Daily national Republican. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1862-1866, 1862-12-10
THE MCDOWELL COURT OF INaUIRY Y
TUESDAY, December 9.

TUESDAY, December y.
The court met NJ II O'Clock.
-, A. NJ ,,-,-
Inc ekahiha'on Vi "i' ie'es 'iaih was
continued, but no new facts elected.
About 81 O'Clock Gen. Mcclellan arrived, and
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Gen. Mcdowell
Q. desire General Mcclellan TO inform the
court, as fully and distinctly as he can, on the
following headsi
lst. As to Gen. McDowell's conduct whilst In
command of a division In the Army Of the Po-
tomsc.
I'd. As to Gen. McDowelPs conduct whilst
In command of the First army corps, Army Of
the Potomac.
Sd. As to Gen. McDowell's conduct, SO far as
It bears on his plans and operations, whilst he
was in command of the Department Of the Rap
pahannock.
A. I will say, in regard to the first question,
that the conduct of Gen. Mcdowell, as a d.
vision commander, was entirely satisfactory.
His division was In excellent condition, and all
that could wish. While Gen. Mcdowell was
in command of the First army corps, prior to
the movements upon the Peninsula, / received
the fullest cooperation ut his hands, in pre-
pairing the plans and arranging for the move
ments generally. In fact, he frequently, at my
request, went beyond his strict duties as corps
commander, to facilitate preparations. l do
not know that can make a fuller statement.
What wish to convey Is the idea that ] re-
eeiyed at the hands of Gen. Mcdowell the fullest
and most cordial cooperation In the prepara-
tions for the Peninsula campaign.
/ know nothing personally of Gen. McD.'s
conduct while In command OF the Department
of the Rappahannock, except that received
two kilograms from him about the Goth Of May,
the first informing me that he would by cer-
tain date move to my assistance; the other that
,,,In nlyaAf fnr al atapn had na.I
the delay Of a few days In his preparation. /
do not know officially, but have every reason to
be morally certain that his failure to advance
to my assistance at that time was owing to cir
cumstances beyond his control.
Q. Do you remember II the regiments as
signed to constitute Gen. McD.'s division were
designated, or were taken indiscriminately, and
with reference TO their stations at the time
A. Ny recollection is, that they were selected
with reference to their stations, being in the
vicinity of Arlington, with some few changes
subsequently made for particular reasons.
Q. How did this division compare In discip-
line, drill, and efficiency with your other di-
yisionsi
Gen. Mcclellan. ! would ask whether II re-
lates to any special period
Gen. Mcdowell. To the last.
A. Very favorably. / might add SO much
30, that upon one occasion general order was
issued complimentary to the division.
q. Was there second occasion where the
hard labor done by this division on the out
A. In the construction of the works In the
vicinity of upton's Hill my attention was
araWh 70 'ne remarkaoie I1fa raplui.y WIN Wn,eh
o. Do Won know. personaiIy or NV report
whether Gen. Mcdowell took unusual pains in
the drill OF his division as division-that Is,
ana hs 1no lii J1uy ~ u nSa r s'ner ~ 'ae sS'ne
A. / think he did. think he paid more at.
tention to the division drill than many dlvi.
sion commanders, though there were some few
know:
Mono mS anuei or yvu, eou' h n IVA, was
the handling ON the same field of ali The diyi.
sions on the Virginia side of the Potomac II
A. On the occasion of a review of all the
troops on me virginia side, IN the month Of
seIectIon nr the nronnS and ths en,r, condur, rr,
l