New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1864-09-03
MCCLELLAN-HOOKER.
Correspondence Of the World.
WATERFOWL, N. Y. AuI

never know here before 1t tax es the opposition by
prise they are dumb The procession In their marcn.
stopped and called upon Gen. Joe Hooker who Is stay
ing here. We shall largely reduce the Republican ma
orty in this county In November. Honest ~ Old ABB
is gone up TOO high to be heard after next March b.
As the supporters of Mcclellan see fit to call
on Fighting Joe Hooker for help in their en-
yass, we shall follow their example. Here is
his testimony--every word Of it--as to what he
saw and experienced Of Gen. McClellan's capa-
city and conduct as commander of the Army OF
the Potomac. 1--WE quote from the official copy
of the Report Of the Joint Committee on tho
Conduct of the War, Vol. l., pp 575-S2, iIclu-
sive:)
WASHINGTON, March II, 1863.
MAJ. GEN. JOSEPH HOOKER SWORN AND EXAMINED.
By THE CHAIRMAN:
Question.-To what do you attribute the failure
Of the peninsular campaign
Ansrer.-I do not hesitate TO gay that Il 10 %
attributed TO the cant of generolskip on the part d
our commander.
Question-Were you consulted upon the subject
Of the line Of tbepeninsua in preference TO the ono
direct to Richmond
| Ansrer-I never was consulted on the subject.
| Questtoa-What was the condition Of things ut
Yorktown when our troops first landed on the Pc
nnsula az regards the strength of the place and the
relative strength Of the opposing forces
Answer.-I did not 60 down for some three weeks
after Gen. Mcclellan went down. He went With
the army from Alexandria, and the return vessels
stepped at Budds Ferry, whore was, and took my
division down. Gen. Mcclellan took down about
80 600 men, and when joined him / took II, 0OV
down to him. did not see the returns, but that
was the understanding ,hcre. Franklin Afterwards
Joined with his division. At the time that General
| Mcclellan landed With this large army there were
somewhere between 8, 600 and $4,000 at Yorktown.
have heard it estimated as low ass 900 and as high
as $4,000.
Qaestion.-what course would you have advised
at the time OF the landing on the peninsula under
the circumstance
Ansrer.-What subsequently did will, think.
convey answer TO that question ! attacked,
with my single division, line Of works at VIII
hamsburg stronger than tho line across the PENN.
sula ut Yorktown. At Yorktown, long after l
Joined never could understand why was required
to send one-half Of my number on duty, day and
night, TO Dig so as TO invest that place. ] could
ONLY conclude that siege had been determined
upon somewhere in the programme before ever hay.
| ing felt to see whether We had an enemy in 'front.'
or not. And great many others felt 80 too From
my examination Of the works at Yorktown, and
reaching away beyond the position that occupied,
considerable loss by the corps With which was on
Iduty-Heintzelman corps We could have gone
right through, and gone 10 the rear Of the enemy.
They would run the moment We got to their reaf,
and we could have picked up the prisoners Rigns
there at Yorktown The enemy had expended gress
deal Of labor But would have marched right
through the redoubts which were port of the cor
don they had, and got on the road between York
town and Richmond, and thus compelled the enemy
TO fight me on my ground, and not have fougAs
them on theirs.
Qvestton.-Suppose that Gen. Mcclellan had
thrown his army Between Yorktown and Williams.
burg with a. much rapdity he could, what would
he 70 probably been the effect
Ans~sr.-tt would have resulted In the caPturs
and destruction Of the enemy's army.
Question.-Do you know any reason why that
could not have been done I
Ansrer.-I do not.
Question-You were there when the enemy ~.
treated from Yorktown
Ansper.-I was within Q mile and half Of
there.
Qxcstior.-will you state. briefly and succinctly,
what took place upon their retreat
.4nsuer.-The troops ordered out in tho first in
stance 10 pursue them were SONS Dragons and
some light batteries under Gen. StonemaD. l re-
eeived orders to support Gen. Stoneman, and left
nv camp between and two o'clock in the after.
noon for that purpose. do not know at what time
Gen. Stoneman left. I followed in his rear. After
had proceeded out about five miles met Governor
Sprague who informed me that Gen. Stoneman had
fallen upon tho rear Of the enemy. rode up to
where Gen. Stoneman was and found that be wsa
held in check on the Yorktown road about milo
and half this Yorktown side Of the Gordon Of
rsdoubts running across the peninsula near Will.
amsburg rode forward 10 ascertain how could
put in my infantry. Gen. Stoneman told me that
the enemy was about mile in his front, where they
held some redonbts. Itturned out Afterwards TO bs
Fort Magruder. We were then whore the enemy
could throw shells over our heads from the fort.
After examining the ground, heard that Smiths DE-
vision had filed into the Yorktown Road in advance
Of mine. / Immediately returned and joined my
division, and found thatt had been halted, in order
70 enable Smiths Division to pass. We were de-
| taineh there in that way between three and four
hours As soon as ascertaned this TO be tho ease,
| requested ca. Heintzelman 70 allow mo TO take
a different roasyo go up TO the place occupied by
tho enemy. General Smiths Division then oc-
cupied almost the entire road between the point
where they had fled into the Yorktown Road,
and where General Stonemen was, and there
was no chance for Lac to get my division through
BIZ that road. learned nom contraband that by
going two on three miles further could get up to
the same position the enemy held, coming in on his
right flank. To this the General assented. started
upon this route Just about dark, and marched
that night until eleven o'clock. BY that time the
roads had become 90 muddy-it was raining very
hard-the mud was knee-deep, and my men had be-
come so fatiguod, that halted right in the road,
intending TO renew the march az the dawn Of day in
the morning. We were then about two miles and
s-half from Fort Magrder Weresumed our march
at daybreak, and about halfpast six o'clock came
up TO the advanced outposts Of the enemy, which
was, perhaps, half mile from Fort Magruder. I
could 500 from tho position where was three or
four redoubts on this line Of the enemy's works. I
could also see the line of telegraph poles on the
Yorktown road which led TO where General Stone
man was l ordered two regiments TO advance az
skirmishers on the work which commanded the
Yorktown road-to skirInish up to the work. Ana
| I despatched two regiments with instructions to
break down any barrier and destroy any force that
might be between me and the position that General
Stoneman occupied. As soon as my skirmshers
- into EARf II