New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1863-04-10


cess closed upon a defeated aud retreating army
A division. urider Col. Miles, bad been statioped
at Centreville partly for the purpose Of reserve,
and partly TO guard against any Hank attack. The
enemy did attempt q movement npou our 'eft, but
were promptly met and checked by our forces there
Tire principal cause Of the defeat on that day was
the failure of Gen. Patterson TO hold the forces OK
Johnston In the valley of the Shenandoah. He bad
force OF about q, 600 men; while the force VI the
enemy opposed to him, according TO the best evi-
eence your Committee could Obtain, did not exceed
from 1900 10 Is 900 men. Gen. Patterson testifies
tnat ne wss satisfied that Johnston had from 5000
70 4V,VVo men, and over 10 guns. He also states
mat large number of his troops were anxious 10
return home; that their time had about expired, and
10 coaio not persuade them to remain. There IL
consiceraoie testimony to show that the troops be-
came dissatisfied and refused to remain. only when
they learned that their movement from Bunker Hill
on the l7th Of July was q retreat, and not AN ad-
vance upon the enemy; that while they supposed
they were being led TO the attack, little ii auy.
complaints was made, and they were IN excellent
spirits. tf,l
In reference to the orders given TO Gen. pstier-
son. and the object TO be accomplished by his opera.
tons, there seems 10 be no question. That object
was to preyent Johnston from joining Besuregnrd
before Gen. Mcdowell could have opportunity TO
attack the forces under the latter The character Of
the orders is indicated by the following telegram Of
the 18th Of July Saturday from Gen. Scott to Gen.
Patterson: sr.-.Y....L.
photographed you yesterday n not strong enough 70 best
tho enemy early week make demonsr.ons 20 as 70 de
tain him 10 the valley Of But y ~ Is is nm
slider the route via Keyes's Ferry, Leesburs kc
Gen. Scott bad, tho day before, conveyed 70 5en:
Patterson the intimation that Gen: McDoweil would
commence his movement on the 10th OF July, and on
the 18th Gen. Patterson advanced from Martinsbng
to Bunker Hill, remaining there the 10th. r.
On the 18th Gen. Scott telegrapbs to Gen. Patter-
son: .f
have nothing official from you since Sunday but a sse
To esrn nom Philadelphia papers that have advanced ~
'front.' While no reenforces the Junction with his main body
S. is The JUNCTION viii probably &c
There 10 no evidence OF what tune that dispatch
was received. But IL could not have been received
before the movement from Bunker Hill to Charles
town was made by Gen. Patterson, for thai move
nent commenced very early in the morning Of the
18th, the date of the dispatch:
On the 18th Gen Scott teegraphs;
have certainly been expecting you best the epsmy
him BY threat. and You have been a. lsA..
stolen march snd sent r.enOrce nents toward Aanssss
Junction. A week is enough to win victory.
To this Gen. Patterson replies on the same day:
The enemy has stolen march upon hs,e kept bn
force, csa.ed him to be reinforced
Gen Patterson testifes as follows:
Question During ell this time you knew that Cen ecost
expected Of you that you should either engage and beat john
.aO or aeS.n him in the vay o. WnSss.. o. n the
not follow him tina. you should follow him via Keyss' Ferry
and Lee.buryi
Qus,tion. And yet when you st Charlssown. you
found yourself not In coneidoa TO dc other Now, nay
question h Why did not communicate that fact to Coo
Scott
Answer There occasion for H. In my jadsment He
my condition aud have added to the inosion he
esdy had would been Of time and psper
had informed him Of my condition and II wss his business
l. as Dot my cuisines: to say any thiag beyond that
When asked If the telegram of the 18th, from Gen.
Scott. did not show tnat he still deemed it was OF
the first Importance that he (Pattersonl should de-
tain Johnston there, Gen. Patterson replies:
Hooked upon that telegraph and did every geueusp
upon my staff - nothing more nor less thsn an exhpsoh
Gen. Patterson also testiGes: te a.
Question You say you could have attacked On the 18Th
ordered TO do knew the necessity OF esAnss john
thsths expected required ofyoa that .seud 60
something in that direction Why did you NOS Do oil tnss
Ins%sI Because could not 20 tasrs without sh,us
could fail bsck asap bad to believe thst
e, aoans % ..s Sss
Scott dd night that day and there more occasion
o. dong sny,aiSs sntlrsy unesed Sraos 80 'IsSss
sn 'S s a. ala no, srb, and a the n.cs,v far
ing rspess it bis busiae.s vs tho order. s4- ,
In another place he testifies:
Question When you isund 70" we're M soaasa 70 De-
been communicated 10 Gen Scott not the fact ths.
mol nah
your strength for that and that he could
lot rely upon his being kept oackf
Answer never supposed for moment thai Con Scot.
believed for the atty part Of second that eond hold
,im.
Gen Patterson further testifes: .AJs. j.
Question You thr. etenng Johnston Chsrlss
own so .. to prevent ha joining Beaaregard at
Answer No. sir remained there because was ordered
% remain in trent Of him until he LEFT.
Question. You at that time that NOT offering
my obstacle to hi. soiGg down to Manss'asl
nua. he ut n ID
Ausws did Communicates my oadiou. and where
Snswsr On the 10Th wro.. him in det. nom Bunker
HI % the 18th wrote again And on Che 18th gave him
M the inormston And twas his business to
Ter me- AID my business to make any further suggestions
o him.
Anwer Certainly. sent three kilograms to him on tho
sme day.
Answsr. On the 18th, a. in the mornos tslegsphed
i'm my condition aud asked han If should attack To have
e.! further % a 70 n s %9ss
QUESTION. Why did not inform him that you were noe
hen In condition to offer any obstacle TO Johnsons joining
Answsr would have considered It rather reflection on
i'm 10 have told him go. He knew my condition
Gen. Scott tesiiies: I,-.is -t ... 80
But although Geo. Patterson specially ordered
attack enemy he certainly told aad expected
with inferior numbers to hold the Rebel army in his front
Janron by neans Of threstsnus and densn-
,,rstions-resu,s often STAINED with half punbsrs
Instesd OF doing this, however, Gen. Patterson
came down to Bunker Hill, remained there over the
iav when he had been given to understand the ad-
vance would be commenced by Gen. Mcdowell;
md early the next morning, without waiting TO bear
low far Gen. Mcdowell had advanced, or yhetbsr
re had advanced at all, left the neghborhood Of
Winchester. where the enemy was, aud turned OH
o Charlestown, where, as he himself says, he had
10 means TO offer any OBSTACLE 10 JohHstons joining
Be- suregard wherever he chose. Johnston a. once
ook advantage of the opportunity thus afforded
lim and re-enforced Beauregard in season to iphct
leieat upon our forces at Bull Run.
Johnston started the greater portion Of his forces
rom Winchester on the 18th; Of the testimony
hoxs thar portion started the afternoon Of tho