New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1880-05-18
WHAT THE SECOND DIVISION DID.
TESTIMONY OF GENERAL AYREs.

TESTIMONY OF GENERAL AlkES.
HIS ACCOUNT OF THE MOVEMENTS OF HIS MEN AT
Tux TIME OF THE BATTLE OF FIVE FORKS :,
General Chamberlain did not reel wen
enough yesterday to resume bis 'es'non,
warren Court OF inquiry at Governors Island ana D.
p Cotton a civil engineer in the employ OF the
United States. called upon to tesnIy eoncefinH
various maps which put In evidence Ihese mars
were made w1tha view OF bringing dsteuy ocIor" '"0
Court IN topography the country around Five FORKS
ard ircnded sueh details as country roads, WOODS
rater-courses etc. Mr.. Cotton was examined at Length
Inv counsel and the Court relative to distances tho
character Of the country nature Of the woods etc
Colonel r. B. Avres, OF the Cd Artillery, who com
anded the Second Division Of tho Fifth Corps In 1862
and ranked IA Brevct MaJsrGrneral, WAS then sworn
He proved to he very strong witness for General
Warren aud his testimony, at times, was In nat contra
dction OF parts Of General Shcr dams written stAte-
meot to the Court lie began with q concise account
Of the operations of his division on March 81 ReccV-
ing word from General Warren that General Meade
wished reconnaissance made IN the dlrec-
t,on nj the White Oak road, without
bringing on an engagement, the witness moVed
his troops desired sending Win hropS brigade ahcad'
AS il was well known that the enemy womb ne eh-
countered in force proper dispositions were made TO
mte. any emergency. As Winthrop advanced the
enemy arose front and brigade appeared to the le
As the reconnaissance was made the nomen: the enemy
arose ami ~ order was not to engage thc Uo"pS
were withdrawn Ground WAS lost for an hour or t"o'
bus II was RECLAIMED later the day by General Grln'
who vancpd over rho Waite OAK road and had shaip
fight Genera Ayress account OF the rest Of the opera
ti,n, at this point was substantial restatement OF
General Chamberlain testimony OF Saturday lie sald
that the country cut through with rayines rough
! nuddy, with much undererOwth, and altogether m
difficult troops over a. any couI ty III lhe "ou'
Proiucing his original e ne idcnt ii toe orders sent
70 him nv General Warren on the night OF March 81
Tine first 10 mass his troops where tine order found hn
| and the second TO get ready 10 march down 10 Dh-
! widde and report to General sheridan.
General Ayres could not 4ay positively whether OF
not there was de tue purpose 81 issuing raio''
bu Thought 1t probable tha there was He could nor
SAY what he hour was whe'. the division reached I'
| Boydiun road. He stopped at General "afrr"s p'"'
ouarcis for q few mInutts and had short thk' the
substance ~ wncn that General Warren gave hul
fine idea that Cicnc-i ShcI an hard pressed dow"
RI DmwiddIr aud all poSsih speed must he maze
in marching to his assistance. He then went to lead hls
DIVISION which had stopped s march, with respect
10 the bridge GrtyrV Ran, ne had no rrcollecuoh'
hut was pretty the men did not 0rd TIE S'Te'h'
| He did not remember any substantial DELAY at inc
bridge but he was positive mat II there was ANY G'AE
nj o r. WAS = necessary on. A. experienced ar-
| levy officer he knew what was ana what was nor "h
ol,stacIc Between and O'Clock on HE morning 81
| April he II d reached II Po'iio" on the "hit' OAK
r,ad not u,or- than ~ uulc en half from pnwldIlr
when ne was mot by an otir"r oi General sheridan -
staff who tolu min n should have turned oil On
ro,d abont lie iurtarr back, IN order TO 20 AROUND
and gc IN cnoniy'S rear. rms oir'i SAn hu h'E
ella! she Ian hAd i"t rSPcE' 5n me rori lo
meet HIM. II In the gray nI inc nlornWS WhEH'
nfer turning n. men back thc road Indicated The
division II the Boydt,u plank r"ad The witness mr.
m-I General sheridan neH he Bro"h, ROAD ana lle
road LEADING EOrih TO Dnwddlc. hhth 'c1.I"i 90 -
dan greeted him Impression was created thH ht'"
was any relief il his MUD th"t A. ahure aAry delay
Grms,1I Ayres told OF the march mp 10 tn Gryely
t@ht styi1g tnaf there was delay IN coming ~ O.
ftm Beyond That unaTOdtrlv caused by nc urea ron
G gsrt q t1T , many arm wSSos on tn ioSd IL
ibHi his iiys'on wa. 10 10. sn lest m M COZ nc ~ rgnra
IN about leu nIulir,, IIis troops wore Mintnrop'-
sic MrYand bri :adc. Drirae ~ D,i wArc
without waiting 20 be qncsuoned' ana appar'nty o.
sa@rJan's satcIn~nt h4t his men bern accustomed
70 a nSEt hrn'I me- bHtGrs incG,nG teT ba,io. ana
iussrs and concluded by saying that nghiing h'nnd
r TGey had al h Ir,vei good nieu - .'re4 Nm.
D iaa you any rtgul IT., r. ASKED Mr.. 9tickney.
/. Il had had SOME IrEuai7' h"' t"cJ hi' a. I,cu
General Ayre, described the formation OK his ne "
. battle and ne advance IIs adVA.csd MI" 70 bFi-
gIlrS leaving General Mn!hl T. "a a." t~"r A'trI ,
H. short distance Ne seat MJnt NV 20 b'r' ." tli
Vturup that aIl.iaucrs indicated th" Iir'sIc' al
tie enemy on ,lc lit and g. "fi" hn - 49, q" " Ut
II thAt direction to WErel 10 m 'r' - "
. quick. TIC br SIir, on the niE hrfoic ,. ere me
. s,n, enc began l., duuh-qui,s To Tue FROM. las
cn,,rd ino confusion that q, 4ch Sarlmhn hhd Tp"f 70
5 ,hr crouud" -. Il the v,iurs,; Tho ncn were fir d
upon uud advance a d"pbl' lilrL' ihH' ir 'hr us
r a tIc Wa ~ his confusion, nc "itac>o COT
J., uuut Wa monet ary General ~ntudn anI ne r"dc
I'm uua, OF the aud Grcd order. hItH Tie ~
a y,,iul hai 49, tile lite Odh ROAD e. sharp ia
e voey 0us lorr,d mt the tio"i~ itom tn' lrt IA"
, yitr-t At facet and h'J 20 ~. Irf iA- rU bV-
saIc and riacH- ID word lncb I" nirf"p 90 Whrci To-
me IL a. dlb. r-ILt"H, N1lcu was n"he ms o."
d. lnuY"iu. dropped 40" il@hi hr%ur orr o "tr
ana the WitUcs, neat tAr tuHrhl FORGOT !" scl
a aiy oiders II not again seen Oi nun uiitl amer
had teen su'Cr+~ ulT Ia 81" W % Ia 4" 'i
0 brigairt win LOCO men Tia angie o. g." works Nat
carried and 100 aau nlnc bdtI- nHks We-r cap
! turci.
hal DE en- relieved before no reached FiVn FVfEs-uUi
NOR, tD4u nJf au huur after the au(e II fhc works
, ! He also sad ina Crawford an Giirln "rrr in lnr
with niu ANTI made tie change OF front 10 meet the
emergency arising the discovery VI tho enemy ell
4, | Ll, left He ii not ANYTHING about the NOV"
u, MS OF those Two commando ~ llS attention wa
fully occupied with his men. Before the A-eah
II | of front Geueral SntiidhI cN
Drpsgrd a fear that AYTcs hrlbR mao The Fedora
cavnry The fear aHHnR from the circumstance that lht
i move nrn left han taken plac" sooner than con
r TENN ard III the plan battle. The witness could no
II say ANYTHING about WErrrns movements, ant
did not remember having seen any 'Mtrr of warren
l. sts during advance 70 tile assaul After n cross
= examination by Major Gardner, which reHulrd III III
rrItcraon OF his and after several question
II ! by The Court, General AFrDs was dismissed.
! The Court VIII meet this morDinE ~ IL o'clock.