Weekly national intelligencer., 1863-03-12
NATIONAL INTELLIGENCER.
DECISION IN THE CASE OF GEN. MCDOWELL

The Court of Inquiry n the case Of Gen. MCDOWELL
have rendered their decision in the form OF Lengthy docu
ment in which the principal polts elected on the trial
presented and reviewed The following extracts will in
form the reader of the decisions of the court the
tios submtted to them 1t will be remembered that
charges we're formally preferred against Gen. Mcdowell,
but that the organized at his request and
that be suggested the several points OF Inquiry in order
that bis whole conduct might be subjected to full judi
ca investigation The result is complete vndicaton of
General every charge imputaton suggested with
one exception and in expressing its dapproval of his
duct that case the court excupats him from auy
worthy motive They colclude their judgment by
lug the opinion that the interests of the public service do
require any further nvesg into the conduct of
Major General Mcdowell
EXTRACTS FROM THE REPORT.
Gen. Mcdowell entered on the command OF division
in the Army Of Potomac the 24h day If August
1861 10 which he connu unti the 18th day OF Ma ch
1862 when he assigned to the command of the first
corps of the army in which he continued until his
detention to form part If the for the defence OF
Washington, The A. day of April, 1862 During all
this period tie under the command of Gen. Mcclellan
and appears by tho concurrent testimony of every Off
Ger who has testified on the subject and report
the fact to be- that he energetic intelligent faithful
and without eprcach in the performance of the duties OF
his charge.
The cause Of the detention of Gen Mcdowell and the
separation of his corps from the Army Of the Potomac
wien that army proceeded to Fortress Monroe TO com
the campaign OF the Peninsula has been carefully
and thoroughly Investigated.
Tb. investigation has revealed and the court find the
facts to be- that the detention ot Gen McDowes corps
amounting the sggregste to about twenty thousand men,
and which the whole force detained not the
result Of caprice any unworthy motive whatever but
il Of order OF the President which pre-
caded the departure of the Army the Potomac to the
Pennsua which order had the substantial concurrence of
all the CO.. commanders which, under the circumstances
length disclosed before this court the safety of the cap
tai aud prudence enoned aud which the President
had beeve from report made to hn by TIN go
general officers, viz Gems Hitchcock Thomas aud w ads
worth no the spot and specially instruct
ed to invest gate the fact had not been complied with
In this investigation and report of those Generals and
the communications which led to il, Gen. Mcdowell had
no share whatever He was not consulted He expected
and desired 10 proceed to the Peninsula following the
other portions of the Army Of the Potomac.
Following the natural order OF event. AMI the subjects
which been the occasion of the strongest dssat sac
tion manifested toward Gen Mcdowell, the cout has
carefully and thoroughly investigated hs operations as
Commander in the Department OF the Rappahannock.
His my not designed to operate beyond the limits
of his own department., while he enemy continued in
position to and occupy IT, lhcluang hs II did the
city of Washington Still this attitude of defence not
sQrt cable to Gen Mcdowell. HIS mind was continually
occupied with the idea of participating in the operations
OF the Army Of the Potomac which were thea progressing
BY The route of the Peninsula against Richmond.
With the concurrence of the President, which be yielded
only when appeared that the Army of the Rappahannock
could be safely forward, 1t Ieady To om
Fredericksburg against Richmond by the Of Hanover
Court. House, on the morning Of the 26th of May
The ambition cf Gen. McDowe was deeply interested
in this movement He had for long time been devong
the most aud energetic eur to be adequately
prepared for IT, so far from mansting any reluctance
to cooperate with the Army of the Potomac the desire to
render such cooperation eDgossed his mind and heart
Public opinion and cenure more at fault than
in impung Gen. Mcdowell want of earnest zeal and
desire t. asst Gen Mcclellan from Fredericksburg in
the assault Richmond. His denominations in that d.
rection were timely and useful They led to withdrawal
of Jacksons forces from Richmond and their renewed
menace against the caches TO Washington The Army
of the Peninsula this relieved of the
ance Of force which must have expected TO encounter
and which numerically stronger than the portion OF
Gen McDowes corps (twenty th2usant) which had been
detained to cover Washington.
The movement of Jacks0n's forces down the Shenan-
doah Valley and the jeopardy which msnaced the capital
and what then supposed to be the lDhammabe aud
revolutionary sentiments of part OF the population of the
State of MARYLAND led order suspendng the march
of Gen Mcdowell Richmond, and his recall TO cover
the approaches to Washington on the gath of May.
1t s not possible to determine accurately what would
have the result Of persistence in the movement at the
time of McDowels army on Richmond. Had there been
great activity of movement Of operation between the
armies commanded by Gems Mcclellan and Mcdowell,
and Richmond been carried by assault without halt and
without rupon by the excessive rains which flooded
the rivers and streams of Virginia, the following Fri
dsy Saturday and Sunday (May 80 aud 81 and June y
had all this successfully accomplished before jackson
could gained any counervalDg advantages agaiust
the Capital in the State Of Maryland it quite obvious
that Gen Mcdowell would have been justified by the
suts in bs opinion that it nexpedent TO recall m
from his projected movement against Richmond The
court not found it necessary TO decide this hypothet
cal question 1t will remain fruitful subject OF coDjec-
ture-perhaps of recrmnaton-unti time of peace may
reveal all the circumstances calculated to elucdate it.
If be doubtful whether Gen. Mcdowell ought to have
allowed bis mind to be so occupied with campaign be-
youd the limits # his department. is perfectly clear
that he yielded prompt submsson to the orders Of The
President and without reservation evasion and with
the commeodahle aacrity pushed forward part OF
his troops toward Washington and another toward Front
Royal sill leaving division at Fredericksburg In.
sead of furnishing any occasion for sure, bis whole
conduct at Fredericksburg should receive unqualified
mendation.
The only correspondence of Gen. Mcdowell with the
enemys commanders requiring notice relates to the
moval OF Mrs Robert T. Scott from Warrentln, Fau
ouier county Virginia her friends within the rebel lines
after the murder Of her husband The evidences disclose
that her husband an eminent citizen of Virginia, dis
tugushed for bis high character and loyalty to the Govern
men In opinion Of the Court both humanity aud pub
lie policy not ouy justified but required the of pro-
cedure adopted by Gen. Mcdowell
From the date OF the departure Of Gen. Mcdowell from
Foderckburg to the formation OF the Army Of Virginia
the 26 OF june 1862, which the Army Of the Rap
pabanuock merged, his conduct has been the sub
jec of critical investigation by the court No particular
facts ELECTED which require special consideration.
Throughout this period the court find that his conduct
irreproachable. 1t during thi. time aud while the
epemys under jackson operating the valley
of the Shenandoah that Con- Mcdowell sent forward
McCal's division Of Pennsylvania Reserves (about ten
thouar stroug) 10 the Army Of the Potomac This dv
sion reached the Chckahominy and got into position on
the right Of that army Mecbauicve about 10 Of
June being week previous to the arrival Of tho enemys
troops under Jackson aud the retirement Of the Army
the Potomac to the James river.
When Gen. Pope assumed command Of the Army OF Vir-