New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1880-06-10
WARREN COURT OF INQUIRY.
,wpoRn AND THE BROKEN LINE.

CRAWFORD AND The BhOhEN LlNE'
TESTIMONY SHOWING THAT THERE WAS NOT ANY
cAREtEssNRss ON THE PART OF WARREN OR
HIS OFFICERS.
Contrary to expectation, General Crawford did
not appear before the Warren Court of Inquiry
Yesterday. and the only witness called was Colonel
Samuel K Herr of Westminster. Nd. who was ser
wing ON General Crawfords stan at the time OF the
battle of Five Forks. Colonel Herr, after testify
ing to having carried orders from Crawford 10 HIS
brigade commanders on the night of March 81 and
after sta ting that when the division began to move
before sunrise Of April BaxSrs 6rEo o TT T
of battle came to the events OF the advance Ill the
al Ne said that General Crawford understood per-
fectlv what the movement was intended To DE, ana
that he explained it to his stan. Upon coming 10
aroad, Crawford said inns FMS ov to M'e r avs
ford was ut this time on the iight OF helIoggS
brigade. Not long after crossing the ROAD an olrer
inf9rmed Crawford that connection with AyIcs had
been lost and the witness was sent to state the art
to General Warren. The latter sent the order to
right moving rapidly" Crawford at once dls-
patched the witness to General Baxter, who's
brigade on the right, with INSTRUCTIONS 10 warren
his connection on the LETT, and SWING ms rlghI
around quickly as possible. General baYt:r
used every excrtiOn, and was greatly concerned IN
the execution of the order. On the way through
the woods skirmish line was encountered, aud
upOn emerging into the northern part o the SlunUr
field BaXtcr's brigade met Il heavy fire which
noraiv1cd his line for \ few minutes. Recovering
themselves the men advanced wcStwardly across
the field, encOuntcrng sharp lire from IN Gd@e 3l
the woods which, however, did not check the al;
vance On the advance through the woods toward
tl,e Ford road. the line again temporarily par
alyzcd by heavy fire. hut it quickly recovered us
before. =, 0.....- ell
Just rs Baxter was emerging into the Dung he!d;
General Warren appeared riding III the ranks ana
n part of Gritiin'S command was seen coming up
from the rear and north Generals " arrrh ana
Crawford held q short conference, and Crawford
said 10 witness that Warren had ordered MN !"
change front and move south directly upon ne
Pneniy's works. On the march down, E2Nter Stli'
occupied a position in the eXtren" right. Nhrh
within about 100 yards of the White Oah road thc
witness discovered force of ContcicrattS raiIElnT
in thc woods TO the right. Fearing they W0liu
have right fire Baxter he reported thelr pr.
Cncc to Crawford, who sent him 10 Baxter WIN
instructions to throw back his right. NOT hnGihG
Baxter. the witness gave the order tn C0i"nrI
Tildrn of Maine regiment. who threw BACK MS
regiment and gave the enemy yoilcy or two
causing them to disappear. The right then became
fhr line of march. and the movement was 10 thr
west, The right did not cross the Nhi'e oaN ROAD.
hui advanced to he edge of clearing To The west
of The Gillian field. where the final hat was mair:
The testin ony of Colonel Herr was introduced III
support of previous evidence going ~ SNOW tltt
General Warren did not allow the line al battle To
he broken without eXcrting himself, as H'HCIIl
Sheridan asserted in his statement II the Court;
The Court will meet this morning at IL O'Clock *