New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1863-01-20
The Mcdowell Court Of Inquiry-The Adj
ynace on Richmond vim The Peninsnls
Proceeding. OF the Council OF Gener.
ai.-Dir~ctions By the President for the
Protection Of Washington.

Protection Of Washington.
WASHINGTON, Saturday, Jsr. H. 1859.
In the Mcdowell Court Of Inquiry to-day, the
record was but brief. Lieut.. Col. Tillson was re-
called by Gen. Mcdowell, TO show that the force OF
the enemy that attacked Gen. King on the evening
Of the 2Sth August was not the same force Thai had
attacked Gen REYNOLDS In the morning. Cot I'LL
son states to the effect that while out on reconnois-
,.nce with Gen. Mcdowell subsequently, TO the
engagement Of Gen. Kings division, be ascer,ained
from Gen. Heintzelman and Col Allen OF the Maine
Cavalry, the posltion that the enemy had occupied
preyions TO that engagement, which he judged must
have been five or ak miles from tho Warrenton turn
pike.
AZ the time Of the engagement he said they ap-
proacbed on what he understood TO be the road from
Sudley Springs 10 Haymarket, which neared the
Warrenton turnpike ut the point Of attack.
Cant. Chandler was called by Gen. Mcdowell,
and stated that last Summer the field OF wheat that
had bean protected by Gen. Mcdowell east Of tue
Lacey House, near Falmouth, had been harvested
by the Ounrtsrmarter Of the post, ground at Fred
,rick,bnr, for the United States Government, and
the -four distributed among the National troops.
The Court adjourned until ii O'Clock on Monday.
The follow ing documents have been introduced In
the testimony taken by the Court;
PRocEEDIsos or COUNCIL OF GrsERALs.
HEADQUARTERS ARMY THE PoTosAc.}
FltspAx COURr HoU,E March -. l8d2
A eoupeil Of the Generals commanding army eoip' nihe
headquarters Of tho Army Of tho Pesonsc were Of the
T,r1. That the enemy having re,rea,ei from Manassas
70 ordon.y. behind the Rep ahsnnock and Rspidan,
4. IN. opinion Of tho General. Commanding army corps
hat the operations TO bs o,Tied VIII Do best under
then from Old Point ComfoIt. between tho York and
sss, vessel tho Mraac can s. aeailasa second
Ito OF transportation Sufficient for an immediate trns
md AsIsndris down tho Potomac; third that
naval suYay force be had to silence or aid ia sl.ncng
lie eneys batteries In York River; fourth tina. the force
a. b. et 10 cover Warrington shall be such TO give
tire feeling OF security Tor It's safety from menace unAn
Snd n the foregong cannot be- the army should then be
against the enemy behind the Rppahsnnocs o. the
earliest possible moment and the mean. for recon,tructng
bridgs repairing Tsrosds and stocking them with material
oI supplying the army should OF ouce bo COLLECTED
EorKTha, with tho forts on tho right bank ofthe Pc
omuc fully Tursonsd and those ~ the le bsLk oceuIad
covering iorce Ia font OF the Hsiaa ino OF 29ooV men
would suffice Reyes llentzelmsn and Mcdowell a total
of s tho defense Of tho city woad suee Sumner
SECRETARY srAsTos TO GES. MCCLELLAN.
r, Majo,-Gen. Gro D MoCIELlIS
Tho Prssisn. having consiered the plan Of operations
agreed upon by younsf and commanders OF army
makes 10 objection TO the sao but gives Tho following dee
Fvni Leave such force :, Manassas Junction shall msts
Il entirely certain that the enemy shall NOT repo1eas himself
Of ID ct position AMI line OF communication.
SseJnd; Leave Wellington entirely ,ecnfe.
TAyd: Move the remainder Of tho force down the foto.
hswsen aud there at all events such remain
dr. Of the amy at once In PuI,u Of TIC enemy b. 'ome
route. EDWIN NJ SiANlON,
Secretary OF War.
REPORT OF GENERALS THOMAS AND HITCHCOCK
7.t0 O'clock 49, -
WAsHInGToH, u. c., April O. 1852.
In compliance with your Instructions have examined the
papers submitted and have the honor to make the io
10 ing report:
Fret: The Presdonrs order No. dated siarch o.
requires that taking up any base OF operations the
Cy Of Wellington shall be LEFT entirely The other
points Of the order II unnecessary TO consider a. The enemy
uc lie date have sbandoned their positions and batteries on
tue Potomac and retired behind Tho ksppahannock.
Second The council OF General Officers held OF faIfn
Court House March H. took place after the enemy had TO
tired from Manassas and destroyed the railroad Ia their rear
TIE council decided unanimously to take up base OF
operations Fort Monroe snd three OF the Generasn
msjoritydecded that the force to be len should
be sufficient TO fully garrison the fo on the Right 0ak OF TIE
Potontc and TO occupy" those the len bsnk win COW
oring force OF Is CO., II think the Judgment OF ocer
that 10000 oud be thus 10 man these
forts which, with the number oi the covering force would
MIKE total Of 50 eco. -. -. ~
Tard The Pr'sdenps directions Of March 10 to Gen
Mcclellan diIect hs TO leave such force at Manassas JUNG
ton shall make entirely ceItsln that mo enemy msy ny
tsrossess It second that Washington shall be e en,ii ~.
cure trd that remainder OF tho army move dorh .na
Potonsc IL pursuit Of the enemy IN csaa " &C. o
ing Manassas Junction "a the enemy nave ~
dads leading to w. may be fair to .s.ane We ~ ,h
have no intention Of returpieg for the o
ts position and therefore large force would Do ne
ee.ssry to hold that position. H.. ~ -