The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1863-01-01
The Mcl,cwsH Court Of Inquiry.
,HsEAAL M'oLELLlSs oEpsss TO 0EssRALs wADs.
WORTH BANKS AND THOMAU.

szuswS AL N,cLEfLLS's OBp8kS TO GENERALS WAD5-
WORTH, Banks AND TH0xAU.
WASHINGTON. Dec. 81, 1859.
La the Mcdowell Court Of Inquiry to-day some impor.
tAnt documents we're submitted.
General Sigsl did not appear bat sent note asStns
urther time to prepare paper which he would presens
20 the Court.
Tho Recorder then read the following documents which
he had received from General Mcclellan on application by
direction OF the Court
GENERAL M'cLRuAy's ORDERS TO GENERAL wADswosrH.
HEADQUARTERS, Array or TINS PoroMAc,
Brigadier General JAMES s WADswokH Military Cover
sem--The command which you have been assigned,
by instruction Of the President Military Governor Of
the District Of Columbia, embraces The geographical
limits Of the district, and will also Include the city Of
The defensive works south Of the Potomac. from the
Occoquan TO Difficult creek and the part OF Fort Wash
these ss S Gem Banks viii a.
Junction, with the divisions Of Williams Shields
composing the Fifth Army corps but you should, never,
thoiess, vigilance in your 'front.' carefully guard
the approaches in that quarter and maintain the duties
OF advanced guards You will use Tho same precautions
either flank All troops not actually needed for the
police OF Washington and Georgetown for tine garrlsons
north Of the Potomac and for other Indicated special du
ties should be removed to the south side OF the river In
the centre OF your front you should post the main body OF
your troops proper Proportions at su.s6le distances
be made TO thoroughly scour the country in front from
right TO left
II is specially enjoined upon you maintain the forts
and their arm the best possible ordor TO look
carefully after The instruction and discipline o their gar
risons as well all ohsr troops under your command,
ana by frequent and rigid inspection TO ensure the at
tanment Of these ends.
The care OF the railways, canals, depots bridges and
fcries within the above named limits will dcvove upon
and you are their security and provide for
their BY 81 s yd yoq sOrss and the
stores to the troops in actual service.
BY OF patrols you Will thoroughly scour the
neishborns country south Of the eastern branch, aud
also on your right and you will use every possible pre-
caution 70 intercept mails goods and persons passing I'M
o
The necessity Of maintaining coed order within your
limits aud especially in the capital nation cannot
be too strongly enforced. You will forward and iaciIi
tate the movenent OF all troops destined for the active
trnnsts OF detahments TO their proper regiments and
corps. =
and OF all troops temporarily there, will devolye upOn
you. You will form them into provisional brgadss, pro-
mote their instruction aud discipline, and facilitate their
equipments Report oil arrivals OF their strength
composition and equipment by every opportunity Be-
sides ts regular report and returns which you will be
required 10 render to the Adutant General OF the army
you will these headquarters consolidated
ing rsport of your command every Sunday morning, and
amon,hiy return on the irst day of each month
The foregoing instructions are communicated by com
uland OF Major Con. Mcclellan.
Very respectfully, yonr obcdient servant. - -.
GENERAL n 'clnLANs ORDERS
Assistant Adutant General.
HEADQUARTERS ARMY or THE PoroxAc,
March 10, 1852. I
10 Major General n. p BANKS Commanding Fifth Corps
Army OF the Potomac
sR-You will post your command in the vicinity Of
Maaassas inrcnch yourself strongly and throw cavalry
pickes well out TO the 'front.' Your first caro- will be
Manassas and to trasburg order to open your com
municatIons with the valley OF the Shenandoah. AS
intrench brigade Of infantry -four regiments with
two batteresa or near tho point where that railway
cavalry should be left in that vicinity occupy win
chester and thoroughly scour tho country south Of the
through Chester Cap which might perhaps be
picd advantageou.y by dctachmcnt OF infantry well in
frenched Block houses should be built ut all the railway
bridges occupied by grand guard warrcnton Junction
Warrenton ITSELF and also some stil more advanced
poats on the Orange and Alexandra Railroad as soon as
Great activity should be observed by the cavalry Ee-
sides the regiments Manassas another regiment OF
cavalry viii DO At your disposal TO scout towards the
Occoqian, and probabiay a fourth towards Lecsbura
To recapulae, the most important points tina, should
engage your attention as foll0ws-
fira-A strong force, well intrcnched, in tho vicinity
OF kanassa perhaps even Centreve and another force
A brigade also well intrenched near Strasburg.
Sso0nd--Biock houses At the railway bridges.
Ttd-Constant employment OF cavalry well to tho
fbsta-Grand guards at warrcnton. and in advance
a. far as the RappaAannock Il possible.
Ffth-Great 10 be exercised TO obtain full and
early Information TO the enemy
sigA the general object to the line Of the
Tho foregoing communicated by order of Major Geno
raj Mcclellan.
Assistant Adjutsnt General
GENERAL MOUNTAINS ORDERS ADJrrUr GEN. THOMAS
HEADQUARTERS, Army or Tan PvToMAc,
STEAMER COMMODORE, April 4, 1852.
To Brigader General L. THOMAS, Adjt Genl. L. g. A.
GTNErAI-I have 10 request that you will lay tho fol.
lowing communication before the Hon secretary War.
The Approximate numbers positions Of the troops left
and in Of tho Potomac about folows:-
General Dix has acf guarding the railroads under his
mon Tor the defence or Baltimore, and oss avail
able for the Eastern shore, Annapolis, &c. Fort
hundred men Inc "s sasons Of the ors around
Washington amount 10 ten thousand men, other dis
p.s ole troops now with General wsaswersh being about
ployed 10 guarding the various railroads in Maryland
amour, to three thousand three hundred fifty.
4 In rQ lava hair mid racl.
mems by dismouned cavalry, and TO send them for
ward 70 Manassas. General Abercrombis occupies War
renton with which, including Colonel Gearys at
White Plains, and the cavalry TO be at their disposal viii
amount TO some seven thousand seven hundred and
eighty men, with twelve pieces of artillery.
have the honor 10 lest that nil tho troops organiz
Ell for service in PcnnsJ and New York aud any
THIS force should be glad TO have Manas
sss-four thousand men from General wadswoFh to 10
ordered to Manassas These troops with the railroad
guards above alluded to- wiz make up force under tho
command OF General Abercrombic TO s)mcthng like
eighteen thousand ak hundred and thirty men. IL
Is my design TO pash General Blonker from wsrren,on
npon strasburg He should remain ~ strasDnrg long
that region before proceeding to his ultimate des
tiuaton Tho rooIs In the valley OF The -hehandoah
viii thus-ncudng Bleokers division, ten thousand and
twenty ght strong, with twenty pieces artillery,
Banks Filth corps, which embraces the command OF
General Shields, nineteen Thousand six hundred and
sehiy-ssven strong, with fortyore guns, some three
thousand six hundred and nifty TIN disposebe cavalry
aud the railroad guard about twenty hundred men,
amount to about thiyhye thousand four hundred aud
Iis designed torelIeve General Hooker by ono regi.
ment-say eight hundred and hfty men-bcng, with lye
hundred cavalry, thirteen hundred aud ifty the
lower Potomac To rccapitulate AZ werronton thero
70 he seven ,housand seven hundred and eighty at Ma
nsssss say ten Thousand eight hundred y nine In
the she valley thrtyave housand four hnndred
ard sixty seven; on the Lower Potomac thirteen hun
bred and hyin all nity nvc thousand four hundred and
Giy SIX There would then be left Tor tho rarrsops in
front OF Washington and sndcr General wads yor,h
eighteen thousand men, exclusive Of the batteries
uudet ns,rcctons The troops organizing ready for
servie in New YORK. learn, Will probably number more
thsn four thousand. Thee should be assembled Al
Washington, subject 10 disposition where their services
may he mos; needed am, very respectfully your ODE
sdtcnt servant,
cEo. n. MCCLELLAN, MAJOR Gen Commanding.
The only witness examined MAJOR Joseph willard,
Al dc Camp 10 General Mcdowell who testified he
accompanied the General to General slgel's quarters
August 81, at Backiand Mills, and heard Mcdowell re
quest sigei TO his corps TO Manassas Junction.
promising him the aid Of one OF his divisions Major