chief of staff, to Major-General Shields, dated Headquarters Department of the Rappahannock, June 1810.45 p. m. * Omitted from appendix, to anpear in chronological order in Correspondence, etc., Part III Page 167 CHAP. XXIV.J GENERAL REPORTS. 167 33. Colonel Schriver, chief of staff, to Brigadier-General Ricketts, dated Head- quarters Department of the Rappahannock, Manassas, June 18,1862. 34. Major-General McDowell to Hon. E. M. Stanton, dated Headquarters Depart- ment of the Rappahannock, Manassas, June 18, 1862. 35. Maj. Gen. James Shields to Col. Ed. Schriver, dated Front Royal, June 18, 1862. 36. E. M. Stanton, Secretary of War, to Major-General McDowell, dated Washing- ton, June 18, 1862. 37. James Shields, commanding division, to Colonel Schriver, dated Front Royal, June 18,1862. 38. Major-General Shields to Colonel Schriver, chief of staff; dated Front Royal, June 18, 1862. 39. Assistant Secretary of War to Major-General McDowell (containing di~patch from General Banks), dated Washington, June 19, 1862. 40. Major-General Shields to Col. Ed. Schriver, chief of staff; dated Front Royal, June 19, 1862. 41. Ccl. Ed. Sehriver, chief of staff, to Major-General Shields, dated Headquarters Department of the Rappahannock, Manassas, June 1912.45 p. m. 42. Col. Ed. Sehriver, chief of staff, to Hon. E. M. Stanton, dated Manassas, June 198.45 a. m. 43. Colonel Sehriver, chief of staff, to Brigadier-General Shields, dated Headquar- ters Department of the Rappahannock, Manassas, June 195.30 p. in. 44~ Col. E. Schriver, chief of staff; to Brigadier-General Geary, jlated Headquarters Department of the Rappahannock, Manassas, June 196 p. in. 45. Colonel Schriver, chief of staff, to Lieutenant-Colonel Thompson, quartermaster, dated Manassas, June 204.45 p. m. 46. Col. E. Schriver, chief of staff, to General Shields, dated Headquarters Depart- ment of the Rappahannock, Manassas, June 204.45 p. m. 47. Col. Ed. Schriver, chief of staff, to Major-General Shields, dated Manassas, June 2012.30 p. in. 48. Col. E. Sehriver, chief of staff, to Hon. E. M. Stanton, dated Manassas, June 20 12.30 ~ m. 49. Col. E. Schriver, chief of staff, to General Patrick, Catletts, dated Headquar- ters Department of the Rappahannock, Manassas, June 20, 18628.45 a. in. 50. E. M. Stanton, Secretary of War, to Colonel Sebriver, dated Washington, June 20, 1862. 51. E. M. Stanton, Secretary of War (containing dispatch from General Sigel), dated Washington, June 20, 1862. 52. Major-General Shields to ColonelSehriver, dated Front Royal, June 20, 1862. 53. E. M. Stanton, Secretary of War, to Major-General McDowell, dated Washing- ton, June 21, 1862. 54. E. Schriver, chief of staff, to Colonel Haupt, aide-de-cainp, dated Manassas, June 218 a. m. 55. Col. E. Schriver, chief of staff, to Major-General Shields, dated Manassas, June 21, 1862. 56. Major-General McDowell to Hon. E. M. Stant& c, dated Headquarters Depart- ment of the Rappahannock, Manasses, June 2l-~--2 p. m. 57. Col. Ed. Schriver, chicf of staff, to commanding officer Catletts, dated Manas- sas, June 22. 58. Ccl. Ed. Schriver, chief of staff, to Major-General Banks, dated Manassas, June 22, 1862. 59. Major-General McDowell to Hon. E. M. Stanton, Seeretary of War, dated Head- quarters Department of the Rappahannock, Manassas, June 22, 1862. 60. Major-General McDowell to lion. E. M. Stanton, dated Manassas, June 235.30 p.m. 61. Col. E. Schriver, chief of staff, to Brigadier-General Patrick, dated Manassas, June 23, 18~23 p. m. 62. E. M. Stanton, Secretary of War, to Major-General McDowell, dated Washing- ton, June 22, 186212.20 p. in. 63. Major-General Banks to Major-General McDowell, dated Middletown, June , 1.45 p. in. 64. Brigadier-General Geary to Colonel Schriver, dated Rectortown, June 22, 1862. 65. Major-General Shields to Colonel Schriver, dated Salem, June 22, 1862. 66. Brig. Gen. Rufus King to Colonel Schriver, chief of staff, dated Falinouth, June 24, 1862. 67. Brig. Gen. Rufus King to Colonel Schriver, chief of staff, dated Falmouth, June 24, 1862. Major-General McDowell here l)reseI~ted to the coart a copy of the Presidents order, dated Executive Mansion, Washington, D 0., Jun Page 168 168 OPERATIONS IN N. VA., W. VA., AND MD. [CHAP. XXIV. 26, 1862, organizing the Army of Virginia, which copy is appended to the proceedings of this day, marked A. Capt. WLADISLAS LESXI, additional aide-de-camp, U. 5, Army, a witness, was duly sworn. Question by General MCDOWELL. State what was your position on General McDowells stafi~ in August last. State what instructions General McDowell gave you the night of the 27th and 28th of August. State if you saw General McDowell on the morning of the 28th of Au- gust, and what instructions he gave you concerning the movements of troops to hold Longstreet in check at or this side of Thoroughfare Gap. What road did the troops from Buckland Mills take? What regiment was first sent? What did it do? What troops succeeded this regi: meut? What reports did you make? What instructions did you give, Answer. In August last I was aide-de-camp, with rank of captain, on General Mc- Dowells staff. On the night of the 27th and 28th of August, about midnight, I think, General McDowell called me to his tent, where he was with General Reynolds, and explained to me his desire to send troops to Thoroughfare Gap immediately off the road from Warrenton to Buckland Mills; that is, this side of the creek, where General Mc- Dowells troops were; the other side from here. He instructed me to go and find whether it would be practicable to send artillery and inlantry in that direction. Ac- cordinglyl went outside our lines a distance of about 2 miles. I found ihe road pass- able so far, but heyond this, where was the mill, I couldnt find any road by which artillery could be sent. I returned then and reported the facts to the general. I saw General McDowell early on the morning of the 28th and before daylight, when General McDowell sent me to General Sigel for General Bayards cavalry brigade, which was at the time attached to General Sigel. General Sigel stated that he could not spare the cavalry at that time; that it would be impossible for him to advance if he had no cavalry, but that he would send them as soon as possible. He stated at the same time that one regiment of cavalry (the First New Jersey) was somewhat be- yond Buckland Mills, and which regiment General McDowell could use. I reported this to the general, and when we advanced in sight of the cavalryColonel Wynd- hams regimentGeneral McDowell instructed Colonel Wyndham, in my presence, to move immediately to Thoroughfare Gap to get news from the enemy, and at the same time that he, Colonel Wyndham, would be re-enforced by other regiments as soon as practicable. Shortly after that General McDowell sent me also to Thoroughfare Gap with in- 8trnetions to bring as early news as possible about the enemy. I went to Thorough- fare Gap, and found part of the regiment of Colonel Wyndham inside of the Gap. lad- vised the colonelto obstruct the Gap, and he ordered a detachment of men to fell the trees in the Gap, which was done. We rode (the colonel and myself) then to see the picket line, and send some scouts forward to see whether the. enemy was advancing. Several prisoners were taken during the time in the Gap, from whom I ascertained Longstrect had been during the night at Salem, and was expected to pass the Gap during the day. About 9.30 a. m. the scouts came back, stating the advance of the enemy was coming near to the Gap; and on the receipt of it I immediately sent the news to General Mc- Dowell. Soon afterward I returned to the general. When on the road I met Gen- eral Bayard, coming with other regiments of cavalry, informing him of the condition of things and that the enemy was showing himself also on our right; that is, north of Hay Market. On my return to General McDowell I informed him of the topography of the country, for which information I was sent; and the general instructed me to go back to Gen- eral l~mcketts, who got orders to defend the Gap. I met General Rickctts troops cross- ing I lirough the country from the Buckland Mills road to Hay Market. The troops advanced rather slowly, being an excessively hot day. I met General Ricketts near Hay Market, who concluded to go to the Gap, sending first a regiment of ca~ airy in advance, no enemy having shown himself yet this side of the Gap. The Harris Light Cavalry engaged first with the enemy in the Gap, who seemed to be removing the ob- structions made for them. Soon after the infantry and artillery of General Ricketts engaged the enemy; and, as much as I remember, the Eleventh Pennsylvania Regi- merit was mostly in the fight. While the engagement was going on I returned to General Bayard, at Hay Market, with the desire that he should push his cavalry to the right. The enemy then ad- vanced with rather a strong force of cavalry upon Hay Market from the north. Th Page 169 CHAP. XXIV.] GENERAL REPORTS. 169 skirmishing was going on for some time, and as there was danger of our being cut off from the remaining portion of General McDowells troops, or losing communication with them, General Bayard sent a detachment of cavalry to picket the Gainesville road beyond Gainesville. This was about 3 or 1 oclock in the afternoon. The cavalry of the enemy being still re-enforced on the north, General Bayard de- sired me to find General Buford, who was on the south of us, on onr left, to send him a regiment of cavalry to support him at Hay Market, and on my return I was again sent to General Ricketts for a couple [of] light pieces for a battery to take position on the heights at Hay Market. I remained with General Ricketts some time; it ~vas get- ting toward dark, when General Ricketts stated that he would retire with his infantry and artillery to the high position between Hay Market and Gainesville, as he found it, so he said, too dangerous to remain near the Gap, whilst he received reports from the Harris Light Cavalry that the enemy was crossing Hopewell, and also on th& left. General Ricketts desired that the cavalry should cover the retreat of his infantry from the Gap to Hay Market. The retreat was finished, I should think, about 9 oclock p. in.; that is about the time the rear of the infantry reached Hay Market. The division took position for the night between Hay Market and Gainesville. The court adjourr~d to meet to-morrow, January 6,1863, at 11 oclock a. m. APPENDIX. A. EXECUTIVE MANSION, Washington, D. 0., June 26, 1862. Ordered: I. The forces under Major-Generals Fr~mout, Banks, and McDowell, including the troops now under Brigadier-General Sturgis at Washing- ton shall be consolidated and form one army, to be called the Army. of Virginia. IL. The command of the Army of Virginia is specially assigned to Maj. Gen. John Pope as commanding general. The ifoops of the Mountain Department, heretofore under the command of Major-General Fr6:nont, shall constitute the First Army Corps, under command of Major-Gen- eral Fr~mont; the troops of the Shenandoah Department, now under General Banks, shall constitute the Second Army Corps, and be com- manded by him; the troops under the command of General McDowell, except those within the city of Washington, shall form the Third Army Corps, and be under his command. A. LINCOLN. LORENZO THOMAS, Adjutant- General. THIRTY-SIXTH DAY. COURT-ROOM, Cou. FOURTEENTH ST. AND PA. AVENUE, Washington, D. 0., January 6, 1863. The court met pursuant to adjournment. Present, * * * , and Capt. WLADISLAS LESKI, additional aide-de-camp, U. S. Army, the wititess under examination. * * * * * * * Question by the COURT. What is the distance through Thoroughfare Gap ~? Answer. It is said to be about 4 miles from the foot of the east to the foot of the west of the mountain Page 170 170 OPERATIONS IN N. VA., XV. VA., AND MD. [CHAP. XXIV. Question by the COURT. Describe the passage, its width, and char- acter of natural obstructions in it. Answer. There are properly two gapsone near the eastern portion of the mount- ain and the other toward the western portion. Between the two is a more open space, although with heavy embaakments on the side. The eastern part of the Gap is rather narrow, with very steep embankments. The land on both sides is wooded. From the eastern gap it opens toward the east sufficiently to ~post batteries so as to defend the d~bouch6of the Gap. This is about half a mile inthe mountain from the base of the mountain. So much as I recollect, the land on both sides of the Gap is too steep or too accidental for troops to cross. Question by the COURT. What was the whole strength of the force under General Ricketts at the Gap and how far did he penetrate it with his force ~ Answer. I could not state positively the numerical strength of General Ricketts force. He had four brigades of infantry, which amounted to at least ~, VOO; besides he had about six batteries. Some of the batteries were broken~ that is, had lost a piece or so. I could not judge well how far they peue~rated insi~de the Gap, but I know they were fighting in the defile. I was not with the advance. Question by the COURT. Was General IRicketts driven ~back before he concluded to retreat to Hay Market? Answer. No, sir. Question by the COURT. What was the description of rebel troops which approached Hay Market from the direction of Hopewell Gap? Answer. I saw only cavalry, but the reports which were received from the Harris Light Cavalry were that large masses of troops were debouching through the Gap. Question by the COURT. Was any communication made to General McDowell of the approach of these masses through the Hopewell Gap? Answer. A report was sent to General McDowell stating that General Ricketts con- cluded to retire to Hay ~farket on account of his believing himself surrounded by the enemy. I believe that General Ricketts sent a similar report to General McDowell. These are the only commu?iication~ sent to General McDowell of which I have knowl- edge. Question by the COURT. What measures, if any, were taken by Gen- eral McDowell to prevent the approach of the enemy through Hopewell Gap except sending General Ricketts to operate as you have already described ~ Answer. I do not know of any other measures taken by General McDowell, except the sending of Ricketts division and the two brigades of cavalry to defend the line. These regiments had not only to defend the Gap itself, but also small passes through which cavalry might pass. Question by General MCDOWELL. About what hour were these re- ports sent to which you referof troops coming through ilopewell Gap? Answer. About 6 oc{ock p. in.; maybe a little later. Question by General MCDOWELL. From the nature of the defile of Thoroughfare Gap, which would have been the better disposition of the forceto have placed them in the defile where the front could have been no wider than the enemys front or to have placed them so as to pro- vent the enemy from debouching from the defile by concentrating the fire of a wide front on the opening? Answer. From the hasty survey that I made of the ground I should judge that hay- ing sufficient artillery, as in this case, it was far better to prevent the debouching of troops from the Gap than to post the artillery in a narrow defile. The court was cleared. The court was opened. The ~ourt adjourned to meet to-morrow, January 7, 1863, at 11 oclock a. m Page 171 C~. XXIV.] GENERAL REPORTS. 171 THIRTY-SEVENTH DAY. COURT-ROoM, COR. FOURTEENTH ST. AND PA. AVE., Washington, D. 0., January 7, 1863. * * * * * * * The court was cleared. The court was opened and the following announced: The court has received the communication of General Sigel in response to their request for information, wherein he states that he has nothing additional to the evidence already given that he thinks essential to lay before the court. Although the communication cannot be used as evidence, the court desires the recorder to retain it until the conclusion of this investigation for reference, if it shall become important for that purpose. Maj. Gen. FRANZ SIGEL, U. S. Volunteers, a witness, was recalled. Question by the COURT. Look at the papers now shown to you, marked, respectively, No. 1, No. 8, No. 15, No. 16, No. 17, No. 18, No. 19, No. 20, No. 21. Are these papers the original orders or communi- cations, or true copies of them, referred to in your testimony? Answer. They are. The papers were then read as follows: 1. Fr9szn Cluseret, commanding expedition, to Major-General Sigel, dated Criglers- yule, August 7, 1862. 2. From Maj. R. 0. Seifridge, being general orders, dated Headquarters Army of Virginia, Warrenton, August 25, 1862. 3. From Maj. Gen. Irvin McDowell to Major-General Sigel, dated Headquarters Third Corps, Army of Virginia, near Warrenton, August 26, 1862. 4. From Major-General McDowell to Major-General Sigel, dated Headquarters Third Corps, Army of Virginia, Warrenton, August 26, 1862. 5. From Col. Ed. Schriver, chief of staff, to Major-General Sigel, dated Headquarters Third Corps, Army of Virginia, Warrenton, August 27, 18627.30 a. in. 6. From S. F. Barstow, assistant adjutant-general, dated 11.30 p. in., Headquarters Third Army Corps, Buckland Mills, August 27, 1862. 7. From Major-General Sigel to Brigadier-General Schenck, dated Headquarters First Corps, Army of Virginia, August ~8, 18622.30 p. m. 8. From C. Heintz, officer of the general staff, to Major-General Sigel, dated Au- gust 28, 1862. 9. From Captain Heintz, aide-dc-camp, to Major-General Sigel, dated August 28, 1862. The witness stated that the two communications from Captain lleintz were originally in German and that the copies read are true traiisla- tions. The foregoing papers are appended to the proceedings of this day in the order in which they were read. Question by the COURT. Look at the four maps now shown to you. State whether those maps indicate the localities and position of the troops referred to in your testimony of operations from the 27th to the 30th of August. Answer. The maps marked 3 and 4 can only be approximately correct. In the map marked 2 General Scheneks division should be somewhat to the left, and the di~~ance between the divisions of Schurz and Schenek is a little too near; but in general the map marked 2 is correct. The map niarked 1 represents the position of the different corps as intended by the order of General Pope ou the 25th of August. The maps referred to in the foregoing ~re appended to the proceedings of this day, and iiiarked 1, 2, 3, and 4 Page 172 172 OPERATIONS IN N. VA., W. VA., AND MD. [CHAP. XXIV. Question by General MCDOWELL. From what survey or what map was map No. 1 taken? Answer. It is not a copy of a map; it is made from Lloyds map and General Mc- Dowells map, by my directions, and executed by Lieutenant-Colonel Meysenberg. I think he also used a pbotographic map which was lying on the table, but am not sure. Question by General MCDOWELL. State wherein map No. 3is correct and wherein only approximately so. Answer. This plan relates to the supposed position of the enemy, as indicated in the order of General Pope, and the troops drawn up north of the railroad have, therefore, not been in this position. In regard to the troops between Buckland Mills and Gaines- ville, my corps and that of General McDowell are represented correctly in regard to the order they followed each other. According to order No. 10, Generals Renos and Heintzelmans troops are supposed to be on march from Greenwich and Bristoe to Manassas Junction. Question by General MCDOWELL. On what authority do you plaoe the enemy in the position marked as being where you say General Popes order supposed him to be? Answer. In the order of General Pope it was said, according to my remembrance, that the enemy must be somewhere between Manassas Junction and Gainesville. Question by General MCDOWELL. Would then any other place be- tween Manassas Junction and Gainesville be as correct as the one you have assumed? Answer. No, I think not. I think that the enemy could have probably been on the road from Manassas Junction to Gainesvilleon his march to Gainesville. Questi6n by General MCDOWELL. What conditions as to the time of marchingtime of startingof the enemys troops and our own have you assumed that would place the forces in the supposed position I Answer. The drawing relates to the order of General Pope, and not to what I have proposed or supposed, and therefore the question cannot relate to me. It relates to General Pope. Question by General MCDOWELL. What knowledge had you or have you as to General Popes supposition of the enemys position, and on which he (General Pope) based his order? Answer. The troops of General Heintzelman, under General Hooker, had a skirmish with the enemy ora fight on the 27th, and probably he thought that the enemy would try to retreat to Gainesville to nnite with General Longstreet. I had no knowledge of what General Pope might have surely known of the enemyunder what supposi- tion he has actedexcept what is written in his words. The court took a recess of five minutes. Question by General MCDOWELL. Do I understand the witness that he has deduc~d this supposed position of the enemy and his own and General McDowells corps from the orders he received from General McDowell and the one he may have seen to General McDowell frOm General Pope for his march from Buckland Mills ~? Answer. I deduced this supposed position from the order of General Pope, which I may have seen, and which I saw during the investigation. Question by General MCDOWELL. From what map or survey are your maps Kos. 1, 2, 3, and 4 compiled? Answer. I really do not know what maps Lieutenant-Colonel Meyseuberg has used, and I was not particular in regard to the details of these maps. Question by General MCDOWELL. Wherein is map No.4 correct an Page 173 CHAP. XXIV.] GENERAL REPORTS. 173 wherein approximately so, as to positions, routes, & c., of the enemy or of our own troops? Answer. I have already given an explanation in regard to this map No.4. In addi- tion to it I may state that the position of my corps as iven on the map is pretty much correct. Jacksons position seems to be also correct. Now, in comparing the two maps, I find that it is impossible to make a detailed explanation. To do this I should have to make another map. This map should only represent a general idea and the move- ments in general and not in detail. Question by General MCDOWELL. When did you learn of the posi- tion of Jackson that you have marked on the map? Answer. I already stated that this question, bearing to the details, I can only answer on reference to a better map. At daybreak on the morning of the 28th one of my scouts reported to me about the enemys train between Manassas ,Jnnction and Fairfax. It was between 6 and 7 on the morning of the 28th when we fonnd the enemys pickets on the road to Groveton. It was abont 10 oclock when the officer, Captain Heintz, sent me his dispatches, and it was at noon that I received news that the enemy was not at Manassas Junction. I forgot to say that I found myself the wood in my front occupied by pickets for at least half of a mile, which indicated to me that a large force must be behind. This was before noon, when I first formed tow~rd the north. They were infantry. I will also mention the report of Major Kappuer, my engineer officer, who saw the enemys infantry moving, and reported this to me at the same time mentioned. Question by General MCDOWELL. Did you report to General Mc- Dowell or Pope that Jackson occupied the position indicated on the map; if so, when? Answer. I reported to General McDowell on the morning of the 28th that the enemy was before me, and told the officer to explain to General McDowell where he was; it was the same position nearly as given on ihe map. I also made a report to General Pope on the evening of the 28th, when I was engaged with the enemy, and told Gen- eral Pope, by Captain Kanish, what was our position. This was after I had arrived with the whole corps at Mrs. Henrys farm and taken possession of the tnrnpike be- tween the stone bridge and Groveton, at Mr. Robinsons farm. The whole army of Jackson at that time must have been betweeu Robinsons farm and Groveton. I thought General Pope knew where the enemy was when I sent to him at Manassas Junction. The court adjourned to meet to.morrow, January 8,1863, at 11 oclock a. in. APPENDIX. No. 1. CRIGLERSYILLE, August 7, 1862. Major-General SIGEL: GENERAL: Captain Kennedy has just returned from an expedition along the Rapidan. He brings the following news: Mr. Hood, who has had charge of General Banks farm for thirteen years, a Union man, being near Woiftown, and having just returned fiom down the Rapidan, informed him that Jackson would leave to-mor- row morning with 25,000 men toward Cnlpeper, his first point. He pro. posed from that place to make the whole tour, probably by Woodville and Sperryville. This informatidn comes from the inhabitants of Rug- gles, a town 8 or 10 miles from Wolftown, on the Rapidan, the inhabit- ants having told Mr. Hood so. There are about 300 men at Ruggles. I will send you to-morrow the report of Captain Kennedy, who brings some horses and some 30 head of cattle. He did not take the mail nor meet Captain Whites co Page 174 174 OPERATIONS IN N. VA., W. VA., AND MD. [CHAP. XXIV. pany, as we hoped. He crossed the IRapidan some miles and got within 2 miles of Stanardsv.ille. I shall send immediately scouts in all directions to ascertain whether there is any evidence of a movement. In case I find ~t so, I shall take measures to fall upon Jacksons rear guard and cut off his train. Very respectfully, your obedient servant, CLUSERET, Colonel, Commanding Expedition. No. 2. GENERAL ORDERS, ~ HEADQUARTERS ARMY OF VIRGINIA, No. . Warrenton, August 25, 1862. I. The corps of Major-General McDowell, to which the division of Brigadier-General Reynolds is attached, will occupy Warrenton, with an advance of at least a brigade thrown out toward Waterloo and Sul- phur Springs. The cavalry of the corps will be kept aloi~g the line of the river. II. The First Army Corps, under Major-General Sigel, will occupy Fayetteville, and will there be joined by Brigadier-General Cox, whose advance has reached Warrenton Junction. Major-General Sigel will occupy some strong position in the vicinity of Fayetteville, throwing out an advance of at least a brigade toward the fords in front of his position and keeping his cavalry along the line of the river. III. The corps of Major-General Banks, to which will be added 10,000 men under Brigadier-General Sturgis, will take post with its right resting on BeaJeton Station and its left extended along the north side of Marsh Creek; from this corps at least one division will be pushed forward as near as practicable to the railroad crossing of the Rappahannock. If there be any difficulty about water for this corps wells will be dug immediately. IV. The detachment of the Ninth Army Corps, under Major-General Reno, will resume its statioii at Kellys Ford, putting itself in commu- nication immediately with the forces below it on the river. V. The troops of Heintzelmaus corps will take post with the center at Germantown and extended along the Licking River. VI. Brigadier-General Cox, with the troops under his command, will move forward as soon as possible to Fayetteville and report to Major- General Sigel. Those under Brigadier-General Sturgis will report to Major-General Banks at Bealeton Station. VII. The Headquarters of the Army of Virginia will be established at a point near Warrenton Junction to be hereafter designated. By command of Major-General Pope: II. 0. SELFRIDGE, Assistant Adjutant- General. No. 3. HEADQUARTERS THIRD CORPS, ARMY OF VIRGINIA, Near Warrenton, August 26, .1862. Major-General SIGEL, & c.: GENERAL: I am instructed by Major-General Pope to take command of the right- and front, for the purpose of strengthening some move- ments I am ordered to make. Please let me know the position and strength of your command, and especially of the cavalry Page 175 Cx& p. XXIV.J GENERAL REPORTS. 175 My headquarters are on the bill southwest of Warrenton, on Sulphur Springs road. Very respectfully, general, your obedient servant, IRVIN McDOWELL, Maj. Gen., Commanding Third Corps, Army of Virginia. No.4. HEADQUARTERS THIRD Cours, ARMY OF VIRGINIA Warrenton, August 26, 1862. Major-General SIGEL, & c.: GENERAL: I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your corn- munication of this date, and I beg now to inquire whether the strength reported by you is effective and reliable. Please inform me also who commands your cavalry. Have three days rations cooked and your men prepared in every way for the march early tomorrow morning. Very respectfully, general, your obedient servant, IRVIN McDOWELL, Maj. Gen., Commanding Third Corps, Army of Virginia. No. 5. HEADQUARTERS THIRD Coups, Aui~rv OF VIRGINIA, Warrenton, August 27, 18627.30 a. m. Major-General SIGEL: Push immediately a strong advance along the turnpike from War- renton to Gainesville, for the purpose of taking possession of the posi- tion of Buckland Mills, ou Broad Run, and get your corps in hand as soon as possible to follow this advance. No wagons but for ammuni- tion will accompany your corps on this road. Your baggage traiiis will immediately proceed to Catletts. Detach three batteries from your troops to report to Major-General Kearny, commanding divis- ions, who will be moving by the way of Greenwich to your support. Further instructions.will be given as to the route by which these batteries are to join General Kearny; until they do they will be kept with your command. By command of Major-General McDowell: ED. SCHBIVER, Colonel and Chief of Staff. No. 6. HEADQUARTERS THIRD ARMY Coups, Buckland Mills, August 27, 186211.30 p. m. It being understood that a large division of the enemy under Long- street left Salem at 4 p. m. for the enemys position in the direction of Manassas, through Thoroughfare Gap, and is now on the march, the following preliminary movements of the left wing of the army will be immediately made: Major-General Sigels corps will without delay be concentrated at or near Hay Market and Gainesville. A division of the Third Corps will be left at Buckland Mills to operate against the flank of the enemys column or march to Hay Market, as shall be found most expedient. Kings and Ricketts divisions will march to Gainesville, and start at .2 oclock in the morning to attac Page 176 176 OPERATIONS IN N. VA., W. VA., AND MD. [Ca& r. XXIV. the enemys position in the direction of Manassas. This attack will be supported nnder the provision of the general orders from Headquarters of the Army of Virginia, by the command of Major-General Heintzel- man, now at Gainesville,* and which wAl be on the right of the attack. By command of Major-General McDowell: S. F. BABSTOW, Assistant Adjutant-General. No. 7. HEADQUARTERS FIRST CORPS, ARMY OF VIRGINIA, August 28, 18622.30 a. m. [Brigadier-General SCHENCE:] GENERAL: Put your division in motion immediately, and take posi- lion behind and near the left wing of Schurz by battalion in mass. No signals to be given and no noise made. F. SIGEL, iliafor-General. No. 8. (Dispatch of C. Heintz, aide-do-camp, on the morning of the 28th of AugueL.] On a hill, at a distance of about 2 miles, alongside of the Centreville road, is a large train which might be captured, perhaps, if attacked by a strong force of cavalry, by taking a by.road through the woods. If the general should wish to convince himself:, I think it would prove of importance. C. HEJNTZ, Officer of the General Staff. No. 9. AUGUST 28, 1862a. m. Major-General SIGEL: The enemy has placed four pieces in position in front of the woods against McDowells advancing column; is firing against him, and has sent ns five shots already. McDowells firing is very slow and has ceased now, entirely. Large bodies of troops do not move, the infantry appearing only to support the batteries. The enemy is retreating on the Centreville road. Gen- eral Stein wehr is here. He is of my opinion, that the enemy does not intend to break through. His train has gone farther into the woods, and is but little to be seen. General Von Steinwehr intends to attack the enemys flank with the brigade, and is preparing for the advance. I shall follow with the cavalry on his right, and shall post orderlies to facilitate the rapid sending of dispatches. The commander of McDowells division has been informed of our movements. C. HEJNTZ, Officer of the General Staff. the rough draught of this order, furnished by General McDowell, Greenwich is given and not Gainesville Page 177 Ow. XXIV.] GENERAL REPORTS. W~ I. 12 R RVOL XII 177 rA7v~9~7wn4ytrofy& %. 4.rindor~~fu125jZ~%6 Page 178 OPERATIONS IN N. VA., W. VA., AND MD. [ON.& P. XXIV. N~2.. 178 YOq?iOflr~veiPa7,?4, Onke4nornir?6v Ae-~99 M. fa~y Sc7n~. 4~bvr. ~ .9., I ?~/AC7 fPtC~~Z~ ti Page 179 GENERAL REPORTS. N~ 3. CRAP. XXIY.J 179 ~w2d~a~4gt$~ t~2.4. R. ~ 9u~r42dt*~. S~9ee Page 180 180 OPERATIONS IN N. VK, W. VA., AND MD. [CHAP. XXIV. THIRTY-EIGHTh DAY. COURT-ROOM, CoB. FOURTEENTH ST. AND PA. AVENUE, Washington, D. 0., January 8, 1863. The court met pursuant to adjournment. Present, * * * , and Maj. Gen. FR~z SIGEL, U. S. Volunteers, the witness under exami- nation. * * * * * * * Major-General McDowell stated that he had no more questions to ask this witness. The court had no more questions to ask this witness. Capt. FRANKLIN HAVEN, additional aide-de-camp, U. S. Army, a wit- ness, was duly sworn. Question by General MCDOWELL. Were you with General McDowell on the 28th of August last; and,if so, in what position? Answer. I was; as captain and aide-de-camp. Question by General MCDOWELL. Did General McDowell send you to General Sigel at Gainesville on that morning? What message did you carry and what was General Sigels answer? Answer. General McDowell explained to me that General Sigel was to cross the rail- road at Gainesville, then tnrn to the right and march along the railroad to Manassas, and told me to go forward and see if General Sigel was so doing. I found General Sigel at Gainesville, near where the four roads meet. He said to me he would go on a little farther, a few hundred yards beyond the railroad, because the road made an angle with the railroad, and would then turn off to the right. I made known to Gen- eral Sigel the message upon which I was sent. Question by General MCDOWELL. What seemed to be understood by General Sigel as to the route he was to pursue to Manassas with respect to the Manassas Railroad? Answer. That after crossing the railroad from the south side to the north side he was to march by the side of the railroad to Manassas. Question by GeneraVMcDOWELL. Were you with General McDowell on the forenoon or about noon of the 28th of August, when he was sitting under a tree examining a map and when an aide came to him from General Sigel? What remarks did you hear General McDowell make to General Sigels aide and what was his manner I Answer. I was. Two aides came that morning, the first one saying that he was go- ing to General Sigel, and wanting to know if General McDowell had any order to send. General McDowell said, No; General Sigel is to march witlihisright on the railroad, nothing further. I knew neither of the aides, but the first one did not speak English well, and shortly after the first one had left a second aide came and asked, Did Gen- eral McDowell send an order for General Sigel to go to the right of the railroad? General McDowell replied emphatically, No; he is to go with his right on the road. The aide then asked some other questions and one about minute details, at which General McDowell said, Let General Sigel fight his own corps, in a manner indica- tive of surprise at the question. Question by General MCDOWELL. In going forward from General Mc- IDowell to General Sigel, as referred to by you, in what order did you find the troops in advance of General McDowell I Answer. Many of the regiments were standing in the road; some of the men cook- ing under the trees at the side, and some of the regiments were in the field on each side of the road, resting, lying down, & c. The head of the column was just moving. Question by General MCDOWELL. Do you know if an order was given by General McDowell prohibiting any wagons, except for ammunition, to be taktln on the road on the occasion of the march from Warrenton? Page 181 CHAP. XXIV.] GENERAL REPORTS. 181 Answer. I did not know that that order had been issued. Question by General MCDowELL. Do you know if there were any baggage wagons taken on the road which General McDowell caused to be turned off the road to facilitate the advance of the Third Corps? Answer. There were a great many baggage wagons turned off the road by order of General McDowell as they passed the place where he stood, so that the Third Army Corps might follow right after the troops on the advance. Question by General MCDOWELL. Did you on the night of the 25th or morning of the 26th carry any orders to General Sigel; if so, where did you find General Sigel? Answer. I did, on the morning of the 26th. I found him about 2 oclock between 3 and 4 miles from Warrenton, retreating toward Warrenton; that is, about half way between Warrenton and Waterloo Bridge. The court had no questions to ask this witness. Col. EDMUND SCHRIVER, aide.de-camp, a witness, was recalled. Question by General McDOWELL. On the occasion of the march of General McDowells troops from Buckland Mills what word was sent back to you from General Reynolds as to the cause of the column not moving? Answer. General Sigels corps was stopping at Gainesville. He was making no prep- aration to advance or to organize or form his line, and that his men were stopping, building fires to cook their breakfast, and blocking up the way, so that his division could not get forward. Question by General MCDOWELL. Who was sent forward by General McDowell on this occasion in consequence of this message? Answer. Major Barstow, assistant adjutant-general. Question by General MCDOWELL. Was the order given to General Sigel, to send no wagons but for ammunition with his corps on the road from Warrenton to Buckland Mills on the 27th of August complied with; if not, to what extent and was there any embarrassment cauced to the march of the Third Corps by these wagons? Answer. No. A large number of baggage wagons, understood to be General Sigels, were on the road, embarrassing and indeed stopping the march of troops. The court had iio questions to ask this witness at this time. Maj. S. F. BARSTOW, assistant adjutant-general, U. S. Volunteers, a witness, was duly sworn. Question by General MCDOWELL. Were you sent with an order to General Sigel on the morning of the 28th of August? What was that order? Where did you start from? Where did you find General Sigel? In what state were his troops? What did General Sigel say on its delivery? Answer. I was sent with an order to General Sigel on the morning of the 28th. We moved out from Buckland Mills on the 28th August before day (General McDowell and staff) and halted by the side of the road; we found a great many wagons of a train which ought not to have been there. The question was asked if they were am- munition wagons, and the answer was No, they were not. All wagons were or- dered to turn out except ammunition wagons. While we were engaged on that duty General McDowell called me to him and said I must ride on, find General Sigel, and order him to move on and clear the road. I rode on, and found General Sigel about a mile beyond Gainesville at a quarter past S. I rode up to him and told him that General McDowells orders were that he should move at once on Manassas Junction. He asked where was General McDowell. I said we were in close celumn behind him, and when he (General Sigel) halted he halted th Page 182 182 OPERATIONS IN N. VA., W. VA., AND MD. [Cxw. XXIV. column 4 miles back. He then said, Gentlemen, forward; move, or words to that effect, to the gentlemen around himto his staff, I presume. The men along the line had pretty generally fallen out; some regiments were in columns. The road was so blocked up that I could not keep the road, but rode in the woods on either side, where I saw the men lying down, halting and resting. Question by the COURT. Were you with General McDowell during the 28th, 29th, and 30th of August, and the intermediate nights I Answer. Iwas. Question by the COURT. How early in the day of the 28th did the head of General McDowells corps reach Gainesville? Answer. I do not know. When I returned I found General McDowell making a reconnaissance toward Centreville. Shortly after we were being badly shelled. This was about 8.30 oclock in the morning. Question by the COURT. Where did General McDowell go from that position toward Centreville, where you were badly shelled? Answer. Moved off to the right toward Manassas Gap Railroad. Question by the COURT. From what direction were the shells thrown? Answer. From the left of Warrenton pike. We were about a mile on the Centre- vile road from Gainesville. The pieces of shell were thrown about a mile from the Centreville road. Question by the COURT. What was the force of the enemy in the direction from which the shells were thrown? Answer. I have no means whatever of judging. Question by the COURT. Were any measures taken by General Mc- Dowell to ascertain what that force was? Answer. He did not communicate with me on the subject. I have no knowledge. I wontd wish to say at that time I was suffering from fever and ague, and General Mc- Dowell would not probably order me on that kind of duty to ascertain what their force was. Question by the COURT. After passing toward the Manassas Rail. road where did General McDowell go? Answer. He remained, as nearly as I can remember, within 2 miles east of Warren- ton pike. Question by the COURT. Where was his corps at that time and what was he doing? Answer. During the short period of time that I was with him he was dismounted, sitting under a tree, receiving and sending dispatches. I do not know where his corps was; I was not with it. Question by the COURT. When he left that position where did he go? Answer. He moved still farther in the direction of Manassas Station, where we joined General King. Question by the COURT. Did you cross the railroad before you joined General King? Answer. I do not remember. Question by the COURT. Where was General Sigels corps when you joined General King? Answer. I do not know of my own knowledge. Question by the COURT. At what time did you join General King and where did General McDowell proceed farther Page 183 CHAP. XXIV.) GENERAL REPORTS. 183 Answer. As nearly as I remember we joined General King early in the afternoon of the 28th, and, I think, about two hours after General McDowell started for Manassas Junction. Question by the COURT. Where was General Kings diyision when you joined him and where was General Reynolds division? Answer. I do not know of my own knowledge where either of them were. Question by the COURT. Was General King separated from his di- vision? Answer. I presume his division was with him; 1 cannot say from my own knowl- edge. I presume was moving with his troops to Manassas Junction. Question by lie COURT. At what time did General McDowell reach Manassas Junction? Answer. I was left behind to see to the disposal of some prisoners. I did not start with General McDowell. I did not see him again that night. I remained that night at the Weir house, near Manassas Station. Question by the COURT. Did you have any information as to where General McDowell had gone when you arrived at Manassas Station? Answer. I did not. Question by the COURT. Did you have any information as to the position of Kings and Reynolds divisions at the time you left the Cen. trevilie road, in the forenoon, when you were shelled? Answer. I did not. Question by the COURT. What prisoners were they with whom you remained after you were separated from General McDowell? Answer. The principal prisoner was a captain of infantry. A number of prisoners were bronght in just as General McDowell was preparing to leave. Question by the COURT. Did -General McDowell make any inquiry of those prisoners, or any of them, in respect to the direction take by Jackson? Answer. He examined the prisoners as to the position of the enemy. Question by the COURT. What did he learn from them on that sub. ject? Answer. I do not remember; I dont think I heard the whole examination. Question by the COURT. Did you encounter any enemy on the march that day except at the point where you were shelled on the Centreville road? Answer. No, sir. Question by the COURT. When and where did you next see General McDowell after reaching Manassas? Answer. At the Weir house, as near as I can remember, which is marked on the map. Question by the COURT. Where were his troops that~ morning at the time you met him? Answer. I dont remember exactly. In regard to Kings division, my impression is that it was near Manassas Railroad, about 2 miles from Manassas Station, toward Bristoc. I do not know this, as I was not with the troops, and merely state it as my impression. Question by the COURT. At what time did General McDowell leave the Weir house, and where did he go? Answer. He left it about 10 in the morning, as near as I can remember. He went toward Bull Run Page 184 184 OPERATIONS IN N. VA., W. VA., AND MD. (CHAP. XXIV. Question by the COURT. Did you go with him during the 27th? Answer. I was not in his immediate company but a portion of the time. Question by the COURT. When, so far as you have knowledge, did he first come in presence of his corps on that day? Answer. I dont remember whether General McDowell was present with some of the staff on the hill opposite the rebel position when the battle was going on or whether he was with General Pope. I dont remember any particular place that I saw him nntil after the battle of the 29th. I remember one of his staff asking me if I thought the men had better cheer as they charged up the hill. I said I thought they had bet- ter. Whether General McDowell was there or not I cannot eay; there was so much confusion. Question by the COURT. When do you remember of first seeing Gen- eral McDowell after the battle? Answer. I was lying on the gram beside General Pope when General McDowell came up. It was near the hospital and just after darkjust after having charged the en- emys batteries and carried them. We remained there all night. Question by the COURT. What troops of General McDowell were engaged in the battle of the 28th, to which you refer? Answer. I cant state. I have stated before that I was ill, as my reason for not knowing more. Question by the COURT. Can you give any information or. reason why the troops of General McDowell were marched away from the direction of the Centreville road after it was ascertained by the shells thrown at you in the morning that the enemy was in that direction? Answer. Only that they may have moved to take up a better position. Question by the COURT. Was General Pope present with General McDowell when the latter, as described by you, was seated under a tree sending and receiving dispatches? Answer. He was not. Question by the COURT. Had you any information on the 28th that General Sigel, shortly after commencing his march, had discovered a long line of the enemys pickets? Answer. I never heard of it until testified to before the court. Brig. Gen. BENJAMIN S. ROBERTS, U. S. Volunteers, a witness, was duly sworn. Question by the COURT. What was your position on General Popes staff in the late campaign in Virginia? Answer. In the early part of the campaign I was chief of cavalry of that army; the latter part of it I was inspector-general. Question by General MCDOWELL. What do you know of the orders of General Pope to General Banks relative to the battle of Cedar Mountain, August 9, 1862? Answer. Early in the morning of the 9th of August I was sent by General Pope to the front of the army, with directions, when General Banks should reach a position where the night before I had posted General Crawfords brigade, that I should show to Gen- eral Banks positions for him to take to hold the enemy in check, if it attempted to advance toward Culpeper. Two days previous, the 7th and 8th, I had been to the point, knew the country, and had reported to General Pope my impression that a large force of General Jackson would be at Cedar Mountain, or near there, on the 9th, re- enforcing Ewells troops, who were already there. General Pope authorized me before going to the front to give any orders in his name to any of the officers that might be in the field senior to me. I understood his object was to hold the enemy in check there that day, and not to attack until the other troops of his command should arrive and join General Banks Page 185 CHAP. XXIV.] GENERAL REPORTS. 185 Question by General McDOWELL. Was the battle of the 9th of Au- gust, at Cedar Mountain, brought on by the enemy or by General Banks~ Answer. In the early part of the day the battle was brought on (artillery battle) by the enemys batteries opening from new positions on General Crawfords artillery. I had been directed by General Pope to send information to him hourly of what was going on; and as I had expressed to General Banks my opinion about 3 oclock in the afternoon that Jackson had arrived the forces were very large, General Banks ex- pressed a different opinion, saying that he thought he should attack the batteries before night. I stated to General Banks then my reasons for believing that an attack would be dangerous; that I was convinced that the batteries both in Cedar and Slaughter Mountains were supported by heavy forces of infantry massed in the woods. He expressed a different opinion. He told me that he believed he could carry the field. His men were in the best fighting condition, and that he should undertake it. I immediately sent a dispatch to General Pope (I think my dispatch was dated half- past four), telling him that a general battle would be fought before night, and that it was of the utmost importance, in my opinion, that General McDowells corps, or that portion of it which was between Culpeper and the battle-field, should be at once sent to the field. Ricketts division of General McDowells corps was in the immediate vicinity of the crossing of the road leading from Stevensburg with the roa~d leading from Culpeper to the battle-field, or about 2 miles from Cuipeper and about 5 from the battle-field. The court adjourned to meet to-morrow, January 9, 1863, at 11 oclock a. m. THIRTY-NINTH DAY. COURT-ROOM, COR. FOURTEENTH ST. AND PA. AVE., Washington, D. 0., January 9, 1863. The court met pursuant to adjournment. Present, * * *, and Brig. Gen. BENJAMIN S. ROBERTS, U. S. Volunteers, the witness under examination. * * * * * * Maj. S. F. Barstow, assistant adjutant-general U. S. Volunteers, a witness examined yesterday, stated that in his testimony of yesterday he fixed the time when the shelling commenced toward Centreville at about 8.30 oclock, and that it might have been later. Brig. Gen. Benjamin S. Roberts, the witness under examination, desired to state, with reference to his testimony of the previous day, that snch portion of it as rt~ads (page 472) General Pope authorized me, before going to the front, to give any orders in his name to any & the officers that might be in the field senior to me. Needs to be so qualified as to read that I was authorized to give any orders, so far as to carry out General Popes views as had been expressed to me (General Roberts), in relation to holding the enemy there until his forces (General Popes forces) could come up. Question by General MCDOWELL. If General Banks had not attacked Jackson in force on the 9th do you think Jackson would have attacked Banks? Answer. I do not think Jackson would have attacked Banks in a position where he was first posted on coming onto the field. The position was exceedingly strong, and one which a small force, like General Banks, could have held against a larger one of the enemy. General Jacksons troops had made a long march that day, and I do not think they were in a condition to attack General Banks. Question by General MCDOWELL. Is the witness to be understood that General Banks fought the battle on his own responsibility, and against witness advice and the known expectation of General Pope Page 186 186 OPERATIONS IN N. VA., W. VA., AND MD. (Ciup. XXIV. Answer. When General Banks first came onto the field I met him and went to the~ front with him, showing him positions where the enemy had batteries already posted. and where I had discovered they were posting new batteries, and showed General Banks the positions where his own corps could take position to advantage and hold those positions, as I thought, if attacked. I then told him that General Pope wanted him to hold the enemy in check there until Sigels forces could be bronght up, which were expected that day, and all his other forces united to fight Ja~ksous forces. I mean to be understood to say that it is my impression that Geceral Banks fought that battle entirely upon his own responsibility and against the expectations of General Pope, and those expectations had been expressed to General Banks, as I have already stated, perhaps more strongly. Question by General MCDOWELL. Do you know why General Banks advanced to make a decisive movement upon the enemy on the 9th of August without the aid of General McDowells troops? If so, state why. Answer. I can only state impressions from facts which I can relate. General Banks. had seen nothing of the enemy on that day, or not much of the enemy, as the country was such (and well known to them) as to enable them to conceal their movements from General Banks. After he first came onto the field and I had suggested positions to~ the left of Crawfords brigade, where his main force should take position, he pro- ceeded to put those forces in position in support of Crawford and on his left. I went to the extreme right with one of his brigades (Gordons) to put it into position, and was gone an hour or more, I should think, as I went some distance to the right, nuder the belief that a part of the enemys forces were endeavoring to turn that flank. On returning back to the field I found General Banks had advanced his lines in order of battle considerably toward the enemy, so that very sharp musketry firing had already commenced. I then expressed to General Banks my convictions (and I think this was~ about 3.30 oclock) that the enemy was in very large force and massed in the woods on his right. General Banks replied that he did not believe that the enemy was in any considerable force yet, and said that he had resolved to attack their batteries or to~ attack their main force; it was either the one or the other. From this state of facts~ I am convinced that General Banks made the attack in the belief that the enemy was not in large force, and that he would succeed in his attack without the aid of other troops. Another reason for this belief is that General Banks supposed that his own force was between 12,000 and 13,000, whereas it was 3,000 less than that number. He was led to this belief by some mistake in returns, which he did not dis- cover until atter the battle was fought. Question by General MCDOWELL. Did you know the character of th& dispatches General Banks sent to General Pope prior to his engaging the er~emy decisively on the 9th of August? Answer. I did not. Question by General MCDOWELL. What knowledge have you of General Pope~s intention to engage Jackson as soon as Sigels forces should arrive and be in condition to move to the front? Answer. I know that General Pope intended~o attack Jackson the moment he con- centrated his forces, and was so confident of attacking him successfully that he con- versed with me on the manner of holding Gordonsville, where he supposed hed drive him. It was his intention to have pushed all his forces on on the 10th with the ex- pectation of fighting that day. Question by General MCDOWELL. What, in your judgment, would have been the result had the battle been delayed till the 10th, and had been fought with all the forces General Pope could have been able t& bring up by that time? Answer. I have no doubt that with the forees General Pope could have brought for- ward on the 10th he would have defeated and captured the greater part of Jacksons army. With the small force General Banks fought his entire army Jackson was so much damaged that he was unable to renew the battle on the 10th, and I take it that about 26,000 more troops added to those which fought, on the 9th would have utterly destroyed Jacksons army. His retreat would have been difficult on account of the Rapidan, which was immediately behind him, where he could have been cap.. tured Page 187 CHAP. XXIV.] 187 GENERAL REPORTS. QQestion by General McDowELL. How long after you sent word back to General Pope of General Banks intention to engage the enemy de- cisively was it before you saw General McDowells troops coming to the field? Answer. About two hours and a half, as well as I can judge. Perhaps I ought to. add that General McDowell was moving with his forces toward the field before my note was received. The orderly had to ride 7 miles to General Pope. Question by General MCDOWELL. What was the position and condi- tion of General Banks corps when General McDowells troops arrived on the field? Answer. At sundown I left General Banks to ride to the rear to bring General Mc- Dowell onto the field myself, regarding it as of the utmost importance that General Banks should hold the position on the field and not retreat from it. 1 met General Pope and General McDowell with Ricketts division coming onto the field. The divis- ion was halted. I was questioned particularly by General Pope and General McDowell of the state of things and the position of General Banks, with a view to pushing Gen- eral McDowells troops to support him. I represented the positions of Banks forces when I left. General McDowell and General Pope were proceeding to make ~isposi- tions of their forces on this representation. A~ this time General Banks came up him-. self and he was also questioned, and so far as I understood gave to General Pope and General McDowell about the same information that I had already given them. They proceeded to post the troops on this information, in the belief that General Banks? forces still held the field; but it proved that they had fallen back from the field, and General McDowell and General Pope were attacked in the night, and greatly embar- rassed by the credit they had given to my representations and the representations of General Banks that his troops were still in front and holding the enemy in check. Question by General MCDOWELL. In what way and to what extent did the nature of the ground assist in this misapprehension as to th~ position of Banks corps, as represented by you and him? Answer. There was a wood of very considerable, extent immediately intervening between General Banks position and the place where General McDowell halted the forces with him, and it was then getting dusk, so that nothing of the position of the field or the troops on it could be seen by General McDowell or General Pope. Question by the COURT. What troops composed the forces with which General Pope proposed to attack Jackson on the 10th.? Answer. All of McDowells corps that was present and the corps of Sigel and Banks.. Question by the COURT. Describe the location of these forces on the 9th. Answer. Banks forces were on the field; McDowells as described yesterday, and Sigel about 10 or 12 miles northwest, in the direction of Sperryville. Question by the COURT. At what time on the 10th did General Pop& propose to make the attack? Answer. He proposed to attack the moment he concentrated his forcesthat is, early on the morningof the 10th. Question by the COURT. In sending General Banks forward to Cedar Mountain, did General Pope give directions to any other corps to oper- ate in supporting distance of Banks? Answer. Not to my knowledge. Question by the COURT. Can you give any explanation then why General Banks was placed without troops in supporting distance where he was liable to be attacked by, and did encounter, a largely superior force of the enemy? Answer. I had no idea General Banks would have been attacked by the enemy on the 9th if he had not made such demonstrations on the forces in front of him asto bring on a battle. I had been in the front three days, and knew where the forces were and what they were, and reported it to General Pope, giving him my opinion that ther Page 188 188 OPERATIONS IN N. VA., W. VA., AND MD. (CHAP. XXIV~ was no dan gor of an attack, and that the reports of many of the scouts were greatly exaggerated. It was only the advance of Eweil that reached Cedar Mountain on the 8th; that I considered the brigade of Crawford a sufficient force to hold him in check there that day. I had also information that the most of Jacksons force was behind i~nd crossing the Rapidan late on the 8th and on the morning of the 9th, so that I did not believe that they could have reached the position of Banks and fight him or make the attack on the 9th. I can add I dont think he was liable to be attacked by the enemy. I think he brought the attack on, and that he would not have been attacked but for his own demonstration against the enemy and his belief that there was but a small force of the enemy. I will add that General McDowells position at the cross- roads (5 miles distant) was within supporting distajice, and that it was important he should remain there to protect in the direction of Stevensburg, another way to the Rapidan. Question by the COURT. What was the force of the enemy at the battle of Cedar Mountain? Answer. The entire corps of Jackson and Ewells divisionsabout 35,000 men. Question by the COURT. In the event of any danger to General Banks at Cedar Mountain was it not the duty of General McDowell to go to his aid without further special orders to that effect? Answer. Had General McDowell known of any danger to General Banks I think it would have been his duty to have gone to him, and I understood that he did go to him; that he started without any orders. Question by the COURT. You have spoken of batteries being p at in position by the enemy, to which you called the attention of General Banks. Did these batteries threaten the position held by General Banks forces? Answer. General Banks forces were under artillery fire all the time they were on the field, and he established his batteries, replying with great effect to the batteries of the enemy, forcing several of them to change position and silencing a number of their guns. The enemy acknowledged that it was the most destructive artillery fire during the war. I have never seen better artillery practice than that under General Banks on that day. Question by the COURT. State the general direction, by points of the compass, of General Banks line of battle, the position of his troops before he concluded to advance to an attack of the enemy. Answer. His general direction was from east to west, his right resting on a farm- house west. The water of Cedar Run was directly behind him; his artillery was formed on the crests of a series of rolling hills. Q~e~tion by the COURT. How far were the woods distant from his right, in which woods the enemy was massing the forces referred to in your direct examination, and to which you called General Banks atten. tion before he made the attack? Answer. I think those woods were about a thousand yards from the first position General Banks took when I called to his attention that the enemy had massed in the woods; it was after he had advanced his lines so as to bring his right nearer to the woods. Gordons brigade, however, was behind these woods and to the right of them. Question by the COURT. To what point, in reference to the right flank of General Banks, did General McDowells troops advance before they cncountered the enemy? Answer. General McDowells advance brought him about the center of General Banks line, considering Gordons brigade a part of the line. Qnestion by the COURT. From what direction did the enemy attack 4I~eneral McDowells forces? Answer. I was not present when the enemy attacked General McDowells forces. I was over the ground the next morning, and can state what I know of the position they came in and made the attack Page 189 CHAP. XXIV.] GENERAL REPORTS. 189 Question by the COURT. Were the woods which intercepted the view of the enemy when Generals Pope and McDowell arrived at all con- nected with the woods in which the enemys troops were massed on the right? Answer. They were not; they were about 1,500 yards from them toward Culpeper. Question by the COURT. Was there anything to prevent the enemy which was massed in these woods on the right flank of Banks force making an attack except the fatigue of the previous march? Answer. I know nothing else except a want of time and the strength of the posi- tion of General Banks, to attack whom the enemy would have had to march 1,000 yards through an open field. Question by the COURT. How far did General Banks advance his line of battle, to your knowledge? Answer. I think he had advanced his line from 800 to 1,200 yards. Question by the COURT. Did you inform General Banks that the at- tack which he proposed to make would transcend the instructions ~which you had communicated, that he should hold the enemy in check? Answer. I in4ormed General Banks that General Pope did not expect him to at- tack. Question by the COURT. Are we to understand that General Banks instructions permitted him to use his artillery against the enemy, but not to advance his troops, if he should judge that to be the best mode of holding the enemy in check? Answer. I understood that he was to use his artillery, as a matter of course, and that, if he judged it proper to advance his infantry to hold them in check, he could prop- erly do so under the instructions of General Pope. Question by the COURT. Did he not know that General McDowells troops were posted on the ~oad 5 miles distant? Answer. I presume that he did, as he marched by them that morning and reached the battle-field, I should think, between 12 and 1 oclock. Question by the COURT. At what time of day did he march by Gen- eral McDowells troops? Answer. I can only judge from the distance; he must have passed about 9 or 10 in the morning to reach the battle-field at the time he did. Question by General MCDOWELL. Do you know if General Popes orders on the 9th were that General Sigel should follow General Banks when the latter moved to the front? Answer. I know that was the order. Question by General MCDOWELL. From the nature of the position taken up by General Banks was he obliged to leave it for defensive purposes, or was it a better defensive position than any one in front between him and the enemy? Answer. I think that the first position of General Banks was a much better position for defense than any other in his front, and I am quite sure that he did not advance with any view of securing a better position for defense. Question by General MCDOWELL. Were the 5 miles you state Gen- eral McDowells troops were distant measured from the place where General Banks had taken up his defensive position or from that to which General Banks moved to attack the enemy? Answer. I referred to General Banks first position. Question by General MCDOWELL. Do you know to what corps Craw- fords brigade belonged Page 190 190 OPERATIONS iN N. VA., W. VA., AND MD. (CH~& r. XXIV. Answer. I had supposed, as it had been in Culpeper some time, that it belonged to McDowells, but I am informed to-day that it belonged to Banks. Question by General MCDOWELL. Do you know if Crawfords brigade was not in Culpeper when Ricketts division was between Culpeper and the Rappahannock? Answer. I understood that it was. I bad known that orders were sent to it at Cul- peper by General Pope before Ricketts division had arrived at Culpeper from the ~appahannock. Question by General MCDOWELL. Do you know what cavalry was with Crawfords brigade when it was to the front of Culpeper? Answer. Bayards cavalry. - Question by General MCDOWELL. Do you know why General Sigel did not follow General Banks to the front on the 9th, as was arranged by General Pope? Answer. I have no facts of my own knowledge why he did not. Question by General MCDOWELL. Do you know if General Banks sent word back to General McDowells troops of his intention to make a decisive movement on the enemy or that he would likely need their help~ Answer. I know nothing about it. Question by General MCDOWELL. What orders, if any, did you carry to General Sigel on the 23d and 24th of August, at Sulphur springs, and on the 25th, at Waterloo Bridge? Answer. On the 23d I carried an order to General Sigel, who was at Sulphur Springs, that General McDowells forces on that day would be on his right; that General Banks would support him in his rear and Reno on his left. On the 24th I carried him an order that he should throw immediately his forces across a little creek in front of him (there had been a flood the night before) and push the men to Sulphur Springs and drive any enemy that might be there across the river. General Pope wished t a be done with great dispatch, and I gave him the order that it was to be dons forth- with, without waiting for his artillery to be crossed over. I informed him then that we were in possession of Warrenton, and that there was no enemy between his right and Warrenton; that General McDowells forces had taken possession of that town. On the 25th I bore him an order from General Pope to move all of his forces upon any enemy that might be on the Warrenton side of Waterloo Bridge, and to drive the enemy over the river and to hold the bridge until further orders. I told him that I directed General Banks, who was immediately in his rear and whom I just passed, to co-operate with him in this attack. At the same time I informed him that ords cavalry, with a battery, was on the Warrenton road in front of Waterloo Bridge and near it; that the order was imperative and urgent, and that he was to move forward forthwith and execute it at all hazards. The court adjourned to meet to-morrow, January 10, 1863, at 11 oclock a. m. FORTIETH DAY. COURT-ROOM, CoB. FOURTEENTH ST. AND PA. AVENUE, Washington, D. 0., January 10, 1863. * * * * * * * A communication was received to the effect that Brigadier-General Roberts, U. S. Volunteers, the witness under examination, was too un- well to appear before the court this day. Col. EnMU~i SCHEIVER, aide-de-camp, U. S. Army, a witness, was recalled Page 191 CJL& P. XXIV.] GENERAL REPORTS. 191 Question by General MCDOWELL. Where were you on the 28th of August and how engaged that day? Answer. I was generally in the company of General McDowell, whose headquarters and corps w~e moving from Buckland Mills in the direction of Manassas Junction. Question by General McDOwELL. State the incidents of the move- inent of General McDowell and corps in the direction of Manassas Junction. Answer. I have already alluded to the delay in the movement by wagons on the road, by troops not going forward who were- to lead the advance. After the march was resumed there was some cannonading heard and felt. The march was then con- tinued in the direction of Manassas Junction, and some time in the afternoon there were orders received from General Pope which l3aused a change in the direction of the corpsthe march of the corps. These are the orders: The witness read the orders, as follows: From Major-General Pope to Major-General McDowell, dated Headquarters Army of Virginia, Manassas Junction, August 28, 18621.20 p. in.; from Major-General Pope to Major-General McDowell, dated Headquarters, Manassas Junc- tion, August 28, 1862, which orders are appended to the proceedings of this day and marked A and B. The witness continued: These orders were received about 4.15 oclock in the afternoon. Instructions were then given for the execution of the order last read, and the headqnarters were then moved over to Reynolds division, which we accompanied some time, they getting on the road to Sudley Springs and the headquarters proceeding to General Popes head- quarters at Manassas .J unction. The first order I submitted was received a very short time before the second order, and instructions in obedience to it were prepared but not published because of the countermand of the second order from General Pope. Question by General MCDOWELL. What route was given to Kings division and what to Reynolds? Answer. King was turned right up toward the Warrenton turnpike and directed to advance on that road, and Reynolds was put upon the Sudley Springs road, passing through New Market. I cant define precisely the position occupied by Kings and Reynolds divisions at the time this order was given. Question by General MCDOWELL. Did General McDowell find Gen- eral Pope at Manassas Junction? Answer. No. Question by General MCDOWELL. Where did General McDowell go from Manassas Junction and what caused him to take the direction he took ~ Answer. He went north, in the direction of the firing, which firing was the reason of his going that way. Question by General MCDOWELL. State where General McDowell staid the night of the 28th, and the time, as near as you recollect, of his reaching that place. Answer. It was dark when we left Manassas, and thinking to take a short cut we went over fields and got into a wooded swamp, which, with the darkness, caused us to lose our way for some time; and after extricating ourselves took the road by Beth- lehem Church and went north, riding till, I suppose, nearly midnight, expecting to find Reynolds division. Failing entirely in this, the general and his staff laid down in the neighborhood of some of General Sigels people, who were bivouacked there. Question by General MCDOWELL. Where did General McDowell go on the morning of the 29th? Answer. Very early, as soon as we could see, he set out, having ascertained where General Reyuolds division was, to join it Page 192 192 OPERATIONS IN N. VA., W. VA., AND MD. [CHAP. XXIV. Question by General MCDOWELL. Where did he find General Rey.~ nolds division and what was reported to him by General Reynolds? Answer. He found it at a place called Conrads, which is nearer to the pike than marked on the map, and here he learned of the fight which King had the night be.. fore. Question by General MCDOWELL. Did he learn here where Kings and. Ricketts divisions had moved to during the night? If so, state the place where they had gone. Answer. Yes; we heard they had gone to Manassas Junction. Qu& tiou by General MCDOWELL. Where did General McDowell go after leaving Reynolds division and what were the directions he left with Reynolds? Answer. He went to Weir house, near Manassas Junction, and I think his instruc. tions were to support General Sigel in anything which he might undertake to do in the quarter in which he was. Question by General MCDOWELL. For what purpose did Generat McDowell go to Manassas Junction after leaving iReynoldsi Answer. To join the divisions of his corps. Question by General MCDOWELL. Do you recollect what he said to~ Reynolds with respect to the disposition he purposed making of thes& divisions of his corps? Answer. No; I have no remembrance. Question by General MCDOWELL. What did General McDowell do~ after reaching Manassas Junction? Answer. He directed his divisions on the road to follow General Fitz John Porters~ corps, that was marching in the direction of Gainesville, by the Bethlehem Church road, and then proceeded himself with his staff to the front until he reached the head- quarters of General Porter. Question by General MCDOWELL. See if this is an order General Mc- Dowell received on the 29th of August last. The order referred to was from Maj. Gen. John Pope to Major-Gen- erals McDowell and Porter, dated Headquarters Army of Virginia, Cen- treville, August 29, 1862, which order was read by the witness aloud and is appended to the proceedings of this day and marked C. Answer. This is the order. Question by General MCDOWELL. Where did General McDowell g~ after leaving General Porter? Answer. He went over to the right of the headquarters of Porter, and after that I parted with him for a while, and rejoined him at or near Bethlehem Church, where Kings division was. It was then pretty well advanced in the day. Question by General MCDOWELL. What direction did he give King& and llicketts divisions? Answer. To march on the Sudley Springs road. Question by the COURT. At what time in the morning of~ the 28th did you hear and feel the cannonading of the enemy? Answer. I shonid think it was about noon. I cannot answer positively. Question by the COURT. Where was the cannonading which you feltI Answer. It was to our left, but where I do not know. Question by the COURT. Where were you with reference to the War- renton pike Page 193 CHAP. XXIV.] GENERAL REPORTS. 193 Answer. We were near the Warreuton pike. Question by the COURT. What means did General McDowell take to ascertain the force present at that cannonading? Answer. I have no particular recollection of any other means than that of his going out himself and making observations, which he did. Question by the COURT. Do yo~i not now know that Jacksons force had at that time approached during the preceding night or morning toward or onto the Warrenton pike from the neighborhood of Ma- nassas? Answer. No. Question by the COURT. Do you now know where Jacksons forces were at the time of that cannonading? Answer. No. Questioll by the COURT. Did General McDowell give any orders for sending any force against the enemy at the point from which tl~at can- nonading proceeded? Answer. I do not know. Question by the COURT. What means had General Pope to be in- formed that the enemy was threatening General McDowell from the course of the Warrenton pike except by information to be obtained or communicated by General McDowell himself~ Answer. I do not know. Question by the COURT. Was it not the duty of General McDowell to have ascertained what was the force of the enemy then assailing him oii the morning of the 28th and to have reported the facts to General Pope? Answer. I can only give my opinion. It would depend upon circumstances. It would have been proper to ascertain the force making the demonstration and then to report or communicate to General Pope if the magnitude of the force demanded it. Question by the COURT. Assuming that Jacksons force had ap- proached from Manassas to the neighborhood of the Warrenton pike near Groveton on the morning of the 28th and General McDowell had then proceeded in that direction against him, in your opinion would not Jackson have been defeated? Answer. I can give no opinion; the result would depend on so many circumstances. Question by the COURT. On the assumption contained in the last question as to the position of Jackson, and that the fact had been ascertained by General McDowell, ought not General McDowell to have proceeded against him instead of persisting in the march to Ma,. nassas? Answer. I must say again that this must depend upon circumstanceson various things; on the orders received from General Pope; on the reiiance he had on his own troops; on comparative numbers, & c. Question by the COURT. Take for circumstances all the facts in your knowledge except as modified by the assumption as to Jacksons posi- tion, and state your opinion. Answer. I cannot give an opinion that would be satisfactory to myself. I know nothing about Jacksons force or his numbers. Question by~ the COURT. Did you not know from the communication of General Pope to General McDowell that Jackson had been driven 13 R RVOL XI Page 194 194 OPERATIONS IN N. VA., W. VA., AND MD. [CHAP. XXW. back on the 27th; also that he was separated from Longstreet; and had you not from the time of encountering Jackson at (JedafMountain learned this fact? Answer. I was informed that Jackson and Longstreet were separated, but I did not know the strength of Jackson. I was informed t~at Jackson had been driven back. Question by the COURT. At what time were King and Reynolds got in motion toward the Warrenton pike after the receipt of the orders fiom General Pope on the afternoon of the 28th? Answer. Orders were given as soon as possibleinstantly. The orders were given to King immediately. I was busy at the time on other duties than looking after the time of their departure. We then went to Reynolds division, and we moved along with it until they took the road toward the north and we took the road to the south- east. Question by the COURT. How far was it from the point where Gert- eral McDowell separated from Reynolds to go to Manassas? Answer. I cannot answer that. I suppose it must have been about 3 miles. Question by the COURT. You have stated that during the separation of General McDowell from King and Reynolds, King had a fight and fell back to Manassas. What occasion or order had General Mc. Dowell to go to Manassas and thus become separated from his corps? Answer. It was the headquarters of General Pope, and I presume (if I did not hear him say so) he went there to confer with General Pope. Que~tion by the COURT. Had General ~cDowell any request or order from General Pope to join him personally, in order to confer with him, at Manassas? Answer. I am not aware of any at this moment. Question by the COURT. At what time in the morning of the 29th did General McDowell give instructions to Reynolds to support Gen. eral Sigel in anything he might undertake to do in the quarter in which he was? Answer. Of course it must have been prior to his departure from that place. It must have been early, because we left there early. Question by the COURT. Did General McDowell, to your knowledge, communicate to Sigel the order thus given to Reynolds? Answer. I have no recollection of it. Question by the COURT. Had not General McDowell staff officers or other means of bringing back the divisions of King and Rickette with- out going to Manassas for them himself? Answer. Undoubtedly. Messages might have been sent. Question by the COURT. In your opinion was not the place of General McDowell with Sigels corps and Reynolds division, to direct their movements against the enemy, instead of going back for Kings and IRicketts divisions? Answer. I formed no opinion and can form no opinion on that subject. Question by General MCDOWELL. After General Pope sent orders to General McDowell at Buckland Mills, on the evening of the 27th, did General McDowell receive any information as to the whereabouts of General Pope up to the time of the receipt of the orders at 4.15 on the evening of the 28th? Answer. I dont remember any Page 195 CuA~. XXIV.] GEN~1RAL RFJPO2RTS. 19~ Lieut. Col. Divis TILLSON, Maine Artillery, U. S. Volunteers, a wit- ness, was recalled. Question by General MCDOWELL. Were you with General McDowell on the 28th of August last? Answer. I was. Question by General MCDOWELL. State what occurred after General McDowell passed Gainesville. Answer. Soon after passing Gainesville General McDowell and staff turned to the left and pa~sed by the rear of Sigels corps, the head of which had turned to the right along the railroad. General McDowell threw out skirmishers to the right and left and n front along the turnpike, and advanced over it, followed -at some little distance in the rear by General Reynolds at the head of his division. Arriving at a point a little to the east of where the road from Manassas intersects the turnpike a horseman was noticed, some three-,quarters of a mile to the front on the crest of a hill, in the turn.. pike. Halting his staff and escort, General McDowell sent forward a small body of his escort, under command of Captain Haven, to ascertain what it was. Captain Haven returned and reported that there was a small body of the enemy just beyond the hill before mentioned. About this time the head of General Reynolds corps arrived at the point where General McDowell had halted, and the enemy opened fire upon the head of his column from a section of a battery placed in the turnpike just beyond the crest of the hill referred to. General Reynolds immediately deployed the head of his column to the left, brought up a rifled battery, and in a few moments silenced the enemys guns. Question by General MCDOWELL. About what time was it when the shelling took place between the enemy and Reynolds division? Answer. I have no means of knowing accurately. I should say it was about noon. Question by General MCDOWELL. State what you know concermng the character and number of the force the enemy had on this oecasion and what General McDowell did to ascertain it. Answer. I have no personal knowledge other than I could obtain from the report of Captain Haven and from the report and amount of the enemys fire. I am very sure, from the position occupied and the character of the firing, that the enemy did not have more than a section of a battery. Soon after the tiring ceased I am very sure I heard General McDowell (who was but a few rods south of the turnpike during the whole of the firing) direct General Reynolds to send out skirmishers, under c6ver of the woods, each side of the turnpike, and ascertain the strength and character of the enemy, and I knew that not long after General Reynolds division advanced along at or beyond the point the enemy occupied in the morning at the time the shelling took place. It was a very inconsiderable affair. There were only about a dozen shells thrown by the enemy. Question by General MCDOWELL. Did General McDowell receive in your presence any information as to this force of the enemy from any officerfrom a cavalry party who were to the south of the pike and to the right and front of Reynolds position? If so, state the character of the information as to the number and character of the force of the enemys party? Answer. I recollect-that a mounted officer came up to General McDowell, I think soon after the firing ceased, and stated that his command was to the right and front of the position we occupied at that moment. I got the impression from his descrip- tion that he was nearly abreast of the position occupied by the enemy. He said that he had been there some time observing the enemy, keeping out- of sight as much as possible himself to prevent their shelling him, and I feel quite sure that he stated the enemys force consisted of a section of a battery and a small support of infantry. The court adjourned to meet on Monday, January 12, 1863, at 11 oclock a. m Page 196 190 OPERATIONS IN N. VA., W. VA., AND MD. [CRAW. IXiT. APPENDIX. A. HEADQUARTERS ARi~ry OF VIRGINIA, Manaesa8 Junction, Augu8t 28, 1862-.1.20 p. m. [4.15 p. in.] Mu~jor-Genera1 MCDOWELL: I sent YOU a dispatch a few minutes ago directing you to move on Gum Spring to intercept Jackson. Since then I have received your note of this morning. I will this evening push forward iReno to Gaines- ville and follow wit~i Heintzelman, unless there is a large force of the enemy at Centreville, which I do not believe. Ascertain, if you can, about this. I do not wish you to carry out the order to proceed to Gum Spring if you consider it too hazardous, but I will support you in any way you suggest, by pushing forward from Manassas Junction across the turnpike. Jackson has a large train, which should certainly be cap- tured. Give me your views fully; you know the country much better than I do. Come no farther in this direction with your command, but call back what has advanced thus far. JNO. POPE, Major-General. B. HEADQUARTERS Manas8a.~ Junction, Augtut 28, 1862. (4.15 p. in.] Major-General MCDOWELL: The enemy is reported in force on the other side of the Bull Run, on the Orange and Alexandria Railroad, as also near Centrevilk. I have ordered Sigel to march upon Centreville immediately, as also Kearny and Reno. I will advance Hooker as reserve. Please march immediately with your command directly upon Centreville from where you are. JNO. POPE Major-General, Comman~ding. C. HEADQUARTERS ARMY OF VIRGINIA, Cenfre~ille, Augnet 29, 1862. Generals MCDOWELL and PORTER: You will please move forward with your joint command toward Gainesville. I sent General Porter written orders to that effect an hour and a half ago. Heintzehnan, Sigel, and Reno are moving on the Warrenton turnpike, and must now be not far from Gainesville. I de. sire that as soon as communication is established between this force and your own the whole command shall halt. It may be necessary to fall back behind Bull Run. at Centreville to-night. I presume it will be so on account of our supplies. I have sent no orders of any description to Ricketts and none to interfere in any way with the movements of McDoweils troops except what I sent by his aide-de- camp last night, which were to hold his position on the Warrenton pike until the troops from here should fall on the enemys flank and rear. I do not even know Ricketts position, as. I have not been able to find out where General McDowell was until a late hour this morn- ing Page 197 QUA?. XXIV.] GENERAL REPORTS. 197 General McDowell will take immediate steps to communicate with General Ricketts and instruct him to rejoin the other divisions of his corps as soon as practicable. If any considerable advantages are to be gained by departing from this order it will not be strictly carried out. One thing must be held in view, that the troops must occupy a posi- tion from which they can reach Bull Run to-night or by morning. The indications are that the whole force of the enemy is moving in this di- rection at a pace that will bring them here by to-morrow night or the next (lay. My own headquarters will for the present be with Heintzelmana corps or at this place. JNO. POPE, Major- General, Commanding. FORTY-FIRST DAY. COURT-ROOM. COR. FOURTEENTII ST. AND PA. AVENUE, Wa8hington, D. (7., January 12, 1863. The court met pursuant to adjournment. Present, * * * IAeut. Col. DAVIs TILLSON, Maine Artillery, the witness under exami- nation. * * * * * * * The court was cleared. The court was opened. The further examination of Lieutenant-Colonel Tillson was suspended in order to receive the evidence of Major-General Meade, U. S. Volun- teers. Maj. Gen. GEORGE G. MEADE, U. S. Volunteers, a witness, was duly sworn. Question by General MCDOWELL. Did you see General Sigel early on the morning of the 29th of August and before any movements were made by the troops on that day? Where was he at that time? Answer. I did, sir; and he was at his headquarters on the field at a place usually known as the Robinson house. Question by General MCDOWELL. Were you at that time the senior officer present on that occasion with Reynolds division? Answer. Yes, sir; at least I supposed myself to be. Question by General MCDOWELL. Did you report your command to General Sigel as the senior officer present, so far as you know and did you inform him of its position with respect to his corps? Answer. I reported to General Sigel that, in the absence of my superior officer, General Reynolds, who had left the night previous and had not returned and I was ignorant whether his absence was owing to his being captured by the enemy or had lost his way, I had come to report to him the position of my command, to aseer- tam his position, to know what he was going to do, and to obtain his advice and judgment what I had better do until some officer superior to both of us should arrive to regulate our movementsGeneral McDowell or General Pope. Question by the COURT. Had Reynolds division been left the night before without instructions from any officer superior in rank to you, so far as you have knowledge? Answer. It is not in my power to answer that question. Reynolds was in command of the division. In taking up our position the afternoon previous, whilst movin Page 198 198 OPERATIONS IN N. VA., W. VA., AND MD. (C1L& r.XflY~. towwd Centreville, under the orders, I understood, to General Reynolds from a superior officer, we turned off the road from Gainesville to Manassas Junction at the Bethie.. bern Church, aitd proceeded a short distance in the direction toward the Stone Bridge, when we heard heavy firing on our left and front over in the direction of Groveton. Upon hearing this firingI was at the head of the columnI received a message from General Reynolds, who was in front, to quicken my movements and to bear off to the left in the direction of that firing. I did so, keeping on the road marked as leading to Sudley Springs. I continued on this road till I reached the vicinity of the Conrad house. It was then quite dark; the firing had entirely ceased, and, so far as I could judge, had receded, leading me to think that our people had fallen back. Hearing nothing from General Reynolds I deemed it prudent to halt the command, and as- sumed the responsibility of doing so. It seems that General Reynolds reached tlie scene of actionwhere the action wasand in returning lost his way, and did not get back till the next morning. Question by the CoURT. Were you at the head of General Reynolds column on the morning of the 28th, when it reached Gainesville, on the march from Buckland Mills? Answer. Yes, sir; I was. Question by the COURT. Have you knowledge of any indications of the presence of the enemy in that neighborhood at that time; and, if so, where was the enemy and what was done to ascertain his strength? Answer. After passing Gainesville and just before reaching Groveton a battery, or section of a battery, was opened by the enemy from the heights immediately adjacent to Groveton, from which they threw some half a dozen (I suppose) of shot and shell at long range at the head of my column, one shell only taking effect, I think, killing 3 and wounding some 4 persons. My brigade was halted and deployed on the open ground on the left of the pike, and a rifled battery placed in position, which opened on the enemys battery. After a few shots from our battery they withdrew or ceased firing. I saw no exhibition of their force except one or two mounted men in the neigh- borhood of their guns while they were firing. As to measures taken to ascertain their force, all I know is I made a detail from my brigade of one or two companies of rifle- menprobably morewho were directed by General Reynolds, conjointly with a company of cavalry which I understood he obtained from General McDowells escort, to proceed up a road marked on the map as leading to Sudley Springs and try to as- certain the enemys force. The result of this expedition I did not hear. A short time afterward my brigade was moved across the country in the direction of Manassas Junc- tion by way of Bethlehem Church. Question by the Com~T. Was the enemy discovered in any other than the direction of Groveton during your march that day to your knowledge? Answer. No. Not to my knowledge. Question by the COURT. Had you an impression that any of General McDowells forces were on the pike from Gainesville toward Groveton at the time you heard the firing in the afternoon toward which you inclined your march? Answer. I knew that two divisions of General McDowells corps were in our rear on the same road during that march, viz, Ricketts and Kings, and I presume that it was one of these divisions that was engaged. Question by the COURT. From your knowledge of what occurred at the first engagement in the morning, and assuming also that Jackson was in the neighborhood of Manassas on the night of the 27th, and that the movement of General McDowell was intended to strike Jackson from the direction of Gainesville, whiletheotherforces of General Popepressed him from the direction of Nanassas, in your judgment was General Mc- Dowells conduct proper in withdrawing all his forces from the Warren- ton pike and concentrating them in your rear toward Manassas, if he did do so Page 199 CWAP. XXIV.] GENERAL REPORTS. 199 Answer. With the limited knowledge I had at the time of what was known of the position and force of the enemy and of the plans of the commanding generals I am reluctant to advance an opinion which must be deeme& a criticism. At the same time I feel bound to say that at the time I thought it was injudicious to pass toward Manassas Junction when he had evidence that the enem~r was in the vicinity of Groveton. It is proper I should add that the enemy not taking advantage of our ex- posing our flank to them led me eventually to conclude he was not in very large force, and that the firing on my column was designed only to check and delay us, which it effected by one or two hours. Question by the COURT. Did you know that morning that iRicketts division had been sent to Thoroughfare Gap to prevent the approach of Longstreet and his junction with Jackson and was actually there I Answer. I did not. I knew nothing personally of Ricketts division, except that he was in our rear. Question by the COURT. Would the fact that Ricketts was at Thoroughfare Gap to prevent the approach of Longstreet render the march of General McDowell with the rest of his forces to Manassas more or less injudicious, in your opinion, after the demonstratipn made against him in the morning from the direction of Groveton? General McDowell offered the following as an objection to the ques- tion: I beg to submit that the opinion of the witness on the construction of orders or on any matter actually before the court should not be asked, for of this the court is to be the judge; that he should only be asked an opinion based on facts which he himself knew, and from which he drew his opinion as a collective judgment, and which basis of opinion is not possessed by the court. The witness says he knows nothing of the inovenents of Ricketts division. The court was cleared, and decided that the question be not put. The court was opened and its decision announced. Question by the COURT. Had you any knowledge of the position of J(ings division, except that it was following Reynolds? Answer. I had not. Question by the COURT. In your opinion, from your knowledge of the country, what would have been the effect on Jacksons forces if General McDowelPs forces, including Sigels corps, had marched against. him along the Warrenton pike in the direction of Groveton instead of turning toward Manassas I General McDowell stated that this question assumed the point at issue, and that there was no evidence to show that Jacksons army was there; that it assumes that the small force, consisting of a section of artillery and its small support, was Jacksons army. Answer. If Jackson was in the position premised; that is to say, on the heights about Groveton, I presume the effect of advancing would have been to bring on an engagement, the result of which it is not possible to pronounce with certainty. Question by the COURT. What forces were engaged toward which you inclined your march in the afternoon toward Sudley Springs? Answer. On our side a portion of Kings division. I have no personal knowledge what forces of the enemy were engaged, whether Jacksons or Longstreets. This was toward sunset, about 6 or 7 oclock. Question by the COURT. Have you knowledge, acquired during the ensuing battles, where Jacksons forces were during the 28th; and, if so, where were they? Answer. I have no knowledge of the position of any of the enemys forces, so far as being commanded by Jackson. The enemy was ou the 28th on the heights to the right or north of Groveton. On the 29th we passed over the ground that General Gibbon had fought on during the 28th. The court adjourned to meet to-morrow, January 13, 1863, at 11 oclock a. rn Page 200 200 OPERATIONS ~N N. VA., W. VA., AND MD. (Ca~~~r. lilY. FORTY-SECOND DAY. COURT-ROOM; (3OR. FOURTEENTH ST. AND PA. AVENUE, Washington, D. 0., January 13, 1863. * * * * 9 * * UoL EDMUND SOHRIVER, aide-do-camp, U. S. Army, a witness, was mealled. Question by the COURT. In what formation did General McDowell move his command from Gainesville to Bethlehem Church; in column, by a flank, or in what way? Answer. As well as I remember it was in a column by a flankthe usual mode of marching ea roateand by fours. Question by the COURT. How did the brigades succeed each other; whether over the same ground or in some other and what way? Answer. I was not with them, so as to answer the question. Question by the COURT. Can you give us the name of aiiy officer of General McDowells staff who is present and can give us the informa- tion ~ Answer. & o. Question by the COURT. Have you any knowledge, or had you any information at the time, that Kings division did not follow over the same route behind Reynolds division? Answer. No. Maj. Gen. JOHN POPE, U. S. Volunteers, a witness, was duly sworn. Question by General MCDOWELL. What command did you exercise in the campaign in Virginia last summer? Answer. I commanded the Army of Virginia. Question by General MCDOWELL. Please state as fully as you can everything concerning the battle of Cedar Run, or Slaughters Mount- ain, on the 9th of August, which will show under what circumstancca General McDowells troops were sent forward and brought into action on that day; whether or not General McDowell fully complied with your orders concerning the movement and disposition of his troops, and how it happened that General Banks corps sustained alone, until driven back, the engagement on the afternoon and evening of that day. Answer. In order that my statement may be fully understood it will be necessary for me to describe the positions of the army corps and divisions of that army a day or two previous to that battle and the movements that were made up to the time of its occurrence. On the 6th August the troops were distributed as follows: Sigels 6orps at Sperry -yule; Banks corps at Little Washington, with Crawfords brigade of that corps occu- pying Culpeper Court-House; Ricketts division of McDowells corps on the march from Waterloo to Culpeper. The disposition of the cavalry to cover the front of the army on that day. and until they were driven in by the advance of Jacksons forces were as follows: Five regiments of cavalry, under Brigadier-General Buford occupied Madison Court-House, with their advance pickets thrown forward to the line of the Rapi(lan, and extending westward from Barnetts Ford, on that river, to tbe base of the Blue Ridge. Bayard, with four regiments of cavalry, was in the neighborhood of Rapidan Station, with his pickets along that river as far east as Raccoon Ford, and connecting with General Bufords pickets, on his right, at Burnetts Ford. From 2Bayards left, at Raccoon Ford, to the forks of the Rappahannock, above Falmouth, the riv~,r was lined with cavalry pickets. Between Generals Buford and Bayard and on the summit of Thoroughfare Mountain was established a signal station, which overlooked the whole country as far-south as Orange Court-House, 8 or 9 miles month -of the Rapidan. From these cavalry forces and the signal station on Thoroughfar Page 201 Ow. XXIVJ GENERAL REPORTS. 201 Mountain I received frequent and full reports of the movements of the enemy. In rear of General Buford; and at the crossing of Robertson River by the road from Madison Court-Rouse to Sperryville, I had instructed General Sigel to post a brigade of infantry and a battery of artillery as a support to Bufords cavalry in front of him. Matters stoo.d thus on the 6th August. I instructed General Banks to move forward from Little Washington on the morning of 7th of August and to take post where the turnpike from Sperryville to Culpeper Court-House crosses Hazel River, so that on 7th A~ the infantry and artillery forces of the Army of Virginia were assembled along the stone turnpike from Sperryville to Culpeper. On the 7ththat day I reviewed the corps of General Sigel at Sperryville, and re- mained at that place until 4 oclock in i~he afternoon of the 7th. Daring the whole of this day reports were coming in of movements of the enemy toward the Rapidan from the direction of Gordoneville, portions of his forces having crossed the Rapidan during that day. I reached Culpeper Court-House early on the morning of the 8thof August, where I found Rlcketts division of McDowells corps and Crawfords brigade of Banks corps, which latter had been for some days in occupation of that place. By 10 or 11 oclock on the morning of the 8th it became clear that the enemy had crossed the Rapidan in heavy force and was advancing both upon Culpeper and upon Madison Court-House. My whole force at that time numbered about 30,000 men, it having been considered by the authorities in Washington not judicious to remove Kings division of McDowells corps from Fredericksburg. My instructions required me also to be very careful not to allow the enemy to interpose between myself and Fredericksburg, to which point the forces from the Peninsula were to be brought. During the 8th August, or at least during the earller part of that day, it was uncer- tain whether the main force of the enemy was marching upon Sperryville or upon Culpeper, but in either case I considered it proper to concentrate my forces in the direction of Culpeper, in order constantly to be interposed between the enemy and the lower fords of the Rappahannock. I accordingly sent orders to Banks to move forward to Culpeper Court-House an~ to Sigel to move forward to the same place with all speed. Bauksarrived at Culpeper in due season, but to my surprise I received a note from General Sigel, dated at Sperry- ville, about 6.30 in the evening, acknowledging the receipt of my order, and asking me by what road he should come to Culpeper. As there was but one road, and that a broad stone turnpike, that led directly from Sperryville to Culpeper, I was at a loss to know how General Sigel could entertain any doubt upon the subject. This doubt of General Sigels delayed the arrival of his corps at Culpeper several hours. When the reports began to come in from General Bayard that the enemy was a4- vancing upon him, and that his cavalry was forced to retire, I advanced Crawfords brigade of Banks corps to observe the enemy, to support Bayard in holding the enemy in check, and determining his force and movements, as far as possible. Rickette division of McDowells corps was on same day, 8th August, moved to a point 2* or 3 miles south of Culpeper, and near to th.~ place where tihe road from Madison Court- House to Culpeper comes into the road from Barnetts Ford to Culpeper. Early on the morning of the 9th I received information from General Bnford, at Madison Court-House, that the enemy was on his right on his left, and partly in his rear, and that he was retreating toward Sperryville. 6n the morning of the 9th Au- gust I pushed Banks in front, with his corps, to join the brigade of that corps which bad gone to the front the day previous. General Banks was instructed by me to move his corps to the position occupied by that brigade; to take up a strong position there to check the advance of the enemy. This instruction was in a personal interview with General Banks at my headquarters at Culpeper. I told General Banks that if the enemy advanced to attack him that he should push his skirmishers well to the front and notify me immediately, it being my wish to gain all the time possible to concentrate our forces at Culpeper Court-House. Genera Banks corps at that time, from his consolidated report transmitted to me a few days previous, numbered over 12,000 infantry and artillery, and this I understood to be the strength of his corps when he was pushed to the front. Three miles in rear of the position which I ex- pected him to occupy was Rickette division of McDowells corps. Desultory artillery firing was kept up all day on the 9th, during which time I re- ceived a number of reports from General Banks, in none of which did he consider that the enemy was in any great force in front of him. In one of his notes, dated about 3 oclock in the day, he mentioned that the enemy was displaying his cavalry ostentatiously; that he had seen no considerable force of infantry, an~ that he did not believe they intended to attack. The notes received I have, and can submit thera to the court if they so desire it. The last note I received from General Banks was dated about 5 oclock. He spoke then of the skirmishers approaching each other, an4 did not indicate that he expected any engagement or ask for any assistance. Before I received this note, however, the artillery firing had become so rapid and continuous that I feared a general engagement was going on or might be brought on at any mo- ment. I therefore instructed General McDowell topns~ forward Ricketts divi~ion a Page 202 202 OPERATIONS IN N. VA., W. VA., AND MD. [CHAP. XXIV. rapidly as possible to the field, and went forward myself with the division, leaving Ii~hind me in Culpeper the whole corps of Sigel, with orders to push forward as soon as possible to the field. General McDowell was in nowise responsible for anything connected with these movements, but in all respects carried out my instructions faith- fully and zealously. Question by General MCDOWELL. Was not General McDowell per- sonally at your headquarters during the 9th prior to his receiving your orders to send Ricketts division to the front, and was not he there in compliance with your instructions sent to him at his headquarters? Answer. He was. Question by General MCDOWELL. Was General McDowells conduct at the battle of Cedai~ Run Mountain under your immediate notice? If so, state what was his conduct in the management of his troops and otherwise on that occasion. Answer. He was under my immediate observation near the conclusion of the battle of Cedar Mountain, when he put his troops into the action on Banks right. His con- duct throughout was gallant and efficient. Question by General MCDOWELL. Did you accompany the Third Army Corps on the march from Rappahannock to Warrenton, and were General McDowells headquarters with yours on the 22d, 23d, 24th, and 25th of August? If so, state if the dispositions made of that corps on those days were made in conformity with your orders. Answer. I accompanied the Third Army Corps from the Rappabannock to Warren- ton on the 23d. On the 22d, 23d, and 24th my headquarters were with those of Gen- eral McDowell, and part of the day on the 25th. The dispositions of his corps were made by my orders on those days and nuder my immediate observation. Question by General MCDOWELL. From the time of your leaving Warrenton on the afternoon of the 25th till General McDowell left there can you state if the orders he gave his corps were not immedi- ately reported to you and if these orders were not approved by you? Answer. Some of the orders that he gave were reported to me and a:pproved by me. I cannot say that he reported to me a ithe orders given by him, but all that he re- ported to me were approved. Question by General MCDOWELL. Did or not, so far as you know, General McDowell neglect or fail in any way to carry out any of your orders as to the disposition of his corps at or in the vicinity of War- renton or Sulphur Springs or Waterloo with reference to any movement you had ordered General Sigel to make? Answer. He did not. When we commenced the movement toward Sulphur Springs and Warrenton on the 23d August it was on information that large forces of the enemy bad crossed the Rappahannock at Sulphur Springs and Waterloo Bridge. The river having risen 6 or 8 feet on the night of 22d, so as to destroy the fords, I purposed to throw my whole force rapidly. upon whatever forces of the enemy were on the north side of the river, hoping to be able, on account of the high water, to crush them before they could succeed in recrossing the river. General Sigel commanded the left, and was instructed to push forward to the Waterloo Bridge, following the course of the Rappahannoek. I told him I would push forward McDowells corps from Warrenton to join him, if necessary, near Waterloo Bridge; but on the 24th 1 sent a strong recon- naissance forward to Waterloo Bridge, under General Buford, from Warrenton, and he reported to me on the afternoon of the 24th that there was no enemy on the north side of the river, and that he had fired the bridge at Waterloo. I immediately informed General Sigel of the whole of these facts; that I was sure there was no enemy between him and Waterloo. I therefore did not consider it necessary to push McDowells corps any farther in that direction. As soon as the advance of General Sigels corps reached Waterloo General Buford took post with all his cavalry on his right, and picketed the river for several miles above Waterloo. I make this statement to -show why the corps of General McDowell was not advanced toward Waterloo Bridge on the 24th. Question by General MCDOWELL. Were not the communications fr Page 203 C~r. XXIV.] GENF~RAL REPORTS. 20& quent and full between yourself and General McDowell whlI8t you were at Warreuton Junction and he was at Warrenton, and did he ever sug.. gest to you that our whole force should be sent to Salem, and was not the movement to Salem a reconnaissance, made in obedience to your orders, to see what had become of the enemys column which had passed in front of Waterloo Bridge? Answer. To the first part of that question I would say yes. The communication was full and frequent. No such sugg~tion was ever made to me by General MoDow ell. I myself sent him instructions from Wrrrenton Junction to push forward a cav- alry reconnaissance toward Salem or White Plains. Question by General McDowELL. Did General Sigel report to you from near the crossing of the Sudley Springs road with the road from Manassas to Gainesville between 2 and 3 oclock p. m. of 28th of August? Answer. He did, by letter. Question by General MCDOWELL. Were not General Sigel~ reports, as cimmander of the First Army Corps, made to you direct, and were not your orders for him sent to him direct from and after the afternoon of the 28th, when be reported to you from near the crossing of the Siidley Springs road and the Manassas and Gainesville roads and he received your order to march to Centreville? Answer. I understood General Sigel to be under the command of General McDowell on the afternoon of the 28th, and accordingly informed General McDowell that I had given these instructions to General Sigel ou his application; but I. did not consider that connection to have continued after the corps became separated during the night of the 28th. Question by General MCDOWELL. Did General Sigel report to you that Jacksons army was at Groveton when he sent you the note before referred to, or in any way give you to believe he thought he was in that direction? Will witness please produce the note of General Sigel? Answer. He made no report of that kind to me. The witness produced the note referred to, which was read. It ia from Maj. Gen. Franz Sigel to Major-General Pope, dated August 28 2.30 p. in., and is appended to the proceedings of this day and marked A. Question by General MCDOWELL. About what time was it that Jack- son left Manassas and what route did he take from that place? Answer. From information derived at Manassas Junction from prisoners, deserters, paroled prisoners of our own, and our own cavalry reconnaissances I was and am con- vinced, and in fact sure, as I can be of a thing I have not myself seen, that the larger portion of Jacksons forces left Manassas Junction between 3 oclock and 9cr 10 oclock on the morning of the 28th of August and took the road to Ceatreville. Our cavalry came up to their rear guard at Bull Run Bridge, on that road, on the afternoon of the 28th, and Kearnys division of Heintzelmans corps followed their rear guard intG Centreville and beyond. A large part of his force took the road from Centreville around by Sudley Springs, whilst another part followed the turnpike toward Gaines- ville from Warrenton, destroying the bridges over Bull Run and Cub Run late on the afternoon of the 28th, and in sigh tof the foremost of our cavalry. These facts came t~ me in so many different ways and through so many different sources that I was so well convinced of their truth that the whole movementsof the army as ordered on the night of the 28th were based upon them. Jackson himself in person, with a small escort, left Manassas Junction, after visiting the hospital there, about 11 oclock on the morn- ing of the 28th and took the road to Centreville. A large part of his cavalry force (I think the larger part from the accounts I received there) left Manassas Junction about the same time and went west of north toward the Warrenton turnpike. A small cay- alry force that I had sent out came upon their rear within a mile or two of Manassaa Junction. Qnestion by General MCDOWELL. On the 29th of Angust, after Ge Page 204 204 OPERATIONS IN N. VA., W. VA., AND MD. [Ca& r. XXIY. eral McDowells corps came up the Sudley Springs road by New Mar- ket, did you send him any orders? Answer. I did. Question by General MCDOWELL. In the order of the President con- stituting the Army of Virginia under your command was General Rey- nolds division a part of the Third Corps, to be commanded by General McDowell? Answer. It was not. General Reynolds division was the advance division of Gen- eral Porters corps, coming from the direction of Fredericksburg to re-enforce the Army of Virginia. As it arrived some days before the rest of the corps, and just on the eve of our movement toward Waterloo Bridge, it was temporarily assigned to duty with the corps of General McDowell. Question by General MCDOWELL. Was not the sending of General McDowells troops up the Warrenton road on the evening of the 29th in conformity to your orders? Answer. It was. Question by General MCDOWELL. State what was Generat McDow- ells conduct nuder your command in the late campaign in Virginia. Answer. Having by the order of the President been placed in command of an army the commanders of the corps of which were my seniors in rank, my position was em- barrassing, and likely to lead to nnkind feelings between myself and the commanders of the army corps. I am gratified to be able hereto bear testimony to the zeal and energy, the ability and the cordial sympathy, of General McDowell from the first to the last day of the campaign in Virginia. In my judgment he has merited and should receive the gratitude of his country and the applause of his countrymen. The court was cleared. The court was opened, and the court adjourned to meet to-morrow, January 14, 1863, at 11 oclock a. m. APPENDIL A. AUGUST 28, 18622.30 p. m. Major-General POPE, Commanding Army of Virginia: GENERAL: I am at the road (3 miles from Manassas Junction) whick leads to New Market and thence across Bull Run to Centreville. I have with me all my corps except Milroys brigade, which has gone in advance toward the Junction. Shall I pursue this road? General Milroy can join us by a direct road from the Junction through I~Tew Market. I prefer this, because there is no water here; I can obtain it by going to Bull Run or even this side of New Market, and I understand that Manassas Junction is now crowded with our troops of other corps and divisions. Respectfully, your obedient servant, F. SIGEL, Major-General, Commanding Fir8t Corp8. FORTY-THIRD DAY. COURT-ROOM, COB. FOURTEENTH ST. AND PA. AVENUE, Wa8hington, D. C., January 14, 1863. The court met pursuant to adjournment. Prese~it, * * *, ~j Maj. Gen. JOHN POPE, U. S. Volunteers, the witness under examina.. tion. * * * * * * Page 205 Ow. ZIXY.] GENERAL REPORTS. 205 At the instance of a member of the court the recorder read the order from Major-General Pope to Major-General McDowell, dated Headqnar- tEts Army of Virginia, Bristoe Station, August 27, 18629 oclock p. in., marked B, and appended to proceedings of thirtieth day. Question by the COURT. After the order just read to you had Gen- McDowell any discretionary power to send Ricketts division to Thoroughfare Gap to check the approach of Longstreet? Answer. At the time that the order in question was written I was satisfied that we had completely interposed between the forces under Jackson and the main body of the enemy yet to the westward of the Bull Run Range. The order directing General Mc- DoweJis march would have carried him to the eastward, and in the same direction in which the main body of the enemy was marching to join Jackson. I believed then, and believe now, that we were sufficiently in advance of Longstreet, who was sup.. posed to lead the main body of the enemy, that by usin our w ole force vigorously we should be able to crush Jackson completely before Longstreet by any possibility could have reached the scene of action. I sent nothing to General Mg3Dowell con- cerning Thoroughfare Gap, and regretted afterward that any portion of his forces had been detached in that direction. General McDowell had the discretion, however, nec- essarily incident to his position and to his distance from me, to make such ~a disposi- tion to cover his rear as he might consider necessary. From the order of GeneraliMo- Dowell, which he showed me afterward (the order No. 10), I understood that the movement of Ricketts division was made conditionally and in view of the possibility of an attack upon his rear from the direction of Thoroughfare Gap. Question by the COURT. Are you familiar with the country near Hay Market, Gainesville, Groveton, and the Warrenton pike to the bridge - across Bull Run? Answer. I am familiar with the country near Groveton and eastward along the Warrenton turnpike to Bull Run. To the west and south of Groveton I have not been, and only know of the country from the accounts of others. Question by the COURT. Did you or did you not rely on General Mc- Dowell for information as to any indications of the presence of the enemy in the neighborhood of the Warrenton pike and Gainesville on the assumption that the forces under Jackson should move in that di- rection to effect a junction with Longstreet? Answer. I did n~t assume that the forces underJackson would attempt to rejoin the main body by Gainesville, knowing, as Jackson must have known, that he would en- counter in attempting to pursue this route a force of our army considerably superior to his own, but from General McDowell, as from every other commander of a corps or a division of that army, I expected to receive all information of the enemy that could be obtained. Question by the COURT. Did you during the 28th receive informa- tion that the enemy had attacked the column of General McDowell with two pieces of artillery from the direction of Groveton as General Mo. Dowell was moving from the field toward Manassas? Answer. I did not. Question by the COURT. Have you knowledge of any facts or circum- stances, either arising from the topography of the country, the orders to General McDowell, or his discretionary power, to authorize a movement of his troops by a flank along the same route across the country to Bethlehem Church from a point on the Warrenton pike about a mile east of Gainesville? Answer. I had not. Question by the COURT. What orders or occasion had he to move any of his troops to Bethlehem Church on the 28th? Answer. The only order that General McDowell had from me till the afternoon of the 28th was the order of the night of the 27th August. I know nothing of circum- stances which controlled the details of his movements during the morning of the 28tii Page 206 206 OPERATIONS IN N. VA., W. VA., AND MD. (Cn& w. XXIV. Having received his official report but very lately, and not having yet read it, I am still unacquainted with the details of the movements of the forces under his command during the morning of the ~8th. I know of no occasion that would have brought his troops to the point specified in the question. At the instance of a member the recorder read the two orders marked A and B, and appended to proceedings of the fortieth day, from Major-General Pope to Major-General McDowell, dated respect- ively Headqnarters Army of Virginia, Manassas Junction, August 28, 18621.20 p. in., and Headquarters, Manassas Junction, August 28, 1862. Question by the COURT. What orders or occasion had General Mc. Dowell, after your orders to him jnst read and after putting his divis- ions in march toward Centreville, to leave them and go in person to Manassas, if he did so? Answer. I know of no orders to that effect or any occasion. Question by the COURT. Were you aware that Kings division had a fight with the enemy near evening of that day and after t1~te fight fell back to Manassas? Answer. It was reported to me about 8 or 9 oclock at night on the 28th that Kings division of McDowells corps had met the enemy retreating from Controville, and after a severe fight had remained masters of the field, still interposing between Jacksons forces and the main body of the enemy. This report was brought to me by a staff offi- cer, I think, of General Kings. Upon receiving this information I stated to several of my staff officers who were present that the game was in our own hands, and that I did not see how it was possible for Jackson to escape without very heavy loss, if air all. Immediately upon receipt of this intelligence I also directed General Kearny, whose division occupied Centreville, to push forward cautiously at 1 oclock that night in the ditection of Gainesville, to drive in the pickets of the enemy, and to keep him- self in close contact during the night; to rest his left on the Warreuton tnrnpike, and to throw his right to the north, toward the Little River, and well to the front. I di- rected him at the first blush of daylight to attack the enemy with his right advanced, and informed him that Hooker and Reno would be with him immediately after day- light. To my surprise and dissatisfaction I learned toward daylight on the morning of the 29th that Kings division had withdrawn in the direction of Manassas Jnnc- tion, leaving open the road to Thoroughfare Gap. This withdrawal of that division made necessary a great change in the movement and the position of the troops and was a most serious and unlooked-for mistake. I was so impressed with the necessity that that division should hold its ground during the night of the 28th that I sent several orders to General King (one by his own staff officer) during that night to hold his ground at all hazards and to prevent the retreat of the enem ,and~ ormed him that our whole force from the direction of Centreville and Manassas Junction would all upon the enemy at daylight. Question by the COURT. Do you know any occasion or explanation for the absence of General McDowell from that battle-field and his presence at Manassas, if such was the fact? Answer. I only know from General McDowells own explanation to me why he came to Manassas Junction. This explanation was given me some time subsequently; when I cannot state. Question by the COURT. State, as near as you can, the time when this explanation was made. Was it during the campaign? Answer. Yes, I think it was, sir. My recollection is not clear, but it occurs to me it was some time after dark on the 29th. Of this, however, I am not certain. Question by the COURT. State the explanation. Answer. General McDowell told me that he supposed me to be at Manassas Junc- tion; that he came there to communicate more fully with me than he could do by letter. I had asked him in a note sent him on the afternoon of 28th Augustthat same dayto give me his views fully, as he knew the country in that vicinity much better than I did. He fully expected to find me at Manassas Junction, and after com- municating with me to return immediately to his command. I was, however, not at Manassas Junction, but with the advance near Centreville Page 207 CHAP. XXIV.] GENERAL REPORTS. 207 Question by the COURT. Do you mean to be understood that on the morning of the 29th General McDowell was no longer responsible for the movements and command of General Sigels corps and Reynolds division; and, if so, produce the orders, if you can, investing him with such command before the 29th, and state any orders which may have been given relieving him. (The witness produced a certified copy of General Orders, No. , dated lleadquarters Army of Virginia, Warrenton Junction, August 27, 1862; which is appended to the proceedings of this day and marked A.) Answer. I did not consider General McDowell as having any command over the corps of General Sigel, or as being responsible for the movements of that corps any time during the 29th Augnst. I sent orders to General McDowell on the morning of 29th August, directed to him at Manassas Junction, instructing him to call in Ricketts division and join it with Kings, and in conjunction with Major-General Porter march npon Gainesville by the road from Manassas Junction. On the morning of the 29th August, until the close of the campaign of Virginia, General Sigels corps, as every other corps of that army, was under my immediate command and received my direct orders. In relation to the division of General Reynolds, I had supposed, until otherwise informed, that it had also fallen back with Kings division to Manse- sas Junction. 1 sent no orders to General McDowell or to General Sigel changing the relations they had with each other when they marched from Warrenton, for the sun- ple reason that no such orders were needed, the connection between them being dis- solved of necessity, either bythe separation of the corps or by m own personal presence with them. It is not necessary to state to the court that Iha~ no authority to merge into one two army corps established by the orders of the President; that any tempo- rary connection between them, wherein one corps commander should command both corps, would only last so long as they served at a distance from the general-in-chief of the army to which they belonged. On the 29th August I received various reports from General Sigel before I reaehed the field of battle; saw him many times during the day of 29th, and gave him sev- eral orders personally and by aides-de-camp. I did not understand, nor did I presume General Sigel to understand, that he was responsible to anybody except myself for any movement of his troops or for any orders he might receive during that day. Question by the COURT. What did you suppose the force of the enemy immediately under Jackson to have been on the 28th August, 18621 Answer. The information upon which we deduced an opinion upon that subject was in the nature of things uncertain and to some extent unreliable. I myself sup- posed Jackson to have, including his own, Ewells, and Hills divisions, at the least 25,000 men, or between that and 30,000, though other officers having the same sources of information estimated his forces as high as 35,000 men. Question by the COURT. Produce the orders to which reference was made in your direct examination of yesterday. The witness produced an order from Maj. Gen. John Pope to Major- General Sigel, dated Headquarters Army of Virginia, one mile below Warrenton, August 24, 18621 p. in.; an order from Major-General Pope to Major-General McDowell, dated Headquarters Army of Vir- ginia, Warrenton Junction, August 26, 1862; which are appended to the proceedings of this day and marked respectively B and C. The foregoing orders were read by the recorder. Question by General McDowELL. Please state if, under the last order of the afternoon of the 28th, which reported the enemy on the Orange and Alexandria Railroad and which required General Mc- Dowell to march his troops to Centreville, he would not be justified in sending his troops by way of Bethlehem Church and New Market, provided that order found one of his divisions nearer that road than any other and that it should be the most direct to Ceutreville from where the order found it? Answer. Certainly. The order directed General McDowell to move by the most direct road from where he was to Centreville. Where his troops were I cannot ox- actly say Page 208 208 OPERATIONS IN N. VA., W. VA., AND MD. (CHAP. XXIV. Capt. FRANKLIN HAVEN a witness, was recalled. , dditional aide-de.camp, U. S. Army, a Question by General MCDOWELL. Did General McDowell on the afr,ernoou of the 28th send out ~ny parties to scout or reconnoiter to the left or north of the turnpike? Answer. In accordance with General McDowells instructions I took a company of .avalry to General Reynolds, which he sent out, with some of the Bucktail regiment, I think, toward Sudley Springs. Other forces, I think, were ordered in that direction, but I do not know of my own knowledge. Question by General MCDOWELL. Did General McDowell send you to accompany Kings division on the afternoon or evening of the 28th, when it was ordered to Centreville? Answer. He did. Question by General MCDOWELL. What took place on that march? Answer. On the march the enemy made an attack on Kings division, which was re- pulsed byGibbons brigade and two regiments, I think, in the advance. The enemys forces were driven off and General King and General Reynolds (the latter having come up personally) sent me to General McDowell to say that General King would not con- tinue the march to Centreville as ordered, but would remain where he was, and that General Reynolds would bring back his division and join General King at daylight. Question by General MCDOWELL. Were you not also instructed to say that King would not move from where he was without instructions from General McDowell? Answer. It was explicitly understood that he would remain where he was until Gen- eral McDowell should send him fresh orders to the contrary. Question by General MCDOWELL. When you left General King had not the engagement entirely ceased? Answer. It had entirely ceased nearly an hour before I left General King. Question by General MCDOWELL. About how long did it continue? Answer. About an hour, I thought. Question by General MCDOWELL. Where did the engagement take place? Was it on the turnpike, or north of it or south of it? Answer. The troops were marching over the turnpike when they were shelled from the enemy, who was a short distance to the north. General Kings forces then left the turnpike and attacked them and drove them off. Question by General MCDOWELL. Did you bear any order to Gen- eral King from General McDowell requiring or permitting him to leave the place on the turnpike where he was when you left him? Answer. No, sir. Question by the COURT. Did General King strike the turnpike east or west of Groveton, or at Groveton? Answer. About a mile west of Groveton, I think. Question by the COURT. How far is Groveton from Gainesville? Answer. My impression was about 3 miles or 3j miles. Question by the COURT. At what time did you leave General King that afternoon or evening to convey a message from him to General McDowell? Answer. I think it was alittle after 9 oclock. Question by the COURT. Did you find General McDowell that night? Answer. I did not Page 209 CHAP. XXIV.] GENERAL REPORTS. 209 Question by the COURT. Where was Reynolds division when the attack was made on King? Answer. It had advanced over the turnpikes and about that time was about 3 miles in advance of General King from the place of the engagement. Capt. XV. II. W. KREBBS, additional aide-de-camp, U. S. Army, a witness, was duly sworii. Question by General MCDOWELL. Were you on duty with General McDowell on the 28th of August last? Answer. I was. Question by General MCDOWIi~LL. Did General McDowell send you to General Sigel on the occasion of the march from Gainesville toward Manassas Junction on the 28th of August last after the skirmish of Reynolds division? Answer. He did. Question by General MCDOWELL. Where did you find General Sigels command, on the north or south side of the Manassas Railroad? Answer. I found General Sigels command on the south side of the railroad; he and staff. I should think about 4 miles from Gainesville, on the south side of railroad. Question by General MCDOWELL. Did you represent to General Sigel that he was not on the right road, and that it was General McDowells order that he should go to the north of it? Answer. I told him that he was mistaken; that I understood the order that his right shonid rest on the railroad, his left ou our right, which was ou the Warrenton turn- pike. Question by General MCDOWELL. Were you sent a second time to General Sigel by General McDowell in the afternoon of the 28th? If so, what did you say to him? Answer. I was sent to him by General McDowell oii the afternoon of the 28thI shonid judge it was about 2 oclockto find out if the enemy was really at Manassas Junction or not. General Sigel said they were not; he was certain. His cavalry had been there; also Generals Reno and Kearny. I commnnicated this intelligence to General McDowell as soou as I got back. I fouud General Sigel the second time three quarters of a mile from the place where I delivered the first message, at a farm-honse, abont to dine. His artillery horses were unhitched and gone to water, and his men were building fires, preparing to cook their dinners. Question by the COURT. At what time did you report to General McDowell the answer of General Sigel? Answei-. I should think it was about half an hour after I left General Sigel. I rode as fast as my horse could go, which was my orders from General McDowell. Question by the COURT. On which side of and how far from the rail- road was General McDowell when you found him? Auswer. He was on the north side, near the railroad. Question by the COURT. How far from the Warrenton pike was he? Answer. About a half or three quarters of a mile. Col. EDMUND SCHUIVER, aide-de-camp, U. S. Army, a witness, was recalled. Question by General MCDOWELL. When General McDowell went to Reynolds division on the afternoon of the 28th where did he find Gen- eral Reynolds, and did General McDowell precede h~s division to Beth- lehem Church? 14 H HVOL XI Page 210 210 OPERATIONS IN N. VA., W. VA., AND MD. [CHAP. XXIV. Answer. He found him that afternoon at a farm-house, gettino~ dinner I t we preceded his division to Bethlehem Church. hink~ and Question by General MCDOWELL. You have stated it was dark when General McDowell left Manassas. Can you, on reflection, state more defluiitely as to the time he left I Answer. It was hardly dark, for I remember seeing the remains of the buildings that bad been burned the day before, and it was about dark when we were in the swamp and lost our way. The court instructed the recorder tQ address a communication to the War Department, calling attention to a communication addressed to the Department on the 30th December, 1862, for certain papers, and also requesting a copy of Major-General Banks report of the battle of Cedar Mountain, if the same be on file in the War Department. The court adjourned to meet to-morrow, January 15, 1863, at 11 oclock a. m. APPENDIX. A. GENERAL ORDERS, ~ HEAD QUARTERS ARMY OF VIRGINIA, No. . f Warrenton Junction, August 27, 1862. The following movement of troops will be made, viz: Major-General McDowell, with his own and Sigels corps and the division of Brigadier General Reynolds, will pursue the turnpike from Warrenton to Gainesville, so as to reach Gainesville, if possible, to- night. The army corps of General lleintzelman, with the detachment of the Ninth Corps under Major-General Reno (General Reno leading), will take the road from Catletts Station to Greenwich, so as to reach there to-night or early in the morning. 1ilajor-General Reno will imme- diately communicate with Major-General McDowell, and his command, as well as that of Major-General lleintzelman, will support Major-Gen- eral McDowell in any operations against the enemy. Maj. Gen. Fitz John Porter will remain at Warrenton Junction till he is relieved by Major-General Banks, when he will immediately push forward with his corps in the direction of Greenwich and Gainesville to assist the operations of the right wing. Major-General Banks, as soon as he arrives at Warrenton Junction, will assume the charge of the trains and cover their movement toward Manassas Junction. The train of his own corps, under escort of two regi- ments of infantry and battery of artillery, will pursue the roa(l south of the railroad which conducts into the rear of Manassas Junction. As soon as the trains have passed Warrenton Junction he will take post behind Cedar Run, covering the fords and bridges of that stream, and holding that position as long as possible. He will cause all the rail- road trains to be loaded with the public and private stores now here, and run back toward Manassas Junction as far as the railroad is prac- ticable. Wherever a bridge is burned so as to impede the farther passage of the railroad trains, he will assemble them all as near together as possible and protect them with his command until the bridges are re- built. If the enemy is too strong before him before the bridge can be repaired, he will be careful to destroy entirely the trains, locomotives, and stores before he falls back in the direction of Manassas Junction. He is, however, to understand that he is to defend his position as long a Page 211 CHAP. XXIV.] GENERAL REPORTS. 211 possible, keeping himself in constant communication with Major-Gen- eral Porter on his right. If any sick, now iii hospital at Warrenton Junction, are not provided fir and able to be transported, he will have them loaded into the wagon train of his own corps (even if this should necessitate the destruction of much baggage and regimental property) and carried to Manassas Junction. The major-general commanding the Army of Virginia feels assured that he will discharge these duties with intelligence, courage, and fidelity. The general headquarters will be with the corps of Major-General Heiutzelman until farther notice. By command of Major-General Pope: GEG. D. HUGGLES, B. Colonel and Chief of & aff. HEADQUARTERS ARMY OF VIRGINIA One mile below Warrenton, August 24, 18621 j. m. Major-General SIGEL, Commanding First Corps: General Buford reports his occupation of Waterloo Bridge without finding an enemy. He is ordered to destroy the bridge and await further orders. I think you will find no enemy between Waterloo Bridge and Sulphur Springs on this side of the river. Ascertain certainly if the enemy has built a bridge at Sulphur Springs, and destroy it if he has done so, and it be possible. As soon as you ascertain that there is no force of the enemy on this side of the river between Waterloo Bridge and Sulphur Springs you will halt, communicate with these headquarters by the direct road from Sulphur Springs to this place, and await further orders. JNO. POPE, Major- General, Commanding. C. WARRENTON JUNCTION, August 26, 1862[8.1O a. in.] Major-General MCDOWELL: I sent instructions last night to make a strong reconnaissance across to Sulphur Springs, intending that Sigel should do the same thing at Waterloo Bridge and iReno at IRappahannock Station. Sigel reports himself unable to do anything until his men are rested. I directed him to halt them somewhere near Warrenton and put them in camp for to-day. IReno, instead of going to Bealeton and thence to Kellys Ford, has come to this place and is now near here. You must, therefore, under these circumstances, exercise your discretion about the recon- naissance to Sulphur Springs; bnt it will certainly be well for you to ascertain what there is in the direction of Waterioo Bridge and still far- ther to your right. Send for General Milroy; he is a courageous man. I think Sigel must be crazy. If you deem it necessary assume command also of Sigels corps. It is essential that we should watch the move- ments of the enemy toward our right in some manner. Out of Bufords, Bayards, and Sigels cavalry enough can certainly be found to perform this service. Troops are accumulating here, but not very fast. Take charge of the front and use everybody you find there. JNO. POPE, Major-General, Commanding. P. S.I will push iReno to Fayetteville. It will be well to have the men cook three days rations. Please notify Banks and Sigel Page 212 212 OPERATIONS IN N VA., W. VA., AND MD. [CHAP. XXIV. FORTY-FOURTH DAY. COURT-ROOM, CoR. FOURTEENTH AND PA. AVENUE, Washington, D. 0., January 15, 1863. * * * * * * * Brig. Gen. RUFUS KING, U. S. Volunteers, a witness, was recalled. Question by the COURT. Where was your division on the morning of the 28th of Angnst, when the head of Reynolds column was asaulted by a section of the enemys artillery from the direction of Groveton, on the Warrenton pike? Answer. As nearly as I can remember my division that morning was near Buckland Mills, on the march between Buckland Mills and Groveton. Question by the COURT. Do you know where Gainesville is and the railroad from Gainesville to Manassas and Bethlehem Church l Answer. Yes, sir. Question by the COURT. Did your division march along the pike from Bnckland Mills and change direction toward Manassas on the 28th? Answer. Yes, sir. Question by the COURT. At what point of the pike, with reference to Gainesville, did your division change direction toward Manassas? Answer. I think it was 2 or 3 miles beyond Gainesville toward Centreville. Question by the COURT. Did you follow in the route of any other division; and, if so, what division 0? Answer. My impression is that we did, and that we followed the route of General Reynolds division. Question by the COURT. How near were you to the rear of the col- umn in advance of you? Answer. I do not remember, but I think we were within sight all the while, but am not sure of it. Question by the COURT. What was your formation of brigad9s and regiments in your march; that is, did you move by a flank, one regi- ment following in the same route as the preceding one, or how other- wise? Answer. My column marched by brigades and regiments in order of seniority; that is, my senior brigade leading the column, and by a flank, all on the same roa?. Question by the COURT. When you changed direction from the pike toward Manassas did you march to Bethlehem Church? Answer. We marched either to the church or to its immediate neighborhood. Question by the COURT. Did you cross to the south side of the rail- road, located between Gainesville and Manassas I Answer. I dont remember crossing the railroad, but we must have done so if we went as far as Bethlehem Church. Question by the COURT. By whose orders did you move your division in the manner and by the routes which you have now described? Answer. The order to march by divisions came from my commanding officer, Gen- eral McDowell; the manner of the movement was by my own directions. Question by the COURT. What orders in respect to your movements did you receive from General McDowell? State frilly and particularly. Answer. The only order I recollect of receivinu from General McDowell was th Page 213 CHAP. XXIV.] GENERAL REPORTS. 213 general order received that morning to move my division toward Manassas, but the details of the order have escaped my memory. As I remember the order was verbal. Question by the COURT. On your route that day did you meet Gen- cral McDowell; and, if so, where? Answer. I think I saw General McDowell twice at least on that day; on the morn- ing before we marched at or near Buckland Mills, and in the afternoon I think 2 or 3 miles to the right of the Warrenton turnpike, in the direction of Bethlehem Clinrch. My impression is this was about 4 oclock in the afternoon. Question by the COURT. Did you receive an order changing the direc- tiois of your divisioti that afternoon; and, if so, what was that order? Answer. I received an order from General McDowell tnr~ing my division back to ihe Warrenton pike, with instructions to march to or toward Centreville, and with the caution to look out for my left flank. This was at the time of the last interview I had with General McDowell. Question by the COURT. Was this order communicated to you by 47~eneral McT)owell in person, by an aide, or in writing? Answer. My recollectiou is that it was a verbal order, communicated through an aide on the generals staff; yet 1 have the impression that it was the general himself who cautioned me to look out for my left flank. Question by the COURT. Was or was not the place of this interview, at the point described by yon, in the immediate neighborhood of Beth- lehem Church? Answer. No; my recollection is that it was nearer to the Warrenton turnpike than to the Bethlehem Church considerably. Question by the COURT. Did you turn back to the pike or proceed toward Bethlehem Church? Answer. We went back to the pike and marched along it. Question by the COURT. Do you then mean to be understood that you did not go to the immediate neighborhood of Bethlehem Church? Answer. My first impression was that we went to the Bethlehem Chnrch. Since recalling my last interview with the general I am now under the impression that I went no nearer to the Bethlehem Church than the place of interview. Question by the COURT. Did you encounter the enemy after return- ing to the Warrenton pike and where? Answer. Near Groveton, on the left of the pike. I think the engagement commenced about 6 oclock. Question by the COURT. How long did the engagement last? Answer. I judge about and hour and a half. Question by the COURT. What was the result of it? Answer. The attack of the enemy was repulsed and my troops maintained possession of the ground. We collected our dead and wounded. The severity of the action you can judge from the fact that the Second Brigade of my division, nuder General Gib- bon, consisting of four regiments, numbering about 2,300 men, assisted by two regi- ments from Doubledays brigade, were engaged in the action. Gibbons brigade lost in killed, wounded, and missing about 7~2. The entire loss of Gibbon and Double- day was about 1,000. Question by the COURT. How long did you retain possession of the ground, and when you moved where did you go? Answer. We remained at or near the battle-field till toward 2 oclock on the morn- ing of the 29th. then we fell back toward the neighborhood of Manassas Junction. Question by the COURT. What orders or occasioli had you to fall back to the neighborhood of Manassas Junctioii? Answer. The falling back was in pursuance of a consultation with my general off Page 214 214 OPERATIONS IN N. VA., W. VA., AND MD. [CHAP. XXIV. cers, under the opinion that the enemy was in forge too strong where we were and that it was our duty to join the main body of our troops. Question by the COURT. What do you mean by the main body of our troops and where did you suppose them to be? Answer. I supposed at the time one large body of our troops was at or near Centre- vile and another at or near Manassas Junction. It was the opinion of my officers that we could not with safety, or without involving the loss of our division, pursue our march to Centreville, and our only alternative, therefore, was to pursue the route to Manassas Junction. Question by the COURT. What troops did you suppose to be at Ma. nassas Junction? Answer. I have no distinct impression. I had the general belief that a large body was there; what divisions I did not know. Question by the COURT. Had you any directions or information from General McDowell as to his headquarters or where to apply to him in any emergency? Answer. I had with me at the time two or three of General McDowells staff one of whom I sent immediately after the action to where I supposed General McDowell to be, which was in the immediate neighborhood of Manassas Junction. I think the officer was Captain Haven. Question by the COURT. Had you any orders or directions given to you by General McDowell to return that night to Manassas? Answer. I had no orders on that subject. I acted on my own responsibility. The court was cleared. The court .was opened. Question by the COURT. Did General McDowell ever investigate your movements and action in that partienlar and approve or disap- prove them? Answer. I am not aware that General McDowell investigated the movement, nor do I know whether he expressed approval or disapproval. He did not to me. Question by the COURT. Had you any information from General Mc- Dowell or otherwise as to the position of Sigels corps and Reynolds division that night? Answer. I do not remember to have received any. Question by General MCDOWELL. After leaving Gainesville to what point did you follow in the route of another division in your march? Did you continue to follow it after you left the turnpike? Answer. We followed it along the turnpike for some distance and then turned to the right some miles beyond Gainesville. We followed it while on the turnpike, but did not follow it after we left the turnpike. Question by General MCDOWELL. After the engagement of the even- ing of the 28th did General Reynolds personally join you before you fell back? Answer. I have tried repeatedly to recall that circumstance of his joining me and holding a conversation with me, but I cannot recollect the fact. Question by General MCDOWELL. Did you not quit the command of the division on the forenoon of the 29th? Answer. I did. Question by General MCDOWELL. Were you not ill on and after the time of your leaving the division, and have you made any report to General McDowell of the operations of your division in the campaign in Virginia Page 215 CHAP. XXIV.] - GENERAL REPORTS. 215 Answer. I was ill for some time and unfit for duty, still retaining command of the division, until the 29th of August. After that time I was sick in Washington, and on leave from Adjutant-Genera ls Office. Understanding that General Hatch, my suc- cessor, had made the report, I did not consider that one was required from me. Brig. Gen. JAMES B. RICKETTS, U. S. Volunteers, a witness, was duly sworn. The court was cleared. The court was opened. Question by the COURT. Were you commanding a division in Gen- eral McDowells corps on the 28th of August last? Answer. Yes. Question by the COURT. At what time did you reach Thoroughfare Gal) on the morning of that day with your division? Answer. I dont know the time of day. I do not know that it was in the morning; I think it was in the afternoon. Question by the COURT. Had you any orders from Gen~ral Mc- Dowell in respect to your movements that day? If so, how were they communicated, and when, and what were they? State fully and par- ticularly. Answer. I received an order on that day to send a brigade and a battery of artillery to support Colonel Wyndham at Thoroughfare Gap and to push on to the same place with the rest of my division. I do not know what hour of the day the order was re- ceived, but should judge some time in the forenoon. I was at the time with my divis- ion on the road from Buckland Mills to Gainesville and marched directly across the country by Hay Market. This order was brought to me by Captain Wadsworih, of General McDowells staff, and was in writing. Somewhere between Hay Market and Thoroughfare Gap I saw Captain Leski, of General McDowells staff, who gave direc- tions to go to Thoroughfare Gap; he gave pretty much the same order, to go there and support Colonel Wyndliam at the Gap. That is all I recollect. Question by the COURT. Can you produce the written order referred to? The witness prodnced the order, which is in pencil, dated August 28, and signed by Edmund Seliriver, colonel and chief of staff. The recorder read the order, which is appended to the proceedings of this day and marked A. Question by the COURT. On the 28th of August had you any corn- i~nnication with General McDowell designating his headquarters or where to communicate with him if any emergency should require it; and, if so, what was such communication ~ Answer. I have a copy of an order sent to me, in which it is stated that General McDowells headquarters would be at Kings division. The witness produced a copy of General Orders, No. 10, dated Head- quarters Third Corps, Reynolds camp, Army of Virginia, which order is the same as found in appendix B to the proceedings of the twenty- ninth day. Question by the COURT. At what time did you receive the copy of Orders, No. 10, and was it before or after the order to go to Thorough- fare Gap, already produced by you ~ Answer. I dont recollect the time. It must have been received before. Question by the COURT. Did you have any engagement with the en- emy at the Gap; and, if so, at what time? Answer. I had an engagement in the afternoon of the 28th, which continued until dark Page 216 216 OPERATIONS IN N. VA., W. VA., AND MD. [Cuir. XXIV. Question by the COURT. At what time did you retire from the Gap and where did you go? Answer. I retired from the Gap just after dark on the evening of the 28th, and rested my division that night between Hay Market and Gainesville. I was myself at Gainesville. Question by the COURT. Did you not receive notice from General McDowell during the afternoon of the 28th, or while you were at Gainesville, that Reynolds and Kings divisions had been directed to. ward Centreville? Answer. I dont recollect of receiving that. Question by the COURT. Where did you move when you left Hay Market and Gainesville and at what time did you start? Answer. I moved toward Manassas, and started very early in the morning of the 29thafter break of day. Question by the COURT. Before or after sunrise? Answer. It is impossible for me to say; it was somewhere about san~ise; whether before or after I cannot say. Question by the COURT. How near to Manassas did you go? Answer. I went past Manassas Junction. Question by the COURT. How far past Manassas Junction did you go and where? Answer. I was conducted by a guide on the Sudley Springs road, and remained near the road, not far from the Henry house, where the headquarters of my division re- mained for the night. Question by the COURT. After leaving Gainesville on the morning of the 29th did you receive any orders from General McDowell; and, if so, where were you when you firs1~ received them? Answer. I received some orders sGmewhere between Gainesville and Manassas from General McDowell. I think somewhere nearer Manassas than Gainesville. I do not remember the precise point. If not in Wadsworth. istaken, the order was brought me by Captain Question by the COURT. What orders or occasion had you to go from Thoroughfare Gap to the place last referred to by you, between Gaines. ville and Manassas? Answer. I left Thoroughfare Gap because the enemy was turning the right and left flank. I left Gainesville because General King sent me word that he would retire to- ward Manassas; that was all. Question by the COURT. Did any communication other than the one referred to in your last answer pass between you and General King during the 28th August and up to the time that you moved from Gaines. yule on the morning of the 29th? And, if so, state what they were. Answer. I had two communications from General King; the first stating that he haul an engagement with the enemy and had held his ground; the other representing a large force of the enemy in front of him, and that be would retire toward Manas- Sag. In answer to the last I told him that I would retire from my position. I do not recollect of any others. Question by the COURT. Why did you not await orders from Gen- eral MeI)oxvell to move from Gainesville on the morning of the 29th August? Answer. When General King sent me word that he would retire I then knew I would be nnsupported. Question by the COURT. Have you knowledge of any neglect or omission of General McDowell in respect to the management of hi Page 217 CHAP. XXIV.] GENERAL REPORTS. 217 troops, or keeping them in communication with him, or co-operation with each other, on the 28th or 29th of August? And, if so, state it fully. Answer. I know of no such neglect or omission. The court adjourned to meet to-morrow, January 16, 1863, at 11 oclock a. m. APPENDIX. A. 10.15 A. M. The enemy is advancing through the pass. W. LESKI, Gaptain and Aide-de.Gamjp. Colonel Wyndham will halt them as long as he can, and asks to be re-enforced. W. L. AUGUST 28. Send a brigade and a battery to assist Colonel Wyndham, and follow them up by your whole division. ED. SCIIRIVER, Colonel, d~e. General RICKETTS. FORTY-FIFTH DAY. COURT.ROO1ViE~ Con. FOURTEENTH AND PA. AVENUE, Washington, D. 0., January 16, 1863. * * * * * * * Brig. Gen. JAMES B. IRICKETTS, U. S. Volunteers, the witness under examination, appeared before the court. Question by General MCDOWELL. What oclock on the 28th of August were you ordered to march from your bivouac beyond Buckland Mills Y Answer. I was ordered to march at 2 oclock in the morning. Question by General MCDOWELL. How far did you march on the Warrenton turnpike before you turned off the road to go by Hay Market .under the order given you by Captain Wadsworth? Answer. I bad crossed the bridge at Broad Rnn, and was but a very short distance Worn it. Question by General MCDOWELL. Where did the order brought to you by Captain Wadsworth find you; on which side of the bridge? Answer. On the side nearest Gainesville. Question by General MCDOWELL. Do you know any cause of delay in your getting forward from your bivouac to the place where you turned oft: were there any obstructions in the road? Answer. The road was very much encumbered by wagons. I saw a very large num- her in the vicinity of~ this streamBroad Run Page 218 218 OPERATIONS IN N. VA., W. VA., AND MD. (CHAP. XXIV. Maj. Gen. E. A. HITCHCoCK, U. S. Volunteers, a witness, was duly sworn. Question by General MCDOWELL. State if your official positiou and connection with the Government were such at the time as to enable you to know or to give you good grounds for judging as to General Mc- iDowell having or not in April last sought, induced, or procured the separation of his army corps from the Army of the Potomac, with a view to having a separate command for himself; and, if so, whether or not the retention of the corps was, to the best of your knowledge and belief, so Light, induced, or procured by him, or was made by the Gov. eminent for public reasons, based on the representations of others? State fully what you know of this matter. Answer. I was on duty in the War Office, under the immediate orders of the Secre- tary of War, from the middle of March until the middle of May last. That period embraces the time referred to in this question. The circumstances which led to the detention of General McDowells army corps in the early part of April, as a covering army for the city of Washington, were, I believe, very fully known to me, and I am very sure that personally General McDowell had nothing whatever to d~o in procuring the orders which detained him in front of Washington. I am very sure that his first information on the subject was derived from the order itself, directing his detention here. I saw General MCDowell soon after that, and his first expressions to me in ref- erence to the order were those of deep regret. He had hoped, as he said to me, to ac- company the army to the Peninsula, where he was anxious to be put in a position to do something in his profession as a military man, by which I inferred very plainly that he hoped to have had an opportunity of distinguishing himself as a soldier. His lan- guage and his deportment gave me the belief that he was, as he said, truly disappointed, and for the reason he assigned. The facts in the case would be best seen by a recital of the circumstances nuder which the orders were given. The witness, with the permission of the court, referred to certain pa- pers in his possession with a view of refreshing his memory in regard to dates, which papers he would place at the disposal of the court, should it so direct. The witness continued: In order to understand the case fully I think it necessary to refer to an order from the Prebident, dated 31st January last. The order was here produced and read by the recorder. It is Presi- dents Special Orders, No. 1, dated Executive Mansion, Washington, January 31, 1862, and is appended to the proceedings of this day and marked A. The witness continued: On the delivery of the order just read there m.nst have been some plan from General McClellan proposing some other mode of operation. I have not that plan and am not able to produce it; but I have a paper from the President, dated February 3, which evidently followed it. This paper was read by the recorder, and is from Abraham Lincoln to Major-General McClellan, dated Executive Mansion, Washington, February 3, 1862, and is appended to the proceedings of this day, marked B. The witness continued: The President subsequently appears to have yielded his plan to that of General Mc- Clellan, but in doing so issued this order, dated March 8. The order was read by the recorder, and is ~ General War Orders, No. 3, dated Executive Mansion, Washington, March 8, 1862, and is appended to this days proceedings, marked C. The witness continued: That order led to a conference of the general officers commanding army corps, the result of which was reported March 13 Page 219 CHAr. XXIV.] GENERAL REPORTS. 219 The recorder here read the paper referred to, dated Headquarters Army of the Potomac, Fairfax Court-House, March 13, 1862; which paper is appended to the proceedings of this day and marked D. The witness continued: The plan alluded to in that paper drew from Mr. Stanton, the Secretary of War, communicating the orders of the President, the following paper, dated March 13. The paper was read by the recorder; is from the Secretary of War to Major-General McClellan, dated War Department, March 13, 1862, and is appended to the proceedings of this day, marked E. The witness continued: This repetition of those conditions shows the importance attached to them by the President. After General McClellan left the front of Washington it was observed in the War Department that his orders for the movement of the troops did not appear to conteml)late having such a force for the protection of Washington as the orders of the President required, and a good deal of concern was expressed and felt by the Secre- tary of War on this subject. On the 2d of April, 1862, General Wadsworth made a report to the Secretary of War, setting forth the amount of the force left nnder~his com- mand in Washington torether with the condition and the character of the troops. That report is the following, which I lay on the table of the court. The recorder read the report, which is dated Headquarters Military District of Washington, Washington, D. C., April 2, 1862, and ad- dressed to the Hon. Secretary of War, and is appended to the proceed- ings of this day and marked F. The witrnss continued: On the 19th of April an order was issued by authority of the Secretary of War, the object of which was to ascertain the condition and strength of the force in the city of Washington by actual inspection. I lay before the court a copy of the order, and the report of Major Jones, the inspecting officer. The recorder read the papers referred to; one from Major-General Hitchcock, by order of the Secretary of War, dated War Department, Washington, D. C., April 19, 1862; the other dated War Department, Washington City, April 19, 1862, and which papers are appended to this days proceedings, marked respectively G and H. The witness continued: It is proper that I should state in this connection that the troops thus paraded did not embrace those of the fortifications on the south side of the Potomac, but did em- brace some of the recently arrived recruits from the North, which may account for their unprepared condition in some degree. About that time I held repeated con- versations with General Doubleday, who had the immediate command of the forts south of the Potomac, for the purpose of ascertainin the condition of the troops in the forts. He told me on three several occasions, wit intervals of a few days, that he had been unable t~o procure ammunition on his requisition to supply the fortifica- tions. After talking with him the third time I reported the i~nattcr to the Secretary of War, who immediately sent for General Doubleday, and the necessary orders were given by which that deficiency was supplied. I now lay before the court a communi- cation from General McClellan, dated April 1, 1862. The communication referred to was read by the recorder; is from Major-General McClellan to Brig. Gen. L. Thomas, dated Headquarters Army of the Potomac, steamer Commodore, April 1, 1862, and is ap- pended to this days proceedings, marked I. The witness continued: On the 2d April certain papers were referred to General Thomas and General Hitchcock (myself) by the Secretary of War nuder an order of which this is a copy. The recorder read the order, which is dated War Department, Wash- ington City, April 2, 1862, from the Secretary of War, and is appended to the proceedings of this day, marked K. The witness continued Page 220 220 OPERATIONS IN N. VA., W. VA., AND MD. [CHAP. XXIV. In obedience to that order General Thomas and myself examined the papers referred to in it, and made a joint report, of which this is a copy. The recorder then read a report from Major-General Hitchcock and Bfig. (len. L. Thomas, dated Washington, ID. 0., April 2, 1862, which is appended to the proceedings of this day, marked L. The witness continued: I would state here that a part of the force referred to in General McClellans report General Blenkers divisionhad at that time been either ordered out of his depart- ment, or was soon to be, by the President himself, and could not properly be consid- ered a part of the force for the defense of Washington in any sense, and was not to be delayed, even in the Shenandoah Valley. It was to go to what was called the Mount- ain Department, under General Fr6mont. It will be observed presently that the President, in a letter to General McClellan, refers to the removal of Bknkers division as if it had been determined with the sanc- tion of General McClellan, though reluctantly. When I heard of the design to remove that division from the front of Washington I expressed my opinion to the Secretary of War that it ought not to be done. He acquiesced at once in that view, and desired me to go with him to the President and explain it to the President, which I did, but without success. On returning to the War Office the importance of the pnint seemed to be so great that I made a written statement of my reasons March 30, which I gave to the President the next morning. This is a copy of those reasons. The copy was read by the recorder; is dated March 30, 1862, and i8 appended to the proceedings of this day, marked M. The witness continued: This effort on my part failed. That division left the Shenandoah Valley. General Banks had been ordered into the valley because of the attack made by Jackson upon Shields. This still farther reduced the force in front of Washington. I ought to state that Blenker did not leave that valley for some weeks, and because it was under orders which I could not succeed in having revoked; therefore his force was not to be counted upon for the defense of Washington. I had these particulars before my mind in signing the joiut report with General Thomas. I considered, further, that the opinion of the four commanders of the corps darm6e, setting forth the force necessary for the security of Washington, as confined to the city and its defenses on I he other side of the Potomac, extending as far as Manassas and Warrentonthat front in gen- eral, but that it did not include the vidley of the Shenandoah; that the troops in that valley could not be withdrawn with safety was my clear and decided opinion. Looking, then, to the number of troops whieb might be counted upon for the protec- tion of the city I could not make out 25,000 men as a unit of force, including the occupation of the garrisons north aud south of the river and the force within the city, after allowing the usual deduction for the sick, & c. When these reports came hefore the President he was manifestly under great anxiety. It was his declared wish to give to General McClellan all the force he called for and all of the means which could be thrown into his hands to execute his purpose, but finally, after much con- sideration, he determined to order one of the two remaining corps then in front of Washington to be detained here, leaving the selection with the Secretary of War, who designated the corps commanded by General McDowell. As soon as this was reported to General McClellan he complained of it as an interference with his com- mand, calculated to lead to the most dangerous consequences. He asked for two of the three divisions constituting that corps (Franklins and McCalls), and if he could not get two he was particularly anxious to have Franklins division. The President came to the War Oflice in person and held a discussion of some length with several of the chiefs of bureaus in the War Department in the presence of the Secretary of War. I cannot from memory recite the particulars of that discussion. I was )resent and heard it. Sonic opinions were averse to sendiwr any part of that force1 to the Pen- insula. I think that one, and one officer only, was in favor of sending the whole of it. At length the President asked me, individually, whether I thought the city would be safe with the two divisions if Franklin should be sent away. I told him I thought it would be safe, and he then wrote the order for Franklins division to go to General McClellan. Gcneral McDowell was not present at this consultation that I remember. I now lay before the court a letter from the President, dated April 9. It contains the passage in reference to General Bleaker which I referred to in my testimony. I place it before the court more particularly because it alludes to the force left for the defense of Washington. The Presidents letter referred to was read by the recorder, and is appended to the proceedings of this day and marked Y Page 221 CHAP. XXIV.] GENERAL REPORTS. 221 The witness continued: I believe 1 have given all of the information on that point showing the reasons why General McDowell was detained in front of Washington. I wish to be under- stood as stating very positively that every step taken in that matter was induced, as I believe, by great public necessity, and with very great reluctance, on the part of the President, so far as General McClellan was concerned. It was the manifest lesire of the President and of the Secretary of War to send to General McClellan all the means in their power to enable him to make a successful campaign. Question by the COURT. When did the enemy evacuate Centreville and Manassas ~ Answer. In answer to that question I will state that I have seen an official report from General McClellan, dated Fairfax Court House, March 11, 8.30 p. in., in which he states that the rebels have left all their positions. Question by the COURT. State in this connection the effect of the movement proposed by General McClellan by Urbana and the York River, referred to in the letter by the President dated February 3, 1862, before the evacaation of Centreville and Manassas by the enemy, and contrast it with the movement proposed by the President,~ stated in the same letter~ Answer. I can only give my impression or opinion in regard to this. I have never had any doubt myself that the movement proposed by the way of Urbana or the Pen- insula was injudicious. It has always appeared to me that if the enemy could have known of this plan before abandoning his position on the Potomac and at Mana~sas those positions would not have been abandoned; on the contrary, my opinion has been constantly that the proposed movement of a large part of the force in front of Washington would have induced the enemy to make an effort to seize Washington. I have attached very great importance to the possession of Washington, not so much as a military point, but from its political position. Washington is the capital of the United States. The Government is here. The archives of the nation are all here. It is 1 he depository of the original Declaration of Indepene ence and of the Constitution of the Unhed States. It is the residence of foreign ministers. These and many similar considerations give to this city a peculiar character. Its possession, even for a short time by the enemy, would have injured the cause of the country more than the loss of many battles at a distance from this point. I have always thought that the true mode of advance upon the enemy was something like that proposed by the President keeping the army within striking distance of Washington in the effort to make an effective blow upon the enemy in his positions. The details of such a move- ment I have not particularly thought about, having had no Occasitn to do so. Question by General MCDOWELL. So far as you know, what has been the character of the service rendered by General McDowellfaithful and loyal, or otherwise ~ Answer. I have known General McDowell many years. I have seen him on duty in the happiest relations with that honored chief Lieutenant-General Scott. I have kept my eyes upon him since this unhappy war broke out, and not the shade of a suspicion has ever crossed my mind tonching his entire loyalty. From my knowledge of General McDowell it would be impossible for me to conceive him disloyal. I re- gard him as a true and faithful patriot. Question by the COURT. Viewed in a military light, state the respon- sibilities of the movement of the Army of the Potomac to the Peninsala without leaving the force decided by the President to guard and cover Washington, if such was the fact, and the reasons which such fact would impose for detaining the corps of General McDowell in April last. Answer. It was the opinion of the President, undoubtedly, that his order of the 8th of March, with respect to the safety of the capital, had not been complied with by General McClellan. In referring to it in his letter of the 9th of April he uses the delicate language that his instruction had been neglected. I certainly was of the same opinion; in plain terms the order had been disobeyed, and I hold it to be a military principle that whenever an officer departs from the instructions of a superior he takes upon himself the entire responsibility of all the consequences; and in th Page 222 222 OPERATIONS IN N. VA., W. VA., AND MD. [CHAP. XXIV. present case, when the President interposed, and by an order of his own made good his original instructions, he performed an act of high duty, to which General McClellan could properly take no exception; arid if in that act he diminished the force of Gen- eral McClellan, and subjected him to any evil consequences whatever, the responsi- bility for it was with General McClellan and not with the President. Question by General MCDOWELL. Do you know if the Secretary of War reproached General McDowell for failing to fulfill the duty im- posed on him as a corps commander by the President in the matter of the force to be left for the protection of the capital I Answer. I have no recollection of anything of that kind. Col. EDMUND SCHUIVER, aide-de-~amp, U. S. Army, a witness, was recalled. Question by General MCDOWELL. Lay before the court General Orders, No. 2. Colonel Schriver presented General Orders, No.2, dated Headquarters Department of the Rappahannock, Fairfax Court-House, April 10,1862, which is appended to the proceedings of this day, marked P. The court instructed the recorder to address a communication to the War Department, requesting the notes of the council of division com- manders of the Army of the Potomac, held in Washington at the Head- qwarters of the Army of the Potomac and at the Presidents in Feb- ruary or March, 1862. The court adjourned to meet to-morrow, January 17, 1863, at 11 oclock a. m. APPENDIX. A PRESIDENTS SPECIAL EXECUTIVE MANSION, WAR ORDER, No. 1. Washington, Jan. 31, 1862. Ordered, That all the disposable force of the Army of the Potomac, after providing safely for the defense of Washington, be formed into an expedition for the immediate object of seizing and occupying a point upon the railroad southwestward of what is known as Manassas Junction, all details to be in the discretion of the General-in-Chief; and the expedi- tion to move before or on the 22d day of February next. A. LiNCOLN. B. EXECUTIVE MANSION, Washington, February 3, 1862. Major-General MCCLELLAN: My DEAR SIR: You and I have distinct and different plans for a movement of the Army of the Potomac: Yours to be down the Chesa- peake, up the Rappahannock to Urbana and across land to the terminus of the railroad on the York River; mine, to move directly to a point on the railroad southwest of Manassas. If you will give me satisfactory answers to the following questions I shall gladly yield my plan to yours: 1st. Does not your plan involve a greatly larger expenditure of time and money than mine? 2d. Wherein is a victory more certain by your plan than mine? 3d. Wherein is a victory more valuable by your plan than mine Page 223 CHAP. XXIV.] GENERAL REPORTS. 223 4th. In fact would it not be less valuable in this, that it would break no great line of the enemys communication, while mine would? 5th. In case of disaster would not a safe retreat be more difficult by your plan than by mine? Yours, truly, A. LINCOLN. C. PRESIDENTS CTENERAL EXECUTIVE MANSION, WAR ORDER, No. 3. f Washington, March 8, 1862. Ordered, That no change of the base of operations of the Army of the Potomac shall be made without leaving in and about Washington such a force as in the opinion of the General.in.Chief and the commanders of all the army corps shall leave said city entirely secure. That no more than two army corps (about 50,000 troops) of said Army of the Potomac shall be moved en route for a new base of opera. tions until the navigation of the Potomac from Washington to the Chesapeake Bay shall be freed from enemys batteries and other obstruc~ tions, or until the President shall hereafter give express permission. That any movements as aforesaid en route for a new base of opera- tions which may be ordered by the General-in.Chief, and which may be intended to move upon the Chesapeake Bay, shall begin to move upon the bay as early as the 18th day of March instant, and the General-in- Chief shall be responsible that it so move as early as that day. Ordered, that the Army and Navy co-operate in an immediate effort to capture the enemys batteries upon the Potomac between Washing- ton and the Chesapeake Bay. A. LINCOLN. D. HEADQUARTERS ARMY OF THE POTOMAC, Fairfax Court-House, March 13, 1862. A council of the generals commanding army corps at the Headquar- ters Army of the Potomac were of the opinion I. That, the enemy having retreated from Manassas to Gordonsville, behind the Rappahannock and Rapidan, it is the opinion of the gen- erals commanding army corps that the operations to be carried on will be best undertaken from Old Point Comfort, between the York and James River, upon Richmond, provided 1. That the enemys vessel Merrimac can be neutralized. 2. That the means of transportation sufficient for an immediate trans- fer of the force to its new base can be ready at Washington and Alex- andria to move down the Potomac- and 3. That a naval auxiliary force can be had to silence or aid in silenc- ing the enemys batteries in York River. 4. That the force to be left to cover Washington shall be such as to give an entire feeling of security for its safety from menace. Unanimous. II. If the foregoing cannot be, the army should then be moved against the enemy behind the Rappahannock at the earliest possible moment, and the means for reconstructing bridges, repairing railroads, and stocking them with material sufficient for the supplying the army should at once be collected for both the Orange and Alexandria and the Aquia and Richmond Railroads. Unanimous Page 224 224 OPERATIONS IN N. VA., W. VA., AND MD. [CHAP. XXIV. NOTE .That, with the forts on the right bank of the Potomac fully garrisoned, and those on the left bank occupied, a covering force in front of the Virginia line of 25,000 men would suffice. KEYES. [IIEINTZELMAN.] McDOWELL. A total of 40,000 men for the defense of the city would suffice. SUMNER. WAR DEPARTMENT, March 13, 1862. Maj. Gen. GEORGE B. MCCLELLAN: The President, having considered the plan of operations agreed upon by yourself and the commanders of army corps, makes n~ objection to the same, but gives the following directions as to its execution: 1st. Leave such force at Manassas Junction as shall make it entirely certain that the enemy shall not repossess himself of that position and line of communication. 2d. Leave Washington entirely secure. 3d. Move the remainder of the force down the Potomac, choosing a new base at Fort Monroe or anywhere between here and there, or at all events move such remainder of the army at once in pursuit of the enemy by some route. Seven oclock 40 minutes. EDWIN M. STANTON, Secretary of War. F. HEADQUARTERS MILITARY DISTRICT OF WASHINGTON, Washington, D. C., Ajpri~ 2, 1862. Hon. SECRETARY OF WAR: SIR: I have the honor to submit the following condensed statements of the forces left under my command for the defense of Washington: Infantry . 15, ~ Artillery 4,294 Cavalry (six companies only mounted) 848 Total 20,477 Deduct sick and in arrest and confinement 1,455 Total present for duty 19,022 I have no mounted light artillery under my command. Several com- panies of the reserve artillery of the Army of the Potomac are still here, but not under my command or fit for service. From this force I am ordered by General McClellan to detail two regiments (good ones) to Richardsons division (Sumners corps) as it passes through Alexandria; one regiment to replace the Thirty-seventh New York Volunteers in Heintzelmans old division; one regiment to relieve a regiment of Hookers division at Budds Ferry; total, four regiments. I am also further ordered this morning by telegraph to send 4,000 men to relieve General Sumner at Manassas and Warrenton, that he may embark Thrthwith Page 225 CHAP. XXIV.] GENERAL REPORTS. 225 In regar(l to the character and efficiency of the troops under my com- mand, I have to state that nearly all the force is new and imperfectly disciplined; that several of the regiments are in a very disorganized condition from varions causes, which it is not necessary to state here. Several regiments having been relieved from brigades which have gone into the field in consequence of their unfitness for service, the best regi- ments remaining have been selected to take their place. Two heavy artillery regiments and one infantry regiment which had been drilled for some months in artillery service have been withdrawn from the forts on the south side of the Potomac, and I have only been able to fill their places with very new infantry regiments, entirely unacquainted with the duties of that arm, and of little or no value in thier present position. I am not informed of the position which Major-General Banks is di- rected to take, but at this time he is, as I understand, on the other side of the Bull Run Mountains, leaving my command to cover the front from Manassas Gap (about 20 miles beyond Manassas) to Aquia Creek. I deem it my duty to state that, looking at the numerical strength and character of the force under my command, it is, in my judgment, en- tirely inadequate to, and unfit for, the important duty to which it is assigned. I regard it very improbable that the enemy will assail us at this point, but this belief is based upon the hope that they may be promptly en- gaged elsewhere and may not learn the number and character of the force left here. I have the honor to be, your obedient servant, JAS. S. WADSWORTH, Brigadier- General, Commanding. APPENDIX. G. WAR DEPARTMENT, Washington City, D. C., April 19, 1862. The Secretary of War desires General Wadsworth to assume a sup- posed attack.by the enemy on Washington; that General Wadsworth hears of it on the receipt of this memorandum, and gives immediate orders to meet it by calling out his force, to be placed in line of battle; that Assistant Adjutant-General Jones, as inspector-general, be directed to report to the War Department in person the number and condition of the troops three hours after this order shall have been given. By command of the Secretary of War: - E. A. HITCHCOCK, Major- General, on duty in the War Department. H. WAR DEPARTMENT, Washington C~ity, April 19, 1862. Report qf Assistant Inspector- General Miaj. Roger Jones of the forces as- sembled at 7 oclock p. m. at north end of Long Bridge a~nd Aqueduct. General Wadsworth received the order of the Secretary at 2.45 p. m. Came to War Office at 3.15 p. m. to get the order revoked, which was 15 H HVOL XI Page 226 226 OPERATIONS IN N. VA., W. VA., AND MD. [CHAP. XXIV. refused, and at 3.30 p. m. General Wadsworth left to execute it. At 4 p. m. he issued his orders. At the Aqueduct the following troops assembled: Armed. Ammunition. Men. I. A German regiment Muskets.. 10 rounds 948 told New York, Colonel Wadsworth, [?] two companies do... -- None 536 lOld New York, Colonel Wadsworth, [i] four companies . .. .do 40 rounds .. 86th New York.. City Gunid ~ four companies do Little 200 10th New Jersey,) one company do do ... S 1,684 The last-named men reached ground at 8 p. m. LONG BRIDGE. Armed. Ammunition. Men. 91st Pennsylvania ReglmenL arrived 7.30 p. m . Muskets.. Sufficient 560 10th New Jersey, four companies, arrived 8 p. m do None 180 2d Regiment District Volunteers arrived 8 p. m do 35 rounds 600 3d New York Cavalry (Colonel Mix): Good horses; all revolvers 575 and sabers, and ammunition; one company, carbines and ammunition. 4th Pennsylvania, three squadrons of cavalry: Sabers and ye- 250 volvers; noammunition. Two batteries Rocket Battalion, two companies; one company - 160 reached ground 1.45 p. in.; the other company reached ground I 9.30 p. In.; eight guns, with ammunition. Maine Artillery, one battery; only obtained gnus yesterday; 115 horses to-day; no ammunition; six rifled guns. Total at Long Bridge 2,440 Total at Aqueduct 1,614 Aggregate 4, 1 i~4 Colonel Mixs cavalry regiment the most efficient regiment by far. I. HEADQUARTERS ARMY OF THE POTOMAC, AS~teamer commodore, April 1, 1862. Brig. Gen. LORENZO THOMAS, Adjutant-General U. A3. Army: GENERAL: I have to request that you will lay the following commu- nication before the honorable Secretary of War. The approximate numbers and positions of the troops left near and in rear of the Potomac are about as follows: General Dix has, after guarding the railroads under his charge, snffi- cient troops to give him 5,000 for the defense of Baltimore and 1,988 available for the Eastern Shore, Annapolis, & c. Fort Delaware is very well garrisoned by about 400 men. The garrisons of the forts around Washington amount to 10,600 men; other disposable troops now with General Wadsworth being about 11,400 men. The troops employed in guaiding the various railways in Maryland amount to some 3,359 men. These it is designed to relieve, being old regiments, by dismounted cavalry, and to send forward to Manassas. General Abercrombie occupies Warrenton with a force which, in Page 227 CHAP. XXIV.] GENERAL REPORTS. 227 cluding Colonel Geary at White Plains and the cavalry to be at his disposal, will amount to some 7,780 men, with twelve pieces of artillery. I have the honor to request that all the troops organized for service in Peiinsylvania and New York and in any of the Eastern States may be ordered to Washington. I learn from Governor Curtin that there are some 3,500 men now ready in Pennsylvania. This force I should be glad to have sent at once to Manassas. Four thousand men from Gen- eral Wadsworth I desire to be ordered to Manassas. These troops, with the railroad guards above alluded to, will make up a force under the command of General Abercrombie to something like 18,639 men. It is my design to push General Blenkers division from Warrenton upon Strasburg. He should remain at Strasburg, too, long enough to allow matters to assume a definite form in that region before proceed- ing to his ultimate destination. The troops in the valley of the Shenandoah will thus, including Blenkers division, 10,028 strong, with twenty-four pieces of artillery; Banks Fifth Corps, which embraces the command of General Shields, 19,687 strong, with forty-one guns; some 3,652 disposable cavalry and the railroad guards, about 2,100 men, amount to about 35,467 men. It is designed to relieve General Hooker by some regiment say 850 men, leaving, with some 500 cavalry, 1,350 men on the Lower kotomac. To recapitulate: Men. At Warrenton there is to be 7,780 At Mana~sas, say 10,859 In the valley of the Shenandoah 35,467 On the Lower Potomac 1,350 In all 55,456 There would thus be left for the garrisons and the front of Washing- ton under General Wadsworth some 18,000 men, exclusive of the bat- teries under instruction. The troops organizing or ready for service in New York, I learn, will probably number more than 4,000. These should be assembled at Washington, subject to disposition where their services may be most needed. I am, very respectfully, your obedient servant, GEG. B. McCLELLAN, Major-General, Commanding. K. WAR DEPARTMENT, Washington City, April 2, 1862. Adjutant-General THOMAS and Major-General HITCHCOCK: GENERALS: I beg leave to refer to you the following papers: 1st. The Presidents War [Order], No. 3, dated March 8, 1862. 2d. The reports of a council held at Headquarters, Fairfax Court- House, March 13, marked B. 3d. The Presidents instructions to General McClellan, March 13, marked C. 4th. The reports of Major-General McClellan, dated on board the steamer Commodore, April 1, addressed to the Adjutant-General. 5th. The report of General Wadsworth as to the forces in his com- mand, and upon examination, I desire you to report to me whethe Page 228 228 OPERATIONS. IN N. VA., W. VA., AND MD. [CHAP. XXIV. the Presidents order and instructions have been complied with in respect to the forces to be left for the defense of Washington and its security; and at Manassas; and if not, wherein those instructions have been departed from. Yours, truly, EDWIN M. STANTON, Secretary of War. L. WASHINGTON, D. C., April 2, 1862. In compliance with your instructions we have examined the papers submitted to us and have the honor to make the following report: 1. The Presidents War Orders, No. 3, dated March 8, requires that on taking up any new base of operations the city of Washington shall be left entirely secure. The other points of the order it is unnecessary to consider, as the enemy since its date have abandoned their positions and batteries on the Potomac and retired behind the Bappahannock. 2. The council of general officers held at Fairfax Court-House March 13 took place after the enemy had retired from Manassas and destroyed the railroad in their rear. The council decided unanimously to take up a new base of operations from Fort Monroe, and three of the gen- erals (a majority) decided that the force necessary to be left should be sufficient to fully garrison the forts on the right bank of the Potomac and to occupy those on the left bank, with a covering force of 25,000. It is, we think, the judgment of officers that some 30,000 men would be necessary thus to man these forts, which, with the number of the cov- ering force, would make a total of 55,000. 3. The Presidents directions of March 13 to General McClellan direct 1st. To leave such a force at Manassas Junction as shall make it entirely certain that the enemy may nqt repossess it. 2d. That Washington shall be left entirely secure. 3d. That the remainder of the army move down the Potomac or move in pursuit of the enemy. In regard to occupying Manassas Junction, as the enemy hare de- stroyed the railroads leading to it, it may be fair to assume that they have no intention of returning for the re-occupation of their late posi- tion, and therefore no very large force would be necessary to hold that position. 4. Major-GeneraL McClellans report to the Adjutant-General of April 1, after giving the several positions of the troops proposed to be left for the defense of Washington, gives a representation as follows: Men. At Warrenton there is to be 7, 750 At Manassas, say 10,859 In the valley of the Shenandoah 35,467 On the Lower Potomac. - 1, 350 In all 55,456 and there would be left for the garrisons and the front of Washington tinder General Wadsworth some 18,000. In the above enumeration General Banks army corps is included, but whether this corps, 6ji~erating in the Shenandoah Valley, should be regarded as part of the force available for the protection of the imme- diate front of Washington the undersigned express no opinion Page 229 CHAP. XXIV.1 GENERAL REPORTS. 229 5. General Wadsworths report of April 2 gives his force as follows: Infantry . . 15,335 Artillery 4,294 Cavalry (six companies only mounted) 848 20,477 Deduct sick, in arrest, and confinement 1,455 Total for duty. - - - - -. - - - 19,022 From this force General Wadsworth is directed to detach two, good regiments from Richardsons division (Sumners corps), which should be deducted from his command; one regiment to replace the Thirty-seventh New York in Heintzelmans old division, and one regiment to relieve a regiment of Hookers division at Budds Ferry; total, four regiments. He is also ordered to send 4,000 men to relieve Sumner at Manassas and Warrenton. General Wadsworth represents that he has no mounted light artil- lery under his command; states there are several companies of~eserve artillery still here, bat not under his command or fit for service. General Wadsworth further reports that nearly all the force is new and imperfectly disciplined; that several of the regiments are in a very disorganized condition, some of them having been relieved from brigades which have gone into the field in consequence of their unfitness for s~i-vice, the best regiments remaining having been selected to take their places. Two heavy artillery regiments and one infantry regiment which had been drilled for months in artillery service having been with- drawn from the forts on the south side of the Potomac and their places supplied with new infantry regiments entirely unacquainted with the duties of that arm and of little or no value in their present position. If there was need of a military force for the safety of the city of Wash- ington within its own limits that referred to in the report of General Wadsworth would seem to be entirely inadequate. In view of the opinion expressed by the council of The commanders of army corps of the force necessary for the defense of the capital, though not numerically stated, and of the force represented by General McClellan as left for that purpose, we are of opinion that the require- ments ~f the President that this city shall b~ left entirely secure, not only in the opinion of the General-in-Chiet~ but that of the commanders of the army corps also, has not been fully complied with. All of whio.h is respectfully submitted. L. THOMAS, Adjutant- General. E. A. HiTCHCOCK, Major- General Volunteers, U. S. Army. M. Copy of a paper handed to the President by General Hitchcock. MARCH 30, 1862. The main line of the enemy extends from Richmond through Chatta- nooga and Corinth to Memphis, and at Corinth there is a connection South. General Halleck (at Saint Louis) is acting upon the west of this line, with General Buell as his immediate commander, having Corinth in view as one object and some point at or near the Cumberland Gap as another object Page 230 230 OPERATIONS IN N. VA., W. VA., AND MD. [CHAP. XXIV. General McClellan (before Yorktown) has Richmond for his object, with Washington under his safe-keeping. The immediate interest of the war is connected with the above indications, and all adjacent opera. tions are incidental. It is necessary to break the line of communication between Rich. mond and Corinth. This may be done by Buell, and if he should oc- cupy the Cumberland Gap near the railroad this object will be suffi- ciently accomplished. If some point east of the Gap be also made an object (as proposed by the President), it will reqnire a large force to reach and maintain it, or that force might be destroyed by the enemy. Instead, therefore, of employing a force necessary for seizing a l)oint east of the Gap, it might be better to employ a less force in the protec- tion of the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad (the duty assigned to General Fr~mont). From present indications it might be better, instead of sending to the Mountain Department all of the force desired by its com- mander, to divide that forceone part to go to him for the protection of the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad and the country immediately south of it, and the other part to strengthen McClellans right, no~w occupied by Shields, the route from Richmond in that direction being Ol)CII to the enemy, who, though not likely to take it, might be invited by its weakness to make some desperate attempt similar to one already made by Jackson upon Shields. A movement from McClellans left is known to the enemy; hence nothing is more natural than a blow on McClellans right. Nothing has intervened since that made a few days since to prevent a repetitiou of it with a larger force. If McClellan should fail (at Yorktown)uot likely to happen; but if he should failwhat would be the movement of the enemy I It might be a desperate attempt to turn the right of the Army of the Potomac (the Shenandoah Valley). This should be guarded against by a part of the force called for by Fr6mont, instead of sending that force to cut the Richmond and Knoxville Railroad, the success of which might even aid in forcing the enemy to make some desperate attempt on the right of Washington. N. WASHINGTON, April 9,1862. Major-General MCCLELLAN: M~ DEAR SIR: Your dispatches complaining that you are not prop- erly sustained, while they do not offend me, do pain me very much. Blenkers division was withdrawn from you before you left here, and you knew the pressure under which I did it, and, as I thought, acqui- esced in itcertainly not without reluctance. After you left I ascertained that less than 20,000 unorganized men, without a single field battery, were all you designed to be left for the defense of Washington and Manassas Junction, and part of this even was to go to General Hookers old position. General Banks corps, once designed for Manassas Junction, was divided and tied up on the line of Winchester and Strasburg, and could not leave it without again exposing the Upper Potomac and the Bakimore and Ohio Rail- road. This presented (or would present, when McDowell and Sumner should be gone) a great temptation to the enemy to turn back from the Bappahannock and sack Washington. My .explicit order that Wash- ington should, by the judgment of all the commanders of corps, be left entirely secure had been neglected. It was precisely this that drove me to detain McDowell Page 231 CHAP. XXIV.] GENERAL REPORTS. 231 I do not fox!get that I was satisfied with your arrangements to leave Banks at Manassas Junction, but when that arrangement was broken up and nothing was substituted for it of course I was not satisfied. I was constrained to substitute something for it myself. And now allow me to ask, Do you really think I should permit the line from Richmond via Manassas Junction to this city to be entirely open, except what resistance could be presented by less than 20,000 unorganized troops 1 This is a question which the country will not allow me to evade. There is a curious mystery about the number of the troops now with you. When I telegraphed you on the 6th, saying you had over 100,000 with you, I had just obtained from the Secretary of War a statement, taken as he said from your own returns, making 108,000 then with you and en route to you. You now say you will have but 85,000 when all en route to you shall have reached you. How can this discrepancy of 35,000 be accounted for? As to General Wools command, I understand it is doing for you precisely what a like number of your own would have to do if that command was away. I suppose the whole force which has gone for- ward to you is with you by this time, and, if so, I think it is the precise time for you to strike a blow. By delay the enemy will relatively gain upon you; that is, he will gain faster by fortifications and re-enforce- ments than you can by re-enforcements alone. And once more let me tell you it is indispensable to you that you strike a blow. I am powerless to help this. You will do me the justice to remember I always insisted that going down the bay in search of a field instead of fighting at or near Manassas was only shifting and not surmounting a difficulty; that we would find the same enemy and the same or equal intrenebments at either place. The country will not fail to noteis noting nowthat the present hesitation to move upon an intrenched enemy is but the story of Manassas repeated. I beg to assure you that I have never written you or spoken to you in greater kindness of feeling than now, nor with a fuller purpose te sustain you, so far as in my most anxious judgment I consistently can; but you must act. Yours, very truly, A. LINCOLN. r. GENERAL ORDERS, ~ HDQRS. DEPARTMENT OF RAPPAHANNOCIi, No. 2. Fairfax Court-House, April 10, 1862. I. The powers which, as military governor and commander of the District of Columbia, Brigadier~General Wadsworth may have received from the Headquarters of the Army of the Potomac have in no way been restricted or modified in the creation of the Department of the Rappahannock. II. In addition to the limits of his command, as heretofore defined Brigadier-General Wadsworth will, in the absence of the major-general commanding the department, have charge and do whatever may be needful in that part of the department east of the Potomac, and of se much of the counties of Fairfax, Lo udoun, and Prince William, Virginia, as are not now and shall not hereafter be occupied by the divisions of Franklin, McCall, and King. By command of Major-General McDowell: SAML. BRECK, Assistant Adjutant- General Page 232 232 OPERATIONS IN N. VA., W. VA., AND MD. [CHAP. XXIV. FORTY-SIXTH DAY. COURT-ROOM, (JOE. FOURTEENTH AND PA. AVENUE, Washington, D. 0., January 17, 1863. * * * * * * * The i)residing officer of the court instructed the recorder to produce and read the letter from Major-General McClellan to Major-General N. P. Banks, dated Headquarters Army of the Potomac, on board the Commodore, April 1, 1862, which letter was received by the court Jan- uary 9, 1863. The letter was read by the recorder, and is appended to the proceedings of this day, marked A. Lient. Col. DAVIS TJLLSON, Maine Artillery, a witness, was recalled Question by General MCDOWELL. Were you with General Kings division on or near the Warrenton turnpike at the time it became ei~- gaged with the enemy on the evening of the 28th of August last ~ Answer. I was. Question by General MCDOWELL. State the position of the enemy on that occasion with respect to the Warrenton turnpike. Answer. The enemy were np~n a road leading, as I understand, from Sudley Springs to Hay Market, and approaching in the direction, on this road, from Sudley Springs. The head of their column was nearly opposite that point upon the turnpike from which General Reynolds division had been shelled in the morning by the enemy. The road from Sudley Springs to Hay Market apparently approached Warrenton turn- pike slightly, and is about a mile and a half north from Warrenton turnpike. Question by General MCDOWELL. What was the condition of the artillery and artillery ammunition in Kings division after the engage- in ent. Answer. It was in its usual condition, with the exception that one of Captain ~ onrocs c~iissons had been blown ~up by his own order in consequence of breaking stock and the inability to move it. I think a very few horses had been killed and only a small amount of ammunition expended. Question by General MCDOWELL. Did you accompany General Mc- Dt)weIl on the morning of the 30th of August in a reconnaissance in front of the right of our line ~ An5wer. I did. Question by General MCDOWELL. Did you learn, in the course of this reconnaissance, where the left of the enemy had been on the 29th ~ It so, state where it was, with reference to Bull Run. Answer. I did learn from General Heintzelman, who was present with General Mc- Dowell, and also, I think, from Colonel Allen, of the Maine cavalry, the position pre- viously occupied by the enemy, which was on the Centreville side of Bull Rnn. Question by General MCDOWELL. Was this to the north of the War- renton pike ~ Answer. It was. Question by General MCDOWELL. Can you state how far i? Answer, I can simply say some miles. I should say in the vicinity of 5 or 6 miles, hot in this I may be incorrect. Question by General MCDOWELL. About what hour was it that Kings division commenced to withdraw from its position where it en- gaged the enemy ~ Answer. From 11 to 12 oclock Page 233 CHAP. XXIV.] GENERAL REPORTS. 233 Question by General MCDOWELL. By what route did Kings division retire from the battle-field? Answer. Over the road leading to Manassas Junction. Question by the COURT. How near was that road to the route over which he had marched to the Warrenton pike when turned back on the preceding day? Answer. I think it was the same road, or nearly so. Question by the COURT. Had you knowledge during the 28th of the order to turn bac1~ to the Warrenton pike? Answer. I had not. Question by the COURT. How far had you proceeded toward Manas- sa~ Junction on the 28th when you turned back? Answer. About a mile. Question by the COURT. Were you in the company of General Mc- Dowell at the time when you turned back? Answer. I was. Question by the COURT. After turning back, how far did you progress before the action with the enemy? Answer. About 2 miles. Question by the COURT. Did you remain with the artillery when it retired that night? Answer. I think I remained until after it had retired, and came away with General Kirnr Question by the COURT. Was there any difficulty, owing to the dark- ness of the night or the nature of the roads or country, in finding your way back near to Manassas Junction, either for yourselves or your artil- lery? And,if so, state it. Answer. I know of no difficulty whatever. The roads were very good, and through open fields mostly. Question by the COURT. What was the character of the night as to obscurity? Answer. It was quite dark. My impression is that [it] was cloudy. Question by General MCDOWELL. Did Kings division, in retiring from the engagement, go back over the turnpike before it turned off for Manassas? Answer. I think it did. Question by General MCDOWELL. Did the road you then took lead you by Bethlehem Church or south of Bethlehem Church? Answer. I think by Bethlehem Courch. Question by General MCDOWELL. State if the course you took, as described, would be the same as one a person would take in going from Manassas direct to the battle ground? Answer. No, it would not, looking at the map. Question by the COURT. Did you start from the battle intending to go direct to Manassas Junction? Answer. We started to go to Manassas Junction, but whether by the most direct ronte I do not know. Question by the COURT. If you have knowledge, state whether ther Page 234 234 OPERATIONS IN N. VA., W. VA., AND MD. [CHAP. XXIV. was any other route to Manassas Junction more direct or favorable than the one over which you marched. Answer. The route we took was the only one of which I have any personal knowl- edge. Capt. ROBERT CHANDLER, assistant adjutant-general, U. S. Vohin. teers, a witness, was duly sworn. Question by General MCDOWELL. Were you at Falmouth, opposite Fredericksburg, last spring and part of last summer? Answer. Yes, sir. Question by General MCDOWELL. Do you know what became of the wheat harvested from the fields in the vicinity of the Lacy house ~ Answer. A field of from 40 to 60 acres of wheat on the east of the Lacy house was harvested by the post quartermaster then at Falmouth; afterward thrashed and ground up into flour and furnished to our troops. This was the same field that was protected by General McDowell while our troops were there. The court adjourned to meet on Monday, January 19, 1863, at 11 oclock a. m. APPENDIX. A. HEADQUARTERS ARMY OF THE POTOMAC, On board the Commodore, April 1, 1862. Maj. Gen. K. P. BANKS, Commanding Fifth Corps: GENERAL: The change in affairs in the valley of the Shenandoah has rendered necessary a corresponding departure.-temporarily at least from the plan we some days since agreed upon. Jn my arrangements I as- sume that you have with you a force amply sufficient to drive Jackson before you, provided he is not re.enforced largely. I also assume that you may find it impossible to detach anything toward Manassas for some days, probably not until the operations of the main army have drawn all the rebel force toward Richmond. You are aware that General Sumner has for some days been at War- renton Junction, with two divisions of infantry, six batteries, and two regiments of cavalry, and that a reconnaissance to the Rappahannock forced the enemy to destroy the railway bridge at Rappahannock Sta- tion, on the Orange and Alexandria Railroad.. Since that time our cav- alry have found nothing on this side of the Rappahannock in that direc- tion, and it seems clear that we have no reason to fear any return of the rebels in that quarter. Their movements near Fredericksburg also indicate a final abandonment of that neighborhood. I doubt whether Johnston will now re-enforce Jackson with a view to offensive opera- tions; the time has probably passed when he could have gained any- thing by doing so. I have ordered in one of Sumners divisions (that of Richardson, late Sumners) to Alexandria for embarkation. Blenkers has been detached from the Army of the Potomac and ordered to re- port to General Fremont. Abercrombie is probably at Warrenton Junction to-day; Geary at White Plains Page 235 Cuir. XXIV.] GENERAL REPORTS. 235 Two regiments of cavalry have been ordered out and are now on the way to relieve the two regiments of Sumner. Fonr thousand infantry and one battery leave Washington at once for Manassas; some 3,000 more will move in one or two days, and soon after some 3,000 additional. I will order Blenker to march on Strasburg and to report to you for temporary duty, so that, should you find a large force in your front, you can avail yourself of his aid. As soon as possible please direct him on Winchester, thence to report to the Adjutant-General of the Army for orders, but keep him until you are sure what you have in front. In regard to your own movements, the most important thing at pres- ent is to throw JaQkson well back and then to assume such a position as to enable you to prevent his return. As soon as the railway com- munications are re-established it will be probably important and advis- able to move on Staunton, but this would require secure communica- tions and a force of from 25,000 to 30,000 for active operations. It should also be nearly coincident with my own move on Richmond; at al~ events not so long before it as to enable the rebels to concentrate on you and then return on me. I fear that you cann~t be ready in time, although it may come in very well, with a force less than that I have mentioned, after the main battle near Richmond. When General Sumner leaves Warrenton Junction General Abererombie will be placed in immediate command of Manassas and Warrenton Junction under your general orders. Please inform me frequently by telegraph and otherwise as to the state of things in your front. I am, very truly, yours, GEG. B. McCLELLAN, Major-General, Commanding. P. S.From what I have just learned it would seem that the two regi- ments of cavalry intended for Warrenton Junction have gone to Har- pers Ferry. Of the four additional regiments placed under your or- ders, two should, as promptly as possible, move by the shortest route on Warrenton Junction. 1 am, sir, very respectfully, your obedient servant, GEO. B. McCLELLAN, Major- General, Commanding. CITY OF NEW YORK, January 3, 1863. A true copy. S. WILLIAMS, As8i8tant Adjutant-General. FORTY-SEVENTH DAY. COURT-ROOM, COR. FOURTEENTH AND PA. AVENUE, Wa2hington, D. 0., January 19, 1863. * * * * * * * Lient. Col. DAVIS TILLSON, Maine Artillery, a witness, was recalled. Question by General MCDOWELL. Were you with General McDow- ell on the 29th of August last, on the occasion of his march from near Bethlehem Church, with Kings and Ricketts divisions, up the Sudley Springs road to the battle-field? Answer. I was Page 236 236 OPERATIONS IN N. VA., W. VA., AND MD. [CRAP. XXIV. Question by General MCDOWELL. On that march were you sent for- ward by General McDowell to the head of the column with orders to the division commander of Kings division? Answer. I was. Question by General MCDOWELL. What were those orders? Answer. That Kings division should form on the left of General Reynolds division. Question by General MCDOWELL. Did you see General McDowell himself take measures to cause that division to move forward and form on the left of Reynolds? Answer. I did. Question by the COURT. What were the measures taken by General McDowell? Answer. Going to the head of General Kings division, directing the chief of artil- lery to bring up the batteries and move them forward rapidly, sending orders by his aides to the different commanders of Kings division to bring up their troops quickly, and, I think, himself going to the front and directing the disposition of Captain Mon- ro& s battery. Question by the COURT. State as nearly as you can, the time of day. Answer. I am very doubtful as to the time, but should say it was between 4 and 5 oclock that these measures were commenced but later when completed. Question by the COURT. What was done on the day of the 29th, prior to the beginning of the movement described by you, viz, at 4 p. in.? Answer. About noon of the 29thit may have been earlierGeneral McDowell and staff left Manassas Junction and went forward to where General Kings division halted in the morning, gave the necessary directions as to the order in which the troops should march, went forward with the troops, and was occupied in moving for- ward, as before stated, until after dark. What General McDowell did preceding noon I have no knowledge. Question by the COURT. Why did he not move earlier than at noon? Answer. I am not able to say further than it may have been earlier than noon, as I have before stated. Question by the COURT. Where was General Reynolds? Answer. I do not know definitely; I was not with him during that day. Question by the COURT. Why did General McDowell go by Sudley Springs road instead of back by the way the divisions of King and iRieketts came? Answer. In order more rapidly to get his troops forward and into action, General Porter being in his (General McDowells) front. Question by the COURT. How did it happen that General Porter got in General McDowells front? Answer. I have no knowledge whatever. Question by the COURT. Were the movements that day, which were ordered or superintended by General McDowell, made with the rapidity which, under such circumstances, the exigency of the case would seem to demand? Answer. General McDowell was himself very active and energetic, making every effort to get the troops forward; whether his orders were as promptly and actively executed as they should have been by all the different commanders I am unable to say, not being in a position where I could see but a portion of the command. The movement from the position where the troops started, near Manassas Junction, until they reached the vicinity of the battle-field, was the ordinary rate of march. 1 should say the distance was about 5 or 6 miles Page 237 CuAr. XXIV.] GENERAL REPORTS. 237 Question by the CouRT. At what time during the night of the 28th did Kings division start for the point it reached during the night and at what time did it halt? Answer. I think the moving commenced between 11 and 12 oclock. We halted some time after daylight in the morning. I am uncertain about the time; it was after sunrise, and may have been 8 oclock. I think the portion of the column that we were withabout the middle of the columnhalted at about 8 oclock. Col. En. SCHRIYER, aide-dc-camp, U. S. Army, a witness, was re- called. Question by General MCDOWELL. Can you state if General McDowell was active on the 29th of August in getting his troops on the road to Gainesville, as ordered by General Pope? About what hour was it when the troops got on the way? Answer. I answer, yes. I think they moved between 8 and 9 oclock in the morning. Question by General MCDOWELL. Did General McDowell, after his troops had gotten on the march and had come to a halt, go forward personally to the head of General Porters column? Answer. Yes. Question by General MCDOWELL. Was he not engaged in consulta- tion with General Porter at the head of the column? Was he not also occupied with General Porter in making a reconnaissance of the front? Answer. Yes. Question by General MCDOWELL. When he left General Porter did he go rapidly back to the head of his own column? If so, state how rapidly. Answer. I became separated from General McDowell a moment, and on inquiring where he went was told by an orderly that he had gone in a certain direction, point- ing it out. He went so fast that he was out of my sight, and I therefore was unwill- ing and unable to follow him in the direction he went, not being acquainted in the direction of the route. I therefore retraced my steps (my mode of coming to Porters headquarters), and thence by the road went back to the head of our column, where I found General McDowell, and where I learned he had gone across the fields by a short cut. Question by General MCDOWELL. When he reached the head of his own column do you know if he took immediate measures to turn it off on the Sudley Springs road? Answer. I think I saw tbe troops moving on that road when I got there. Question by the COURT. What time did General McDowell turn his column on the Sudley Springs road? Answer It was some time in the afternoon, but I cannot tell when. I made no note of it. Question by the COURT. How far had his column been moved by his orders during the preceding portion of the day? Answer. I think it must have been 4 to 5 miles; probably more than that. The dis- tance from Manassas to where he halted was probably 3 miles. Question by the COURT. At what time did General McDowell part with General Porter? Answer. I cant tell. Question by the COURT. Early in the morning of the 29th at what time did General McDowell reach Reynolds division, and how far was it from the place where he bivouacked near Sigels corps? Answer. He reached it very early in the morning. I cant tell the hour nor can I now tell the distance Page 238 238 OPERATIONS IN N. VA., W. VA, AND MD. [Cziir. XXIV. Question by the COURT. Where did General McDowell learn that King had retired during the night? Answer. It was at Reynolds headquarters, I think, but I cant remember when. Qnestion by the COURT. How long did he remain with Reynolds division after arriving there? Answer. I cannot state the time. We took breakfast there. Question by the COURT. On arriving at Reynolds division, did Gen. eral McDowell dispatch any aide-de.camp or other officer or messenger to halt Kings column or to intercept Ricketts division and halt it? Answer. Not to my knowledge. Question by the COURT. By what route did General McDowell return to Manassas? Answer. I cannot remember. I remember that we went to the Weir house first, but the route I cannot tell. I do not know that we did not return by way of Bethlehem Church. General McDowell informed the court that Major Willard, aide-de- camp, can give evidence on the matter under present consideration. Question by the COURT. Do you know how it happened that in re- turning McDowells corps followed instead of leading Porters? Answer. No, I do not know, unless it was so ordered. I do not know whether it was so ordered or not. Question by General MCDOWELL. Witness states General McDowell remained at Reynolds quarters to take breakfast. Can witness state if General McDowell had eaten a meal since the 27th? Answer. No, I cant say, but have reason to believe that he had not. Question by General MCDOWELL. Does the witness recollect if, on coming to Manassas, General McDowell did not meet General Porter before he found his own division, aud if Porters division did not get their orders before General McDowells division got theirs? Answer. I cant remember that. Question by General MCDOWELL. Does the witness recollect if Gen- eral Porter, when General McDowell met him, had not already received an order from General Pope to move his corps on the road to Gaines. yule? Answer. I do not. Question by General MCDOWELL. Can the witness state if the country between the Warrenton pike, Bull Run, the Sudley Springs road, and the Manassas Railroad does not contain many of the old hutted camps or winter quarters of the enemy? Answer. Yes. Question by General MCDOWELL. Does the witness recollect if there are not many cross.roads leading to and from these various camps? Answer. Yes. Question by General MCDOWELL. Does witness recollect if it was not some time after the troops of Porter and King were on the march before Ricketts division could be brought into the road? Answer. I have no recollection of it. Question by General MCDOWELL. Lay before the court the commn- i~iications which passed between General McDowell and General Pope on the 26th and 27th of August Page 239 CHAP. XXIV.] GENERAL REPORTS. 239 The communications referred to in the foregoing question were read by the recorder and are appended to the proceedings of this day* The court adjourned to meet to-morrow, January 20, 1863, at 11 oclock a. m. FORTY-EIGHTH DAY. COURT-ROOM, COR. FOURTEENTH AND PA. AVENUE, Washington, D. 0., January 20, 1863. * * * * * * Brig. Gen. WILLIAM F. BARRY, U. S. Volunteers, a witness, was duly sworn. Question by the COURT. What is your rank in the Arm~r? Answer. I am a major of artillery in the Army of the United States and a brigadier- general of volunteers. Question by the COURT. Were you on duty in March and April last? If so, where and in what capacity? Answer. I was on duty in March and April of last year as chief of artillery of the Army of the Potomac, commanded by Major-General McClellan. Question by the COURT. State if you made any report at that time to Major-General McClellan respecting the force of artillery to be left in and about Washington for the defense of the capital. Answer. I did not at that time. I did previously to that time, in connection with General Barnard, the chief engineer of the Army of the Potomac. We made a joint report of the number of troops. I think this was in February. This report was a long one, and one showing the force necessary to garrison the defenses fully and partially. I have no copy of the report. It was an official report, and I suppose is on file. The report stated in detail the amount and strength of the artillery and the number of infantry necessary to be stationed at the forts. Question by the COURT. State fully and particularly what was the artillery force left by Major-General McClellan for the defense of Wash- ington. Answer. With regard to the field batteries I can state that seven were left in a camp about three-quarters of a mile east of the Capitol, in the city of Washington. These batteries number, I think, thirty-two guns. At that time the returns of troops in the forts were made to General Doubleday, who had relieved me, and I therefore can- not answer respecting the garrison of the forts. Of the seven batteries, three were fully equipped and fit for service. Three others were fully equipped, with the excep- tion of horses, of which they had an insufficient number. The remaining battery, the Sixteenth New York Battery, had reported but a few days previous, and had no equip- ments at all. There was at the time an abundance of material at the Washington Arsenal to have immediately equipped this battery. The three batteries without horses could have immediately been furnished with them. There was no design nor intention to withdraw any of these batteries for the Army of the Potomac, and they were not withdrawn. Question by the COURT. Were those field batteries fully and effi- ciently manned I Were the artillerists composed of the new levies I Did any portion of the force consist of the regular artillery? Answer. The field batteries were as fully and efficiently manned as the majority of batteries in the Army of the Potomac. With the exception of the Sixteenth New York Battery they had all been under instruction for about two montbs. One of them, the Ninth New York Battery, had been under instruction for about six months. They were all volunteer batteries. * These communications, being duplicated in McDowells report of campaign from August 16 to September 2, are omitted from appendix Page 240 240 OPERATIONS IN N. VA., W. VA., AND MD. [CuAr. XXIV. Question by the COURT. Why were the three batteries with insuffi- cient supply of horses not supplied before the departure of the army, and why was not the Sixteenth New York Battery supplied with equip. ments ~? Answer. Those batteries had once been supplied with horses, but at the last hour a (livision was mhde up for General Casey, and I was called upon to furnish it with the requisite field batteries. As there was no time then to instruct new horses or to select others from the quartermasters yards, I directed the deficiency of horses in the batteries assigned to Caseys division (that deficiency amounting to about 100 horses) to be made good by the batteries which were to be left in Washington, knowing that in a few hours they could get new horses, and would have an abundance of time and opportunity to instruct them. Tbat answers the first part of the question. I have stated that tbe Sixteenth New York Battery had only reported a few days before. It had also been directed, in special orders from the War Department, to report to Gen- eral Wadsworth, and I had no further control over it. Question by the COURT. In describing the field batteries left by you, do you speak from actual personal inspection of them at or near the time when the army went to the Peninsula; and, if so, when did you make such inspection? Answer. I speak from an actual inspection made by me about the middle of March, and also from an official return made to me by the commanding officer of the camp where these batteries wereabout the 3d of April. This return was sent to me while I was on the Peninsula, the commanding officer thinking he was still under my com- mand, which was not the case. Question by General MCDowELL. Can the witness state the names of the seven field batteries left for the defense of Washington, giving the names of those fully equipped and the names of those partially equipped? Answer. Battery C, First New York Artillery, Captain Barnes; Battery K, First New York Artillery, Captain Crounse; Battery L, Second New York Artillery, Captain Robinson; Battery A, Second Battalion New York Artillery, Captain Hogan; Battery B, Second Battalion New York Artillery, Captain McMahon; NinthNew York Battery, Captain Morozowicz; Sixteenth New York Battery, Captain Locke. To the best of my recollection the three that were fully equipped were the batteries of Captains Robinson, Hogan, and McMahon, and those partially equipped Captains Barnes, Crounse, and Morozowicz. Question by General MCDOWELL. You have stated you received a return on the 3d of April from the commander of the field artillery; did you not infer from this that he at that time still considered himself as belonging to the Army of the Potomac? Answer. Yes, I so inferred; but understood it was a mistake of his, and so notified him. Question by General MCDOWELL. Do you know if General Wads- worth knew of there being no design to withdraw these batteries ~ Did he know they had been detached from the Army of the Potomac at or immediately after the time of GeneraV McClellans embarkation at Alexandria I Answer. No, I dont know it; but I have the best reasons for believing he so under- stood it, for the reason that General Wadsworth had dismounted one of the batteries and sent it down to garrison Fort Washington. I learned thismuch from the captain of the battery, who complained of it. Question by General MCDOWELL. When was the battery sent to Fort Washington? Ans~ver. I dont know, but I understood from the captain about eight or ten days after the army leftperhaps two weeks. Question by General MCDOWELL. Will witness state if this is the only reason he has for believing General Wadsworth knew these bat- teries were to remain behind Page 241 Ca& r. XXIV.] GENERAL REPORTS. 241 Answer. Yes; the only reason. Question by General MCDOWELL. Can witness state when the Sixteenth New York Battery was ordered to report to General Wadsworth, with reference to the embarkation of General McClellan at Alexandria? Answer. I cannot, exactly. I know that the battery had only arrived a very short time previous to the departure of the Army of the Potomac, and I believe the order directing the battery to report to General Wadsworth was dated only a very few days previous to the departure of the Army of the Potomac. Maj. Gen. FITz JOHN PORTER, U. S. Volunteers, a witness, was duly sworn. Question by the COURT. State your present rank in the Army. Answer. Major-general of volunteers and colonel Fifteenth U. S. Infantry. Question by the COURT. What command did you hold in the Army of Virginia while the latter was nnder command of General Pope, in August, 1862? Answer. I was in command of the present Fifth Corps of the Army of the Potomac at that time composed of a division of volunteers, a division of-regulars, and a small brigade of volunteers, which was at times temporarily detached. Question by the COURT. Did you see General McDowell on the 28th or 29th August, 1862? Answer. I saw General McDowell twice on the morning of the 29th; once at Ma- nassas Junction, again about 3 milesfrom Manassas Junction, on the road to Gainesville. Question by the COURT. State at what time on that day you saw General McDowell. Answer. The first time at Manassas Junction, about 9 oclock; the second time, I presume, between 11 and 12. Question by the COURT. State where was General McDowells corps at those times. Answer. General Kings division had been assigned to my command when I was at Manassas Junction by General Pope. Ricketts division, I was informed by General McDowell, was in the vicinity of Manassas Junction, and I think was near Bristoe. Reynolds division was in the vicinity of Groveton, on the turnpike. (Reynolds di- vision had belonged to me at one time, but was then claimed by General McDowell.) The second time I met General McDowell Kings division was immediately in rear of my corps, and on the road going from Manassas Junction to Gainesville. Question by the COURT. Had General McDowell any command over you prior to the 29th of August? Answer. No. Question by the COURT. What order did General McDowell give or what authority did he exercise over you, and in virtue of whose order? State fully and particularly. Answer. General McDowell exercised authority over me in obedience to an order of General Pope, addressed jointly to General McDowell and me, and which I presume is in possession of the court. I have no copy of it. Our commands being united, he necessarily came into the command under the Articles of War. The witness here stated, in substance, to the court that the question leads to many things pertaining to the recent court in his case, the de- cision of which has not yet been announced. The question requires a statement of what transpired, and he felt at this time some delicacy in answering, both so far as General McDowell and himself are con- cerned. I would have to state the orders under which I was moving in that direction. 16 R RVOL XI Page 242 242 OPERATIONS IN N. VA., W. VA., AND MD. [CuAl. XXIV. The court decided that the question was a proper one. The witness continued: That joint order refers to a previous order given to me, of which this is a copy. The witness produced a copy of an order from Major-General Pope, dated Headquarters Army of Yirginia, (i5entreville, August 29, 1862, which was read by the recorder, and is appended to the proceedings of this day and marked A. The witness continued: Under that order Kings division constituted part of my command. I was moving toward Gainesville when I received the joint order, and was joined by General Mc- Dowell, who had also received a copy of the joint order. I had at that time received notice of the enemy being in front, and had captured 2 prisoners. My command was then forming in line preparatory to moving and advancing toward Gainesville. Gen- eral McDowell, on arriving, showed me the joint order, a copy of which I acknowl- edged having in my possession. An expression of opinion then given by him to the effect that that was no place to fight a battle, and that I was too far out, which, taken in connection with the conversation, I considered an order, and stopped further progress toward Gainesville for a short time. General McDowell and I went to the right, which was rather to the north, with the view of seeing the character of the country, and with the idea of connecting, as that joint order required, with the troops on my right. But very few words passed between us, and I suggested, from the character of the country, that he should take Kings division with him and form connection on the right of the timber, which was then on the left of Reynolds, or presumed to be Reynolds. He left me suddenly, not replying to a call from me, to the effect, What should I ~ and with no understanding on my part howl should be governed. I immediately returned to my command. On the way back, seeing the enemy gathering in my front, I sent an officer (Lieutenant-Colonel Locke, my chief of staff) to Kings division, directing it to remain where it was for the present, and com- menced moving my command toward Gainesville and one division to the right or north of the road. I received an answer from General McDowell to remain where I was; he was going to the right, and would take King with him. He did go, taking Kings division, as I presumed, to take position on the left of Reynolds. I remained where I was. When General McDowell left me I did not know where he had gone. No troops were in sight, and I knew of the position of Reynolds and Sigel, who were on our right, merely by the sonnd of Sigels cannon and from information that day that Reynolds was in the vicinity of Groveton. The head of my corps was on the first stream after leaving Manassas Junction, on the road to Gainesville; one division in line of battle, or the most of it. Question by the COURT. Did you consider the expression of General McDowell, as stated by you, that you were too far to the front and that this was no place to fight a battle in the light of an order not to ad- vance, but to resume your original position? Answer. I did, when Kings division was taken from me, and as countermanding the first order of General Pope under the authority given him by that joint order. Question by the COURT. Was such an order a proper one under the circumstances? If not, state why. Answer. I did not think so, and for that reason, when General McDowell left me, I continued my movement as if I had not seen the joint order. My previous order re- q uired me to go to Gainesville and from information received by the bearer of the first order (General Gibbon) I knew it was to prevent the junction of the advancing enemy and Jacksons force, then near Groveton, and that the object was to strike the turnpike to Gainesville before the advancing column should arrive. The sooner we arrived there the more effective would be our action. That order directed me to move quickly or we would lose much. That order had been seen by General McDowell, and when he altered it, as I conceived he had the authority, I presumed he knew more fully than I did the plans of General Pope. I will add that the joint order contem- plated forming a line connecting with the troops on the right, and, as I presumed as General McDowell acted, taking Kings division with him, that he intended to form such a line. I thought at the time that the attack should have been made at once upon the troops as they were coming to us, and as soon as possible Page 243 Cii~r. XXIV.] GENERAL REPORTS. 243 Question by the COURT. State, so far as you know, what followed, so far as the movements of General McDowells troops and your own were concerned, and what orders you subsequently received from General McDowell. Answer. General McDowell took King off to the right. I know nothing further of his movements. I remained where I was until 3 oclock next morning; a portion of the command left at daybreak. I received no orders whatever from General Mc- Dowell. Question by the COURT. But for this order, what movement would you have made, and have you reason to suppose that, if you had not been stopped, the junction of JI~ongstreet and Jackson would have been effected? Answer. I should have continued moving toward Gainesville, and until we got onto the turnpike or met the enemy. I presume we would have prevented the junction or been whipped. Question by the COURT. Have you any written orders from General McDowell respecting your movements on the 29th? If so, prodi~ce them. Answer. None whatever. Question by the COURT. iDo you know of any other matter or thing tending to show that General McDowell was treacherous, incompetent, unfaithful, or otherwise disqualified for the command of a division, corps or department? And, if you do, state what you know as fully as though you were specifically interrogated in respect thereto. Answer. I have no reason to know, and never had any reason to suspect, anything whatever of General McDowell which would tend in any way to disqualify him from holding either of such commands. Question by General MCDOWELL. Had you any other warrant for be- lieving that Kings division of McDowells corps was assigned to your command than what was contained in the first order to you from Gen- eral Pope on the 29th, which directed you to take Kings division with you in your movement to Gainesville? Answer. None other than verbal information, given by General Gibbon. Question by General MCDOWELL. What was that verbal informa- tion or the substance of it? Answer. Gneral Gibbon brought me the order from eeneral Pope. All that I recollect is the impression given to me that General Pope wished me to move quickly. Question by General MCDOWELL. What passed between you and General McDowell at Manassas with respect to Kings division? Answer. He spoke of Kings division being under my command or having been as- signed to me, and spoke of it with regret. 1 have no recollection of anything further in reference to Kings division. Question by General MCDOWELL. So far as you recollect, did he learn of Kings division being under your command from you? Answer. I think he learned it from General Gibbon. I do not know. He (General McDowell) told me as quickly as I knew it otherwise. I wish to add, now that it is brought to my recollection, I believe it was Captain Piatt who brought me a verbal message from General Pope, directing me to move on Gainesville, and to take Kings division with me. This officer I met on the road to Centreville, while going to exe- cute another verbal order sent by General Pope, and before I received the order through General Gibbon. I say it was Captain Piatt, as Captain Ball, of General Mc- DowelPs staff, so informed me. Question by General MCDOWELL. Under what relations as to com- mand did you and General McDowell move from Manassas and con- tinue prior to the receipt of General Popes joint order Page 244 244 OPERATIONS IN N. VA., W. VA., AND MD. [CHAP. XXIW Answer. I did not know that General McDowell was going from Manassas, and I have no recollection of any relations whatever nor of any understanding. Question by General MCDOWELL. Was there nothing said about General McDowell being the senior, and of his commanding the whole by virtue of his rank? Answer. Nothing that I know of. Question by General MCDOWELL. What time did you take up your line of march from Manassas Junction for Gainesville? Answer. The hour the head of the column left, I presume, was about 10 oclock; it may have been earlier. Ammunition had been distributed to the men, or was directed to be distributed, and the command to be put in motion immediately. Question by General MCDOWELL. When you received the joint or- der where were you personally, and where was your command? Answer. I was at the head of my column, and a portion of the command, or the head of the column, was then forming line in front; one regiment, as skirmishers, was in advance, and also a small party of cavalry, which I had as escort. The re- mainder of the corps was on the road. The head of my column was on the Manassas road to Gainesville, at the first stream, as previously described by me. Question by General MCDOWELL. Please state the order of your divisions, & c., in the column at that time. Answer. First Morells; next Sykes. The other brigade-~--Sturgis orPiattsI knew nothing of, having left it, in compliance with orders from General Pope, at Warrenton Junction, with orders to rejoin as soon as possible. Question by General MCDOWELL. Where was Kings division? Answer. I left Kings division getting provisions and ammunition near Manassas Junction. I gave personally direction to General Hatch, in command, to move up as quickly as possible. I did not see General King at all. Question by General MCDOWELL. The witness says he received an order from General McDowellor what he considered an orderwhen General McDowell first joined him, which order he did not obey. Will witness state why he disobeyed what he considered an order? Answer. The order, I have said, I considered an order, in connection with his con- versation and his taking Kings division from me. I therefore did obey it. Question by General MCDOWELL. What did you understand to be the effect of General McDowells conversation? Was it that you were to go no farther in the direction of Gainesville than you then were? Answer. The conversation was in connection with moving over to the right, which necessarily would prevent an advance. Question by General MCDOWELL. You state you did not think Gen- eral McDowells order (if it was one) a proper one, and that for that reason you continued your movement as if you had not seen the joint order. Is the witness to be understood that this was in obedience of what he has stated to be General McDowells order? Answer. I did not consider that an order at that time, andhave tried to convey that impression; but it was an expression of opinion which I might have construed as an order; but when General McDowell left me he gave no reply to my question, and, seeing the enemy in my front, I considered myself free to act according to my own judgment, until I received notice of the withdrawal of King. The court adjourned to meet to-morrow, January 21, 1863, at 11 oclock a. Page 245 Ow. XXIV.] GENERAL REPORTS. 245 APPENDIX. A. HEADQUARTERS ARMY OF VIRGINIA, Centreville, Va., August 29, 1862. Maj. Gen. FITz JOHN PORTER: Push forward with your corps and Kings division, which you will take with you, upon Gainesville. I am following the enemy down the Warrenton turnpike. Be expeditious or we will lose much. JNO. POPE, Major- General, Commanding. FOR TY-NINrH DAY. COURT-ROOM, COR. FOURTEENTH AND PA. AVENUE, Washington, D. C., January 21, 1863. The court met pursuant to adjournment. Present, * * * , and Maj. Gen. FITZ JOHN PORTER, U. S. Volunteers, the witness under examination. * * * * * * * The witness stated that he answered one question propounded yes- terday as considering it confined to General INleDowells ability and his faithfulness, and that the answer is not as general as he now finds the question requires. The witness proceeded: My further amendment is with reference to his integrity as a witness before the general court-martial of which I was defendant. At the instance of a member the court was cleared. The court was opened, and the following decision announced: Evidence of General McDowells integrity as a witness on any other trial cannot be received on this inquiry, nor does the question call for such testimony. Question by General MCDOWELL. What was the effect on your move- ments of the message you state was brought to you by Colonel Locke (your chief of staff) from General McDowell, that you were to stay where you were; that he was going to the right and would take King with him? Answer. The effect was to post my command, or a portion of the command, in line where the head of the column then was, prepared to resist the advance of an enemy in that direction, and turn a portion of the command a little back on the road. After doing this I sent messages to General Pope informing him of the fact. Question by General MCDOWELL. Informing General Pope of what fact ~ Answer. Of my present position and what there was in my front. I will say that I sent several messengers, conveying, to the best of my recollection, the general informa- tion of my location, and one telling him that Kings division had been taken to the right. Some of those messengers never returned to me, and I presume were captured. Question by General MCDOWELL. Did you receive any further mes- sage from General McDowell other than the one you state that Colonel Locke brought you, as before stated, which you considered an order? Answer. None that I recollect of. I had memoranda which I sent to General Morell, and which conveys the general impression that I had received messages from Genera Page 246 ~246 OPERATIONS IN N. VA., W. VA., AND MD. [CHAP. XXIV. McDowell, but I have no recollection of receiving them, nor were they brought to mind till their appearance before the court. That memoranda says General Mc- McDowell informs me all is going well on the right, or something to that effect. Question by General MCDOWELL. Is witness to be understood~ he did not, on the 29th, after seeing General McDowell the second time, re- ceive any instructions, or directions, or orders from General McDowell to move his troops from where he states he was directed to remain ~ Answer. I have no recollection, and I am confident I received no message or order from him other than those that I have mentioned. Question by General MCDOWELL. On his march to Gainesville does witness recollect crossing the Sudley Springs road? Does he know where Bethlehem Church is ~ Answer. I now recollect the road. I did not know it at the time I crossed it. I now know where Bethlehem Church is. Question by General MCDOWELL. When General McDowell saw witness the second time how far had the witness gone on the road to Gainesville beyond the Sudley Springs road? Answer. To the best of my recollection it was lj or 2 milesperhaps a little over 2 miles. Question by General MCDOWELL. How far was it from the head of witness column to Gainesville? Answer. I do not know. I had never been over that portion of the country and have not been since. Question by General MCDOWELL. How far was it, in witness opin- ion, from Manassas to Bethlehem Church? Answer. Of those distances I have very little knowledgevery little recollection and only know them by reference to the map. Question by General MCDOWELL. How long had the witness head of column been halted when General McDowell joined him ~ Answer. I cannot say, but not long. It had halted before I arrived there. Question by General MCDOWELL. Witness speaks of the effect of General McDowells message (as brought by Colonel Locke) to have been to cause him to i~emain in position at the place where General McDowell first saw him. How long did witness troops continue in this position? Answer. A portion of the command remained there till daybreak the following morn- ing and some till after daybreak. The most of Morells division was on or near that ground all day. Question by General MCDOWELL. Did witness conceive himself pro- hibited from making or attempting to make any movement to the front or to the right or to the front and right? Answer. By that direction or order, taken in connection with the joint order, I con- sidered myself checked in advancing, especially taken in connection with the removal of Kings division. I did not consider that I could move to the right, and I consider that General McDowell took Kings division to form a connection on the right or to go to the right and form such a connection as was possible. I add, further, that I considered it impracticable to go to the right. Question by General MCDOWELL. Did witness atte~pt to make any movement in either of the directions above named ~ Answer. Not directly to the right; I did to the right and front; and when I received the last message from General McDowell to remain where I was I recalled it. Question by General MCDOWELL. Did you make no attempt to go to the front or the right, or the right and front, after that message Page 247 CHAP. XXIV.] GENERAL REPORTS. 247 Answer. I made no attempt with any body of troops. I sent messengers through there to go to General Pope and to get information from the troops on th& right. Question by General MCDOWELL. After General McDowell left the witness, did the witness not know he was expected by General McDow- eli to move to the right or the right and front? Answer. I did not. Question by General MCDOWELL. Witness speaks of having reported to General Pope. When did witness conceive himself as no longer nnder General McDowell? Answer. My messages were addressed to General McDowell, I think, all of them. The messengers were directed to deliver them to General Pope if they saw or met him. I considered myself as limited in my operations under General McDowells orders until I should receive directions from General Pope. Question by General MCDOWELL. How long was witness and Gen- eral McDowell together before they moved to the right with a view of seeing the character of the country? Answer. I do not think we were together more than four or five minutes, though I have no distinct recollection. Question by General MCDOWELL. How long were they together after moving to the right? Answer. It may hav been ten or twelve minutes; perhaps longer. Question by General MCDOWELL. Witness refers to some conversa- tion between himself and General McDowell when they first met, which, taken in connection with an expression of opinion by General McDow- eli, witness considered an order. Can the witness state what that con- versation was? Answer. I only recollect the impression left upon my mind at the time, and merely a reference to the artillery contest going on far to our right. Question by General MCDOWELL. Was not the joint order referred to in that conversation? Answer. I have no recollection of it. It may have been refdrred to, because we went to the right, my belief is, to look at the country; but I do not recollect anything at all of the order being referred to. Question by General MCDOWELL. Were not the remarks witness has stated to have been made by General McDowell made with reference to the point in the joint order which required the troops not to go to a point from which they could not get behind Bull Run that night? Answer. I think I have replied to the question by stating I do not recollect. Question by General MCDOWELL. Does not the witness recollect ask- ing General McDowell if he knew of any roads leading to the right or right and front of the head of witness column? Answer. I do not. Early in the day General McDowell loaned me a map, and may have given some explanation with it. This is all the information I recollect of re- ceiving, or having in my possession, of the country. Question by General MCDOWELL. Does not the witness recollect ot being made acquainted by General McDowell with information received by him from General Buford as to the force of the enemy which had passed throngh Gainesville? Answer. I do. Question by General MCDOWELL. When the witness and Genera Page 248 248 OPERATIONS IN N. VA., W. VA., AND MD. (CHAP. XXIV. McDowell moved to the right, with a view of seeing the character of the country,~~ what were the few words which witness states passed between them? Answer. I have given some of the words already; that was, my suggestion to take Kings division to the right. I have no recollection of any conversation or any words being used by me or him, except, when reaching the railroad, remarking that the rail- road was an obstacle, we having some little difficulty in getting over it with our horses. Question by General MCDOWELL. Does the witness recollect nothing of what was said by General McDowell on that occasion, and of his telling the witness to take his troops across to the Warrenton road, and of General McDowells intention to go back to take his troops up the Sudley Springs road? Answer. To the best of my recollection nothing of the kind was conveyed to my mind. Question by General MCDOWELL. You have stated when General McDowell left me I did not know where he had gone. have you not stated before the recent court-martial in your defense as follows: We (General McDowell and yourself) soon parted, General Mc- Dowell to proceed toward the Sudley Springs road, I to return to the position at which he first spoke to me after our meeting ? Answer. I know now where General McDowell went. I did not know then. Question by General MCDOWELL. After General McDowell left you you say you sent an officer to Kings division, directing it to remain where it was for the present. What was the necessity for this order? Had the division, so far as you then knew, been ordered elsewhere? Answer. I sent the message to that division to remain where it was for the present in order not to bring it to the front, where I was forming line, before ~[ was ready for it, and intending to use it as the main support. Question by General MCDOWELL. Why did you continue to regard Kings division as attached to your command after the receipt of the joint order U? Answer. Inever thought of the point before; but General McDowell had left me, and, as I understood, in nowise changing the relations of Kings division to my corps. Question by General MCDOWELL. Did not the joint order itself mod. ify the first order you received from General Pope? Answer. It placed all under the direction of General McDowell. Question by General MCDOWELL. If it placed all under General Mc- Dowell how did you regard the fact of its being addressed jointly to you and him, and not to him only, if he was the sole commander? Answer. I had reason to believe that order was written on an application made by me to General Pope for orders to be given to me in writing; this in consequence of hav- ing received verbal orders from him by persons whom I knew nothing of, and which were contrary to some instructions which I had received in writing. I presume the order was written by General Pope because I had a portion of Gqneral McDowells command with me, and the order was intended for both. Question by General MCDOWELL. Did witness send any written order to Kings division? Answer. No, sir. Question by General MCDOWELL. How long was it after you left Gen- eral McDowell before you sent Colonel Locke to Kings division? Answer. I sent him as soon as I returned to my command after leaving General Mc- Dowell. I returned immediately Page 249 CHAP. XXIV.] -GENERAL REPORTS. 249 Question by General MCDOWELL. Did you not ask General McDowell for some cavalry, stating you had none to send with messages; and did you not ask General McDowell to keep you informed when he should be over to the right with the main body I Answer. I have an indistinct recollection of asking for some cavalry. I do not rec- ollect of asking General McDowell to keep me so informed. Question by General MCDOWELL. Will witness state if this is a copy of a note he addressed to Generals McDowell and King? The note referred to was shown the witness. Answer. To the best of my recollection it is. The note was read by the recorder, and is from Maj. Gen. F. J. Por- ter to Generals McDowell and King, and is appended to the proceed- ings of this day and marked A. The court took a recess of five minutes. Question by General McDOWELL. Can you recollect the date~ of that note and about the hour it was written? Answer. It was written on the 29th. I do not know the hour or about the hour. Question by General MCDOWELL. Did you not receive an order in the afternoon of the 29th from General Pope, addressed to you alone, directing you to make a certain movement? Answer. I did. Question by General MCDOWELL. With reference to what took place when General McDowell met you, whilst he was with you, when he was leaving you, and with reference to what he did or said, or did not do or say, when he was near Bethlehem Church, have you not spoken of Gen- eral McDowelPs evidence, as given on your recent trial, as having done you great wrong and great harm? If so, can you state wherein that testimony differs from what you have testified to on those points? This question was objected to by a member of the court, and it was decided the question be overruled. The witness stated that he had no objection to answer the question. The court was cleared. The court was opened, and the court adjourned to meet to-morrow, January 22, 1863, at 11 oclock a. m. APPENDIX. Generals MCDOWELL and KING: I found it impossible to communicate by crossing the roads to Grove- ton. The enemy are in strong force on this road, and as they appear to have driven our forces back, the firing of the enemy having advanced and ours retired, I have determined to withdraw to Manassas. I have attempted to communicate with McDowell and Sigel, but my messengers have run into the enemy. They have gathered artillery and cavairyand infantry, and the advancing masses of dust show the enemy coming in force. I am now going to the head of the column to see what is passing and how affairs are going. Had you not better send your train back? F. J. PORTER, Major-General. I will communicate with you Page 250 250 OPERATIONS IN N. VA., W. VA., AND MD. [CIIAP. XXIV. FIFTIETH DAY. COURT-ROOM, COR. FOURTEENTH AND PA. AVENUE, Washington, D. 0., January 22, 1863. * * * * * * * The court instructed the recorder to place on record a dispatch re- ceived from Major-General Buruside, to the effect that Lieutenant- Colonel Locke, a witness, could not be consistently spared from his post at present. (See appendix to this days proceedings, marked A.) Col. EDMUND SCHRI.VER, aide-de-camp, U. S. Army, a witness, was recalled. Question by General MCDOWELL. Lay before the court General Orders, No. 103, War Department, 1862; General Orders, No. 16, Headquarters Department of the Rappahannock, May 24, 1862; Special Orders, No. 72, Headquarters Department of the Rappahannock. May 16, 1862; ~Special Orders, No. 80, Headquarters Department of the Rappahannock, May 19, 1862; letter to General Ord, Headquarters Department of the Rappahannock, May 31, 1862. The witness handed the recorder the papers referred to, which were read, and are appended to the proceedings of this day, marked B, C, D, E, and F.* General McDowell stated that he did not propose examining any witnesses until after the testimony of General Milroy and Lieutenant. Colonel Locke had been received. The court was cleared. The court was opened at 3.30 oclock p. in., and the court adjourned to meet to-morrow, January 23, 1863, at 11 oclock a. m. APPENDIX. A. UNITED STATES MILITARY TELEGRAPH4.15 p. m. (Received January 21,1863, from Headquarters Army of Potomac.) To Loins H. PELOUZE, Lieutenant-Colonel and Recorder: Lieutenant-Colonel Locke cannQt consistently be spared from his post at present. A. E. BURNSIDE, Major.General. FIFTY-FIRST DAY. COURT-ROOM, COR. FOURTEENTH AND PA. AVENUE, Washington, D. 0., January 23, 1863. * * * * * * * Lient. Col. BARTON S. ALEXANDER, U. S. Engineers and aide-de- camp, U. S. Army, a witness, was duly sworn. Question by the COURT. Have you personal knowledge, derived Crom any communications made by General McDowell or conversations with * Transferred to Correspondence, etc., Part III Page 251 CHAP. XXIV.) GENERAL REPORTS. 251 him, that he intended or desired to prevent the departure of his corps with the Army of the Potomac to the Penijisula last spring, under the command of General McClellan, and to obtain a separate command for himself, with a view of promoting his personal interest or for any other reason~ And, if you have, state the facts within your personal knowl- edge fully and particularly. Answer. Ill state that I never have received any communication from General Mc- Dowell on this subject, nor do I know that he ever endeavored to separate his com- mand from the army of General McClellan from any conversation I ever had with him. I would state to the court that I had a conversation with General McDowell, but it occnrred (luring a social visit, and I doubt if it is a matter which the court should inquire into on this occasion. Question by the COURT. Does the witness mean to qualify his answer? Answer. Yes, I so intend it. The court was deared. The court was opened. Question by the COURT. In any conversation of General McDowell, heard by you at any time, did he admit or state, in substance, that he proposed to take or had taken any measures to separate his corps from the Army of the Potomac at the time referred to in the last question? Answer. In no conversation that I have had with General McDowell or heard from him did I learn that he had ever taken or ever intended to take any measures to have his command separated from the Army of the Potomac at the time referred to in the last question. In answer to a question by the court the recorder stated that the assistant adjutant-general at Headquarters of the Army had this morning informed him that a general would be ordered to report to General Scheuck, with a view of having General Milroy at once re- lieved, that he may appear as a witness. Brig. Gen. JOHN II. MARTINDALE, U. S. Volunteers, a witness, was duly sworn. Question by General MCDOWELL. About what time did McCalls division get into position on the right of General McClellans army in front of Richmond in June last? Answer. I cannot speak with entire accuracy, but, from the memory of the events connected with the arrival of that division, I think it was brought into position abon one week before the army commenced to retire to the James River, which was on the 26th of June, the series of battles having commenced on that day at Mechanicsville, where McCalls division was first engaged. The court was cleared. The court was opened, and the court at 3 oclock p. m. adjourned to meet to-morrow, January 24, 1863, at 11 oclock a. m. FIFTY-SECOND DAY. COURT-ROOM, COR. FOURTEENTH AND PA. AVENUE, Washington, D 0., January 24, 1863. * * * * * * * The recorder informed the court that he had heard nothing further respecting the matter of attendance before the court of Brigadier-Gen- eral Milroy and Lieutenant-Colonel Locke, who have been summoned as witnesses. The court was cleared Page 252 252 OPERATIONS IN N. VA., W. VA., AND MD. [CHAP. XXIV. The court was opened at 3 oclock p. in., and adjourned to meet Mon- day, January 26, 1863, at 11 oclock a. m. FIFTY-THIRD DAY. COUaT-ROOM, Cou. FOURTEENTH AND PA. AVENUE, Washington, D. 0., January 26, 1863. * * * * * * * The recorder, in answer to a question by the court, stated that he had heard nothing further respecting the matter of attendance before the court of Brigadier-General Milroy and Lieutenant-Colonel Locke, who have been summoned as witnesses. The court was cleared. The court was opened at 3 oclock p. in., and adjourned to meet to- morrow, January 27, 1863, at 11 oclock a. m. FIFTY-FOURTH DAY. COURT-ROOM, CoR. FOURTEENTH AND PA. AVENUE, Washington, P. 0., January 27, 1863. * * * * * * * Lieut. Col. F. T. LocKE, assistant adjutant-general, U. S. Volunteers, a witness, was duly sworn. Question by the COURT. What knowledge have you of any order or orders given by General McDowell on the 29th day of August last, and of the whereabouts of General McDowell on that day? State fully and particularly, specifying time and circumstances, as nearly as you remember. Answer. I was the hearer of a message from General McDowell to General Porter on the afternoon of the 29th August somewhere between 2 and 3 oclock. At the time of receiving this message of General McDowell lie was standing on the right- hand side of the road going to Manassas and near Bethlehem Church. The message was in these words or in words to this effect: Give General Porter my compliments, and say to him that I am going to the right, aiA will take General King with me; that I think he had better remain where he is for the present, and if it is necessary for him to fall back, to do so upon my left. This message I carried directly to General Porter. This is the only order I bore General Porter from General McDowell. I heard General McDowell, in the morning or somewhere about noon, make a remark to General Por- ter which was to this effect: Porter, you are too far out already; this is no place to have a fight. The first time I saw General McDowell on the 29th was at a brick house at Manassas Junction about 10 oclock in the morning. I was then in com- pany with General Porter. I subsequently saw him in the place where we were in position, near Gainesville, and about noon. The last time I saw him was on the occasion I have mentioned, near Bethlehem Church. At the time I bore the communi- cation to General Porter the head of General Porters column was about 2 miles frora Bethlehem Church and in the direction of Gainesville. General Porters column, at about noon, was on an elevated position between the Gainesville road and Manassas Gap Railroad, and about 2 miles from Bethlehem Church in the direction of Gaines- ville. I am not positive ns to the distance, but have always thought it about 2 miles. Question by the COURT. Do you know of any matter or thing tend- ing to show that General McDowell was treacherous to the country, incompetent, unfaithful, or otherwise disqualified for the command of a division, corps, or department? And, if you do, state what you know as fully as though you were specifically interrogated in respect thereto. Answer. I do not know of any such thing or believe any such thing Page 253 CRAP. XXIV.] GENERAL REPORTS. 253 Question by General MCDowELL. Will witness state under what circumstances he chanced to see General McDowell near Bethlehem Church on the 29th? For what purpose did he come there? Answer. I was the bearer of a message from General Porter to General King. As I rode down the Gainesville road to Bethlehem Church I saw General McDowell, with another officer, standing by the side of the road. This officer I took to be General Kiwr to whom I delivered my message, first askinw this officer if he was General King, to which he assented affirmatively. It was npon the delivery of my message to General King that General McDowell gave me the message to give to General Porter. Question by General MCDOWELL. What was the message you bore from General Porter to General King? Answer. To remain where you are till further orders. Question by General MCDOWELL. How long after General McDowell qiitted General Porter was it that the latter sent you to General King? Answer. I dont remember exactly; it may have been an hour. Question by General MCDOWELL. Did you accompany General Por- ter when he rode from the head of his column with General McDowell to see the country to the right? Answer. Yes; I rode just in the rear. Question by General MCDOWELL. Did you return with General Por- ter after General McDowell and he parted? Answer. I did. Question by General MCDOWELL. How long after he returned to the head of the column was it before he sent you to General King? Answer. I have no very distinct recollection as to the length of time that elapsed. My impressions are that he stopped behind after we crossed the railroad to give some directions to General MorelL It was very shortly after General Porter returned to the head of the column that I was sent to General King. Question by General MCDOWELL. Did you pass any of General Mc- Dowells troops on your way down the road to see General King up to the point where you state you met him with General McDowell? Answer. To the best of my recollection they (the troops) were halted just about that place. Question by General MCDOWELL. What was General Kings posi- tion personally when you saw himon horseback or on foot, standing or sitting? Answer. He was standing on the left of General McDowell and leaning against the fence. Question by General MCDOWELL. How long did you remain with Generals King or McDowell? Answer. But a few moments. It may have been ten minutes, but I hardly think so long. Questionby General MCDOWELL. You speak of hearing some remarks made by General McDowell to General Porter on the occasion of his joining General Porter at the head of his column. Did you hear the entire conversation between them? Answer. No, sir; I did not. Question by General MCDOWELL. Do you know if, General Port& wa~ given a part of General McDowells cavalry on the morning of the 29th Page 254 254 OPERATIONS IN N. VA., W. VA., AND MD. [Ca& r. XXIV. Answer. I do not know what cavalry General McDowell had. I do not know the fact. I wish to correct my answer. I thought the question referred to a force of cav- alry, but there was a small detachment, numbering 12 or 15 men, left with General Porter as messengers. Question by General MCDOWELL. Did you leave with General Por- ters message to General King before or after that part of my cavalry escort was given to General Porter? Answer. I dont recollect. Question by General MCDOWELL. Do you recollect General Mc- Dowells having in his conversation with General Porter referred to the joint order they each had received from General Pope? Answer. I dont think I heard the conversation to which that refers. Question by General MCDOWELL. Did you hear in what connection the remark of General McDowell to General Porter about being too far out, & c., was made? Answer. I dont think it was made in connection with any conversation. It ap- peared to me to be induced by the appearance of the place. Question by General MCDOWELL. Did you hear General McDowell acquaint General Porter with the report of General Buford of the num- ber of the enemys force that had passed through Gainesville? Answer. I did not. Question by General MCDOWELL. Do you recollect at the time you left Generals King and McDowell whether they had their horses near them? Answer. No, I do not remember. My attention was not called to that. Question by General MCDOWELL. Did you leave General McDowell immediately after you received the message you state to carry it to Gen- eral Porter? Answer. Idid. The court was cleared. The court was opened. Brig. Gen. Rurus KING, IT. S. Volunteers, a witness, was recalled. Question by General MCDOWELL. Did you or not, on the 29th of August, receive a message from General Fitz John Porter, by the hands of Lieutenant.Colonel Locke, at or near Bethlehem Church, in the presence of General McDowell? Answer. No, sir. Question by General MCDOWELL. Were you and General McDowell together at all on the 29th of August at or near Bethlehem Church and after you and he parted near Manassas? Answer. No, sir. Question by the COURT. Did you receive any order from Lieutenant- Colonel Locke? Answer. I did not. Capt. DANIEL W. HuGHEs, aide-de.camp, U. S. Army, a witness, was duly sworn. Question by General MCDOWELL. Were you with General King on the morning of the 29th of August last, on the occasion of the march of his division from Manassas on the road to Gainesville Page 255 ChAP. XXIV.] GENERAL REPORTS. 255 Answer. I was. Question by General McDowELL. Were he and General McDowell together at all at or near Bethlehem Church on the 29th ~nd after they parted near Maiiassas? Answer. Not at all during the day. Question by General MCDOWELL. What is your rank in the United States service? Answer. I am captain and additional aide-de-camp. Question by the COURT. What time did Generals King and Mc.. Dowell part at Manassas on that day? Answer. I should judge between 8 and 9 oclock in the morning. General King was sick, and had been for days previously, and did not exercise any command after ~ oclock that morning. Question by the COURT. Do you know that the sickness of General King was known to General McDowell? Answer. He knew it that morning. General McDowell knew that he had been sick for some days, or at Itiast I think he did. Question by the COURT. How do you know that? Answer. Ive heard them talking together of his sickness at Warrenton and other places previous to this day. General King complained to General McDowell of feel- ing very sick several times on the road from Warrenton. General King looked as if he was fatigued out and very weak and sickly. Capt. DUNCAN A. PELL, additional aide.de.camp, U. S. Army, a wit- ness, was duly sworn. Question by the COURT. What is your rank in the United Statea service? Answer. I am a captain and aide-de.camp on the staff of Major-General McClellan, and assigned to duty with General Burnside. Question by the COURT. Where were you on the 28th of August last! Answer. In the morning of the 28th, at about 10 oclock, I was withthe Confederates the column of General Ewells divisionon Cub Run, somewhere near the crossing ot the road from Manassas Junction, and to the northward of it, to some point they had been at the night before. I do not know the place, but think it was Centreville. I made an error in saying the Manassas Junction road; it was the crossing over Cull Run of a road to the north of Centreville and Gainesville road. The troops that I was with halted there for some hours, and then proceeded to a place called Groveton Heights by way of Sudley Springs. They arrived at Groveton Heights about 8 oclock in the evening. There had been a battle there, in which Doubledays division was, I think, engaged. I personally reached Groveton Heights at this time. There were troops and wagons in front and in rear of me. I think the greater part of Ewells division was behind me, and know we passed a great many troops on the road during the day. I left Manassas Junction about 9 oclock on the evening of the 27th. The rebel troops commenced their march previous to that time. I did not leave with the first of them. Question by the COURT. Were there any portion of the rebel troopa moved from Manassas Junction toward Warrenton on the southwest side of Bull Run? Answer. I do not know. I had not the means of knowing. Question by the COURT. Do you know whether any portion of th& rebel force proceeded from Cub Run along the Warrenton pike toward Groveton? Answer. I do not know Page 256 256 OPERATIONS IN N. VA., W. VA., AND MD. [CRAI-. XXIV. Question by the COURT. Were you present at the engagement at Groveton Heights on the 28th? Answer. I did not arrive until about half anhour after it was over. Question by the COURT. Were you present at the battle which took place on the 29th? Answer. Yes, sir. Question by the COURT. What opportunities had you for observing what had transpired? Answer. I at the first part of the day, while they were fighting almost immediately upon the field of the night previous, had very good opportunities for observation, but afterward, when the United States troops occupied that ground, I was sent to the rear of the Confederate Army by A. P. Hill, and had no further opportunity to see the action that day. The rebel force there, from the information I could collect from ob- servation and otherwise, was about 21,000, being the whole of Jacksons corps, three divisions. Question by the COURT. Did you see or do you know of any move- ment of our troops which was an improper one, and whilhi, in conse- quence of its impropriety, inured to the benefit of the enemy? If so, state fully and particularly. Answer. On Friday, the 29th, which was the only day on which I could well observe the movements of the army, the enemy were decidedly worsted. I did not see our troops except early in the morning. The court was cleared. The court was opened at 3 oclock p. in., and adjourned to meet to- morrow, January 28, 1863, at 11 oclock a. m. FIFTY-FIFTH DAY. COURT-ROOM, COB. FOURTEENTH AND PA. AVENUE, Wa8hington, D 0., January 28, 1863. * * * * * * * The recorder of the court stated that he had nothing further respect- ing the attendance of Brigadier-General Milroy as a witness before the court. The court was cleared. The court was opened at 3 oclock p in., and adjourned to meet to. morrow, January 29, 1863, at 11 oclock a m FIFTY-SIXTH DAY. COURT-ROOM, COR. FOURTEENTH AND- PA. AVENUE, Wa8hington, D. C., January 29, 1863. * * * * * * * Maj. FRANZ KAPPNER, additional aide-de-camp, U. S. Army, a wit- ness, was duly sworn. The evidence of Maj. Franz Kappuer was interpreted by Charles D. Arnaud (a citizen of Saint Louis), who was dulysworn. Questio~ by the COURT. State your rank and position in the military service of the United States Page 257 Cuir. XXIV.] GENERAL REPORTS. 257 Answer. I am a major and aide-de-camp on Major-General Frdmonts staff, and I am assigned voluntarily to General Sigels staff, on which I rank as chief engineer. Question by the COURT. Where and with whom were you se~ving on the 28th day of August last? Answer. With the First Corps, Army of Virginia, under Major-General Sigel, at Buckland Mills. Question by the COURT. liarrate the movements made by General Sigels corps on that day, and in connection therewith state what was known of the position and strength of the enemy on that day. Answer. General Sigels corps (at night) by day-time at 3 oclock was got upthey ordered to fulfillto march to Manassas. Six oclock the same morning the advance guard arrived at Gainesville. The same advance guard had met the enemys pickets while they were advancing, and the enemys pickets retired beyond Gainesvillethat the route from Gainesville to Manassas. They could not pursue the enemys route, but take the right to Manassas. About 3 miles from Gainesvill~ toward Manassas, was the center of the army corps, and took their rest. It was shout 10 oclock in the morning. The same time General Sigels escort came in and told him that the enemy advanced from the right corner of theleft flank. In the proper time I have asked General Sigel for to give me 24 cavalrymen for to go out and see if the i~nfornia- tion of the scouts was correct and for a reconnoitering expedition. Question by the COURT. Have you made a map of the Jocality to which you refer? If so, produce it. Answer. I have. The witness produced a map, which is appended to the proceedings of this day, marked A. Question by the COURT. Did you make the map just referred to from your own personal knowledge of the locality it purports to represent? Answer. From my own personal knowledge and from my observation when I march in these localities. By the COURT. Continue your narrative of the movements of General Sigels corps on the 28th August last. The witness continued: With the 24 cavalrymen I have made for the same direction where the scouts had in- formed usthe same position or the same direction; had no road, but one open field. When I made 1+ miles I came to a height near a farm.house. From the same place I had a very far view. I have seen on the turnpike which goes from Centreville and Gainesville a white line on the route. Then I took my glass, then I have seen about 50 of the enemys wagons, which went toward Gainesville, as I give on my plan. After I have seen this I took my position about 250 yards nearer on the left side, and have seen about 5 vedettes to the front, toward General Sigels march line, and about a quar- tsr [of a] mile distant from that vedettes. There was about 50 cavalry of the same vedertes, and the route toward Groveton from New Market I saw an infantry column, about three regiments. All this has happened. I immediately let General Sigel, in writing, know. I reported to General Sigel that the army (General Sigels), with wagons and artillery, could pass along the route without interruptions, as well so the movement of the enemy was reported to General Sigel. I remained at the same point about a half an hour. I saw General Sigel with a part of his army coming before the same position. This was about a quarterto twelve in the morning. General Sigel telled me that before he break his camp he sent a report to General McDowelL When I came to General Sigel, where he was below the hill, and wanted to stretch his column to engage the enemy, then came an ordnance officer from General Mc- Dowellthe orderly came with an order to General Sigel to immediately march on Manassas. General Sigel at the same moment took the same route as he came to march toward Manassas, to comply with the order of Genera] McDowell. The same evening we did march so far as the advance guard wasa half a mile before Manassas. I wish to remark that General Sigel did not find any enemy toward Manassas; then he advanced toward New Market. I wish to state a few remarks on the importance of the position where I was at the time on the hill near the farm-house. At the time I was on the hill I observed the enemy marching, and, according with strategic rules, my own impression is that when an enemy is on the march and not yet in position 17 R RVOL XI Page 258 258 ~WERATIONS IN N. VA., W. VA., AND MD. [CHAP. XXIV. the enemy could be flanked, and it also is my impression that it was only one army corps of the enemy at the time. If at that time we had engaged the enemy, with the aid of General McDowell on the left, I am of the opinion we could have carried the day before re-enforcements could have come to the enemy. For that day this is ali I know. By withdrawing General Sigel from that position I believe it gave advantage to the enemy. At the instance of Major-General McDowell Captain Wiadislas Leski was sworn to assist as interpreter during the examination of the witness. The witness continued: In consequence of our retreat from that position the enemy had ample time to put himself in position and await re-enforcements. This is all I have to say for the twenty- eighth day. Question by the COURT. Who was the officer who took the message from General Sigel to General McDowell, referred to? Answer. Assistar~ Engineer Burchard, formerly assistant engineer; at present first lieutenant and aide-de-camp on General Cluserets staff. Question by the COURT. Did you see Lieutenant Burchard start to go to General McDowell? Answer. No, not while I was on the hill; but Lieutenant Burohard came hack again and informed me while I was there. Question by the COURT. From that hill could you see Manassas Junction? Answer. No; it was too far to the left. Question by the COURT. Could you see Centreville from that hill. top? Answer. Yes. Question by the COURT. Did you see any other portions of the enemy than what you have described? Answer. Nonehut what I have stated. It was not everywhere that I could see, on account of little woods. Question by the COURT. Could you see General McDowells corps? Answer. Not on the 28th; there were woods in the rear of me. It was everywhere woods,but in that particular place open fields. Question by General MCDOWELL. Was there un apple orchard on that hill-top? Answer. Not in a position toward the enemy, but toward the left there was. Question by General MCDOWELL. Was there a road near the hill? Answer. There was no regular road, but there was a farm road. Question by General MCDOWELL. Could you see Bull Run stream? Answer. Part of it. Question by General MCDOWELL. What part of it; above or below the turnpike? Answer. On the south side. Question by General MCDOWELL. Could you see the water? Answer. No; I could not see the water. Question by General MCDOWELL. Could you see Kew Market or Groveton? Answer. No. Question by General MCDOWELL. How did you know the column of infantry was on the road from New Market to Groveton Page 259 CHAP. XXIV.] GENERAL REPORTS. 259 Answer. I knew it from General McDowells map. I have seen the enemy moving, and from the map I have learned the enemys moving. I saw them marching, and took up the map and knew they could be marching over no other route but that ox~ie. Question by General MCDOWELL. Could they not have been going on the road from New Market toward Sudley Springs. Answer. They could not have been going on the other road, for then they would have been going farther to the right. I saw them going right straight toward me. Question by General MCDOWELL. How far was the enemy from you on the hill? Answer. My impression is about a strong half a mile. Question by General MCDOWELl. How long was the enemys col- uniin? Answer. One hundred and twenty yards; it might have been more, for they were already turning upon the turnpike, and I could not see all. Question by General MCDOWELL. How long were they in sight? Answer. About five minutes; then I lost sight of them, as they were tun~dng the road. Whether there was one regiment or three regiments I cannot tell. They might have been going forward a long time, and this may have been their rear. Question by General MCDOWELL. Did you hear any artillery firing on the morning of the 28th? Answer. I can remember a few shots I heard toward the left in the position of General McDowell, but I do not know from whence they came. Question by General MCDOWELL. What time did you hear this firing? Answer. I cant remember. It might have been nine or before. I never regarded much about it. Question by the COURT. The witness has said there might have been but one regiment. Why did he previously say there were three r~gi- ments? Answer. When I have seen the troops march (so I have observed for one hundred and twenty yards), whether they have marched by fours or sixes I could not judge. I have stated they were about three regiments, but there may have been but one. The court was cleared. The court was opened at 3 oclock p. in., and adjourned to meet to- morrow, January 30, 1863, at 11 oclock a. m Page 260 w 0 ii 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 A. 2nw~iz*e~t~ C. rr~YY27t.O/O$OL~1?tc,Ofl.4 D. Z ,n mo~e?ezn~Q C4turn7L~Of~2?Y~21d/y. e~orf4V4tiZn$ ufa~ow~Jrq~inzen~f Page 261 CHAP. XXIV.] GENERAL REPORTS. 261 Question by the COURT. What was your rank and position in the military service of the United States on the 28th of August last? Answer. I was engineer, with General Sigel, in the Army of Virginia. I had no military rankno conimissionat that time. Question by the COURT. Did you take any information from General Sigel to General McDowell on the 28th August last? Answer. No information from General Sigel to General McDowelL Question by the COURT. Did you make any communication from any- body to General McDowell relatingto the position of the enemy? Answer. I gave information to General McDowell relating to the position of the enemy from myself. I received no order from any one. Question by the COURT. State that information. Answer. I was sent out by order of General Sigel to our left, after we heard some fir- ing, with 20 mencavalry. I crossed the field to Fairfax Court-House pike and came near Groveton, where I found the enemy in position. As I came back near Gaines- ville, and about 14 miles from Gainesville, I saw General McDowell, and I thbught it my business to report to General McDowell what I saw and where I had been sent. General McDowell asked me how far from this place on the Manassas Junction road was General Sigel, and I told him about 4 miles. General McDowell said, All right; go to General Sigel and tell him he should take positionthe right on the railroad, the left on the pike. That is the only communication I took charge of. Question by the COURT. When you went toward Groveton and be- fore seeing General McDowell did you discover any portion of the enemy; and, if so, state what you saw? Answer. Yes, sir; I saw some artillery and some cavalry pickets. I think I saw a battery, but I cannot say, only I am sure there was some artillery. I saw of cavalry pickets some 10 or 12 men across the fields, and of cavalry, in all, something about 50 men. I saw no infantry. Question by the COURT. State whether you informed General Mc- Dowell what you had seen. Answer. I told him that as I was out in that direction about 14 miles I had seen some of the enemy and a battery in position. I dont recollect whether I said any- thing about the cavalry and pickets. This is all the information I gave to General McDowell. Question by the COURT. Have you personal knowledge that any com- munication was sent to General McDowell on that day informing him of the presence of an infantry force to your left and front or of the move- ment of a train of wagons on the pike toward Gainesville? Answer. No, sir. Lieut. Col. HENRY E. DAVIES, Second Regiment New York Cavalry, a witness, was duly sworn. Question by General MCDOWELL. Were you for a short time on duty with Major-General Sigel on the 28th of August, 1862? Answer. I was. Question by General MCDOWELL. Who placed you with General Sigel, and for what purpose were you so placed? Answer. Major-General McDowell, for the purpose of showing to Major-General Sigel the country between Gainesville and Thoroughfare Gap and in that vicinity, at General Sigels request. Question by General MCDOWELL. At what place and what time was this done? Answer. In the evening of the 27th August, at or about 10 oclock, at General Sigels headquarters, at Buckland Mills Page 262 262 OPERATIONS IN N. VA., W. VA., AND MD. (Cii.& P. lilY.. Question by General MCDOWELL. Did you or do you know for what purpose General Sigel wished to know from you the next day concerning the country between Thoroughfare Gap and Buckland Mills. Answer. I understood that General Sigel had been assigned to the duty of occupy- ing Thoroughfare Gap. Question by General MCDOWELL. Did you on the 28th bring any message from General Sigel to General McDowell which would show that the former knew that General McDowell had taken, or was to take, measures for meeting the enemy coming through or from the direction of Thoroughfare Gap? Answer. I did. In marching from Buckland Mills toward Gainesville I showed to General Sigel a cross-road leading over to Hay Market. He asked me some ques- tions about the road, and then sent me back to General McDowell, instructing me to say to General McDowell that the division which was to hold Thoroughfare a ha better go by that road. The court was cleared. The court was opened at 3 oclock p. in., and adjourned ~to meet to- morrow, January 31, 1863, at 11 oclock a. m. FIFTY-EiGHTH DAY. 3OURT-ROOM, COR. FOURTEENTH AND PA. AVENUE, Washington, D. 0., January 31, 1863. * * * * * * * The recorder informed the court that Brigadier-General Milroy, sum- moned as a witness before the court, had not yet made his appearance. The recorder was instructed to make an application for an official copy of Brigadier-General Milroys report of the operations of his com- mand in the Army of Virginia, and communicate therein the fact that a copy of said report would facilitate the business before the court. The court was cleared. The court was opened at 3 oclock p. in., and adjourned to meet Mon- day, February 2, 1863, at 11 oclock a. m. FIETY-YINTH DAY. COURT-ROOM, CoR. FOURTEENTH AND PA. AVENUE, Washington, D. 0., February 2, 1863. * * * * * * * The recorder informed the court that Brigadier-General Mitroy, sum- moned as a witness before it, had not yet made his appearance. The recorder stated, in answer to a question by the court, that an application had been made for the report of Brigadier-General Milroy of his operations in the Army of Virginia. The court decided that the interests of the service would not justify a longer delay to procure the attendance of General Milroy, and in th& event of his non-arrival by to-morrow morning his personal examina- tion would be omitted; but his report. would be read and counter-testi- mony, if any, to be produced by General McDowell, would then be re- ceived, and the testimony in the case be closed. Brig. Gen. JoHN BUFORD, U. S. Volunteers~ a witness, was duly sworn. Question by General MCDOWELL. Were you present with Genera Page 263 9. 1 CHAP. XXIV.]GENERAL REPORTS. 263 McDowell at his tent near Warrenton on the 26th of August last on the occasion of General Sigel being there? Answer. Yes, sir. Question by General MCDOWELL. What was the object of the expe- dition that was then in question in the direction of Salem? Answer. There was an expedition about being sent out under my command from Warrenton toward Chester Gap. General Sigel was to give me a section of artillery and a portion of his cavalry. The expedition started on the morning of the 27th and got to near Salem, where it came across stragglers from the rear of Jacksons army. I found out that Longstreets command was close behind and following up. The ob- ject of the expedition was to ascertain the position of the rebels, I suppose. Question by General MCDOWELL. Did you make any report to Gen- eral McDowell of the march of Longstreet? Answer. I think I did. I sent two dispatches back. Col. EDMUND SCHRIVER, aide-de-camp, U. S. Army, a witness, was recalled. Question by General MCDOWELL. Lay before the court General Bufords note to General Ricketts concerning the forces passing through Gainesville, and General Orders, No. 160, War Department, of 1862? Answer. These are the papers. Bufords communication was received on the 29th. The papers were read by the recorder, and are attached to the pro- ceedings of this day, marked A and B. Question by General MCDOWELL. Did General King, on the after- noon of the 28th of August, report himself as unable to do duty, an& was he, to outward appearances, at that time able to do duty? Answer. He did not report himself sick, to my knowledge, and he seemed to me able to perform duty. The court was cleared. The court was opened at 3 oclock p. in., and adjourned to meet to- morrow, February 3, 1863, at 11 oclock a. m. APPENDIX. A. HEADQUARTERS CAVALRY BRIGADE9.30 a. m. General RICKETTS: Seventeen regiments and battery and 500 cavalry passed through Gainesville three-quarters of an hour ago on the Centreville road. I think this division should join our forces now engaged at once. JNO. BUFORD, Brigadier-General. Please forward this. B. GENERAL ORDERS, ~ WAR DEPT., ADJT. GEN.S OFFICE, No. 160. Wa8hington, October 18, 1862. The following regulations are established for army trains and bag- gage: I. There will be allowed for headquarters train of an army corps four wagons; of a division or brigade, three; of a full infantry regi- ment, six, and of a light artillery battery or squadron of cavalry, three Page 264 2i4 OPERATIONS IN N. VA., W. VA., AND MD. (CHAP. XXIV. In no case will this allowance be exceeded, but always proportionably reduced according to the number of officers and men actually present. All surplus wagons will be turned over to the chief quartermaster, to be organized, under direction of the commanding general, into supply trains, or sent to the nearest depot. The requisite supply trains, their size depending upon the state of the roads and character of the campaign, will be organized by the chief quartermaster, with the approval of the commanding generals, subject to the control of the War Department. II. The wagons allowed to a regiment, battery, or squadron must carry nothing but forage for the teams, cooking utensils and rations for the troops, hospital stores, and officers baggage. One wagon to each regiment will transport exclusively hospital supplies, under the direction of the regimental surgeon; the one for regimental headquar- ters will carry the grain for the officers horses, and the three allowed for each battery or squadron will be at least half loaded with grain for their own teams. Stores in bulk and ammunition will be carried in the regular or special supply trains. III. In active campaign troops must be prepared to bivouac on the march, the allowance of tents being limited as follows: For the headquarters of an army corps, division, or brigade, one wall- tent to the commanding general and one to every two officers of his staff. For the colonel, field, and staff of a full regiment three wall-tents, and for every other commissioned officer one shelter-tent each. For every two non-commissioned officers, soldiers, officers servants, ~nd authorized camp followers one shelter-tent. One hospital tent will be allowed for office purposes at corps head- quarters, and one wall-tent at those of a division or a brigade. All tents beyond this allowance will be left in depot. IV. Officers baggage will be limited to blankets, one small valise or carpet-bag, and a moderate mess-kit. The men will carry their own blankets and shelter-tents, and reduce the contents of their knapsacks as much as possible. The depot quartermaster will provide storage for a reasonable amount of officers surplus baggage and the extra clothing and knapsacks of the men. V. Hospital tents are for the sick and wounded, and, except those allowed for army corps headquarters, must not be diverted from their proper use. VI. Commanding officers will be held responsible for the strict en- forcement of these regulations, especially the reduction of officers bag- gage, within their respective commands. VII. On all marches quartermasters, under the orders of their com- manding officers, will accompany and conduct their trains in a way not to obstruct the movement of troops. VIII. All quartermasters and commissaries will personally attend to the reception and issue of supplies for their commands, and. will keep themselves informed of the condition of the depots, roads, and other communications. IX. All quartermasters and commissaries will report, by letter, on the first of every month to the chiefs of their respective departments at Washington, D. C., their station, and generally the duty on which they have beeii engaged during the preceding month. By command of Major-General Halleck: L. THOMAS, Adjutant-Genera Page 265 GENERAL REPORTS. 265 SIXTIETH DAY. COURT-ROOM, 0031. FOURTEENTH AND PA. AVENUE, Washington, D. C., February 3, 1863. * * * * * * * Lieut. Col. DAVIS TILLSON, Maine Artillery, a witness, was recalled. Question by General MCDOWELL. Were you with General McDowell on the occasion of his return from the head of General Porters column to the head of his own column, near Bethlehem Church, on the 29th of August last I Answer. I was. Question by General MCDOWELL. What did General McDowell pro- ceed to do immediately on his return to the head of his own troops? Answer. To turn the head of his column to the right along the Sudley Springs road. Question by General MCDOWELL. After putting the troops in motion, what position did General McDowell take up and what did h& then do personally? Answer. He went to the north of the road to Manas~as and took a position near the railroad, about 150 or 200 yards from the Manassas road and from 50 to 100 yards west of the Sudley Springs road, dismounted, and he remained apparentiy watching troops as they passed along the road. Question by General MCDOWELL. Did you at any time that day, after General McDowell returned from the head of General Porters colunm, see General King with General McDowell? Answer. I did not. Question by General MCDOWELL. Did you hear of his having been with General McDowell I Answer. I did not. Question by the COURT.. After the separation of General McDowell from General Porter, did you see Colonel Locke, assistant adjutant- general, or any other staff officer of General Porter, in conversation with Gineral McDowell? Answer. I did not. Question by the COURT. Did you hear any communication by Gen- eral McDowell to any officer whatever, to be delivered to General Por- ter, to the effect that General Porter had better remain where he was? Answer. I did not. Question by the COUET. Were you in the company of General Mc- Dowell after his separation from General Porter and until he moved toward Sudley Springs, so that you would have heard such a commu- nication if it had been publicly made? Answer. I was with General McDowell until a short time before he left the position I have already described near the railroad. I am not sure that I should have known anything about such a communication if it had been delivered. I think, however, that I should have recollected the occurrence had it transpired. Capt. FRANKLIN HAVEN, aide-de-camp, U. S. Army, a witness, was recalled. Question by General MCDOWELL. Were you with General McDowell on the 29th of August last, on the occasion of his return from the head of General Porters column to the head of his own column, near Beth- lehem Church Page 266 266 OPERATIONS IN N. VA., W. VA., AND MD. (CHAP. XXIV. Answer. I was. Question by General MCDOWELL. Did you at any time on the 29th, after leaving the head of General Porters column, see General King in company with General McDowell? Answer. No. Question by General MCDOWELL. Did you that day hear of General King~s having been in company with General McDowell after the latter had returned from the head of General Porters column? Answer. I did not, and I did not see anything of General King until August 30. Question by the COURT. Where were you after the return of General McDowell from the head of General Porters column, with reference to General McDowell, until he went with his corps to Sudley Springs? Answer. I was with the general. Question by the COURT. During that time did General McDowell send any message, to your knowledge, to General Porter? Answer. Not to my knowledge. Question by the COURT. During that time was there any message delivered to him or to any officer in company with him purporting to come from General Porter? Answer. Not to my knowledge. Question by the COURT. Were you in a position to have observed such a circumstance if it had occurred? Answer. I think I was. Question by the COURT. Do you know Colonel Locke, assistant ad- jutant-general to General Porter? Answer. I do not. Col. EDMUND SORRIVER, aide-de-camp, U. S. Army, a witness, was recalled. Question by General MCDOWELL. After your return to the head of General McDowells troops from the head of General Porterscolumn did you see General King in company with General McDowell? Where did you find General McDowell on your rejoining him? Answer. No. I found him some distance on the left-hand side of the road to Ma- nassas, under a tree, dismounted. Question by General MCDOWELL. Did you hear of General King having been with General McDowell, on the 29th, after the latter had returned from the head of General ~ column? Answer. No. Question by General MCDOWELL. Did you hear or learn of any mes- sage having been received by General McDowell from General Porter by any staff officer of the latter? Answer. No. Question by General MCDOWELL. Did you hear General McDowell send, or hear of his sending, any message to General Porter by any staff officer to the effect that the latter should remain where he was? Answer. No. Question by General MCDOWELL. Submit to the court General Or- ders, No. 107, War Department, August 15, 1862 Page 267 CHAP. XVIV.] GENERAL REPORTS. 267 Answer. That is it. The order referred to was submitted to the court, was read by th& recorder, and is appended to the proceedings of this day, marked A. Capt. WLArnSLAS LESKI, aide-de-camp, U. S. Army, a witness, was~ recalled. Question by General McDowELL. Were you with General McDowell on the 29th of August last, on the occasion of his returning from th& head of General Porters column to the head of his own troops, near Bethlehem Church I Answer. I was. Question by General MCDOWELL. What did General McDoWell d& immediately on his return to his own troops~ Answer. On his return to his own troops he ordered General Patricks brigade t& counter-march so as to come back on the Sudley Springs route. This brigade had already passed on the Gainesville road. Then afterward the general went tp a place not far from the crossing of the dirt road leading on the south side of the railroad and the Sudley Springs road, and there, in a clump of trees, he dismounted during the passage of General Kings and General Ricketts divisions. Question by General MCDOWELL. Was the place where he dis- mounted north or south of the road, and about how far was it from that road? Answer. It was north of the road. I could not exactly say how far; it may have been about 100 yards. It was nearer the Sudley Springs road. Question by General MCDOWELL. Were there any fences near wherer he dismounted, north of the road to Manassas.? Answer. It was just an open place with a clump of trees; nothing else. Question by General MCDOWELL. Did you see General King with General McDowell on that occasion? Answer. I did not. Question by General MCDOWELL. Did you hear of General King having been with General McDowell on that occasion? Answer. I was the whole time with the general, and I did not hear of it. Question by General MCDOWELL. Were you so placed with respect to General McDowell, and was the nature of the ground and the situa- tion of General McDowell such, that you would have been likely to see General King had he been present? Answer. I was sitting with General Bayard just behind General McDowell the whole time, and of course was obliged to see and hear anybody that was coming. Question by General MCDOWELL. Did you hear or learn of any message having been received by General McDowell from General Porter by any staff officer of the latter? Answer. I did not. Questiou by General MCDOWELL. Did you hear General McDowell send, or hear of his sending, any message to General Porter by any officer to the effect that the latter should remain where he was? Answer. I did not. Question by the COURT. Was any communication received from Gen- eral Porter during the time to which you refer by any officer in com- pany with or near to General McDowell, to your knowledge? Answer. Not to my knowledge Page 268 268 OPERATIONS IN N. VA., W. VA., AND MD. (CUA~. XXIY. Question by the CoimT. Was there any such communication from General Porter received by General McDowell, or any other officer near him, after you left the head of General Porters column and before General ~VIcDowelI proceeded with his corps toward Sudley Springs? Answer. We left General Porter on full gallop, and on arriving the order was im- mediatc Jy given to General Patrick, of Kings division, to counter-march. I was the whole time quite near the general, and did not see any messenger from General Porter. Soon after giving this order General McDowell dismounted in the place previously referred te, and remained there until nearly the whole of Ricketts division passed. Re then mounted again and I went to the head of the column, and (lid not see any messenger during that time. Question by the COURT. During the time you have described, did ;you hear of any message, verbal or written, sent to General Porter that he had better remain for the present where he was or to that effect t / Answer. I did not. The recorder reported to the court that Brigadier-General Milroy, a witness, had not yet reported his presence. An extract from the report of Brigadier-General Milroy, which report is (lated Headquarters Jude. pendent Brigade, near Fort Ethan Allen, Va., September 12, 1862, was read by the recorder, and is appended to the proceedings of this day, marked B. First Lieut. WASHINGTON BOEBLING, Sixth New York IndePendent Battery, a witness, was duly sworn. Question by General MCDOWELL. What was your rank and position in the United States service on the 30th day of August last and on what duty were you at that time? Answer. Second lieutenant. I was assigned to the corps of General McDowell by the Quartermaster-General for the purpose of building military suspension bridges. Question by General MCDOWELL. Were you present near General McDowell on the 30th of August last, on the occasion of General MII. roys coming to him and asking for re-enforcements? Answer. I was. Question by General MCDOWELL. How near did General Milroy ride to General McDowell before he commenced speaking to him? Answer. He approached to within 50 to 75 feet of him. Question by General MCDOWELL. How were you placed with respect to General McDowell and General Milroy; to which were you the nearer? Answer. 1 was nearest to General McDowell. I was on General McDowells left and a few feet to his rear, facing General Milroy. Question by General MCDOWELL. What was General Milroys man- ner an(l state of miiad, apparently, when he spoke to General McDowell? Answer. He was in a very excited state of mind. Re spoke at the top of his voice. He was waving his sword and his hat was off. Question by General MCDOWELL. What was the substance of what he said? Answer. My impression of what he said is as follows: For Gods sake, general, send a few regiments into these woods; my poor men are being cut to pieces. If you send me seine re-enforcements we will be able to drive the enemy back aoain. In addition to that, General Milroy made use of very many expressions whicYi had ap- parently noconnection with each other and which I dont precisely remember Page 269 CHAP. XXIV.] GENERAL REPORTS. 269 Question by General MCDOWELL. What did General McDowell say or do to General Mllroy? Answer. He did not make any reply to General Milroy which could have been heard by General Milroy. General McDowell appeared perfectly willing to re-en- force General Milroy, and hesitated for about ten minutes. At that; an officer came with a note for General McDowell. General McDowell having read this note, he at once gave orders to a brigade of General Porters to advance into the woods and took active measures himself to see that was done. Question by General MCDOWELL. Did lie say to General Milroy he would not help General Sigel or anything to that effect? Answer. Not to my knowledge. Question by General McDowELL. Did you hear General Milroy say anything about re-enforcements for General Sigel? Answer. I did not. Question by General MCDOWELL. Did you learn why General Mc. Dowell hesitated to send re-enforcements to General Milroy and then immediately sent them on the application of another I AnMwer. The impression that I received from what I heard at the time was that he (General McDowell) did not want to take the responsibility of ordering in General Porters troops when the commander-in-chief was on the field and in the immediate neighborhood. Question by the COURT. You have stated that General McDowell did not make any reply to General Milroy which he (General Milroy) could have heard. State what General McDowell said at that time which you heard. Answer. General McDowell was talking to General Porter during the ten minutes I was there, and I do not know positively the language used by General McDowell on that occasion. General McDowell appeared desirous of supporting General Milroy, and he was talking to General Porter about the arrangement of his troops in order to effect that. After having read that -note General McDowell said, Now I have authority; now all is right; let us go in. That; was spoken with a great deal of ani- mation. Questioi by the COURT. You have stated that you thought General McDowell did not wish to order any of General Porters command to sup- port General Milroy. Had not General McDowell any portion of his own troops there with which he could kave re-enforced General Milroy? Answer. No, sir, not at that spot; General Reynolds troops were in the woods and were coming out, and were mostly without ammunition. Capt. J. DeW. CUTTING, aide-de-camp, U. S. Army, a witness, was duly sworn. Question by General MCDOWELL. What is your rank and what duty were you upon on the 30th August last? Answer. I was captain and additional aide-de-camp, and as~dgned to duty with General McDowell. Question by General MCDOWELL. Were you near General McDow- ell on the 30th of August last, on the occasion of General Milroys com- ing to him for re.enforcements? Answer. I was. - Question by General MCDOWELL. How far was General Milroy from General McDowell when he asked him for re-enforcements. What was his manner and his state of mind, as far as you can judge? Answer. When I first saw General Milroy he was about 15 or 20 yards from General McDowell. He was very much excited and gesticulated, having his sword draw Page 270 270 OPERATIONS IN N. VA., W. VA., AND MD. (CHAP. XXIV. His manner was so confusing and his language so indefinite that it was difficult to understand where he needed the assistance which he called for. Question by General MCDOWELL. Were you near to General Mc- Dowell? If so, how near t Answer. I was within 4 or 5 yards of him. Question by General MCDOWELL. State what you know of what was said by General Milroy to General McDowell, and the replies, if any, of the latter. Answer. I cant remember the words of General Milroy, but they were to the effect that our troops in front were being badly cut up, and that re-enfbrcements must be sent or else the day would be lost. I do not think that General McDowell made any reply, and am quite sure he said nothing about General Sigel. Question by General MCDOWELL. Was there any question at all raised about re-enforcing General Sigel? Answer. I do not recollect having heard either General McDowell or General Miltoy mention General Sigels name. Question by General MCDOWELL. Did General Milroy speak in a loud voice? An~wer. He did. Question by General MCDOWELL. Did General McDowell, soon after General Milroy came up, send forward re-enforcements on the applica. tion of another officer? Answer. He did. Question by General MCDOWELL. Did you know why General Mc- Dowell hesitated to grant General Milroys application and then sent off re-enforcements on the application of another? Answer. I think I did. General Porters corps, or a part of it, was acting as a re- serve, and I supposed that General McDowell scarcely felt authorized to send them forward, unless very urgently required, without an order to that effect from General Pope. General McDowell sent these troops to support General Meade, who a few mo. inents after General Milroy came np had sent a messenger to General McDowell, who said that General Meade was pressed hardly by the enemy and could not bold his po.. sition withont re-enforcements. General McDowell then spoke a few words to Gen. -eral Porter, and a part of General Sykes division Immediately went forward to re-en- force General Meade. Question by the COu1~T. Who was with General Milroy when he ap. proached General McDowell? Was General Milroy alone or was he accompanied by any staff officer or orderly? Answer. I think he was alone. Question by the COURT. How do you know that General Porters -corps was acting as a reserve? Was it by the orders of General Pope or of General McDowell? Answer. I did not know by whose order it was; I saw them drawn up in line of bat- tIe quite far to the rear of where the other troops were engaged. I judged they were the reserve from their position. The court took a recess of five minutes. General McDowell made the following statement: I consider the evidence of General Bnchanan essential in connection with General Miltoys report, and I request that the court will wait till to-morrow morning to re- ceive it, as I have every reason to believe that he will be here. It is now near the hour of adjournment. The court adjourned to meet to.morrow morning, February 4, 1863, at 11 oclock Page 271 CHAP. XXIV.] GENERAL REPORTS. 271 APPENDIX. A. GENERAL WAR DEPT., ADJT. GEN.5 OFFICE, ORDERS, Washington, August 15, 1862. L Offieers of the Regular Army will, as a general rule, receive leaves of absence to accept the rank of colonel in volunteer regiments, but not lower grades. Non-commissioned officers and privates will be discharged on receiving commissions in volunteer regiments. 11. The oath of allegiance will not be administered to any person against his own will; it must in all cases be a voluntary act on his part, nor will any compulsory parole of honor be received. But oaths taken and paroles given to avoid arrest, detention, imprisonment, or ex- pulsion are voluntary or free acts, and cannot be regarded as compul- sory. All persons guilty olr violating such oaths or paroles will be pun- ished according to the laws and usages of war. III. The laws of the United States and the general laws of war authorize in certain cases the seizure and conversion of privaie prop- erty for the subsistence, transportation, and other uses of the Army, but this must be distinguished from pillage; and the taking of property for public purposes is irery different from its conversion to private uses. All property lawfully taken from the enemy, or from the inhabitants of an enemys country, instantly becomes public property, and must be used and accounted for as such. The fifty-second article of war author- izes the penalty of death for pillage or plundering, and other articles authorize severe l)unishments for any officer or soldier who shall sell, embezzle, misapply, or waste military stores, or who shall permit the waste or misapplication of any such public property. The penalty is the same whether the offense be committed in our own or in an enemys territory. IV. All property, public or private, taken from alleged enemies must be inventoried and duly accounted for. if the property taken be claimed as private, receipts must be given to such claimants or their agents. Officers will be held strictly accountable for all property taken by them or by their authority, and it must be returned for the same as any other public property. V. Where foraging parties are sent out for provisions or other stores the commandingofficer of such party will be held accountable for the con- duct of his command and will make a true report of all property taken. VL No officer or soldier will, without authority, leave his colors or ranks to take private property or to enter a private house for that pur- pose. All such acts are punishable with death, and an officer who per- mits them is equally as guilty as the actual pillager. VII. Commanding officers of armies and corps will be held responsi- ble for the execution of these orders in their respective commands. By command of Major-General Halleck, General-in-Chief of the Army: E. D. TOWNSEND, Assistant Adjutant-General. B. HEADQUARTERS INDEPENDENT BRIGADE, Near Fort Ethan Allen, Va., & jptember 12, 1862. ~Maj. T. A. MEYSENBEUG, Assistant Adjutant-General: * * * * * * * The next morning, 30th, I brought my brigade into the position as Page 272 272 OPERATIONS IN N. VA., W. VA., AND MD. [CH~. XXIV. signed them, and remained in reserve until about 4 p. in., when I threw it across the road to stop the retreating masses which had been driven back from the front. I soon received an order to move my brigade off to the left on double- quick, the enemy having massed their troops during the day in order to turii our left flank. I formed line of battle along the road, my left. rest- ing near the edge of the woods in which the battle was raging. Soon our troops came rushing panic-stricken out of the woods, leaving my brigade to face the enemy, who followed the retreating masses to the edge of the woods. The road in which my brigade was formed was worn and washed from 3 to 5 feet deep, affording a splendid cover for my men. My boys opened fire on them at short range, driving the rebels back to a respectful distance. But the enemy, being constantly re-en- forced from the masses in their rear, came on again and again, pouring in advance a perfect hurricane of balls, which had but little effect on my men, who were so well protected in their road intrenchment. But the steady fire of my brigade, together with that of a splendid brass battery on higher ground in my rear, which I ordered to~ fire rapidly with canister over the heads of my men, had a most withering effect upon the rebels, whose columns melted away and fast recoiled from repeated efforts to advance upon my road breastwork from the woods. But the fire of the enmy, which had affected my men so little, told with de- structive results on the exposed battery in their rear, and it required a watchful effort to hold them to their effective work. My horse was shot in the head by a musket-ball while in the midst of the battery cheering on the men. I got another, and soon after observing the troops on my left giving way in confusion before the rebel fire I hastened to assist in rallying them, and while engaged in this the battery took advantage of my absence and withdrew. 1 had sent one of my aides shortly be- fore to the rear for fresh troops to support this part of our line where the persistent efforts of the rebels showed they had determined to break through. A fine regiment of regulars was sent, which was for~ned in rear of my brigade, near the position the battery had occupied. The rebels came around the forest in columns to our right and front, but the splendid firing of the regulars, with that of my brigade, thinned their ranks so rapidly that they were thrown back in confusion upon every attempt made. About this time, when the battle raged thickest, Lieutenant Est6 and Lieutenant Kiles, of General Schencks staff reported to me for duty, informing me that General Schenck had been seriously wounded and his command thrown back from the field. Most thankfully was their valuable assistance accepted, and most gallantly and efficiently did they assist me on that most sanguine field, until 8 oclock at night, in bringing up regiments, brigades, and batteries, cheering them on to action and in rallying them when driven back before the furious fire of the enemy. Shortly after sunset my own brigade had entirely exhausted their ammunition, and it being considered unsafe to bring forward the ammu- nition wagons where the enemys shells were constantly flying and ex- ploding, and the enemy having entirely ceased their efforts to break through this part of the line and had thrown the weight of their attack still farther to my left, I ordered my brigade back some one half of a mile to replenish their ammunition boxes and there await further orders. I remained on the field with Lieutenants Est6 and Nil having been sent to see to my regiments. es, my own [aidesj The enemy continued their attacks upon our left until long afte Page 273 Csui. XXIV.] GENERAL REPORTS. 273 dark, which it required the most determined and energetic efforts to repel. At one time, not receiving assistance from the rear, as I had a right to expect after having sent for it, and our struggling battalions being nearly overcome by the weight and persistence of the enemys attack, I flew back about one-half mile to where I understood General McIDowell was with a large portion of his corps. I found him, and ap- pealed to him in the most urgent manner to send a brigade forward at once to save the day or all would be lost. He answer9d coldly, in sub. stance, that it was noU3 his business to help everybody, and he was no~ going to help General Sigel. I told him I was not fighting with General Sigels corps; that my brigade had got out of ammunition some time before and gone to the rear, and that I had been fighting with a half dozen different brigades, and that I had not inquired where or to what particular corps they belonged. He inquired of one of his aides if Gen- eral was fighting over thdre on the left ~ He answered he thought he was. McDowell replied that he would send him help, for he was a good fellow. He then gave the order for a brigade 1~o start, which was all I desired. I dashed in front of them, waved my sword, and cheered them forward. They raised the cheer, and came on at double-quick. I soon led them to where they were most needed, and the gallant mai~ner in which they entered the fight and the rapidity of their fire soon turned the tide of battle. - But this gallant brigade, like the many others which had preceded it, found the enemy too strong as they advanced into the forest, and was forced back by the tremendous fire that met them. But one of General Burusides veteran brigades, coming up soon after dark with a battery, again dashed back the tide of armed treason, and sent such a tempest of shot, shell, and leaden death into the dark forest after the rebels that they did not again re- new the attack. * * * * * * * I have the honor to be, very respectfully, your obedient servant, R. H. MILBOY, Brig. Gen., Corndg. Indep,t Brig., 1st Oorps, Army of Va. SIXTY-FIRST DAY. COURT-ROOM, CoR. FOURTEENTH AND J?A. AVENUE. Washington, D. 0., February 4, 1863. * * * * * * * Brig. Gen. H. C. BUCHANAN, U. S. Volunteers, a witness, was duly sworn. Question by General MCDOWELL. Lay before the court your letter to General McDowell of October 20, 1862, and say if the statements therein made are true. Answer. That is the lei ter, and the substance of those statements is true to the best of my recollection and be1iet~ The letter referred to was handed to the recorder by the witness, was read by the recorder, and is appended to the proceedings of this day, marked A. The court had no questions to ask this witness. General McDowell stated that he had no more witnesses to produce. 18 R RVOL xi Page 274 274 OPERATIONS IN N. VA., W. VA., AND MD. [Ci& P. XXIV. There being no more witnesses to be called by the court, it was an- nounced that the evidence in the case is closed. General McDowell stated that he would submit a statement on Mon- day, February 9, 1863, at 12 oclock. The court a4journed to meet on Monday, February 9, 1863, at 12 oclock m. APPENDIX. A. WASHINGTON, October 20, 1862. Maj. Gen. I. MCDOWELL, U. ~. Volunteers, Washin~qton, D. C.: GENERAL: Your note inclosing a printed copy of General Milroys report is before me, and I will answer yoar questions seriatim. I. As to the state of mind General ~Milroy seemed to be in, his man- ner, and the impression it produced at the time to which you refer; that is, when he rode up and asked for re-enforcements. Answer. General Milroys manner was very excited; so much so as to attract the special attention of those present, and induced many to inquire who that was that was rushing about so wildly, and what he wanted. 2. As to whether or not it was a question of my (your) sending re- enforcements to General Sigel, and if I (you) refused to do so. Answer. General Sigels name or corps was not referred to in any way in my hearing, as far as I recollect. 3. As to the part taken by General Milroy with your (my) brigade, which he claims to have led to where they were most needed, but from which they were forced back, & c. Answer. When re-enforcements were called for to go to the assistance of ~eneral Meade I was ordered by General Sykes to take three of my battalions and move up to the front and left to the point most threat- ened, which I did at once. I left General Milroy haranguing and ges- ticulating most emphatically in the same place where his conversation with you commenced. He was calling for re-enforcements, and saying if they were sent at once the day would be ours, and that the enemy were ready to run. After I placed my three battalions in position I moved to the right of my line, where,to my surprise, I saw,about 100 yards to my right, the remainder of my brigade, which had been sent to the front after I left, and General Milroy was giving it some orders. I at once rode up to him and told him that those battalions belonged to my brigade of regulars, and that I could not consent to any interfer- ence with my command. He said that he did not know they were my men; did not wish to interfere with me, and only wanted to place them in the best position. I told him that I was responsible for the position of my command, and did not want any assistance either in posting or fighting it, when he left me. His own brigade was not near there, and he seemed to be rushing about the field without any special aim or object, unless it was to assist in the performance of other officers duties wherever he could find one to listen to him. I did not lose one inch of ground after I got my brigade together, which I did immediately, by moving this latter portion to the left, but held the enemy at bay for an hour, and, instead of being forced back, I maintained my positio Page 275 Cn~& p. XXIV.] GENERAL REPORTS. 275 until ordered to fall back to the position from whence we started. Had the enemy forced me back, in the sense of General Milroy~s report, he would have obtained possession not only of the turnpike, but of the stone bridge; and what would have then been the result you are well aware. Our defeat would have been disastrous. I am, sir, respectfully, your obedient servant, ROBT. C. BUCHANAN, Ijeut. Gol. Fourth Infantry, (Jomdg. First Brig. Beg. Ii~fantry. SIXTY-SECOND DAY. Coul~T-RooM, CoR. FOURTEENTH AND PA. AVENUE, Washington, D. 0., February 9, 1863. * * * * * * * The whole proceedings of the court having been read by the recorder, Major.General McDowell read the statement referred to by him in the proceedings of the 4th instant (sixty-first day), which statement is ap- pended to the proceedings of this day, marked A. The court adjourned to meet to-morrow, February 10, 1863, at ii oclock a. m. APPENDIX. A. Statement of Maj. Gen. Irvin McDowell. WASHINGTON, February 9, 1863. The unusual position I have occupied, seeking an investigation of so general a character as the one just concluded, whilst there were no charges against me, seems to require a few words of explanation, lest I shall be thought either to have unwarrantably taxed the public service with the time and cost of this court or to have sought an inquiry into my conduct and character in a spirit of vain self-confidence and conceit. It may not therefore be out of place in me to state that at the end of the campaign in September last the outcry against me was so great, that my usefulness as a public officer was thought to be so impaired as to cause it to be intimated to me from high authority that my friends could continue to support and defend me better if I were to have this investigation than they otherwise would be able to do. So I applied for it, though neither the War Department, the General-in-Chief nor the general commanding the Army of Virginia had said anything to make it necessary or had received charges of any kind against me. The only one I could hear of was from an officer who was then dead, and his gen- eral charge of treason had therefore to be made the basis of my appli- cation, which, in the absence of any specific allegations, was made in the general terms adopted. In taking this course I was far from supposing I could submit to such an inquiry as I asked into my whole conduct without something I had done or omitted to do being discovered, which I could not now wish had been otherwise. But if on the one hand, errors of judgment should appear, on the other, I felt confident errors of intention would not, and that it would be made clear that nothing had occurred to warrant th Page 276 276 OPERATIONS IN N. VA., W. VA., AND MD. (Cw& P. XXIV. gross and infamous charges of drunkenness, disloyalty, and treason; and, furthermore, that many intelligent people who did not credit the monstrous things said of me, but who had prejudices and unfavorable opinions, based on the little only that seemed to get abroad, might by a full exposition be disabused and led to believe that I had been unjustly condemned in many matters wherein I was generally if not universally held to be accountable. So far as I can judge as to the causes of this outcry the first in order of time, as of importance, with reference to the consequences to which it led, was the part I was charged to have taken in the separation of my army corps from General McClellans army in April last, on the oc- casion of his going to the Peninsula. It may be renfembered for what a length of time, how deeply, how almost nuiversally, I was censured for having broken up that army. It was, I am told, generally credited throughout that army and the country that not only I sought to have, but succeeded in having, this done for an unworthy personal objectto have an independent command for myself. CONCERNING THE FORCE ORDERED TO BE LEFT BY GENERAL MC- CLELLAN FOR THE DEFENSE OF WASHINGTON. As connected with this question and preceding it, it has been thought proper to take up the subject of the number, character, and disposition of the forces left for the defense of the capital by General McClellan or which he intended and ordered to be left on the occasion of his embark- ing for the Peninsula. On this point the court has before it the statements of Generals Mc- Clellan and Barry, and of Generals Hitchcock, Keyes, and Wadsworth, which fully explain the matter on both sides. I have not been able to see how I am responsible or in any way concerned in this branch of the question. The papers submitted by General Hitchcock show that it was a condition of the President that in changing the scene of active operations General McClellan should leave the capital entirely secure, and that the amount of force to be left by him for this purpose should be not only what he, but his corps commanders, should deem sufficient. General Keyes states that at Fairfax Court-House, when that matter was acted upon by the corps commanders, I gave the opinion That, with the forts on the right bank of the Potomac fully garrisoned and those on the left occupied, a covering force in front of the Virginia line of 25,000 men would suffice. After giving this opinion, and its being made known to General Mc- Clellan, I had, I submit, no further responsibility in the matter. The whole subject thereafter was between General McClellan and his supe- rior. As General McClellans subordinate, I could have properly no part, and had none, in seeing that he fulfilled his duty or how he ful- filled it. It is quite true that up to the time of his embarking for the Penin- sula I knew much of General McClellans plans, and it is equally true there was mnch I did not know. I did not know till after he left that my corps was to be the last to embark, for it was understood General Sumners corps, then in front of Manassas, was to remain until the other corps should reach the Penin- sula and we should have become sure the enemy had left Gordonsville and was in their front. General McClellans letter of April 1, written on board steamer Coin Page 277 CHAP. XXIV.] GE1~ERAL REPORTS. 277 modore, to General Banks, concerning the latters duties in the Shenan- doah Valley, is new to me.* At the time of General McClellans embarkation I knew but little, if anything, of the character of the troops that were to be left behind. I did not see the returns nor the reports of these troops, and, as I have before stated, beyond an expression of opinion as to the amount that should be left, I never took any action in the matter nor had any occa- sion to do so. THE SEPARATION OF GENERAL NIDOWELLS CORPS FROM GENERAL MCLELLAN~S ARMY. As to the causes which led the Executive to order my corps to be left in front of Washington, and as to my having procured its being so left, I think there can be no reasonable doubt in any ones mind after the statements of General McClellan himself General Wadsworth, and General Hitchcock. The latter was at the time on duty in the War Department and in close relations with the Secretary of War and the President; General Wadsworth was military governor of the District, and General McClellan the person said to have been the most injured. They are, therefore, those whose evidence should have the most in- finence. They are, more over, uncontradicted, and agree in freeing me from having had any part in the act. General McClellan states (in his evidence of December 10): I do not hold General McDowell responsible in my own mind for the failure to join me. He further says that he received a telegram from General Franklin, whilst the latter was still with me as one of my division commanders, to the effect that General Franklin, from his knowledge of the case, was of the opinion I had nothing to do with the separation of my corps from the Army of the Potomac, and that General Franklin brought him word from the President as to the camses for the separation of my corps. The President told me he had sent for General Franklin at the time he was under orders to leave me to join General McClellan, and bad charged him to acquaint General McClellan with the reasons, which were purely of a public character, that had caused my being kept in front of Wash- ington. The President, in his letter to General McClellan of Apr11 9 (see pro- ceedings of January 10), states fully his reasons for ordering this sepa- ration. General Hitchcock (see his evidence of January 16) was asked as fol- lows by General McDowell: State if your official position and connection with the Government were such at the time as to enable you to know or to give you good grounds for judging as to General McDowells having or not in April last sought, induced, or procured the separation of his army corps from the Army of the Potomac, with a view to having a separate com- mand for himself; and, if so, whether or not the retentiqn of the corps was, to the best of your knowledge and belief, sought, induced, or prochred by him, or was made by the Government for public reasons, based on the representations of others? State fully what you know of this matter. Answer. I was on duty in the War Office, under the immediate orders of the Secre- tary of War, from the middle of March until the middle of May last. That period em- braces the time referred to in this question. The circumstances which led to the de- tention of General McDowells army corps in the early part of April, as a covering army for the city of Washington, were, I believe, very fully known t~ me, and I am very sure that personally General McDowell had nothing whatever to do in procuring the *See p. 234 Page 278 ~278 OPERATIONS IN N. VA., W. VA., AND MD. [CHAP. XXIV. orders which detained him in front of Washington. I am very snre that his first in- formation on the subject was derived from the order itself, directing his detention here, & c. The general then recites the circumstances under which the order was given, supporting it by official papers; all of which seem to leave no further doubt in the matter, and show the act of the President to have been prompted by considerations of a public character, based on the representations of others than myself. Lieut. Col. B. S. Alexander, Corps of Engineers, introduced by the court, I supposeq because it had been informed he was acquainted with some facts which might tend to give a different impression from that produced by the other witnesses, on this point was asked: In any conversation of General McDowell, heard by you at any time,-did he admit or state in substance that he proposed to take, or had taken, any measures to separate his corps from the Army of the Potomac at the time referred to in the last question? Answer. In no conversation that I have had with General McDowell, or heard from him, did I learn that he had ever taken, or ever intended to take, any measures to have his command separated from the Army of the Potomac at the time referred to in the last question. GENERAL M~DOWELLS CONDUCT AT FREDERICKSBURG AND HIS NOT GOING FROM THERE TO JOIN GENERAL MCLELLAN BEFORE RICH- MOND. Another charge intimately connected with the foregoing is that of my conduct at Fredericksburg, in not going from that place to re-enforce General McClellan before Richmond. There is hardly a form of reproach that wus not used toward me for this. Every possible way my feelings could be hurt seemed to be taken not only by those who opposed the Government under whose very eye I was serving, but the friends and supporters of the Govern- ment as well. Those who differed about most matters seemed to agree in this. In addition to the charge of failing, neglecting, or avoiding going to General McClellans relief, it was also said of me I was idling away the time, doing nothing, on the banks of the~ Rappahannock; ffitting back and forth between Fredericksburg and Washington for mere personal purposes; fearing to cross the river when there was opposed to me not more than the fourth of my force ~ clamoring for re-enforcements to guard against imaginary dangers; protecting rebel property for the sake of the rebels instead of using my troops to go against the enemy; employing them only to guard the enemys houses, fences, and ~ and then, when in hearing of the sound of the cannon of General McClellan at Hanover Court-House, making no sign, but, on the contrary, leaving Fredericksburg to go to the Shenan- doah to avoid moving on Richmond and coming nuder General Mc- Clellan. This and much more was said of me week after week and month after month. The Army seldom saw my name that it was not coupled with some disparaging remark in connection with the above matters, if indeed not with some denunciation or djscreditable charge. The difficulty of accounting for the Government permitting such neg- lect, such unprofitable and bad conduct in a general who was within a few hours of the War Department, and with whom instant communi- cation by telegraph was constantly kept up, wassought to be explained by charging that these things were covered up or allowed through the influence of two members of the Cabinet who were General McDowell Page 279 CHAP. XXIV.] GENERAL REPORTS. 279 brothers-in-lawa statement now proven to be without foundation. In fact, at the time of the inauguration of the present administration I was a stranger to every one of the Cabinet. Whatever check or disaster the Army of the Potomac incurred on the Peninsula was attributed to my failure to re-enforce that army when I could do so and to my having broken it up as soon as its commander was out of sight of the capital. I think I have rather underrated this case than otherwise. I will now give the facts. With the view of combining the protec- tion of the capital with such operations as would aid those of the main army, as soon as my corps was separated from General McClellan I pushed it to the front. At Catletts I received the order for Franklins division to leave me and join General McClellan on the Peninsula. and an order from the Department directing me to consider the capital under my especial protection, and To make no movement throwing my force out of position for the discharge of this primary duty! On General Fran~dins leaving me, I sent word by him to General McClellan (which the latter acknowledges having received) that I would endeavor to make a demonstration or diversion in his favor by way of Fredericksburg. This General McClellan says was no part of his plan nor was it in obedience to any orders from the Government, though done with the consent of the War Department. The advance of my forces got to Fredericksburg and drove the enemy from that place, but did not succeed in saving the bridges, which had been prepared for burning and were fired by the enemy as he passed over. April 22 Ii telegraphed: If a steam ferry-boat could be scnt there (Fredericksburg) it could be used to great advantage. There are stores in Fredericksburg (more than 1,000 barrels of flour) which I am anxious to save for fear of accident, and am anxious to have free commu- nication with the opposite shore as soon as possible. I then received the following: WAR DEPARTMENT, Was)dngton, D. C., April 24, 1862. Major-General MCDOWELL: The President desires that you should not throw your force across the Rappahan- nock at present, but that you should get your bridges and transportation all nearly ready and wait further orders. EDWIN M. STANTON. On the 26th of April I telegraphed the Department as follows: Twenty canal-boats and a sterm ferry-boat (which Iliad asked for) arrived yesterday at Fredericksburg without molestation. It is reported by General King that numerous complaints reach him from Union men in Fredericksburg of outrages received at the hands of secessionists; that small cavalry pickets come into town at night harassing Union men and carrying them off south for no other purpose [reason] than fidelity to the Union. They ask protection. Will it meet with the sanction of the President if I throw not exceeding a battalion of infantry and a small force of cavalry into the town, protected by the artillery on this side, for the purpose of affording protection and saving the supplies? On the 29th of April I telegraphed the Department as follows: The enemys pickets, however, continue to show themselves on the hills in the rear of Fredericksburg, and during the night come into the town to, harass the few Union men left there. Five or six have been arrested and carried off toward Richmond. S For several nights past the rumbling of wagons leaving town has been heard, and resi- dents say they are loaded with corn and other supplies. Urgent appeals for prote Page 280 280 OPERATIONS IN N. VA., W. VA., AND MD. [CHAP. XXIV. tion against this oppression by the Confederate authorities reach us through loyal men residing on the other side of the river. By means of our boat bridge, which can be easily made available, in a few hours a sufficient force could be thrown across the river to afford this protection, or it could be withdrawn promptly or re-enforced should circumstances demand it. Wishing the subject fully laid before the Department, and anxious to get authority, at least for the purposes above indicated, to establish communication with the opposite side, I sent my inspector-general to Washington to see the Secretary on the subject. He communicated the following: Major-General MCDOWELL, WASRINGroN, April 30, 1862. Commanding Department of the Rappahannock: GENERAL: The Secretary of War has given me authority to inform you that you can occupy Fredericksburg with such force as in your judgment may be necessary to hold it for defensive purposes, but not with a view to make a forward movement. H. VAN RENSSELAER, inspector- General, U. S. Army. These communications show frilly the position I was in at 13reder- icksburg and why I did not cross the river before April 30. The Government was evidently apprehensive that I might, if not put under some restriction, place my force in a position where it could no longer accomplish the purpose for which it was kept from going to the Peninsula. As it was, alarm was expressed about the exposed position I had taken up, and I was urged by one of the most promi- nent men in the country to strengthen myself by fortifications. I did not do so, because I wished the enemy to believe I was strong and about to march upon him. I did what I could to give the impression I was in large force, and I think I succeeded. In fact I have good reason for believing that the apprehension thus created at Richmond of danger of a large force coming down from Fredericksburg whilst their army was at Yorktown was one of the principal causes for their evacuating their strong works at that place without siege. Every effort was made by me and my officers and men to get the bridges and transportation nearly ready. I had been assured that as soon as I could do so, and as soon as a sufficient force could be collected, I would receive permission to advance. A reference to General ilaupts and Major Tillsons evidence, of De- cember 6, will show that I gave my personal attention to this subject, and so far from idling away my time on the Rappahannock, either per- sonally or with my troops, that all were actively engaged in making the preparations necessary to enable me to advance. When I went to Washington it was because I was summoned there by my superiors. I never went there once for mere personal purposes. Washington and the District were, moreover, part of my command. The enemy in abandoning the Potomac had as far as possible de- stroyed the railroad from Aquia; had burned the wharf and the long wooden pier connecting it with theland; had taken up the rails for 3 miles, burnt the cross-ties, and destroyed the large bridges over the Accokeek, Potomac Creek, and the Bappahannock a to destroy the one over the iViassaponax. , nd was prepared When we reached Fredericksburg the roads between it and the Poto- mac were still bad, and the damage at Aquia was so great that a tem porary depot and landing had to be made at Belle Plain. Every means within my reach was employed to repair all this. The principal part of the work was done by the troops, aided by such colore Page 281 CHAP. XXIV.] GENERAL REPORTS. 281 fugitives as could be had, and, when possible, the work was pushed night and day. The large railroad bridge over the Rappahannock, some 600 feet long by 65 high, and the larger part of the one over Potomac Creek, some 400 feet long by 80 feet high, were built from the trees cut down by the troops in the vicinity; and this without those troops losing their disci- pline or their instruction as soldiers. The work they did excited to a high degree the wonder and admiration of several distinguished foreign officers, who had never imagined such constructions possible by such means and iu such a way in the time within which they were done.* As fast as the means would allow I brought my forces over from Catletts or down from Alexandria, and, with the verbal consent of the Secretary of War, organized and added to those of McCall and King another division, commanded successively by Generals Ord and Rick- etts. Still, as I did not move forward, what was done, if it was known, did not seem to find favor in the country at large. It was known there was a force within a short distance of Fredericksburg which I did not ad. vance upon, and the world was not in the mood to be charitable to me, and imputed bad motives for my assume4 voluntary inaction. On the 17th of May instructions were issued from the War Depart- ment that on being joined by General Shields division I should move on Richmond. (See appendix, No. 7, December 10.) This division was ordered to join me, not that I asked for it (as was charged at the time) as a re-enforcement for my command to strengthen it against an attack from the enemy, but that I might carry it with me and strengthen the attack on Richmond, and thus add to the re-enforce- ment I was to carry below. General Shields advance arrived at Falmouth May 22. His division was needing many thingsshoes, trousers, ammunition, & c. I had caused supplies to be placed for it at Warrenton and Catletts, so that it might refit on the march. All the artillery ammunition was con- demned by an inspector of ordnance sent from the War Department to inspect it at Catletts, and new ammunition was ordered from the Arsenal to meet it at Falmouth. This was to have been down so that we could march on Saturday, but the transport grounded near Alexandria and lost a day. Everything, however, was ready to march on Sunday. The wagonscontaining five days bread, coffee, sugar, and saltwere all loaded up, and with beef cattle on the hoof were distributed to the several brigades. Arrangements were made for General Haupt (see De * NOTE BY GENERAL McDowELLThe Potomac Run bridge is a most remarkable structure. When it is considered that in the campaign of Napoleon trestle bridges of more than one story, even of moderate height, were impracticable, and that, too, for common military roads, it is not difficult to nnderstand why distinguished Europeans should express surprise at so bold a specimen of American military engineering. [t is a structure which ignores all the rules and precedents of military science as laid down in books. It is constructed chiefly of round sticks cut from the woods, and not even divested of bark. The legs of the trestles are braced with round poles. It is in four stories, three of trestles and one of crib work. The total height from the deepest part of the stream to the rail is nearly 80 feet. It carries daily from ten to twenty heavy railway trains in both directions, and has withstood several severe freshets and storms without injury. This bridge was built in May, 1862, in nine working days, during which time the greater part of the material was cut and hauled. It contains more than 2,000,000 feet of lumber. The original structure which it replaced required as many months as this did days. It was constructed by the common soldiers of the Army of the Rappahan- nock (command of Major-General McDowell), under the supervision of his aide-de- camp, Col. (now Brig. Gen.) Herman Haupt, chief of railroad constructicn and t.ran~- portation in the Department of the Rappahannock Page 282 282 OPERATIONS IN N. VA., W. VA., AND MD. [CHAP XXIV. cember 6) to have a bridge ready to be put across the Massaponax, so that any further supplies which we might require could be sent after us by railroad. I had now ready to march over 40,000 men and over one hundred pieces of artillery. Though I could have started and would have started Sunday, yet it was resolved not to march till Monday ~ this out of deference to the wishes of the President, who was with me at the time, having come down Friday night, and with the concurrence of the Secretary of War, on account of the day. (See evideiice of 0-en- eral ilaupt, December 6.) I had five days short rations placed in the wagons, intending to have the men take two additional days in their haversacks. This would have given sufficient for the march to the front of Richmond, which would have taken three days, and left us enough for the train to go to the magazines which General McClellan was to have ordered to be es- tablished on the Pamunkey, get another load, and return to the troops. Thus we could have gone independent of the railroad between Freder- icksburg and Richmond if the enemy should succeed in destroying it in his retreat. It was Saturday night that the telegrams announcing the movement of Jackson down the Shenandoah against General Banks began to be received by me at Fredericksburg. On Sunday, the 24th, I received the order of the Pre~sident To lay aside for the present the movement on Richmond, and put 20,000 men in motion at once for the Shenandoah. On the 25th the Secretary of War informed me The movements ordered yesterday should be pressed forward with all speed. The President thinks your field of operations at present is the one he has indicated. The papers submitted December 10, and appended to that days pro. ceedings, and those of December 15 will show clearly everything con- cerning the movements from Fredericksburg to the Shenandoah. I do not purpose to discuss here at all the quality of my judgment in this matter. A certain plan I had much at heart had been adopted and was on the eve of execution when I received orders changing it. I thought whilst obeying the orders, which I immediately pi~oceeded to do, that even if it were not my duty to do so I would be pardoned, both on account of the public service as well as of myself, if; in view of the important trust I held, I should acquaint the President, even unasked, with my own views. This I did in the dispatches to him and the Sec- retary of War May 24. These must certainly acquit me of having sought or procured thi8 movement to avoid going to General McClellan. MOVEMENT TO THE SHENANDOAH VALLEY. These dispatches last referred to will also show that I did lay aside for the present the movement on Richmond; that I pressed for- ward with all speed the one ordered by the President, accepting it in perfect good faith and acting with all my energy in the field of opera- tions he had indicated, though I certainly left the one I wished to pur- sue with a heavy heart. But, as 1 had taken the liberty to say so to the President, I felt it the more incumbent on inc to prove that I was doing everything I could to insure the success of the plan he had laid down. It will be seen that the troops of Ords division were ordered by the Department to Washington and Alexandria by water. Shields division Page 283 CHAP. XXIV.] GENERAL REPORTS. 283 which knew the country better than any other troops I had, having cam- paigned all through the valley and been selected by me on this account, were sent via Oatletts. The dispatches give so fully the history of the movements that it is hardly necessary to repeat them here. It will be seen from those of the President that he wished I should get the advance of my force to Front Royal as early as noon of Friday. It will also be seen what efforts it required to accomplish this. The troops went over the Blue Ridge without other shpplies than what they carried on their persons.. Ords (livision were required to leave their knapsacks behind. This division, having left the Rappahannock to come up to Washington and Alexandria by water, did not take their supply or baggage wagons with them, and had to depend on the railroad till the train I had taken from the depot at Alexandria could arrive, and we found the railroad destroyed by the enemy beyond Rectortown. The evidence of Generals ilaupt and llartsuff and my dispatches to the President and Secretary of War will show that I urged this movement with all the f6rce possible, and that the point was gained an hour before the time appointed, Kimballs brigade and Shields division driving the enemy out of Front Royal at 11 a. m. on Friday, May 30. Ords division got to within a few miles of Front Royal Saturday night, May 31. That night I reached Front Royal after dark, in the midst of a furious storm. It was arranged, after consulting that same night with General Shields, that on the morning he should take his division, which had all arrived, to Strasburg, and I would, as soon as Ords could come up next day, send it over to hold the Winchester road, and support the cavalry under Bayard, which I would send in that direction. Front Ro~aI is on the east bank of the South Fork of the Shenan- doah. Strasburg is on the west side of the North Fork of the Shenan- doah and several niiles beyond. The next morning, as the troops were moving out, two of General Shields officers came in from near Strasburg, where the general had sent them to reconnoiter, and reported that the enemy had passed though last night and his r.~ar guard was passing through as they left. I immediately pushed Bayards cavalry brigade, eight pieces of artil- lery, and a battalion of riflemen, who were the most movable of any of the troops at hand, to Strasburg to re-enforce the troops, whom we could then hear cannonading the enemy. General Shields then, on his own propositionto which I gave great weight, on account of his having been up and down the valley on the Strasburg as well as Luray and Front Royal side, and had positive personal knowledge of a country~ of which I had a glimpse for the first time that morningmoved up the valley to Luray to intercept Jackson, whilst he should be falling back before General Fr6monts advance. The next day commenced that heavy rain-storm which lasted several days and flooded the country from the Lehigh to Richmond, carrying away millions of property in Pennsylvania and sweeping off all the bridges on the Shenandoah and the Rappahannock. All communica- tion for many days across the Shenandoah was cut off. General Shields found it impossible to cross to General Frdmont, or, on account of the roads, to get his artillery and wagons much beyond Luray, and so rel)orted to me June 4. In sending General Shields up the valley, he was informed that to whatever distance he might, from his better knowledge of the roads and country, feel himself justified in going, he was to have all his force wel Page 284 284 OPERATIONS IN N. VA., W. VA., AND MD. (Ca& p. XXIV. in hand, with the parts in supporting distance of each other. (See pro. ceedings of December 18. )~ On the 4th of June, seeing that Jackson had been driven through Strasburg by Bayards brigade of my troops and General Fr& ~inonts army, and was now on his retreat up a narrow valley, where a rear guard could hold an army in check, and that it was only a pursuit which could end in nothing decisive for us, I thought the time for resuming my operations from Fredericksburg, which I had been or- dered to lay aside for the present, was come. In order to be able ~dosoJmadethecommunicationof June4totheSecretaryofWar, (appendix to proceedings, December 16),t proposing that the limits of General Fr6monts department might be extended east to the middle of the Shenandoah Valley; and to compensate General Banks for the part taken from him to extend the limits of his department to the east, taking from my department the much larger country known as the Piedmont District. I did this that the forces of Generals Fr~mont and Banks might be united in and hold the valley; in order, as I then stated, to free the forces of the Department of the Rappahannock to act either in conjunc. tion with those under Major-General McClellan against Richmond, as was arranged, or, if not needed there, to go offensively on the line of the Orange and Alexandria Railroad toward Gordonsville, & c. On the 6th of June I received from the War Department the order to send McCalls division from Fredericksburg to General McClellan by water down the Rappahannock; to place such additional forces as I might deem necessary at Fredericksburg for the security of that place, and informing me that the President reserved the directions to be given as to the residue of my force. (See dispatches of June 6 from Secretary of War and Adjutant.General, appendix to proceedings of Decem- ber 19.)t On conferring personally with the President, he directed instructions to be given me, June 8, to the effect that after having first provided adequately for the defense of the city of Washington and for holding the position at Fredericksburg, I should operate with the residue of my force as speedily as possible in the direction of Richmond, to co.operate with Major-General McClellan, in accordance with the instructions here. tofore given. (See appendix A, proceedings December 19).t I had, June 7, given orders to move the headquarters to Manassas,. and June 8 I gave the orders for General Shields to march, via War. renton, to Fredericksburg, and two brigades of Ricketts division to march to Warreuton. The latter order was modified at the instance of the Secretary of War, and only one brigade ordered to move till General Banks should occupy Front Royal. From this time forth the dispatches brought before the court will show but a constant struggle on my part to get my forces out of the valley to concentrate them upon Fredericksburg. The extended move- ment of General Shields up the valley and the repulse of two of his brigades, the reports given by Qenerals Banks and Fr6mont of the enemys purpose to come again down the valley, confirmed by a dispatch from General McClellan (see proceedings December 19) ~ that re-en- forcements for Jackson had left Richmond c ment ordered on the 8th. , ombined to delay the move- * See Schriver to Shields, June 5, 1862, in Correspondence, etc., Part III, p. 340. t See Correspondence, etc., Part III. See Stanton to McDowell, June 12, in Correspondence, etc., Part III, p. 373 Page 285 CHAP. xxiv.] GENERAL REPORTS. 285 It was expected, according to the instructions from the Department,* that Generals Fr6mont and Banks should hold the valley and I should remain till General Banks should relieve me.* It will be seen that he was not prepared to cross or was not able to cross the Shenandoah at Front Royal till late in June. June 11 General Banks, through his chief of staff at Winchester, informed General Ricketts at Front Royal that the orders which he (General Banks) had received from Washington required that he should move his main force to the Shenandoah, at or opposite Front Royal; that General Crawford was near that place; that the remaining (Gen- eral Williams) division would be there by the last of the week; that General Sigel stated that his command would be in condition to move in six days from that date, his requisitions not having yet been fully answered.t June 12 General Banks expressed his opinion to the Department, communicated to me by the Secretary: That Winchester or Middletown was the place to meet the enemy, and that he had suggested to General Frdmont to fall back to that line4 I reported as follows to the Secretary of War: [HEADQUARTERS DEPARTMENT OF THE RAPPAHANNOCK, Manas8a8, June 12, 186~2.] I have received the telegrams from Major-General McClellan and Major-General Banks you sent me this morning. The enemys telegrams from Staunton to Governor Letcher, at Richmond, for re en- forcements seem to indicate there was no body of troops between Jackson and Rich- mond. This is not conclusive, but probable. General McClellans opinion that some troops left Richmond to join Jackson is strong presumptive evidence that they in- tended to strengthen their forces in the valley, though hardly by Longstreets and Smiths divisions. Perhaps it is to make good Jacksons losses. General Frdmont in- tends to occupy Mount Jackson, and his desire that General Banks should join him there, and the latters wish to occupy Middletown or Winchester, and his opinion ad- verse to occupying Front Royal, seem to indicate that both these commanders intend or wish to remain on the west side of the Shenandoah. If they can supply themselves by way of Winchester and Strasburg and relinquish the road from Manassas to Front Royal their plan will have the advantage of having their forces move together in better supporting distance and less liable to attack in detail. But in that case it seems to me that as all the forces of both these commanders would be on the same line, they might occupy in force a position farther in advance than Mount Jackson, so as to be able to fall on the rear of any force going on the Luray road or over to Western Vir- ginia, and at the same time be advanced sufficiently as a covering force for Washing- ton to enable the Presidents plan concerning my command to be carried into effect. If, under a belief of an advance of a superior force, General Frdmont falls back to Mount Jackson, which is within the Massanutten range of mountains, General Shields division is not safe at Luray, especially since the bridges over the Shenandoah are down and the communication is cut off and he too far distant to be supported from Catletts. Ihave sent to him to know if he has a good defensible position at Luray, and have delayed movement of Ricketts two brigades from Front Royal to Catletts and ordered him to be ready to move to Luray. But all this is interfering with the main plan, and if Generals Frdmont and Banksthink they can operate better both together west of the Shenandoah, I would recommend that no bridge be built on the Shepaudoah at Front Royal and the line from Manas- sas to Front Royal be abandoned, and that I at once bring my forces over to this line. Again I wrote to the Secretary on the same subject: Owing to some instructions from Major-General Banks the troops of his department have not crossed the river to relieve General Ricketts at Front Royal. This I under- stand is under the impression General Banks is under that this is in accordance with his instructions from Washington. It is most desirable that General Banks should at once relieve my troops in the valley or that Front Royal and the line from Winches~ * See letters of June 910 to Shields in Correspondence, etc.,~ Part III, pp. 364,367. tSee Copeland to Schriver, June 11, in Correspondence, etc., Part III, p. 370. ~ See May 15June 17, Operations, etc., Report No. 1, p. 522 Page 286 286 OPERATIONS IN N. VA., W. VA., AND MD. [CHAP. XXIV. ter to that place be abandoned, so that I may be at work getting my forces together. They are too far apart. I want to get a larger force at Catletts and Fredericksburg at once. Jackson is either coming against Shields at Luray, King at Catletts, or Doubleday at Fredericksburg, or is going tc Richmond. None of the places named is in condition to withstand him, and in any case I should get my command together; but I cannot leave the valley and commence to do so till General Banks assumes charge. Cannot he be asked to hasten his troops? General Sigel, who ig near Winchester, is waiting for certain supplies. Cannot he move, as we have done, and have his supplies follow him? Again I telegraphed the War Department: Has the Department any information as to the position of General Frdmont? I ask so as to determine in relation to moving General Shields from Luray and General Ricketts from Front Royal. I am disposed to move both of them as soon as they can march, and without waiting any further on the movements of General Banks. General Banks is now in force on tb~ Shenandoah opposite Front Royal; and even if Jackson should not have gone to Richmond and should attempt again to go down the valley, General Banks is in the strongest position on the line for resisting him. Such movement on the part of Jackson would only result in abandoning the line from Manassas and Front Royal. General Banks is waiting for a bridge to be ~built or a ferry larger than the present one to be established. June 14 I telegraphed the Secretary of War: The position which I learn from your telegram of last night is now occupied by Gen- eral Fr6mont at Mount Jackson leaves General Shields command exposed at Luray. Either Jackson is falling back to Richmond or is waiting for re-enforcements to renew his offensive operations. If the former, my forces are not needed where they are, but are needed where the President has ordered them. If the latter, then has General Fr6monts movements to Mount Jackson, and General Banks inability to make one, as ordered, up the east bank of the Shenandoah, left the forces of my command too divided to support each other and give that protection to the capital which it is made my duty to afford. I am not in strength either at Luray, on this line, or at Fredericks- burg, whilst the valley west of the Shenandoah down to Harpers Ferry is held in su- perabundant strength. I propose, therefore, to immediately order my troops out of the valley and have General Geary take post at Thoroughfare. General King goes to- day to Fredericksburg with another brigade. If hereafter General Banks shall see fit to cross the Shenandoah at Front Royal and carry out the plan the President ordered he will be able to do so as well as if I were there. If not, no harm will be done, and I will be able to utilize the forces now locked up in his department. I fear precious time is being lost~ so far as I am concerned, by my having to wait for General Banks, and that I am either being exposed to be attacked in detail if Jack- son acts offensively or that I ani delaying the re-enforcements for Richmond, where they will be needed more than ever, if, as I am led to think may be the case, h eisgone to re-enforce Lee. Please let me know at as early a moment as possible if there is any objection to my acting as I propose. In answer to my suggestions the Secretary informed me, June 14: Your telegram has just been received. You have all the knowledge possessed by the Department respecting the position of the forces under command of General Banks an(l General Frdmont, and you also know what orders have been given by the Presi- dent to those commanders as well as to yourself. I have no further orders. EDWIN M. STANTON, Secretary of War. June 14 I telegraphed the Department as follows: I have ordered General Shields to move as soon as possible to Catletts. It was from no desire to avoid the full measure of responsibility which belongs to me that I tele- graphed the condition in which my troops in the valley are placed. The change of the plan as to General Frdmonts position affected me, and I ventured to submit, in the absence of any instructions, what I thought best to be done under the new condi- tion of things. That day I ordered General Shields to march from Luray to Catletts at the earliest possible moment.* * See Schriver to Shields, Junc 14, l~62, in Correspondence, etc., Part III, p. 3S~ Page 287 CHAP. XXIV.] GENERAL REPORTS. 287 I also telegraphed General Banks as follows: MANASSAS, June 14, 1862. Major-General B~xs, Winche8ter: Permit me to inquire when you will be able to relieve my command at Front Royal, that I may get into position to carry out the orders of the President. A ferry has been established over the Shenandoah, which was sufficient to bring to this side a regiment of infantry, a section of artillery, and some cavalry, and which therefore I should think would be sufficient to throw over fro rn your command a force to guardthe stores and occupy the place till your permanent arrangements can be made. To await for these permanent arrangements would, Ifear, delay the movements I am or- dered to make beyond the time which would render them effective. June 15 1 telegraphed as follows: His Excellency the PRESIDENr, Washington, D. C.: So much has been said about my not going to aid General McClellan and his need of re-enforcements that I beg the President will now allow me to take to him every man that can be spared. I make this request in view of what I learn from Front Royal of an intention to have my Second Division broken up and Hartsuffs brigade transferred to General Banks department. General Frdmonts and General Banks divisions are now superabundantly strong for all purposes in the valley. Jackson seems to have gone to Charlottesville, and I will have to do with him either on my way to or at Richmond. The rapid marches over the mountains have diminished my force, aside from McCalls division, by at least 4,000 men. At Richmond we will have the heavy work to do, and after providing for the safety of this line and Fredericksburg my force to march upon Richmond will be a much smaller re-enforcement than will be looked for or wanted. IRVIN McDOWELL, Major-General, t2ommanding. The same day I telegraphed the Secretary of War: [JuNE 1512.30 p. in.) Major-General Banks writes to General Riekette, commanding my Second Division at Front Royal, that General Ricketts must remain with his command until his (Gen- eral Banks) can be ordered up, which shall not be absolutely beyond the time neces- sary for its equipment. I learn from another dispatch that he is waiting for blankets, & c., and in one to me that he is waiting for means to cross the river. I have tele- graphed him that there is a ferry at Front Royal, on which we have passed a regiment of infantry, a section of artillery, sixty baggage wagons, and a squadron of cavalry, and that with ropes he can build a bridge of scows. I now learn that there is a plan on foot to have Hartsuffs brigade of the Second Division transferred to General Banks, and in anticipation that General Williams has been calling on General Hartsuff for returns of his brigade and that General Banks is now on the way to Washington I am sure it is not expected that I shall wait till bridges are built or troops should get everything in the way of equipments. My troops also need many things which I shall not wait for. I regret to have to trouble you in this matter, and to beg that I may not be deprived of Hartsuff. They have enough for their defensive purposes, and I shall need more than I have, though I may not ask for them for the work I have to do. IRVIN McDOWELL, Major- General, Commanding. General Shields (see his dispatches of June 15, proceedings of Jan- uary 5), reporting himself unable for want of shoes for his men and horses to march direct from Luray to Catletts, I had him instructed to move down the valley to Front Royal, where he could be better equipped and could use the railroad from that place over to Manassas; and General Ricketts was instructed, as soon as General Shields divis- ion should reach Front Royal, to commence the march of his division or its transfer in the cars to Manassas. On the 17th of June (proceedings of January 5) I telegraphed from Manassas to General Banks at Winchester: I beg to acquaint you that Hartsuffs brigade has moved here to-day; that General Ricketts will follow to-morrow, and that General Shields division is now at Fron Page 288 288 OPERATIONS IN N. VA., W. VA., AND MD. [CHAP. XXIV. Royal, where I will thank you to support him, in case it should be necessary, until he can be withdrawn. The fords of the Shenandoah are now practicable. All General Bayards brigade have passed over. Again, on June 18 (proceedings of January 5), I telegraphed to Gen. eral Banks: All of General Ricketts division will leave Front Royal to-day. General Shields, who is now at Front Royal, will follow General Ricketts to-morrow. There are some commissary stores and beef cattle, more than these troops require, at Front Royal. To avoid bringing them over here, where there is plenty, I beg leave to suggest that you instruct the proper officer in your department to receive them for the use of your com- mand to-day. On the 20th of June General Shields division marched from Front Royal to Manassas. On the 21st (proceedings January 5) the Secretary of War telegraphed me: General Banks has urgently and repeatedly requested that General Shields division should remain a short time at Front Royal. In a note to me this morning the President says: Tell McDowell what Banks says; tell him we incline to have Shields remain a few days at Front Royal, and ask him to state his strongest objections, if he has any. You will please answer immediately, and tell us how you are. To which I replied, June 212 p. m. (proceedings January 5): Your telegram, requesting that Shields division should be allowed to remain a few days at Front Royal, is just received. In compliance with the orders given after the President was here (Manassas) the advance of Shields division reached here last night and has moved to Bristoe. The sick, foot weary, and part of the baggage and stores kft Front Royal last night; General Shields and the remainder of his division left Front Royal this morning at 5 oclock. My reasons for wishing to get General Shields here were, first, that the movements I am ordered to make depend upon it; second, his position at Front Royal, with noth- ing in advance of him beyond the support of General Fr6mont and with a river sepa. rating him from General Banks, which General Banks force seems reluctant to cross, was not such as I wanted him. in the condition he is in, to remain in. General Shields division is, I learn, in a bad state morally and materiallyofficers resigning and even men deserting. I am improving and sitting up, and hope soon to regain my bodily activity. On the 22d and 23d of June General Shields command reached Bris- toe, near Manassas. On his commencing to arrive, and as fast as it could be safely done, the force held at Catletts was transferred to Fredericksburg. On the 26th the Presidents order was issued sup- pressing the Department of the Rappahannock, and placing me, with the forces I had commanded, under Major-General Pope, to constitute a part of the Army of Virginia. On the same day Jacksou, concerning the renewal of whose attack down the Shenandoah there had been so much speculation in the valley, struck the iight of General McClellans army before Richmond, and coin- menced that series of battles which resulted in General McClellan tak- ing position on the left bank of the James River. I had telegraphed General McClellan June 10 that I would be with him in ten days, and could I have disentangled myself from the Shen- andoah Valley and commenced to withdraw my forces at the time I or- deredJune 8I would have been with him by the 20th or by the time McCalls reached him by water from Fredericksburg under orders given it June 6. With the 26th ended my independent command, and with that date I end the account of my conduct in connection with alleged failure to aid or re-enforce General McClellan before Richmond Page 289 ChAP. XXIY.l GENERAL REPORTS. 289 PROTECTING REBEL PROPERTY. In connection with my command of the Department of the Bappa- haunock my conduct and the policy pursued by me toward the inhabit- ants of the country occupied by our troops, particularly with respect to their property, was another subject of much criticism and general condemnation; not only on account of the protection itself; but of the consequent detailing of soldiers to guard their property was especially and bitterly denounced, and was one of the main subjects on which I have supposed, from the language used against me, the charge of trea- son was founded. It was not thought the course I pursued was consistent or could pos- sibly have anything to do with a sincere desire to prosecute the war earnestly and zealously, but must have come from a feeling of tender- ness or active sympathy with the enemy and a corresponding disregard for the soldiers committed to my charge that my care for the prop- erty of the man in the secession army was greater than tUe interest I took in the Union volunteer, who was sacrificing his property and busi- ness at home to come and fight those whose property I seemed so much to respect. One of the Senai or~ from my native Stafr, who had been looked upon as being very kindly disposed toward me, was so much moved by the representations made on this subject as to hold me up to the Senate in a disparaging manner as an unprofitable general, misapplying the public force under his command. My conduct in the matter was made the subject of a resolution in the House of Representatives, founded on a complaint in a newspaper, directing the subject to be inquired into by tim Joiut Conuititisee ott the Conduct of the War, which was done. Much was said about my making my soldiers rebuild some fences, causing some of General Shields division to come back some 10 miles for this purpose after they had just come off a long and fatiguing march. It may be recollected with what joy a suppo~ed change in my policy by my successor was hailed throughout the country: No more rose- water; Now the war will be carried on in earnest;~~ No more pro- tection to rebel property; No more guards over rebel houses; Now the army will live oft the enemy, and The enemy will now be made to feel fe war, & c., and much more. There was perhaps no subject in which more discontent was created than this. I seemed to be universally condemned. As a prominent person told me in reference to this matter, You are become the most odious man in the nation. I can truly say I have done things 1 wish I had done differently, and have omitted much I wish I had done; but I was neyer less in doubt in my life about anything than I am about my conduct in this respect. II will try and show why. When I first came into command of the department the policy to be pursued toward the inhabitants of the country occupied by our troops, with respect to their property and the supplies we might find necessary to take for the army, was yet to be determined. I found the system in force in other commands to be to pay those who took the oath of allegiance and not to pay those who did not. A serious objection to this, in my opinion, was that a weak or a bad man might take the oath and get the money and be a rebel neverthe- 19 E RYOL Xl Page 290 290 OPERATIONS IN N. VA., W. VA., AND MD. [CHAP. XXIV. less; and then a good man, loyal and true, whose circumstances, fani- ity, age, or infirmity might hinder from taking up arms .for the Govern- inent, and who would willingly take the oath, might, by the changes in the war, be left at the mercy of the rebels when our forces should with - draw from his section of the country. It is well known how much mischief has been done by requiring this prematurely where we did not continue to have the power to protect those whom we called out and thus drive away those who would have been able to give us important aid or information or subjecting them to great hardship and imprison- ment. The principle I adopted was to take whatever 1 needed for the use of my troops, I)aying only those whom, by investigation, 1 could satisfy myself were good Union men, and giving all others certificates only, setting forth what was taken from them, and that they would be paid at the end of the war if they could show that they had been loyal citizens and not given aid or comfort to the enemy. thus, to the extent of what was taken, l)utting them under bonds for good behavior. That I used freely the resources of the country may be seen from the evidence of Lieutenant-Colonel Myers, my chief quartermaster (see pro- ceedings of December 18), and papers submitted by him, showing the instructions given through him for seizing supplies and accounting for them. Lieutenant-Colonel Myers says, with reference to the supplies taken: I think claim was made on me for nearly all these stores. None were paid for, how- ever, as far as my knowledge goes. Payment was refused on the ground of their being rebels, antagonistic to the Gov- ernment. Payment was always refused to disloyal persons on the groniid that they were disloyal. General Wadsworth (see l)roceedings of December 17), in answer to a question as to General McDowells conduct toward the inhabitants of the country, either as respects themselves or their property, says: As respects their persons, he protected non-combatants from disturbance or inolesta- tion by the soldiers as far as possible. As respects their property, he took a large amonnt of forage for public service at the time it was needed, paying loyal citizens in money, and giving to those of ques- tionable loyalty verbal or written assurances that they would be paid after the war if they were loyal from that time on. He did not allow marauding by soldiers. General ilaupt (see proceedings of December 6) being asked, What rule did General McDowell establish as to the property of the inhabit- ants of the country required for the use of the troops under his com- mand. says: That it should be taken whenever necessary for the use of the army, but always by proper requisition. General McDowell claimed the privilege of being, as he frequently said, the only plunderer in the Army of the Rappahannock. He would take what he - needed for the use of.the army, but could not permit his men to plunder on private account. When property was taken receipts were given as evidence of the fact. Orders were given to leave subsistence sufficient to keep families front starvation. He further says: Lumber was taken wherever it could be found. Nearly all the timber suitable for bridging was exhausted in the vicinity of Potomac Creek, and all the timber of suitable dimensions that conld be found in Fredericksburg was used in reconstructing the bridge across the Rappahanuock. A large machine-shop mA foundery, with all the machinery and tools appertaining thereto and the materials on hand, were appro- priated for the use of the road in Fredericksburg. And that as to colored fugitives They were employed, and to the extent of all that could possibly be procured. See ]IAeutenant.Colonel Tillsons (proceedings, sections 2 and 6) an Page 291 CHAr. XXIV.] GENERAL REPORTS. 291 Major Browns evidence (proceedings of December 2) for further details of property taken and colored fugitives employed for the public service. Colonel Schriver (proceedings of December 1) being asked Do you or not know if supplies for the army were not frequently and largely ordered to be taken from the inhabitants of the country in which we were operating? Answer. I do. Question. What knowledge have you that supplies have been ordered to be taken in large quantities from the inhabitants for the use of the army? Answer. I have heard General McDowell give such orders repeatedly, and I have given them myself in his name. I will here give in full the orders on the subject of taking property from the country and accounting for the same, with the form of certifi- cate prescribed to be given the owner.* I also give my order respecting the employment of colored fugitives to relieve ~he troops from the fatigue labor and thus increase the number for armed service.t * * * * * * * It will be seen from Colonel Schrivers testimony (proceedings of De- cember 1) that on the occasion of his march from Front Royal to Luray General Shields was authorized and instructed in Colonel Schrivers let- ter to him of June 4 to take such supplies as the troops may require. From all this it is clear I observed the Regulations of the Army, which are in accordance with all well-regulated warfare. There are some who think that to live off the enemys country means to live at free quarters, and for every one to take whatever he needs or desires. This is simply pillage, and no ar~ny can exist where it is allowed. The only safe rule is to lay it down as a Jaw that no one shall inter. fere with the rights of property save he who represents the Govern- ment. That the Government only has the right to take private prop- erty for public purposes; that until the Government, through its proper agent, the general commanding-in-chief, seizes private property, it is to be protected, and those taking it without authority are to be con- sidered as much guilty of theft or robbery as if they had done the sam~ thing in their own State; that all supplies seized by proper authority become the property of the Government, and are to be accounted for as regularly as if purchased with Government funds. This protection to be given not only because these people for the time have no other government than that the general commanding may give them, and are entitled, as long as they are obedient to that government, to be protected by it, but mainly because it is necessary for the army itselffor its discipline, its morale, its, safetythat it shall be a body of soldiers, not a band of freebooters and landsknecht8, and for the country that the citizens who have entered the army honest and law-fearing shall not return as thieves and robbers. The case I have before referred to as having been so condemned by one of the Senators ofmy own State on the floor of the Senate is that of a Mr. Hoffman, of Belle Plain. This person was a farmer, who had his year~s crop of corn in granaries near the temporary landing of Belle Plaintwo houses full of corn. This corn I ordered to be taken (see evidence of Major Tillsou, proceedings December 2) for the use of the Government, as well as his * See, in proceedings of eighth day, General Orders, No. 8, May 7, and No. 18, of June 3. See, in proceedings of eighth day, General Orders, No. 10, of May 10 Page 292 292 OPERATIONS IN N. VA., W. VA., AND MD. [CHAP. XXIV. clover and a field of growing corn. He came to see me; and as I was going from Aqnia to Federicksburg, in company with some members of the Cabinet, he met me at the Accokeek, and asked if I would pay him for his grain and if he could have any protection for his growing crop. (See evidence of Major C. Brown, of December 2.) I questioned him as to his conduct in reference to the war. He claimed to have had nothing to do with it; to have refused to sell anything to the other side, appealing to his full granaries to prove his statement; avowed his sympathies, however, to be with the South. I told him in that case he could not expect I should strengthen his hands by giving him pay for his crops. He then asked if his grain crop near his house, on Which his family depended for their sustenance, might be spared; that he was near the high road taken by the trains coming down to the landing, and was molested by the small parties coming with them by their burning his fences and turning his fields out in commons. I prom- ised him his fences should not be further disturbed (there was an abun. dance of wood near), and that he might go on raising his prop. I was then feeding from the Government stores several hundred women and children who had fled to the army, and as a matter of economical ad. ministration of the resources of the country wished as much grain, & c., raised as possible. None of us then thought we should ever give up a foot of ground north of the iRappahannock, whatever else might come. The Secretary of the Treasury, whom no one will suspect of not having been and not now being in earnest in the prosecution of this war, was present, and my action in the case struck him as a matter of course. I had taken all the farmers grain, giving nothing but a statement of thefact, and promised him protection forthe growing crop and the reserve of corn kept at his house for the use of his family. Everything else in this case was but a mere fulfillment of that promise and an enforce- ment of the orders I gave to carry it out. I ordered a sentinel to be posted from the command at Belle Plain over Mr. Hoffmans premises. This duty was neglected; he came again; again was the order given; when, finding the order still neg- lected, I instructed a staff~ officer to write a peremptory note to the commanding officer, making him accountable that the orders given should not be so disregarded. The terms employed by the officer I did not see, it being a matterof detail into which I did not examine. Ma. jor Breck, assistant adjutant-general, the officer in question (see pro- ceedings of December 2), says: General McDowell directed me to order Colonel Meredith to have the house and corn of Mr. Hoffman protected, and he told me at the same time that a similar order had already been given, and directed me to make this order strong and ~peremptory. With these directions I wrote the order. General McDowell did not see the order I drew up, to my knowledge. Those directions that I speak of was all he had to do with it, so far as I know. Question. Did the witness understand the instruction to make the order peremptory to refer to the failure of the commanding officer to comply with previous orders? Answer. I understood that the cause of the previous directions given me to make this order peremptory was because the first order had not been obeyed, the property having been injured since, and further to enforce military discipline. I will now give that part of the debate in the Senate which refers to this case, taken from the Congressional Globe: Mr. WAru~. I have here an order from General McDowell that I ask to have read, just to show the principle upon which this accursed war is prosecuted. The Secretary read as follows Page 293 OxAP. XXIV.l GENERAL REPORTS. 293 8PEcI~4i ORDERS, ~ HEADQUARTERS DEPARTMENT OF THE RAPPAHANNOCK, No. 68. Opposite Frederick8burg, May 26, 1862. Colonel Meredith, commanding the Fifty-sixth Pennsylvania Volunteers, will furnish from his regiment a guard for the home and property of Mr. L. J. Hoffman, who lives near Belle Plain. Colonel Meredith will see that no more corn is taken from Mr. Hoffman and that no more fencing is disturbed. The guard will be so placed as to make this sure, even if it should be necessary to place a sentinel over every panel of fence. By command of Major-General McDowell: SAML. BRECK, Assistant Adjutant-General. Official: E. P. HALSTEAD, Captain, Assu?tant Adjutant-General. Col. S. A MEREDITH, Commanding Fifty-sixth Pennsylvania Volunteers. (Sent by Mr. Hoffman.) I am told that that Hoffman, whose every panel of fence is to be guarded hy a sol.- dier paid for out of our pockets, is as arrant a traitor as there is on the face of Gods eartb. Now, sir, what say you. Can we reach that property? Can we forage on the enemy? The Senator says no. Restrained by the Constitution, are we? We cannot even take it on the field! The high place Mr. Wade occupies in my native State and in the Senate, his known ardor in the prosecution of this war, and his devo- tion to the conntry, caused, I am told, this unfavorable comment on the little that seems to have reached him respecting my policy, to lowei me in the eyes of many good people and to do me much harm with my men. Another prominent complaint was my protecting certain wheat fields near the Lacy or Chatham house, belonging to an officer in the enemys service. When we arrived opposite Fredericksburg these fields were green with a promising crop of wheat in drills, then grow- in~ most luxuriantly. Contrary to orders, a regiment of cavalry, rather than take the trouble to cut wood, which was near in great abundance, burned several panels of the fence, and thus allowed the animals to enter the fields to tread down the wheat. I caused the regiment to rebuild the fence and the fields to be guarded till the wheat matured. Then it was harvested, thrashed out, taken to a mill near by, ground into flour, and fed to the troops. This matter was simply a question of economy for the Government. (See evidence of Colonel Schriver, proceedings December 15, and Captain Chandlers evidence.) This is the case on which the charge was built of my harsh conduct to General Shields division. They were in no way concerned in it. As to protecting property generally, I did so, and for the reasons stated. There is such a thing as economy in war. There is no need to destroy what you may afterward want yourself. Whether the growing grain was the property of Union men or not I protected it. In either case the army would need it. The same with houses; to burn and destroy simply because the property belongs to the enemy and will irritate him can have no effect on the war, except .to strengthen the feeling which causes it to be maintained on the other side. if th~ buildings or the crops were likely to fall into the enemys hands it would be different. In such cases I have caused them to be destroyed. As to the effect on the discipline of the troops of the policy pursued by me in this respect General King states (evidence of December 17) Page 294 294 OPERATIONS IN N. VA., W. VA., AND MD. [CH~. XXIV. The effect upon the troops was excellent, and the policy, in my judgment, the best that could have been pursued. Question. Was a supposed change in this policy the cause of any falling off in the discipline ~ Answer. Yes, sir; very great and serious. In fact the discipline of the troops at Fredericksburg in the early part of the occupation of that place was a matter of surprise to every one. Nothing was harmed, or when it was every measure was tfiken to detect and punish the offenders. It is true I suffered from the representations made in the papers and to Congress, and when a change was supposed to have been made by my successor there was great satisfaction expressed. But soon the great and serious falling off in the discipline became so alarming that, on the representation of it to the commander-in-chief, he issued an order more stringent even than mine had been, and I see by one of the opening paragraphs in his recent report that the subject of his having been supposed to authorize what the papers proclaimed for him was a matter of serious annoyance. It will be seen by a reference to General Orders, No. that the very system I pursued in my department, and which my successor was supposed to have changed, was adopted by the Government and made general for the whole Army. CORRESPONDENCE WITH THE ENEMYS COMMANDERS. The subject of my correspondence with any of the enemys com- manders needs but a few words. All the correspondence I ever had is before the court. It was mainly concerning the widow of Robert E. Scott, esq., of Fauquier, whose husband had been murdered by our men, and whose death had made the deepest impression unfavorable to us of anything that had occurred in that part of the country since the beginning of the war. He was the prominent Union man of Virginia. I have been told on good authority that he would have been admitted in the Cabinet on the formation of the present Government. His death was an event which the enemy sought to turn against us. So on grounds of policy as well as sincere sympathy for a delicate woman, left alone in the country with a young family, I was desirous of doing what I could to carry out her wishes. The correspondence, however, speaks for itself and it is not necessary to refer to it further. REDUCTION OF TRANSPORTATION AND CAMP EQUIPAGE CAUSE OF iLL- FEELING. On the subject of the mobility of our troops, and the consequent coin- plaints of officers and men, it will be seen from my orders that every effort was early made by me to reduce as far as possible the baggage train of the army, so that the troops might be in condition for active operations. These orders have some time since been made general for the whole Army by orders from the General-in-Chief. I was, unfortunately, so far as I was personally concerned, aheati of my time in this respect, and the neighboring commanders not haviiig the same rules, when troops from them joined me and came under my more stringent ones, they became dissatisfied, or my own men became so when they served with those who had greater allowance of camp equipage than my orders permitted. On this subject see the following evidence of Major Tillson: (Proceedings of December 8. Page 295 CHAP. XXIV.] GENERAL REPORTS. 295 Question. Was this reduction of baggage in the division to which you were attached the cause of complaint or dissatisfaction or grumblings? Answer. It was. General King (see proceedings December 17): Question. Do you know if the arrival near your division of troops more abun- dantly provided than they were with wagons, tents, & c., was the cause of any remnrks or feeling with reference to the allowances made to your division? Answer. It was. General llartsuff (see proceedings December 15): Que& tion. What reduction was made in the means of transportation and in the camp equipage on your coming under General McDowells immediate command at Fredericksburg? Answer. The number of wagons to each regiment was reduced to seven or eight, I think. The Sibley tents with which the command was furnished were changed to shelter-tents. Officers baggage was necessarily considerably reduced, and the bag- gage of company messes and baggage generally of officers and men. Question. Do you know if the reduction of means of transportation and camp equi- pane was a cause of any feeling or the subject of any remark in the brigade (Hart- Answer. It was the cause of considerable feeling and of many remarks of ill-feeling or ill-will toward General McDowell by officers and men. I did not hear the remarks of the men, but am satisfied remarks of the kind were made. Question. State if you know of any other cause of ill-feeling toward General Mc- Dowell, or dissatisfaction with him in that brigade, connected with their having been under another department commander, where these restrictions had not been made. Answer. Three of the four regiments composing ray brigade had been under the command of General Banks. The brigade was, as they believed, temporarily attached to General McDowells command. They were very desirous of getting back under General Banks command, believing the amount of transportation they brought to General McDowell3s command would be restored to them, and with it their baggage and comforts. General llartsuff (proceedings December 15) being asked if the forced march which I made over the Blue Ridge to Front Royal (to comply with orders given me) was the cause of any complaint, states: It was the cause of complaint, and I saw afterward letters written by officers of the, brigade and published in Boston newspapers, containing severe strictures on General McDowell, as the author of suffering on the marches. The letter was filled with falsehoods. in Question. Was there any complaint that the men were forced over the Blue Ridge the rain without tents or shelter? Answer. There was such complaint. He further says there was a severe rain-storm during nearly the whole of the night. It will be recollected this was all done to comply with the Presidents orders, and was nothing more than is incident to military operations; but the troops who made the march were not used to it. POLICY PURSUED TOWARD TIlE INHABITANTS. As to the policy I pursued toward the inhabitants of the country with respect to themselves I refer to General Orders, Nos. 12 and 19, and Special Orders, No. 65 (proceedings of November 29), which, taken in connection with my orders concerning their property, will show the iiatnre of that policy. It was simply as a matter of justice to them ,as one of discipline to my men, to protect their persons from outrage and insult, and so much of their property as was not needed by the army from destruction or damage; in return, to require them, at the peril of their lives, not to harm my communications, either by rail or telegraph, or see them harmed by others Page 296 296 OPERATIONS IN N. VA., W. VA., AND MD. (CHAP. XXIV. PELEG CLARKES CASE. I have now to reter to the testimony of Peieg Clarke, of Fredericks- burg (see proceedings of December 8), who alleges that he informed me of the presence of a rebel officer within my lines, and that, being so in- formed by him on several occasions, I took no steps to arrest him; and, further, that mails, salt, sugar, coike, boots and shoes, and small-arms were suffered to be taken from Fredericksburg through to the enemy; that sentinels on post in Fredericksburg were prohibited by the inhabit- ants of the homes they guar(led from getting water to (11-ink or taking shelter on their porches when it rained a allowed to enter our lines. , nd that notorious rebels were Everything which Peleg Clarke testified to, except the matter of the rebel officer, occurred when I was far away from Fredericksburg and after I had been relieved from the command of the department. He says as follows to the question: When did these occurrencesbad treatment of soldiers hy citizemi~ and tebels allowed to enter our linestake place? Answer. Those that came under my observation were in July. I cant give the several datesabout 6th, 8th, or 10th. Question. Between what dates or periods were these supplies you have referred to, such as shoes, salt, & c., allowed to pass through the lines at Fredericksburg? Answer. About the same time I speak of; just prior to that. Question. Do you know of any practices such as you have stated occurring prior to July last? Answer. I left there about the 27th ot May, I think it was, and returned the fore- part of July, that is, early in July, and knew of no such thing until after my return. Question. Do you know if General McDowell was ever informed by yourself or others of these occurrences; that is, of irregular mails, supplies, & c., having passed to the enemy? Answer. I do not, sir. Colonel Schriver, chief of my staff (proceedings of December 9), being asked to state to the court the rules establiihed by General McDowell for the government of the town of Fredericksburg and for granting passes to and fro Answer. The subject was with General King, who had full lowers in the case. King also had the government of the town. Question. Did General McDowell, save in some exceptional cases, interfere and i~ person take charge of the subjectthe government of the town or intercourse with it~ inhabitants? Answer. No. In continuation Colonel Seliriver states that my headquarters were established near Fredericksburg the 4th or 5th of May and removed from there the 26th of May, Front Royal being the destination when we left, and that they were not again established at or near Fredericks- burg, and that he never knew of any cases having been reported to me either before or after my headquartei-s were at Fredericksburg of per- sons passing supplies of salt, shoes, sugar, & e., or passing noted rebels though the lines; and, further, that I refused license to trade or establish shops in Fredericksburg because the rules of the blockade would be violated thereby. It will be seen that di~ring the time Peleg Clarke states these things to have been done, to wit, in July, 1 was not near the place. It will be also recollected that I was superseded by General Pope June 26. (h~ the subject of trade, General Wadsworth (proceedings of Decem- ber 17) being asked Do you recollect if General McDowell did not write or telegraph you to discourage the coming of traders to Fredericksburg at the time his headquartcrs were opposite that place Page 297 CHAP. XXIV.J GENERAL REPORTS. 297 Answer. I rccollect receiviiig a communication of that sort from him. I utterly refused any one my permission to open trade in Fredericks. burg. There remains now of Peleg Clarkes testimony what he states in re- lation to ikittle, whom he says was a rebel adjutant. He states Jim spoke to me three times about Little; once in the Lacy house hail as I was passing through to go out of the house, when he says, ~b General McDowell seemed to be en gaged and in a hurry to at- ten(l to other business. It was with difficulty, after waiting some time, that I saw him at all. The second interview, he says, was on the west portico of the house; does not remember that any one was directly present; General McDowells men were all busy and passing by. The third interview, he says, was on the east steps of the Lacy house, and there was at the foot of the steps, I suppose, some 20 or 30 men on horseback. In the first interview he states he did not mention that Little was in the rebel service. The last time he saw me I was evidently about to mount my horse, as my escort was at the door. In both cases where he states he referred to Littles character no one was with us. He alone can testify what took place, and by the rules the court has adopted I have been unable to establish anything as to the character or the light in which he appeared to me at the time referred to. The court has restricted me in this case to establishing the general character of the witness for truth and veracity in the community where he resides; a rule inapplicable in his case, as his place (Fredericksburg) is in the hands of the enemy. I did not, however, seek to establish anything as to his general character for truth and veracity. hi a campaign a general in command of an army is approached or has occasion to see and receive statements from men of all kinds, of every degree of intelligence, of every degree of reliability. The weight he may give to the statements he receives will vary with the individual and the circumstances under which he comes before him. The story of of an intelligent negro or a stupid one, a deserter, a prisoner, a rebel officer, a rebel citizen, a Union man, one of his own men, or one of his own officers, or one of his own personal staff, would each, depending on the subject, receive different degrees of credit. In one case a story might be believed when the same story told by another would be utterly discredited. What, therefore, I wish to bring before the court was the light in which, from what had taken place concerning him, Peleg Clarke appeared to me during these moments in which he succeeded in catch- ing me whilst busy in attending to the wants of a large force, concentrat- ing and preparing it for an offensive movement against the enemy. He was living in Fredericksburg when the war broke out; had had trans- actionsunder compulsion, he stateswith the rebel army; had sold them supplies; had property marked Confederate States in his ware- house; was known in Fredericksburg as a Union man, and came to our troops as soon as they arrived. He had his private grievances, his claims for compensation, his wrongs, and other personal matters to attend to. I had appointed a governor of the town, and in addition had assigned a general com~ manding a division to the special duty of attending to all these details, that they might not interfere with the main object of my being there. Yet Mr. Clarke persisted ifl coming to me, and therefore saw me with difficulty and in the casual way he describes. My recollection of him is simply of a man annoying me with what seemed far more closel Page 298 298 OPERATIONS IN N. VA., XV. VA., AND MD. CHAP. XXIV. connected with his personal matters and his animosities thait with the public service. The cry of traitor, rebel, or secessionist had become so common as to attract but little attention. When a man had anything anybody else wanted he was denounced as a traitor. General King states (proceedings of December 17) concerning Little: I recollect a man whom I supposed then, and still suppose, to be a private citizen of Fredericksburg. He was frequently at my headquarters, and I understood either from him or some friend of his that he had been in the militia of Virginia some months previous, but was not so any longer. I think he told me so himself. The whole matter made but little impression on my mind at the time. In the way it was presented, as far as I can recollect it, it seemed to me to interest Mr. Clarke far more than it concerned the public service. GENERAL SIGEL. I come now to the subject of General Sigels strictures, & c. It may be remembered how much was said last August and Septem- ber of General Sigels having shot me on the field of battle for being a traitor; how the whole country was filled with the most extraordinary accounts of my treason and his patriotism. Immediately after the campaign denunciations of me we~re to be heard, I was told, in every hotel and in every street. The public seemed to have received the impression that though the report that he had killed me was an error, yet that w~ had had some violent altercations and quarrels, if not actual personal conflicts, on the field itself. I had heard of some of these stories before we left Fairfax Court-Housethat of his having shot me on the streets of Warrentonand it was on this account I sought to speak to him, and that he declined, as he states (December 20), to hold any private conversation with me. His so declining was the first knowledge or intimation I had of his having any unkind feel- ing toward me, and up to the time of this investigation I have remained in ignorance of the cause of offense he conceived I gave him. He has now disclosed it. It is inconceivable how such a cause could produce such results. Two staff officers reported to him some expressions of mine they (the staff officers) thought improper. The principal cause of offense, he says (proceedings of December 20), was the remark that I made to his aide-de-camp, Captain Dahlgren, that General Sigel shall fight his own corps. Captain Dahlgren states (December 30) that this remark was made in answer to a question asked by him for his own in- formation. It was neither a niessage to General Sigel nor an answer to me from him. Captain Haven (proceedings of January 8) states the remark was made in a manner indicative of surprise at the question asked by Captain Dahlgren, which was concerning some minute details. I have referred thus to the principal cause to avoid speaking of the minor ones. General Sigel, on being interrogated, stated the following as causes of bias in his mind against General McDowell: 1st. When I was at Winchester and General Fr& mont at Mount Jack- son and Port Republic I could not perceive why the corps of General McDowell did not assist better the troops under General Fr~niont, and that Jackson was allowed to overcome General Shields and to go to Richmond to fight against General McClellan. 2d. When our troops had arrived at Culpeper on the (lay of the bat- tle of Cedar Mountain after a march of ong day and one night, and were unable to march 7 miles farther to assist General Banks, I was of th Page 299 CHAP. XXIV.] GENERAL REPORTS. 299 opinion that General McDowells troops were at Culpeper before, and I did not understand why they did not assist General Banks on that day, and why he had to light alone with 9,000 men against 25,000, the bat- tle resulting almost in the destruction of General Banks corps. 3d. When at Waterloo Bridge I was under the supposition that Gen- eral McDowell would support my corps. The following causes he stated to qualify his judgment that General McDowell was not attentive to his duties as a general officer: 1st. I do not believe that General McDowell did what he could under the circumstances to hinder General Longstreet to join General Jackson. I am not certain, but I believe that he left not a sufficient force at Thoroughfare Gap, or in the neighborhood, to prevent the enemys troops to pass by this defile, which is very easy to defend. 2d. I further believe that there was not the necessary co-operation between the two corps on their way to Manassasmy corps and that of General McDowellby which want of co-operation we lost the oppor- tunity to attack the enemy on his left flank while he was retreating from Manassas. 3d. On the 29th of August, at the battle of Bull Run, it would have been necessary that General McDowell had made a disposition by Which our two cotps could act with more unity. 4th. I believe he could be on the battle-field with the greater part of his troops at an earlier hour of the day. I also believe that he did not give his troops the right direction on the 29th, because, instead of at- tacking the enemy on his right flank by coming in on our left, his troops, as much as I could see, came in from the rear; that is to say, instead of coming in the direction of New Market, he came in the direc- tion of Centreville. 5th. I cannot understand for what reason General McDowell left the position he had on the 28th in the evening, which would have been, according to my opinion, the right place for attacking the enemy on his right flank on the 29th. 6th. I think that General McDowell neglected to get a personal knowledge of the affairs of my corps on the 29th of August. As to the first case presented by General Sigelthat of the opera- - tions in the valley of the Shenandoah, and that of my not having assisted General McClellan when I was at Fredericksburg, which Gen- eral Sigel mentions as another cause for his unfavorable opinion of General McDowellthey are so fully given elsewhere in this statement that it will not be necessary to repeat them here. GENERAL SIGELS CHARGE OF MY FAILING TO SUPPORT GENERAL BANKS AT THE BATTLE OF CEDAR MOUNTAIN. The next case is that of my not having assisted General Banks at the battle of Cedar Mountain till after he was nearly destroyed. This is a simple matter, fully explained by the testimony of General Roberts and General Pope (proceedings of January 8 and January 13). The latter, after stating the movements of the various bodies of troops prior to the 8th and those of the enemy these movements were to meet, says: During the 8th of August, or at least during the earlier part of that day, it wa~ uncertain whether the main force of the enemy was marching upon Sperryville or upon Culpeper, but in either case I considered it proper to concentrate my forces in the direction of Culpeper, in order constantly to be interposed between the enemy and the lower fords of the Rappahannock Page 300 300 OPERATIONS IN N. VA., W. VA., AND MD. (Cs~..r. XXIV. I accordingly sent orders to Banks to move forward to the same place with all speed. Bank a~vedat Culpeper in dne season, but to my surprise I received a note from General Sigel, dated at Sperryville, abont 6.30 in the evening, acknowledging the receipt of my order, and asking me by what road he should come to Culpeper. As there was but one road, and that a broad stone turnpike, that led directly from Sperryville to Culpeper, I was at a loss to know how General Sigel could entertain any doubts upon the subject. This doubt of General Sigels delayed the arrival of his corps at Culpeper several hours. When the reports began to come in from General Bayard that the enemy was ad- vancing upon him, and that his cavalry was forced to retire, I advanced Crawfords brigade of Banks corps to observe the enemy, to support Bayard in holding the enemy in check, and in determining his force and movements as far as possible. Ricketts division of McDowells corps was on the same day (8th of August) moved to a point 2~ or 3 miles south of Culpeper, and near to the place where the road from Madison Court-House to Culpeper comes into the road from Barnetts Ford to Cul- peper. Early on the morning of the 9th I received information from General Buford, at Madison Court-House, that the enemy was on his right, on his left, and partly in his rcar, and that he was retiring toward Sperryville. On the morning of the 9th of August I pushed Banks in front with his corps to join the brigade of that corps which had gone to the front the day previous. General Banks was instructed by me to move his corps to the position occupied by that bri- ~ade; to take up a strong position there to check the advance of the enemy. This instruction was in a personal interview with General Banks at my headquarters at Culpeper. I told General Banks if the enemy advanced to attack him he should push his skirmishers well to the front and notify me immediately, it being my wi~h to gain alt the time possible to concentrate our forces at Culpeper Court-House. General Banks corps at that time, from his consolidated report transmitted to me a few days previous, numbered over 12,000 infantry and artillery, and this I understood to be the strength of his corps when he was pressed to the front. Three miles in rear of the position which I expected him to occupy was. Bickette division of McDowells corps. Desultory firing was kept up all day long on the 9th, during which time I received a number of reports from General Banks, in none of which did he consider that the enemy was in any great force in front of him. In one of his notes, dated about 3 oclock in the day, lie mentioned that the enemy was displaying his cavalry ostenta- tiousl~ that he had seen no considerable force of infantry, and that he did not believe that t ey intended to attack. These notes I have, and I can submit them to the court if they so desire it. The last note I received from General Banks was dated about 5 oclock. He spoke then of the skirmishers approaching each other, and did not indi- cate that he expected any engagement or ask for any assistance Before I had received this note, however, the artillery firing had become so rapid and continuous that I feared a general engagement was going on or might be brought on at any moment. I therefore instructed General McDowell to push forward Ricketts division as rapidly as possible to the held. General McDowell was in nowise respoa- sible for anything connected with these movements, but in all respects carried out my instructions faithfully and zealously. By referring to General Roberts evidence in connection with the fore- going it will be seen that General Banks, who was to act on the de- fensiv~ and hold the enemy in check till the army could be concentrated~ believing the enemy not in force, assumed the offensive, and attacked him, contrary to the expectations of the commander-in-chief~ and thus was repulsed with heavy loss before the arrangements which the latter had made could be completed. It will also be seen it was ordered that General Sigel should follow and support General Banks; and from General Popes testimony, that General Sigel did not do so because of his unnecessary delay in comply. ing with the orders to march to Culpeper, which caused him to arrive too late, it had been arranged by General Pope, as I afterward under stood, that IRicketts division of my corps should constitute the reserve because the other division of the corps (Kings) was on the march from Fredericksburg, and he wished to put Ricketts where King could join him on his arrival, and thus avoid dislocating my command. The delay in the arrival of General Sigel caused Ricketts to be sent forward in his stead Page 301 Ow. Xxiv.) - GENERAL REPORTS. 301 It is plain the failure to have troops near to General Banks at the time he moved his corps forward into battle was not due to any neglect of mine, though it will perhaps be noticed from General Popes evidence that it may have been so from that of my accuser. NOT SUPPORTING GENERAL SIGEL AT WATERLOO. General Sigel was at Waterloo August24 and 25, leaving there on the night of the 25th. Major-General Pope, then the commanding officer of General Sigel and myself, marched with my corps from the Rappahannock on the 22d to Warrenton, and remained with its headquarters at Warrenton till the afternoon of the 25th. He testifies that on those days all the dis. positions of my corps were made by his orders and under his immediate observation. (See proceedings of January 12.) General Pope farther states as follows: Question by General McDownu~. Did or not, so far as you know, General McDowell neglect or fail in any way to carry out any of your orders, as to the disposition of his corps at or in the vicinity of Warrenton or Sulphur Springs or Waterloo, with refer- enee to any movement you had ordered General Sigel to make? Answer. He did not. When we commenced the movement toward Sulphur Springs and Warrenton, on the 23d of August, it was on information that large forces of the enemy had crossed the Rappahannock at Sulphur Springs and Waterloo Bridge. The river having risen 6 or 8 feet on the night of the 22d, so as to destroy the fords, I pro- posed to throw my whole force upon whatever forces of the enemy were upon the north side of the river, hoping to be able, on account of the high water, to crush them before they could succeed in recrossing the river. General Sigel, commanding the left, was instructed to push forward to the Waterloo Bridge, following the course of the Rappahannock. I told him I would push forward McDowells corps from Warrenton to join him if necessary near Waterloo Bridge, but on the 24th I sent a strong recon- ~iaissance forward to Waterloo Bridge, under General Buford, from Warrenton, and be reported to me on the afternoon of the 24th that there was no enemy on the north aide of the river, and that he had fired the bridge at Waterloo. I immediately in- formed General Sigel of the whole of these facts, that I was sure there was no enemy between him and Waterloo. I therefore did not consider it necessary to push Mc- Dowells corps any farther in that direction. As soon as the advance of General Sigels corps reached Waterloo General Buford took post with all his cavalry on his right, and picketed the river for several miles above Waterloo. I make this statement to show why the corps of General McDowell was not advanced toward Waterioo Bridge on the 24th. The dispositions of my corps on the 25th were in strict conformity with General Popes general order of that day. (Recorded with proceedings of January 7.) From General Sigels official report it would seem he wished it to appear I was in some way connected with, if indeed not re- sponsible for, his movement from Waterloo Bridge in the night to War- renton. He says he had been under my command since his arrival at Waterloo; had sent to me for instructions, & c. Yet he has himself pre- sented to the court (proceedings of January 7) a copy of my note, taking command of his corps (for a special purpose, under the instructions of General Pope), which note is dated the 26th. It was in fact issued after his night march from Waterloo, and when he and his whole corps had fallen back behind mine. If he ever sent to me for instructions on the 25th I could have given him none, for he commanded a corps under the orders direct of the general commanding the army. The evidence shows, in fact, that he sought his orders and instructions from the only source that could then give themGeneral Popes headquarters, and not mine. He further says, I was to have relieved General Milroy~s brigade at the bri(lge. In this he mistakes the general order of Gen- eral Pope of the 25th, which directed the army to be posted with it Page 302 302 OPERATIONS IN N. VA., W. VA., AND MD. [ChAP. XXIV. left on the iRappahannock at Kellys Fordto be occupied by Reno. and the right held by my corps at Warrenton. Waterloo was to be held only by cavalry, and Buford was there for the purpose, with a bri- gade (Towers) on the Waterloo road to support him, and the other three brigades of Ricketts division supporting the advance brigade. I know that these troops were so posted, for I visited them in persou on the night of the 25th, before General Sigel fell back. The general also refers to having received a mutilated order from me, which con- fused matters. Whilst in a more correct statement of the case in his testimony he admits that it was signed, and I believe by a staff officer of General Pope. I do not know, he continues, whether the order was written at Warrenton or Warrenton Junction. I refer to these inaccuracies of General Sigel in his report to show the bias of his mind against me, which led him to endeavor to throw the blame on me without cause. LONG5TREET AND THOROUGHFARE GAP. The mountain ridge which runs to the east of north from Warrenton to the Potomac is quite continuous, but with narrow openings every few miles called Gaps, through which pass the roads from the Poto- mac to the Blue Ridge. The first of these openings north of the one taken by the turnpike from Warrenton to Fairfax Court-louse, Centreville, and Alexandria is called Thoroughfare Gap. A few miles north of Thoroughfare Gap is ilopewell Gap; next comes Aldie Gap. The railroad from Front Royal to Manassas, and the countryroad from Salem and White Plains, in the Piedmont District to Manassas, come through Thoroughfare Gap and cross the Warrenton turnpike at Gainesville. There is also an east and west road through ilopewell Gap; and the Little River turn- pike to Germantown, Fairfax Court-Rouse, and Al~xandria goes through Aldie Gap. In throwing back the right of the army along the Warrenton turn- pike General Sigel, who had fallen behind my corps at Warrenton, was under my command and in front in this retrograde movement, and reached Bucklaud Mills, with his advance 3 miles beyond, at Gaines- ville, on the afternoon and evening of the 27th. My corps and Rey- nolds division followed and closed up with him that night, one of the divisions having marched from near Sulphur Springs and the other from half way between W arrenton and Waterloo. It was known to us by telegram from General Pope at Warrenton Junction that Jacksons corps had come through Thoroughfare Gap and was at or near Manassas, and, by a reconnaissance made by Gen- eral Buford in the direction of Salem, that Longstreet was marching in the same direction after Jackson. It was in reference to what I did or did not do to prevent Longstreet coming through this Gap, or to delay his coming through, that General Sigel finds cause for censure. General Sigel says (Deceniber 20): In the first place I do not believe that General McDowell did what lie could under the circumstances to binder General Longstreet to join. General Jackson. I am not certain, but I believe that he left not a sufficient force at Thoroughfare Gap, or in the neighborhood, to prevent the enemys troops to pass by this defile, which is very easy to defend. He further states: I believe that on the 28th, in the morning, one divi8ion should have been posted 8 Page 303 CuAl. XXIV.l GENERAL REPORTS. 303 as to hinder General Loiigstreet to imm either Thoroughfare Gap or Hay Market, if it was too late to occupy the Gap. ile continues: I would have sent about 10,000 men, with the intention to retard the movements of General Longstreet. I do not believe that these troops are sufficient to fight them all day, but I think they were sufficient to retard his movements. Being asked if he would, under the circumstances, Have considered that four brigades, sixteen regiments of infantry, twenty-four pieces of artillery, and two brigades of cavalry, in the aggregate between 11,000 and l~2,000 men, a sufficient provision to hold Longstreet in check, Answers: I would have regarded it as a sufficient provision if these troops were placed at the right point at the right time. These extracts from his evidence show clearly what General Sigel thought should be, and thinks should have been, done in this ca~e. ile also states: I did not hear of any engagement near Hay Market and the Gap; this induces me to say I do not believe the necessary arrangements were made to hinder Longstreet from joining the army. General Sigel acknowledges an interview to have taken place at Buckland Mills, on the night of the 27th, between himself and General McDowell, on the subject of what dispositions should be made for the ensuing day and what troops should be left at Thoroughfare Gap. As to this interview, being asked by General McDowell (Decem- ber 24): Does the witness remember what General McDowell said to him would be the dis- positions for the succeeding day? Does he rememberwhether it was the witness corps, or the witness corps, with a division from General McDowell added to it, that Gen- eral McDowell decided to leave for the defense of Thoroughfare Gap? Answer. I do not know anything about that; at least it must have been so indefi- nitely said to me that I did not mind it. Question. What did General McDowell propose to witness at his headquarters concerning the defense of Thoroughfare Gap and holding the enemy in cheek at that point? Answer. He did not make any definite proposition. Question. What were those opinions or expressions of General McDowell on that occasion with reference to the subject of holding the enemy in check at Thoroughfare Gap or this side it? Answer. Many different opinions were expressed by General McDowell. He was not sure whether a corps should be sent there or a division, or what corps or what division; and I, therefore, as I did not like to impress upon him my own judgment, left it with him to decide and to order, and to give me instructious. Question. When you left Buckland Mills on the morning of the 28th did you or did you not know General McDowell had made any provision for meeting Lougstreet at or this side of Thoroughfare Gap? Answer. I did not know anything at all. Judging from this testimony of General Sigel any one would say he marched from Buckland Mills without knowing anything of General McDowells arrangements for meeting the enemy the next day in the direction of Thoroughfare Gap. Yet 1 shall show he knew that in the first place he himself was as- signed to this duty, and that one of my divisions was to remain behind to supl)ort him~ and in the second place, that subsequently he knew , , this duty was assigned to Ricketts division. On both these points the court has the best proof, furnished by the testimony of General Sigel himself. See the following order, introduced by General Sigel, and appended to the proceedings of January 7 Page 304 ~O4 OPERATIONS IN N. VA., W. VA., AND MD. [CHAP. XXIV. HEADQUARTERS THIRD ARMY Conrs, Bickland Mills, Au~qust 27, 186211.30 p. m. It being understood that a large division of the enemy under Longstreet left Salem at 4 oclock p. m. for the enemys position in the direction of Manassas, through Thoroughfare Gap, and is now on the march, the following preliminary movements of the left wing of the army will be immediately made, and Major-General Sigels c.orpe will without delay be concentrated at or near Hay Market and Gainesville. A division of the Third Corps will be left at Buckland Mills to operate against the flanks of the enemy or march to Hay Market, as shall be found most expedient. Kings and Ricketts divisions will march to GainesvilLe, and start at 2 oclock a. in., to attack the enemys position in the direction of Manassas. This attack will be sup- ported under the provision of the general order from headquarters of the Army of Vir- ginia by the command of Major-General Heintzelinan, now at Greenwich, and which will be on the right of the attack. By command of Major-General McDowell: S. .1?. BARSTOW, Assistant Adjutant-General. This order was written by me in General Sigels room at Buckland Mifls after a full conversation witli him, and embodied the result of that conversation. General Sigel had gone to sleep while I was writing, and not wishing to disturb him (for we all needed rest when we could get it) I went to my camp and gave the rough of the order to a staff oflicer to put in form and carry into effect; but before I thought he had done so I received the following order from General Pope: UNITED STATES MILITARY TELEGRAPH, ~Received at Bristoe Station August 27, 1862, 9 p. in.) Major-General MCDOWELL: At daylight to-morrow morning march rapidly on Manassas Junction with your whole force, resting your right on the Manassas Gap Railroad, throwing your left well to the east. Jackson, Ewell, and A. P. Hill are between Gainesville and Manassas Junction. We had a severe fight with them to-day, driving them bask several miles along the railroad. If you will march promptly and rapidly at the earliest dawn of day upon Manassas Junction we will bag the whole crowd. I have directed Reno to march hum Greenwich at the same hour npon Manassas Junction, and Kearny, who is in his rear, to march on Bristoe at daybreak. Be expeditious and the day is our own. JNO. POPE, Mojor- General. This caused a change to be made in the pEelinlinary dispositions I had directed, and the following order was issued: GUXERAL ORDERS, ~ HEADQUARTERS THIRD ARMY CORPS, No. 10. ~ Reynolds Camp, August 28, 1862. let. Major-General Sigel will immediately march with his whole corps on Manassas Junction, his right resting on the Manassas Railroad. 2d. Brigadier-General Reynolds will march on the turnpike immediately in rear of General Sigel, and form his division on the left of General Sigel, and march upon Ma- nassas Junction. 3d. Brigadier-General King will follow immediately after General Reynolds, and form his division on General Reynolds left, and direct his march upon Manassas Junc- tion. 4th. Brigadier-General Ricketts will follow Brigadier-General King, and march to Gainesville, and if, on arriving there, no indication shall appear of the approach of the enemy from Thoroughfare Gap, he will continue his march along the turnpike, form on the left of General King, and march on Manassas Junction. He will be constantly on the lookout for an attack from the direction of Thoroughfare Gap, and in case one is threatened, he will form his division to the left and march to resist it. The headquarters of the corps will be at Kings division. By command of Major-General McDowefl: ED. SCHRIVER, tolonel and Chief of Staff. This is the order for the march of the troops from Buckland Mills t Page 305 CHAP. XXIV.] GENERAL REPORTS. 305 Manassas Junction, which General Sigel received at 2.45 oclock on the morning of the 28th: Being asked Will the witness state if this is not a copy of the order of march of which he ac- knowledged the receipt? Answer. I confess that I have never read this order; at least I do not remember to have read it, becanse it is in contradict on with my acts and my understanding of our situation at that time,, and if I had read it it would be in my memory, I think. (The General Orders, No. 10, just referred to, was read by the recorder.) The witness desired to make a correction of his last answer. From a reperusal of the order I would like to have the words because it is in contradiction with my acts and my understanding of our situation at that time considered no part of my answer. I add in regard to this that the order I received was written on thin paper and I be- lieve in pencil. Question by General MCDOWELL. What order did you receive from General McDow- eli of which you acknowledged the receipt, and in complianc~ with which you marched from Bnckland Mills? Answer. I received the order to march to Manassas Junction, and it may be that it is the same order as this here, but I do not remember that it was such a general order. General McDowell here asked a suspension of the examination of the witn~ess, with a view of proving the delivery of this order on that day. The court informed General McDowell that a delay or suspension in the examination of this witness for the reason stated was unnecessary. Major Willard testifies (proceedings of December 31) that he copied a full copy of General Orders, No. 10, of Au gust 28, 1862, for General Sigel, and that it was sent to him. The witness continued: Very often when a general order is received by a corps commander he only takes in his mind that part of the order which affects his own corps, and that therefore I may not remember very well now, after the lapse of many weeks, that I received this general order. Question by General McDOwELL. Does the witness mean to be understood that the whole of that general order did not affect him, and does not the name or designation even of general order indicate this? Answer. Certainly; I admit that the whole order, if I had received it, did refer to me, but especially what is referred to in the first part, which point I fully admit I un- derstood and acted upon itI mean the order directing me to march to Manassas Junction. Question by General McDOWELL. Was it not your duty to have made yourself ac- quainted with every part of a general order sent you, especially one inviting co-opera- tion of your forces with those of another? Answer. Certainly it was my duty, but if this was the order sent to me I must have regarded it as pretty indefinite, all things taken into consideration. Question by General MCDOWELL. You state that when you left Buckland Mills on the morning of the 28th you did not know anything at all of any provision being made by General McDowell for meeting Longstreet at or this side of Thoroughfare Gap. Does or does not the General Orders, No. 10, for the march make provision for this? Answer. The order mentioned makes a provision. To show further that General Sigel knew of both these orders, and that he did know what arrangements I had made with reference to the enemys force coming through Thoroughfare Gap, and knew he himself was to have had this service, see evidence of Lient. Col. Henry E. Davies, Second New York Cavalry, as follows: Question by General MCDOWELL. Were you not for a snort time on duty with Major- General Sigel on the 28th of August, 1862? Answer. I was. Question by General McDowxu~. Who placed you with General Sigel and for what purpose were you so placed? Answer. Major-General McDowell, for the purpose of showing to Major-General Sigel the country between Gainesville and Thoroughfare Gaj and in, that vicinity at Gen- eral Sigels request. Question by General McDowELL. At what place and at what time was this done? 20 R R-YOL XI Page 306 306 OPERATIONS IN N. VA., W. VA., AND MD. (CaAI.. XXIV. Answer. fn the evening of the 27th of August, at or about 10 oclock, at General Sigels headquarters at Buckland Mills. Question by General McDOwELL. Did you or do you know for what purpose Gen- eral Sigel wished to know from you the next day conc