Cluseret to John Pope, June 26, 1862

Washington, D. O., June 26, 1862.

I. The forces under Major-Generals Frémont, Banks, and McDowell, including the troops now under Brigadier-General Sturgis at Washington, 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 troops of the Mountain Department, heretofore under the command of Major-General Frémont, shall constitute the First Army Corps, under command of Major-General Frémont; the troops of the Shenandoah Department, now under General Banks, shall constitute the Second Army Corps, and be commanded 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.

LORENZO THOMAS, Adjutant-General.

CouRrT-Room, Cor. FOURTEENTH ST. AND PA. AVENUE, Washington, D. O., January 6, 1863.

The court met pursuant to adjournment. Present, * * * , and ‘ Capt. WLADISLAS LESKI, additional aide-de-camp, U. 8S. Army, the witness 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.

Question by the Court. Describe the passage, its width, and character of natural obstructions in it.

Answer. There are properly two gaps—one near the eastern portion of the mountain and the other toward the western portion. Between the two is a more open space, although with heavy embankments on the side. The eastern part of the Ga) is rather narrow, with very steep embankments. The land on hoth sides is wooded. From the eastern gap it opens toward the east sufficiently to post batteries so as to defend the débouché of the Gap. This is about half a mile in the 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 8,000; besides he had about six batteries. Some of the batteries were broken; that is, had lost @ piece orso. Icould not judge well how far they penetrated inside the Gap, but I know they were fighting in the defile. I was not with the advance.

Question by the CouRT. Was General Ricketts driven back before he concluded to retreat to Hay Market?

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 concluded to retire to Hay Market on account of his believing himself surrounded by the enemy. I believe that General Ricketts sent a similar report to General McDowell. Tbsve are the only communications sent to General McDowell of which I have knowledge.

Question by the CouRT. What measures, if any, were taken by General McDowell to prevent the approach of the enemy through Hopewell Gap except sending General Ricketts to operate a8 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 reports sent to which you refer—of troops coming through Hopewell Gap?

Answer. About 6 o’clock p. m.; 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 force—to have placed them in the defile where the front could have been no wider than the enemy’s front or to have placed them so.as to prevent 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 having 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 court adjourned to meet to-morrow, January 7, 1863, at 11 o’clock @ m.

CovuRT-Room, Cor. FOURTEENTH ST. AND PA. AVE., Washington, D. O., January 7, 1863. 5 = * = * * *

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.

Question by the Court. Look at the papers now shown to yon, 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 communications, or true copies of them, referred to in your testimony ?

Answer. They are.

The papers were then read as follows:

1. From Cluseret, commanding expedition, to Major-General Sigel, dated Criglersville, August 7, 1862.

2. From Maj. R. O. Selfridge, being general orders, dated Headquarters Army of Virginia, Warrenton, August 25, 1862.

3. From Maj. Gen. Irvin McDowell to Major-General ree 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 ot staff, to Major-General Sigel, dated Headquarters Third Corps, Army of Virginia, Warrenton, August 27, 1862—7.30 a. m.

6. From 8. F. Barstow, assistant adjutant-general, dated 11.30 p. m., 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 28, 1862—2.30 p. m.

8. From C. Heintz, officer of the general staff, to Major-General Sigel, dated August 28, 1862. A

9. From Captain Heintz, aide-de-camp, to Major-General Sigel, dated August 28, 1862.

The witness stated that the two communications from Captain Heintz were originally in German and that the copies read are true translations.

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 Schenck’s division should be somewhat to the left, and the distance between the divisions of Schurz and Schenck isa little too near; but in general the map marked 2 is correct. The map marked 1 represents the position of the different corps as intended by the order of General Pope on the 25th of August.

The maps referred to in the foregoing are appended to the proceedings of this day, and marked 1, 2, 3, and 4.

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 Lloyd’s map and General MeDowell’s map, by my directions, and executed by Lieutenant-Colonel Meysenberg. I think he also used a photographic map which was lying on the table, but am not sure. ;

Question by General MCDOWELL. State wherein map No. 3 is 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 Gainesville, 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 Reno’s and

Heintzelman’s troops are supposed to be on march from Greenwich and Bristoe to Manassas Junction.

Question by General MCDOWELL. On what authority do you place the enemy in the position marked as being where you say General Pope’s order supposed him to be?

Answer. In the order of General Pope 1t 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 between 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 Gainesville—on his march to Gainesville.

Question by General MCDOWELL. What conditions as to the time of marching—time of starting—of the enemy’s troops and our own have you assumed that would place the forces in the supposed position ?

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 tome. It relates to General Pope.

Question by General MCDOWELL. What knowledge had you or have you as to General Pope’s supposition of the enemy’s 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 or a fight on the 27th, and probably he thought that the enemy would try to retreat to Gainesville to unite with General Longstreet. I had no knowledge

of what General Pope might have surely known of the enemy—under what supposition he has acted—except 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 deduced this supposed position of the enemy and his own and General McDowell’s 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 Nos. 1, 2, 3, and 4 compiled?

Answer. I really do not know what maps Lieutenant-Colonel Meysenberg 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 and 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 addition to it I may state that the position of my corps as given on the map is pretty much correct. Jackson’s 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 movements in general and not in detail.

Question by General MCDOWELL. When did you learn of the position 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 enemy’s train between Manassas Junction and Fairfax. It was between 6 and 7 on the morning of the 28th when we found the enemy’s

ickets on the road to Groveton. It was about 10 o’clock when the officer, Captain

eintz, 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 toward the north. They were infantry. I will also mention the report of Major Kappner, my engineer ofticer, who saw the enemy’s infantry moving, and reported this to me at the same time mentioned.

Question by General MCDOWELL. Did you report to General McDowell 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 the map. I also made a report to General Pope on the evening of the 28th, when I was engaged with the enemy, and told General Pope, by Captain Kanish, what was our position. This was after I had arrived with the whole corps at Mrs. Henry’s farm and taken possession of the turnpike between the stone bridge and Groveton, at Mr. Robinson’s farm. The whole army of Jackson at that time must have been between Robinson’s farm and Groveton. I thought General Pope knew where the enemy was when IJ sent to him at Manassas Junction.

The court adjourned to meet to-morrow, January 8, 1863, at 11 o’clock a. Mm.

CRIGLERSVILLE, August 7, 1862.

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 Wolftown, and having just returned from down the Rapidan, informed him that Jackson would leave to-mor’row morning with 25,000 men toward Culpeper, his first point. He proposed from that place to make the whole tour, probably by Woodville and Sperryville. This information comes from the inhabitants of Ruggles, a town 8 or 10 miles from Wolftown, on the Rapidan, the inhabitants 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 White’s com174 OPERATIONS IN N. VA., W. VA., AND MD. — (Cnar. XXIV.

pany, a8 we hoped. He crossed the Rapidan some miles and got within 2 miles of Stanardsville.

I shall send immediately scouts in all directions to ascertain whether there is any evidence of a movement. In case I find it so, I shall take measures to fall upon Jackson’s rear guard and cut off his train.

Very respectfully, your obedient servant,

Colonel, Commanding Expedition.

No. 2.