The New York herald., 1862-12-26
THE M'D0WEll COURT OF INQUIRY.
CsnsinuatseA sf che Exanlnasien -
General sigel.

The Mcdowell Court of Inquiry net a eleven e'cleck
to-day. Gen. McDowen resumed hs quessionins Of Gen.
Sigsl
Qusstieu.-Dn ~ order yoa lass Osntiensd require
you 10 march 70 WarSeatsus Answsr.-As recoect, 10
written in the order that should march 70 War
rentsn, or in that neghboshoo oA place where troops
could BE- camped.
ON regard 10 the Support which Gen. Mcdowell was
70 give you at Waterloo bridge. have you not stated W
your ocial report that in accordance with orders from
Gen. Pope Gen. Milroy should have been relieved sy
General McDoweff State what order Of General Pope
which required General Mcdowell 70 send brigade
70 Waterloo bridge snd one 70 Sulphur Springs A.
There different given to In regard 10 tno
movements OF our army and OF my corps at that time
One order directed 70 march to Waterloo bridge.
The Court here produced verified printed copy Of the
report Of enersl Sigel to General Pope.
The witness continued-The next order was general
order Of General Pope. do not exactly know when
received it. but gave instructions to the different COM
manders corps. According this order should have
marched to Fayetteville and General Mcdowell should
have occupied Warrsuton and sent brigade TO Waterloo
bridge, and another to Sulphur Springs During the
day waiting for his brigade, because did
not like 70 evacuate position in the face
Of q strong enemy without having other troops
there and really thought that brigade would not be
enough. Whilst waiting General Roberts brought
me verbal order that should not march to Fayette
vIe but stay at Waterloo. Whilst waiting for the
troops OF Gen. MCDOWELL had received that fragnen
tary paper Of which have spoken expected that Gen.
Mcdowell would have told my oncer whom had sent to
him what his instructions and how he would move,
that could direct my movements according TO his
When these moments Of waiting had passed,
! received orders from General Roberts to stay
at Waterloo bridgs, and was promised assistance
from General Mcdowell At least by his cavalry, which
did receive, although had cavalry except that
small cavalry guard mention in my report to General
Pope because had sent all my cavalry force Sulphur
Springs to keep the enemy from my rear and flank.
There therefore two points which have tendency to
this question first, that not relieved and could
not therefore have marched to Fayetteville, as would
have DONE and, secondly that what General Roberts
promised to was not fulfilled. There is another
despatch Of General Pope which received at Sulphur
SPRING.
General Mcdowell here said he thought the witness
going beyond the question asked him.
The Court said he should the question in his
own way. il it at an bears the case in question.
Witness resumed-wherein General Pope said that in
marching against Waterloo bridge General Mcdowell
would support me.
Q-You say you were not relieved at Waterloo bridge.
Did you did you not receive order from General
Pope telling you that you were TO wait for
General McDowell9 Al did NOT and II /
did this order must have been in conflict with other
orders circumstances Of which have knowledge
II had received such order at the moment when
saw the enemy's army crossing the river would have
sept Immediately to General Pope, apprising him Of he
adsi1, spd also to get further instructions.
Q.-wnaf force Of our army, and who Of it, were in
yeur rear At the tie you sent your csvary TO Sulphur
Springs when you were at Wateroo?' Alt was re-
ported to me that the enemy had crossed. There
were no forces to my rear within four or
FIVE miles. II this was cavalry behind me, did ndt
know at the time. did not know, at the time when
sent my cavalry off, that there any forco between
my corps and warrenton bad control cf the forces
which might have been behind me.
C.-Were not the commands Of Generals Banks and
Reno your rear or left at the time you refer
to, the 25th Of August? Al supposed at the time
that they there; but when sent my officer with
that fragtnentary despatch to General Banks, he
returned stated that Generals Banks and Reno mad
marched 70 Fayetteville They wefe al least not within
my REACH must have been at the time about eight
miles from me- ! would not say whore they marched.
Q.-Where was Gen. Banks or Reno At the timer AL
cak6oi say Gen. Banks told me- by the ocer had sent
70 him. that he had orders 70 mov and that advised
me also TO march.
Q-At the time you refer 10, Of visit by you Gene
raj McDowels warrenton you have stated that
march his whole force Salem reconnotering party
onyS Al under the impression that he meant his
corps and mine to march to Salem. There ques
tion about q reconnoiterng party.
Q-You state you did not know what troops belonged
70 General Mcdowell Did you not receive General Nc
Dowes information the division following you
your march Buckand Mills Al did not state that
did know what troops belonged 10 Gen. MsDowel's
corps. / said, also, that had ths Pennsylvania
reserves at Buckland Mills
Q-Referring to your interview with Gen. Mcdowell on
the evening 9th OF August what dispositions did
he make OF his corps for the next day and al what place
did you have interview with hmS A.-The inter-
view took place At my own headquarters near
Buckand Mills. We were speaking about what troops
should be left Thoroughfare Gap. During the
conversation and when General Mcdowell had not given
me any definite instructions told him that was very
tired. and as remember, laid down on the sofa, and
told General Mcdowell that as he had
understanding he should notify think II be-
tween eleven and twelve O'Clock.
Q-when you the sofa, was not Gen. Mcdowell
busy writing Al do not know whether he writ
ing not. He was at the piano do not know whether
he writing, supposed he was thinking Of our ope
rations
Q-Did you 60 TO sleep the sofa while General Nc
Dowel was writing or drawing maps on the piano. A.
Think dd because had not no, slept FOR three nights
the witness TO sleep this occasion He had asked
the question with intention to show any neglect
delinquency Genera! Siges part Future questions
would explain his reasons for this interrogation.
Q.-Does the witness remember what Gen. Mcdowell
said him would be the disposition for the succeeding
day--whether il was division Of his own or a divison
Of Gen McDoweps corps added TO IT, which would be left
for the defence Of fhoroughfare Gaps Al do not
member. 1t must have been indefinitely said
that did not mind 1t much.
Q.-what did General Mcdowell propose at witness
headquarters regard the defence OF Thoroughfare
Gap the holding OF the enemy in check at that point,
Ale did not make any definite proposition.
Q-Dd the witness understand that he to have
division Of General Mcclellan added to his own. and
did he not send word TO General Mcclellan after
he had let his own headquarters TO ask what
division would be directed TO report him Al have
knowledge Of such an understanding would have
been glad TO have had it, The discussion between Gen.
Mcdowell and myself not in the form Of instructions
| or orders, but only exchange Of opinion.
Q.-What the opinions expressions OF General
Mcdowell that with reference the subject OF
holding the enemy check at Thoroughfare Gap this
sideY Al think General Mcloweil's opinions
pressed, were different He not sure whether
corps should be there adiysion corps
what division, and therefore did moi like inipse-
upon him my own judgment left IL with him To- T..
eide IL.
xrIa ,.IoftR OQil,