Unknown to Irvin McDowell, August 28, 1862

August 28, 1862. Major-General MCDOWELL :

The enemy is reported in force on the other side of Bull Run, on the Orange and Alexandria Railroad, as also near Centreville. 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, Commanding.

General McDowell immediately turned back King’s division onto the Warrenton pike en route for Centreville. He then rejoined Reynolds’ division, and, passing Bethlehem Church, turned that division northwardly toward the Warrenton pike by the Sudley Springs road. He then proceeded himself with a part of his staff to Manassas Station, being distant about 3 miles eastwardly from the point where he had parted from Reynolds’ division. He thus separated himself more than

King’s division, being the two divisions composing his corps, and in a special manner under his command.

Just at dark, while General McDowell was at Manassas Station, King’s division, then marching eastwardly along the pike, came in col.

lision with the enemy near Groveton, and a battle ensued. The enemy was driven back. This battle occurred near to a point from which a section of rebel artillery—supposed to form portion of a reconnoitering party—had shelled General McDowell and checked the advance of his troops from one to two hours during the early part of the day, as they were changing direction to the right toward Manassas. se

In the course of the night General King, on his own responsibility, as he testifies, and without communicating with General McDowell, retired from the battle-field to a point 2 or 3 miles east of Manassas Station.

At about 9 o’clock in the evening of the 28th General Ricketts had retired with his division from Thoroughfare Gap to Gainesville. Being informed of the intended movement of General King, General Ricketts retired with his division to the neighborhood of Manassas early in the morning of the 29th.

The grave error committed by these movements of McDowell’s corps cannot be better explained than by incorporating in this report the following testimony of General Pope:

Question by the CourT. Were you aware that King’s division had a fight with the enemy near evening of that day and after the fight fell hack to Manassas? ,

Answer. It was reported to me about 8 or 9 o’clock at night on the 28th that King’s division of McDowell’s corps had met the enemy retreating from Centreville and after a severe fight had remained masters of the field, still interposing between Jackson’s forces and the main body of the enemy. This report was brought to me by a staff officer, I think, of General King’s. 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 at all. Immediately upon receipt of this intelligence also I directed General Kearny, whose division occupied Centreville, to push forward cautiously at 1 o’clock that night in the direction of Gainesville, to drive in the pickets of the enemy, and to keep himself in close contact during the night; to rest his left on the Warrenton turnpike, and to throw his right to the north, toward the Little River, and well to the front. 1 directed 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 daylight. Tomy surprise and dissatisfaction I learned toward daylight on the morning of the 29th that King’s division had been withdrawn in the direction of Manassas Junction, 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 wasso 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 enemy; and informed him that our whole force from the direction of Centreville and Manassas Junction would fall upon the enemy at daylight.

The court adopt the testimony of General Pope as a faithful statement of the facts.

Had General McDowell been present with his command at the time of these movements of his corps it could not be controverted that he would be justly held responsible for their retreat and the consequent derangement of the plan of battle then formed by General Pope.

What is the explanation of General McDowell’s absence ?

He went to Manassas to have a personal interview with General Pope, whom he expected to find there.

Granting the good faith of this explanation and General MceDowell’s honesty of purpose, the court find that he thus separated himself from his command at a critical time, without any order of his superior officer and without any imperative necessity.

It is true that in the first order sent to him and received about 4 o’clock p. m. the following paragraph occurs :

I will this evening push forward Reno to Gainesville and follow with Heintzelman, unless there is a large force of the enemy at Centreville, which I dq not believe. As certain, if you can, about this.

Again, the following paragraph occurs in the same order: Give me your views fully. You know the country much better than I do.

But immediately after that order the second one was received, which disclosed that the enemy was near Centreville; that Sigel, Kearny, and Reno had been ordered to march upon Centreville, and directing him, McDowell, to march directly upon Centreville with his command from where he then was.

Clearly this last order contained no implication which can justify the separation of General McDowell from his corps. The moment had arrived for prompt concentration of the whole army against the rebel troops under Jackson. He knew that King’s line of march was in the direction of the small force of the enemy by which he had been assailed on the Warrenton pike in the morning. He knew also that Longstreet was approaching by Thoroughfare Gap.

However valuable he might have supposed the expression of his views to General Pope in person, they could be of no avail, while the misconduct of his own corps thwarted a plan the execution of which afforded an opportunity for speedy victory.

He heard the sound of battle while he was yet at Manassas, and made immediate and persistent efforts to rejoin his corps; but he lost his way in the darkness, and, after passing the night with a portion of Sigel’s command, found early in the morning that his own corps had retired.

His subsequent efforts on the 29th to repair the consequences of that unfortunate movement of his corps and to press them forward into action were earnest and energetic, and disclose fully that the separation, of which the court has thus stated its disapproval, was inconsiderate and unauthorized, but was not induced by any unworthy motive.

The court also feel bound to report the fact that his commanding officer, General Pope, not only omitted to hold him culpable for this separation, but emphatically commended his whole conduct while under his command, without exception or qualification.

In the course of the investigation General McDowell manifested a just and proper sensibility to the dissemination against him of the charge of drunkenness as well as disloyalty.

The charge of disloyalty was made by an officer of the rank of colonel after being fatally wounded in battle. It was made in general terms, without defining any specific act. The accuser is dead, and the court does not feel at liberty to say more of it than that it is utterly destitute of any foundation in fact; that it is fully disproved by all the evidence bearing on the point, and that the dying officer who made it must have been the subject of deplorable misapprehension, like many others who have formed opinions from calumnious rumors and presumptions.

The court denounces the charge of drunkenness against General McDowell as ridiculous. The fact is that there is no man in the land more free than he from all taint of such vice. Among temperate men he is proved by the testimony to belong to the most temperate and even abstemious. ee

The court is entirely satisfied that no man ever saw him in the slightest degree under the influence of intoxicating drink.

In taking leave of the many groundless imputations against General McDowell the court call attention to the alacrity of a portion of the public press to disseminate, and a portion of the people to accept, for a time at least, as true such absurd and unjustifiable rumors against general officers, who are thereby disarmed of power and influence essential to the complete performance of their important duties.

It is to be hoped that the public misfortunes entailed by such calumnies will in future lead to greater circumspection and secure for patriotic and meritorious soldiers more considerate treatment from the American press and people.

In the opinion of the court the interests of the public service do not require any further investigation into the conduct of Major-General McDowell.