The Union and journal. [volume] (Biddeford, Me.) 1858-1882, 1864-10-07
OCT. z, 1864.
General Hookers Testimony in the Nc.
Olellan Case. a;,rv.g

Tho Report Of the Joint Committee on the
Conduct Of the War contains the testimony
Of "fghting Joe Hooker" as to the capacity
of Mcclellan as general, and the manage.
ment of the Peninsular campaign. II will
be we'll for those who laud McClellan's mill
tary genius to take look at what Hooker
says. I'D ..r.F st.i.
The first question put was To what do
you attribute the failure Of the Poninsular
campaignf 9get"G @
Ans,ver.-I do not hesitate TO say that is
10 De attributed to the ,Odnt of gcneralship on
The part of our commander. ..iT
Passing over his statements rs to the oper.
ations before Yorktown. we pass to the vii.
lia,nsburg battle, aud what followed.
"During the night tho enemy evacuated
Williamsburg. have since learned from
reliable sources, that when tho news of that
battle reached Richmond, Jefferson Ddris
and Gop. Lefeler moped their families out OF
Richmond, removed Me arehipes Of their libra.
ries; and erery citizen rho could command a
pehielc had has goods piled on pagons, and pre-.
pared to abandon The city. They only return.
ed--those who had left-when they found
that the pursuit ceased. / might almost say
was abandoned. .t-..... r F.
Question.-ls it your Judgment that you
could have gone into Richmond then?
Ans.-Ithink ,re could hare mored right
on, and got into Richmond The second day a.
ter that Jaitlc, ,oithou another gun being fired.
Ques.-What was done?
Ans.-We moved in manner never did
understand, losing time. If there was any
, nee. ssity for that. never have yet appreci.
nted It. So far as the best information We
have goes, tho enemy had abandoned the idea
of defending Richmond, And 1t was only
when they saw tho lassitude and inciiiciency
of our army, that they concluded to make u
stand there.
Qucs.-Suppose that the next day after
this rcpulsc of the enemy at Fair Oaks, Gen.
Mcclellan had brought his whole army across
the Chickahominy and made vigorous move
! ,ncnt upon Richmond, in your judgment, as
| military man, what would have been the
effect of that movement? IF
Ans.-In answer to that would say, that
I at no time during tho whole of that cam
paign did feel that We could not 90 70 Rich
mond. And will say further, that after
, Gen. Mcclellan received his orders to aban-
don Harrison's Lsnding, ,cent 10 him rol.
unfairly and suggested that Nth the farce zoe
had there roe could take Richmond, and pressed
him TO do il. SO confident was | that we
could be successful, that was willing to-
take tho advance, and so assured him. This
interview took place about l2 O'Clock on
Sunday. From that interview returned to
my camp. stopping on the way about two
hours. On reaching my camp found on
my table an order from Gen. Mcclellan to
prepare myself with three days. rations and
the usual amount Of ammunition. And to
be ready to march at 2 o'clock on Monday,
This order was communicated to the whole
army, and I firmly believe that order meant
Richmond. had said to General Mcclellan
that if we were unsuccessful II would prob
ably cost him his head, but that he might as
welLdie Tor an old sheep Ms for lamb. I
told him that knew of no better place to
put an army than between Johnson-who
was at that time in Pope's front-and the
dcfcnses of Richmond: that tho troops hold
ing those defenses would have to march to
the succor OF Jackson, and would be com.
PEELED to come out and give battle outside OF
their defenscs, where knew wo were always
stronger than the enemy. But before the
time arrived for executing that order It was
countermanded, and hence the results OF
Pop,'s campaign. At liarrison's Landing !
felt that we were in no place To come back
by water up the Potomac river, but If VIC
were wanted at fredericksburg wc should
march there. But we afterwards came up
by water. .ih[
Ques.-wcre you in the battle Of Malvern
HIP
Ans.-Ycs sir; and at that place wo won
q great battle.
Qucs.-Could You have gone into Rich.
mond after that fight? y.srr
Ans.-I haze no doubt ,pe could.
rE
Ques.-whcre was tho Gencral.in.C Chief
during tho battle Of Malvern?
Am.-I understood thai he cds on board
the gun,boais. y ,. 81 1 .
Que,.-Did you sec anything Of him on
the ground that day no a.fi.m.6 Z
Ans. . saw him once. D Ilau
Ques.-After tho firing commenced?
An,.-I think saw him about o'clock
in tho afternoon. pm not certain that
saw him, but was told that he was in par
ty on the field. know that I had occasion
to communicate with him, but could get no
replies. wanted Kcarneys division put in
q different place from wherc is was.
Qus.-tiad the defeat Of thc enemy at
Malvern been followed up by our whole force
what would have been the probable result?
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