Delaware gazette. [volume] (Delaware, Ohio) 1855-1886, 1863-05-08
General HOOher's rs.timohy,.

The testimony Of Gen. Hooker, as given
before the Committee on the CofducI Of The
War, is now published, and the doubts that
have existed in relation 10 it are thus set 81
rest. Gen. HOolter's testimony is very positive
aud so far as McCIelIans generalship is con-
eerned it is very damaging! The 6rst answer
of the witness is, that he does not hesitate to
say that the failure of the PeninsulaF campaign
is to be attributed 10 the want Of good geuerl
alship OIL The part of Mcclellan. Gen. Hook-
or also states that when Mcclellan arrived be-
fore Yorktown with over 100000 men, the
rebel force at yorktown was from 5000 10
$4,000 men. We extract from the testimony
as follows:
Q.-What course would you have advised
at The time of landing on the Peninsula under
the circumstances?
A.-What subsequently did win, I think,
convey au answer 10 hat question. attack
ed with my single division, a line Of works az
Williamsburg stronger than the line across the
Peninsula at Yorktown Al Yorktown, long
after Joined, never could understand Why
was required 10 send One-half Of nay number
o. duty, day pnd night to dig, SO as to invest
the place. | could only conclude that G siege
hid been determined upon somewhere in the
programme, before ever having felt 10 see
whether we had an enemy in front or not, and
a gTeat many others felt SO too. From my ex-
animation of the works at Yorktown, and
reaching away beyond the position that 90
cupied, felt that their lines could be pierced
without any considerable loss by the corps
with which l was on duty, Heintzelman's
corps. We could have gone right through
and gone to the rear of the enemy. They
would run the moment We got to their roMFy
and we could have picked up the prisoneFs-.'
Right there at Yorktown the enemy had ex-
pended great deal Of labor, but would have
marched right through the redoubts, Which
were rarr Of the Gordon they bad. and got on
the rood between Yorktown and Richmond,
ard thus compel the enemy TO fight me on my
own ground, and not have fought them uPS3
theirs.
@ Suppoe that Gen. Mcclellan had
thrown his army between Yorktown Gs4
William, burg, wi h as much rapidity AS be
could, what would have probably been the
eff ct?
At wcu'd lave resulted fu the capturS
and destruction OF the erttny 8 army.
O. DO you knew any reason Why tbaA
cou,d not Lave b,en donef
Al do not.
Gen. Hooker then gees n 10 give th1 con-
diton ufaf1airs on the retreat Of the rebels
towa DIS y iiahisburg, in particular the part
lis command lad in pur-uit aid be says had
be be, properly reinforced by Gen. sumner
lie r. beliCn would have been buried theFeg
But Gen Sumner did not advance at ALL
There is no doubt Il at Gen. Hooker does
the brave ard lemehied Sumner gross injus-
tice in this testimony, for the witness says GeG.
Sumner had rot less than 10000 men under
his command, whereas Gen. Sumner IN his
own testimony before the Committee showed
that at the liR,e Hooker sent for reinforce
mcnts he had urder his Immediate eye aud con.
troll only 900 ntn and they tot nf the aFEr
Of the s,rvice that onuld be Of avail 10 hooker.
O. Where wusS Gen. Mcclellan all this
time
At Yorktown About nine a'cIock,'
or ,hercahout, of the morning Of the fight,
I'riLce de JOinvie, seeing that no reinforce
menis would be sent to me, started for York
town, aud reached there in about an hour
II Is reported TO me, and have % doubt thuF
it is So that lie said 20 General Mcclellan
. Gerernl you have three old women IL advance.
ten. Hooker is engagcd'lh avily, and they win
SIND binln no roiaidIc & msn,s. II is necessary
for you 10 go in advance" / think Gov
Sprague went down also to urge Gen. McClelS
Ian to ceme up. Il was reported 10 NE that
Gen. " eClellan lefi TUrktOwu bcrweerf four
and five o'clock in the afternoon. Lieut.. Col.
Webb, now inspector Of the Fihh Corps, Wag
pres 4 at The inieIvieR between Prince de-
Joinyie and Gen McGlellan. Sen. MrChb
lan showed great hdispoSilion 90 90 forward
aud only left, IA / am told, between four and
FIVE O'Clock,
In speaking Of the battle at williamsburg
Gen. Hooker says:
have since learned from reliable souroear
that when the news OF the battle reached Rich
mond Jefferson Davis and Gov. letcher nov
I'd their families tHt OF Richmond, removed
the archives aud theif libraries, and every cit
izen who could commanda vsAicle had his
goods piled on wagons, and prepared 20 aban-
dow the city. They Only returned CHOSE who
had l,f') when they ipund that the pursuit