The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1863-01-20
THE MCDOWELL COURT OF INQUIRY.
THE DEFENCEs OF WASHINGTON.
Important Letters from Gen. Mcclellan
and Gen. Barry,
&c., DC, DO.
The Testimony Of Major General Hitch
oOck.

WASHINGTON, Jan. II, 1858
Tho Investigations before the Mcdowell Court Of Inquiry
arc taking wider and moro comprehensive range. Hav
ing made Il manifest TO tho public that Generals Mcclellan
and Mcdowell completely exonerated from all blame,
the President is virtual placed trial. you will
by the evidence Of General Hitchcock who in
very curiously in the
Apropos OF tho evidence offered by General Hitchcock
there are two letters which to the court but
for not produced evidence II Is un<
derstood that General Mcclellan several letters
Of. which published; but these two given
whyY Tho contents win probably explain They show
thing very plainly that General Mcclellan loft Wash
ngon when he started for the peninsula with abundance
OF artillery vol as men To protect IL. Read
dence OF General Wadsworh that there was artillery
in Washington, and then the letter Of General Barry
GENERAL MCCLELLAN TO COLONEL rELouzg.
NEw YORK, Dec. 81 1892
SRIn accordance with the request OF Court Of nqu
ry, IN the Of General Mcdowell, have tho honor
transmit official copies OF my letters OF Instructions t.
Generals Banks and wadswortA, dated March TO- 1862
also Official copy Of my letter to the Adulant General
OF the army, dated April 1862, together with letter
from General Barry Chief OF Artillery for tho Army Of
the Potomac dated Dec TO- 1862, addressed me,
bearing directly upon tho Same subject.
deem il proper to remark in TINS connection that the
numbers OF the troops as gwen IN these letters were
furnished by the Aduan General Of the Army Of tho
rendered and will not therefore, dinor materially from
the aggregate strength Oh the commands present at that
| date
From General Barry's letter 1t will be that thirty.
two pieces ~ light arery in addition these enumerat
ed in my letter ve Adjutant General loft by
in tho city OF Washngto with men horses and equip
ments all In condition for immediate service with tho
exception OF few horses which could have been sup
piled by the Quartermaster's department at any time.
thus making ono hundred and nine pieces OF light are-
ry left by my orders the defence OF the national capt
tai and It's approaches at the tmc the Army Of the poto
mac left Alexandria for the peninsula. l am, very
| specially, your obedient servant,
gro D. MCCLELLAN, Major General
GENERAL BARRY TO GENERAL MCCLELLAN.
| HEADQUARTERS, INSPECTOR OF ARTILLERY.
| WASHINGTON, Dec 10, 1862.
Major General MCCLELLAN, United States Army
GENvRALt having been stated in various public prints
and In speech Of Senator Chandler Of Michigan In his
place in the United States Senate quoting what he stated
70 be portion Of the testimony Of Brgader General
Wadswcrth, Military Governor OF Washington, before tho
joint and Committee the Conduo, ~ the
War; that Majos General Mcclellan had left INSULT
cen force for the defence Of Washington and no gun
mkeL,n have 10 contradict this charge, follows
from the Official reports made at the time 20 (ihe
Chief Of Artillery OF the Army OF tho Poomac and now
in my possession, BY the Commanding Occr OF the light
artillery troops left In camp In the city q Washington by
your order. Il appears that the following named field
Battery G, FIRST Now York artillery, Captain Barnes,
| two guns.
Battery K, FRS, New York artillery Captain crounse,
Battery l., Second New York artillery. Captain Robin
| son SIX guns.
| ~, six guns.
sixteenth New York Independent battery, Captain
Locke.
Battery A, Second battalion New York artillery Cap.
| tain Hogan, SIX guns
Battery b. second battalion New York artillery Cap
! tain Mcmahon, elk guns.
Total seven bai tsries, thirty.two guns.
With tho exception Of fe horses, which could have
been procured from the Quar- Department
few hours batteries all Of for vice.
excepting The Sixteenth New York battery, pch havtg
been previously ordered Gera WGfaoorh's aiJcdfio,,
D. report % him for special scrrfcs was unc1uipped with
either guns or horses am General very RESPECTFULLY,
your obedicnt scrvant WILLIAM ,. BARRY,
Brig General Inspector q Artillery, United States Army
GENERAL HITcnCocK's EVIDENCE.
Major General F. A. Hitchcock United States Volunteers
gave his testimony to-day. Tho letters and orders
toned by him published In tho HERALD Sunday.
q By General Mcdowell II your Official position
and connection with the government such at Tho
line enable you know give you good grounds
for Judging 10 General McDowels having or not IN
April last sought induced procured the separation o.
his army cors frsm the Army II the Potomac, with
view TO having separate command for himself. and IT
so whether not the Of the corps MAS the
best OF your knowledge and belief sought induced pro-
cured by him, made by the governm Mt er public
reasons based tho representations or othsrsS State
fully what you know this matter. Al duty
the War once under tho immediate orders OF the Secrc
ry Of War from the middle Of March to the middle Of
May That period embraced the time referred to In
this question The circumstances which led % the detcn
ton II General McDowes army corps In the early rar,
OF April a. cover ing army FOR the city Of Washington
WERE believe, very fully known 70 me, and am very
that personally General Mellow ell had nothing what
do In procuring tho orders which detained him in
'front.' Of Washington. am very that his nrst inor
maion the subject derived from tho order itself
directing his detention here. raw General Mcdowell
soon after that and his nrst expressions 10 in rcfe
renee to the order those q deep regret, He had
hoped, as BIO said 70 me, 10 accompany the army 70
.layh t. a,
a position TO do something IN hs profession .
military man BY which saferred very plainly tina,
no hoped 70 have bad opportunity of distinguishing
himself M a soldier. His language ana bis dcportmcn,
gave the belief that he vas ns he said truly d,ap
pointed and for the be assigned The facts IN tho
case could be by recital % tho circumslr
under which tho orders given.
Tho referred certain papers 10 hla possession
20 refresh hs memory in regard datcs, which pa
pcrs wcrc placed at the disposal Of tho Court the
witness continUcd.--
In order understand the case fliy Think noces
AIRY 70 refer an from tho President (rrcsdonts
pscia order No dated Executive Mansion, waSAlng.
on, January 81 lsa4J The witness continued a. fcl.
Iowa.
ON tho delivery Of the order Just read there ust have
been some plan from General Mcclellan proposing some
other mode o. operation ihaye not that plan Ana am
not abe ~ produce NJ hat have paper from the pres
deut dated February s. 1861 which from Lincoln -
Gcnra Mcclellan. The President subsequently spgoara
have yielded bis plan 70 that u General Mctesn but
dong Issued this order (Iresidents General War
order, No 3, dated Executive Mang,on, Washington
March 3. 1901 That order led a conference ~ no
general oiloers COMMANDING army corls, TIE result ~
ahch was reported, dftei Headquartcrg Army ~ tho
Potomac, fairla1 count iouse March ~, IsG2
Tho p'aa .h-ded % 10 lhn PAGER dfsw
Y M VI station, tho Secretary ~ war
muncsilng the orders " the President paper xhch -
addressed u Maor General Mcclellan, dated Var iepart
nert, March H., 1852
The witncss ntiuusd This repetition n thosc cord
tons shows The importance attached a. them BY tho Pre-
s'fsnt After enerAl Mcclellan ist the fraut n Waah.
rgton itvA obserycf IN the War Department TIT h.s
orders for the n0yeert ~ the trpua dl apreaf ~
sfntemla late leaving sch forcn f0r he pr0teci n
wagkBgion tho ORD n lhe pfssisat required SUI
god dtal ~ Cpn expressed and et by tic
tary u War on tbs tgbcgt. TIRE ~ ~ AM. 1874
General Wadswlfth mad" report o. The Secretary II
War sssg forth the amount n the fsree bet and-r
command Washington, - ttlef MI the condition ard
the ehfac@r ~ the tf0ls lhat sft lH ihn fNUWrE
which hy ~ the tanle y tbo Court, tHa l. dstei
headquarters Military bstrft n wssh.nei.r, Washnf.
tun. " H addressed 81 tie srfstafy II Waf unhr Ish