Unknown to Brigadier-General Wadsworth, April 10, 1862

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.

Il. 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 so much of the counties of Fairfax, Loudoun, and Prince William, Virginia. as are not now and shall not hereafter be occupied by the divisions of Franklin, hae ae ae rr

mmand of Major-General McDowell: reins : SAML. BRECK, Assistant Adjutant-General.

Court-Room, Cor. FOURTEENTH AND PA. AVENUE, Washington, D. O., January 17, 1863.

The presiding 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 January 9, 1863. The letter was read by the recorder, and is appended to the proceedings of this day, marked A.

Lieut. Col. Davis TILLSON, Maine Artillery, a witness, was recalled,

Question by General MCDOWELL. Were you with General King’s division on or near the Warrenton turnpike at the time it became engaged with the enemy on the evening of the 28th of August last?

Question by General MCDOWELL. State the position of the enemy on that occasion with respect to the Warrenton turnpike.

Answer. The enemy were upon 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 Reynolcs’ division had been shelled in the morning by the enemy. The road from Sudley Springs to Hay Market apparently approached Warrenton turnpike 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 King’s division after the engagement.

Answer. It was in its usual condition, with the exception that one of Captair Monroe’s caissons had been blown up by his own order in consequence of breakin,

stock and the inability to move it. I think a very few horses had been killed an only a small amount of ammunition expended.

Question by General MCDOWELL. Did you accompany General McDowell on the morning of the 30th of August in a reconnaissance in front of the right of our line ?

Answer. 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? If so, state where it was, with reference to Bull Run.

Answer. I did learn from General Heintzelman, who was present with General McDowell, and also, I think, from Colonel Allen, of the Maine cavalry, the position previously occupied by the enemy, which was on the Centreville side of Bull Run.

Question by General MCDOWELL. Was this to the north of the Warrenton pike ?

Answer. It was. Question by General MCDOWELL. Can you state how far?

Answer, I can simply say some miles. I should say in the vicinity of 5 or 6 miles, but in this I may be incorrect.

Question by General MCDOWELL. About what hour was it that King’s division commenced to withdraw from its position where it engaged the enemy ?

Answer. From 11 to 12 o’clock.

Cap. XXIV.) GENERAL REPORTS. 235

Question by General MCDOWELL. By what route d.d King’s 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 back to the Warrenton pike ?

Answer. I had not.

Question by the CouRT. How far had you proceeded toward Manassas Junction on the 28th when you turned back?

Answer. About a mile.

Question by the CouRT. Were you in the company of General McDowell at the time when you turned back ?

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 King.

Question by the CouRT. Was there any difficulty, owing to the darkness 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 artillery? 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 King’s 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 route I do not know.

Question by the Court. If you have knowledge, state whether there

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 [ have any personal know}ledge.

Capt. RoBERT CHANDLER, assistant adjutant-general, U. S. Volunteers, a witness, was duly sworn.

Question by General MCDOWELL. Were you at Falmouth, opposite Fredericksburg, last spring and part of last summer ?

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 o’clock a. m.