Franz Sigel to Headquarters Army Of The Potomaq, August 29, 1862

August 29, 1862.

August 29, 1862. To Generals HEINTZELMAN, RENO, and SIGEL:

If you find yourselves heavily pressed by superior numbers of the enemy ‘you will not push matters further.

_ Fitz John Porter and King’s division, of McDowell’s corps, are moving 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.

CovuRtT-Room, Cor. FOURTEENTH AND PA. AVENUE, Washington, D. C., 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 communicated to the court that he had received a communication from Major-General McClellan, dated New York City, December 21, 1862, with inclosures referred to in his testimony, which inclosures were read by the recorder, and are appended to the record of the proceedings of this day, marked B, ©, 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 record.

Maj. JosEPH ©. WILLARD, additional aide-de-camp, U. 8. 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 occasion of his going to see General Sigel ?

Question by General MCDOWELL. What position did you have on General McDowell’s staff on that occasion ?

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 General 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 hp to go with hia ‘troops to Manassas, I think, and that he (General McDowell) would give him (General 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 ?

Answer. I think, as near as I can remember, that General McDowell requested Gen. eral Sigel to go with his corps to Thoroughfare Gap.

Question by General McDOWELL. Do you recollect if General MeDowell offered for this purpose to give General Sigel a division ?

Question by General McDowELL. State if you prepared copies of General McDowell’s General Orders, No. 10, of August 28, 1862, providing for the march of General Sigel and General McDowell’s corps from Buckland Mills to Manassas Junction.

Question by General MODOWELL. Was the copy prepared for General Sigel a full copy of that order and was it sent to General Sigel?

Question by the Court. Did General McDowell state that he considered it expedient to send Sigel’s corps, with a division of his own corps, to the defense of Thoroughfare Gap; and, if so, for what reason ?

Answer. He considered it expedient, I think, because he 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 ?

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 o’clock a. mM.

; December 31, 1862. Lieutenant-Colonel PELOUZE

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 o’clock of Friday morning, if this will suit the convenience of the court.

Very respectfully, yours, &c.,

– F. SIGEL,

: Major-General.

HEADQUARTERS ARMY OF THE PoToMAQ,

; March 16, 1862.

Military Governor of the District of Oolumbia :

Srr: The command to which you have been assigned by instructions

trom the President as military governor of the District of Columbia