The Portland daily press., 1864-09-29

/ er did understand, losing llue' A. Onoi0 was
any necessity for that, never yeo nave appre-
hsva ooes. The enemy had abandoned the idea
Of dofsndino Richmond. And it was only
when they saw the lassitude and inefficieney
of our army that they concluded to make a
stand there.
Who was responsible for that lassitude and
ineficiency, and for the abandonment of that
pursuit which gave heart and courage to the
enemy at Richmond? We need not answer
this question, for the reader is presumed to be
aperson of intelligence. "
BATTLE OF FAIR OAKS.
In answer to question concerning the bat
tie OF Fair Oaks, in which Gen. Hooker was
engaged only near the conclusion of the bat
tie, he says: frFrssE s<sb Ell
The enemy were utterly routed, throwing
away their arms, clothing and haversacks, anu
broke for the woods in the direction Oh nicn-
mond. 4t WAY
Question. That was the second day OF the
fight? .. -
Ans,oer. Yes, sir; and that was the end OF
the fighting at that battle. IN MONDAY, the
dav alter the battle, Ireceived orders-the d.
! rec,ions were very vague-to make recon-
nojssapce in force through the camp and be-
vond it. | did so without any resistance ex-
cept a little picket firing, and proceeded to
perhaps wi, hin three and half or four miles
of Richmond, on the williamsburg road. |
was then recalled.
Question. AT what number would you es-
innate the actual force engaged on our
side? Ia s-ir RIA 81 a -. arr r
Ans,cer. should think that all told there
might have been $4,000 men. The telegram
dlraptnO m fO
was, in substance, this: General Hooker will
! return from his brilliant reconnaissance; we
cannot afford to lose his DIVISION" All have
to say is, that L had no expectation of being
lost.
Question. Suppose that the next day after
this repulse of the enemy at Fair Oaks, Gen
Mcclellan had brought his whole army across
the Chickahominy and made vigorous move
ment upon Richmond, in your judgment, as a
military man, what would have been the effeci
of that movement? al
Answer. In ans yer to that would say, thai
at no time during the whole of that campaign
did feel that we could not go to Richmond
Pages $3.50
Question Were you in the battle Of Nal
vern? f.f.-o-se-e f
Answer. Yes, sir and at that place we wor
great battle.
Question Could you have gone into Rich
mond after that fight?
Answer. I haze no doubt zoe could.
Question. Where was the general-in-chie
duriag the battle of Malvern?
Answer understood that he 1oas on board
the gatnboGts,
Question. Did you see anything of him OF
the ground that day?
Answer. saw him once.
Question. After the firing commenced?
Answer think saw him about five o'clocl
in the afternoon. / know that had occasion
to communicate with him but Z could get M
replies
Question. had the defeat of the enemy a
Malvern been followed up by our whole force
what would have been the probable result
Answer. Richmond Dould haze betn our
beyond doubt. .os
Question. Instead of that you fell back t.
Harrison's Landing? aslrs3 ssW ~a
Answer. Yes, sir. We were ordered to re
treat, and it was like the retreat of whppe
army. We retreated like a parcel of sheep
everybody on the road at the same time; an
few shots from the rebels would have pan
ic-stricken the whole command. Pages $40
80, ~
We afectionately invite the Argus and 9th
er Mcclellan papers to copy this testimony 0
the gallant Hooker-"FightingJ oe"-the mai
recently claimed by them as a supporter 4
their candidate. If they will do this thei
readers will get glimpses of truth to whicl
now they may be utter strangers.