The New York herald., 1862-12-11
THE MCDOWELL COURT OF INQUIRY.
Important Testimony OF Cen.
Mcclellan.
Revelations Respecting the Movements o
nsDowell's Army on the RappahannocK.
The Orders and Instructions Of the Pre-.
sident and Secretary Of War.
--~---~~~~>~~~~~---~
McClellan's Explanation Of the Failure
aaa to Capture Richmond, q woa
As., st 81 Ae.. ;9 Ae. 2



~ wAsH1SGros. Dec. 10, 1852. 4
the Court of Inquiry in the case Of Major General
Mcdowell held ts session to-day The little
which the Court sat and all the passage ways
Leading it were packed before the session
commenced BY dnt Of hard squeezing and through the
courtesy Of Lieutenant Colonel Peouze Recorder OF the
Court your correspondent managed to secure position
where he could catch every word that would fall from
he lips Of the distinguished General who was to give hi7
testimony on the opening OF the Court.
marked sensation was observable when General
Mcclellan entered At about half past eleven O'Clock
companied by any one Immediately after his arrival
the reading Of the Journal Of yesterdays session
mencsd General Mcclellan acknowledged the correct
ness Of the record of bis brief testimony yesterday
Question by General McDowell--What communication
from the President TO General Franklin, otherwise did
you receive to the separation of General McDowells
corps from your army? State what know concerning
that separation, FAR relates to General Mcdowell
and what communications II any yon have made to the
President concerning him in that connection.
Answer-The substance OF the communication by Gene
ral Franklin from the President that the President
assumed the responsibility Of the change Of destination Of
General McDowss corps regarding that corps necessary
for the defence Of Washington, although the troops
tuay left in Washington and front Of it dsposable
its defence rather more than double the garrison
n1ed by the engineer and artillery officers and consider
ably than the largest number by any
Of the corps commanders TO be left in the vicinity OF
Washington. do at present recolect any commun
cation made to the President in regard to the separation
Of General McDowelis corps from my command 1t would
be necessary for to consult my papers before could
answer the question.
. Q. BY General McDowell-Do yon recolect having
ceved any telegram from General FrankD prior to his
joining you the peninsula concernng General Mellow
ell and in reference to the separation the atters corps
from your army9 A-ISemember merely the general
tenor Of the despatch, which that In General Frank
Inns OPINION and from his knowledge OF the CASE General
Mcdowell mot responsible for, had nothing TO do
might say with the separation q his corps from the Army
II the Potomac.
Q. BY General McDowell-what was General Franklin's
ocal position with respect to General Mcdowell at the
time he wrote this despatch2 Ale commanded
division IN the corps Of General Mcdowell
9. BY General McDowen-Please examine the NEW yoRx
HKRALp Of october 81 1852, which is shown you,
containing speechof the Hon. John r. Hsskn at Tarry
town, New York, aud state IL the following
marke therein attributed 10 you, to wit--'I
have, bean unfortunate in not taking Richmond in
consequence Of my plans not having been carried out
cause Mcdowell did reinforce me az he should have
done, and what agreed would be done'-are true n
s her letter spirit far relates 70 Gen. McDowe
not true, wherein are they not so' A.en Mcclcll.n
said, With smlle-1he incident related in the spe ca
entirely to me. ] never received any dispatches
informing that Halleck Comm Chief and
very that made the remark attributed 10
me the occasion stated have doubt--fcr il has
ever been my opinion-.hat the Army Of the Potomac
would have taken Richmond had the corps Of Gen
Mcdowell been separated from IT, Il Is also my opinion
that had the command OF Gen. Mcdowell joined the
Army Of the Potomac in the month Of May by
way Of Hanover Court House from Fredericks.
burg, We wsuld have had Richmond in a week
after the junction. do not hold General Mcdowell re.
sponsible for iaure join with any occasion.
believe that answers the question.
Q. By Gen. NcDswell-Did or did not Gen Franklin, on
his joining you the ninsua, give you verbal
sage from Gen. Mcdowell stating that he would make
diversion your favor by going TO Fredericksburg A.
] think he did.
Monroe and Yorktown the peninsula, n any part
Of your plan that any Of your forces should 60 to
Fredericksburg Ar you the original plan, no. il
not. The active troops TO the general
direction Of the peninsula.
Al this point Gen. Mcdowell was allowed to present the
following papers link in his chain Of evidence
SECRETARY STANTON TO okE. N'DowELL.
MAYOR General MCDOWELL, Commanding.
For the present and until further orders, you win
s . @
Of position FOR the discharge of this primary duty.
EDWIN N. STANTON, Secretary Of War.
GEN. H'DowELL TO the rRssIDEsr.
HxADQuARrns, DEPARTMENT or Tm RAprABANSoCE.
Oprosnx FREDERICKSBURG May "a, 1862. (
Hrs ExcrLlEScy rHR PRxmprS1-
obeysd your order Immediately; Tor u was positive
20 stop but trust may be allowed 70 say something in
relation 70 the subject. especially in view OF
celebrity and vgor OF my movements. beg 10 say that
cooperation between General Fremont and myself TO cut
OF JACKSON and Ewcil be courtsd upon, IT
beyond helping distance OF General Banks and ceerty
vgor will bc available he concerned next,
that by glance AZ the map will be that the line
Of retreat os the enemy forces up tho valley is shorter
than mine 70 70 against him. u win take week
vii give food ana forage, aud by that time Inc enemy
win have rereated shall gam nothing FOR you there
personal grounds that have heavy heart in the matter
but feel tnat throws us all back, and from Richmond
north we shall have all our large mass psrayyed and
shall 10 repeat what We have just accomplished
have ordered General Shields " the move
mcnt tomorrow morning second division win follow
in the afternoon Did understand you Alright thar you
wish that I personally should accompany This cxpe.
dition2
Worry respectfully, IRWIN MCDOWELL.
rnS rRn,pinSr 10 srsEAL s'pcwsIL; m,x 3, ;.ss
MAJOR General McnowuL--
lam highly gratifcd by Your aacrily in obeying my
orders Inc change was as painful TO me as can posi-
Everything depends upon the CELEBRITY ard vigor Of
your movements. A. LINCOLN.
GEsERiL M'DowELL TO sEcnHTARY STANTON.
HsAparAsTKRs, DraeAnrsHSr oY isaprAgaSNocK,
May 81, 1852.
Hon. u. N. STASr ~, Secretary or War
The Presidents order has been received and IL In pro
cess ~ execution. This Is a crushing blow 10 us
IRWIN MCDOWELL. Major General
TnK rnssipESr TO crSERAL H'DowYLL.
WASHINGTON, May "a, 1907
General Fremont has been ordered, by telegraph 10
40 Erar lin ua
Uaus and capture destroy jackson and Ewclls forces
You are instructed laying inside for the present the
nnovemsnt on Richmond, 10 put twenty Thousand men in
motion at once for The Shenandoah, moving the line
or In sIvihGe " the line, tho Manassas Gap Railroad
Your object will be 10 capture the force of Jackson and
Hsge ether ~ corporation with General Fremont or In
e&s WANT OF supplies or nnsporiaton interered with
ha Npiovsnent, is believed thaNthe force which you
rovA will he sufficient to accomplish the object alone
1he Information thus far received here probable
that Nhc cnemy operates actively against General
Wante yu win mol DO ablo 10 count upon much assist
anoe from bm. but may have even 10 release him Re-