the Secretary of War to The witness continued, August 24, 1862

One mile below Warrenton, August 24, 1862.

Major-General SIGEL, Commanding First Oorps:

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, und await further orders.

Major-General, Commanding.

WARRENTON JUNOTION, August 26, 1862—[8.10 a, m.] 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 Reno at Rappahannock 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. Reno, instead of going to Bealeton and: thence to Kelly’s Ford, has come to this place and is now near here. You must, therefore, under these circumstances, exercise your discretion about the reconnaissance to Sulphur Springs; but it will certainly be well for you to ascertain what there is in the direction of Waterloo Bridge and still farther 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 Sigel’s corps. It is essential that we should watch the movements of the enemy toward our rightin some manner. Out of Buford’s, Bayard’s, and Sigel’s cavalry enough can certainly be found to perform this service. Troops are Se pee Aas very fast. Take

he front and use sverybo ou fin ere. charge of the rybody y JNO. POPE, Major-General, Commanding.

P. S.—I will push Reno to Fayetteville. It will be well to have the men cook three days’ rations. Please notify Banks and Sigel.

CourT-Room, Cor. FOURTEENTH AND PA. AVENUE, Washington, D. C., January 15, 1863.

* * * * * * * Brig. Gen. RuFus Kine, U.S. Volunteers, a witness, was recalled.

Question by the CouRT. Where was your division on the morning of the 28th of August, when the head of Reynolds’ column was asaulted by a section of the enemy’s 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 ? Answer. Yes, sir.

Question by the Court. Did your division march along the pike from Buckland Mills and change direction toward Manassas on the 28th ?

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 ?

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 column 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 brigades and regiments in your march; that is, did you move by a flank, one regiment following in the same route as the preceding one, or how otherwise ?

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 road.

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 railroad, located between Gainesville and Manassas ?

Answer. I don’t 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, General 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 fully and particularly.

Answer. The only order I recollect of receiving from General McDowell was the general order received that morning to move my division toward: Manausas, 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 General McDowell; and, if so, where ? _ Answer. I think I saw General McDowell twice at least on that day; on the morning before we marched at or near Buckland Mills, and in the afternoon I think 2 or 3 iuiles to the right of the Warrenton turnpike, in the direction of Bethlehem Church. My impression is this was about 4 o’clock in the afternoon.

_ Question by the Court. Did you receive an order changing the direetion of your division that afternoon; and, if so, what was that order?

Answer. I received an order from General McDowell turning my division back to the 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 General McDowell in person, by an aide, or in writing?

Answer. My recollection is that it was a verbal order, communicated through an aide on the general’s staff; yet I have the impression that it was the general himself who cautioned me to look out for my left fank.

Question by the CouRT. Was or was not the place of this interview, at the point described by you, in the immediate neighborhood of Bethlehem 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 Church. 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 returning to the Warrenton pike and where?

Answer. Near Groveton, on the left of the pike. I think the engagement commenced about 6 o’clock.

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 yon can judge from the fact that the Second Brigade of my division, under General Gil)- bon, consisting of four regiments, numbering about 2,300 men, assisted by two reg)- ments from Doubleday’s brigade, were engaged in the action. Gibbon’s brigade Jost in killed, wounded, and missing about 782. The entire loss of Gibbon and Doubleday 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 o’clock on the morning of the 29th, then we fell back toward the neighborhood of Manassas Junction.

Question by the Court. What orders or occasion had you to fall back to the neighborhood of Manassas Junction ?

Answer. The falling back was in pursuance of a consultation with my general off214 OPERATIONS IN N. VA., W. VA., AND MD. —[Crrar. XXIV.

cers, ander the opinion that the enemy was in force 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- -ville 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 Manassas 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 McDowell’s 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 particular and approve or disapprove them ?

Answer. I am not aware that General McDowell investigated the movement, nor do I know whether he expressed approval or disapproval. © did not to me.

Question by the CouRT. Had you any information from General McDowell or otherwise as to the position of Sigel’s 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 MCDowWELL. After the engagement of the evening 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 ?

_ 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 ?

Cuar, XXIV.) GENERAL REPORTS

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-General’s Office. Understanding that General Hatch, my successor, had made the report, I did not consider that one was required from me.

Brig. Gen. James B. RIOKETTs, 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 General McDowell’s corps on the 28th of August last ?

Question by the CourT. At what time did you reach Thoroughfare Gap on the morning of that day with your division ?

Answer. I don’t 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 General McDowell in respect to your movements that day? If so, how were they communicated, and when, and what were they? State fully and particularly.

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 received, but should judge some time in the forenoon. I wasat the time with my division 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 Wadsworth, of General McDowell’s staff, and was in writing. Somewhere between Hay Market and Thoroughfare Gap I saw Captain Leski, of General McDowell’s staff, who gave directions to go to Thoroughfare Gap; he gave pretty much the same order, to go there and support Colonel Wyndham at the Gap. That is all I recollect.

Question by the CouRT. Can you produce the written order referred ?

The witness produced the order, which is in pencil, dated August 28, and signed by Edmund Schriver, 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 communication with General McDowell designating his headquarters o1 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 McDowell’s headquarters would be at King’s division.

The witness produced a copy of General Orders, No. 10, dated Headquarters Third Corps, Reynolds’ camp, Army of Virginia, which order is the same as found in appendix B to the proceedings of the twentyninth 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 Thoroughfare Gap, already produced by you?

Answer. I don’t recollect the time. It must have been received before.

Question by the Court. Did you have any engagement with the enemy at the Gap; and, if so, at what time?

Answer. I had an engagement in the afternoon of the 28th, which continued antil

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 King’s divisions had been directed toward Centreville ?

Answer. I don’t 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 29th—after break of day.

Question by the Court. Before or after sunrise?

Answer. It is impossible for me to say; it was somewhere about sunrise; whether before or after I cannot say.

Question by the CourRT. 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 remained 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 first received them?

Answer. I received some orders somewhere between Gainesville and Manassas from General McDowell. I think somewhere nearer Manassas than Gainesville. I do not

remember the precise point. If not mistaken, the order was brought me by Captain Wadsworth.

Question by the CouRT. What orders or occasion had you to go from Thoroughfare Gap to the place last referred to by you, between Gainesville and Manassas ?

Answer. I left Thoroughfare Gap because the enemy was turning the right and lefi flank. I left Gainesville because General King sent me word that he would retire to ward Manassas; that was all.

Question by the CourRT. 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 Gainesville 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 had an engagement with the enemy and had held his ground; the other representing a large force of the enemy iu front of him, and that he would retire toward Manassas. 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 General McDowell 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 would be unsupported.

Question by the Court. Have you knowledge of any neglect or omission of General McDowell in respect to the management of his

Cuap, XXIV.) GENERAL REPORTS. yaw

troops, or keeping them in communication with him, or co-operation es 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 o’clock a. m.

10.15 A. M. The enemy is advancing through the pass. W. LESKI Captain and Aide-de- Camp.

Colonel Wyndham will halt them as long as he can, and asks to be re-enforced.

AUGUST 28. Send a brigade and a battery to assist Colonel Wyndham, and follow them up by your whole division. ED. SCHRIVER

Colonel, Go. General RIOKETTS.

CouRT-Room, Cor. FOURTEENTH AND PA. AVENUE, Washington, D. 0., January 16, 1863.

Brig. Gen. JAMES B. RICKETTS, U.S. Volunteers, the witness under examination, appeared before the court.

Question by General MCDOWELL. Whato’clock on the 28th of August were you ordered to march from your bivouac beyond Buckland Mills?

Answer. I was ordered to march at 2 o’clock 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 had crossed the bridge at Broad Run, and was but a very short distance from 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 off ; were there any obstructions in the road ?

Answer. The road was very much encumbered by wagons. I saw a very large number in the vicinity of this stream—Broad Run.

Maj. Gen. E. A. HitoHcoox, U. 8. Volunteers, a witness, was duly sworn.

Question 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 McDowell 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, sought, induced, or procured 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 Secretary 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 McDowell’s 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 do in procurin, 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 reference to the order were those of deep regret. He had hoped, as he said to me, to accompany 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 language 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 under which the orders were given.

The witness, with the permission of the court, referred to certain papers 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 President, dated 31st January last.

The order was here produced and read by the recorder. It is President’s 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 must 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 McClellan, but in doing so issued this order, dated March 8,

The order was read by the recorder, and is President’s General War Orders, No. 3, dated Executive Mansion, Washington, March 8, 1862, and is appended to this day’s proceedings, marked CO.

The witness continued :

That :der led to a conference of the general officers commanding army corps, the result of which was reported March 13.

omar. XXIV.) GENERAL REPORTS.

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 B.

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 contemplate 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 Secretary 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 under his command in Washington, together 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 addressed to the Hon. Secretary of War, and is appended to the proceedings of this day and marked F.

The witness 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 day’s 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 embrace 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 conversations with General Doubleday, who had the immediate command of the forts

south of the Potomac, for the purpose of poh: er condition of the troops in