New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1880-07-03
GENERAL WARREN'S STORY,

l1;45 p. m, OF March 81, which urged General Warner
TO use every exertion to get troops to General Sheridan
quickly possible, and then asked the witness ID
state the position Of his forces tae position OF -:
enemy and sheridan's situation at the line tbs order
was received
81 knew that Bartlett was on his back - 9riin,
said General Warren. " and that the enemy the
south OF the at Crumps where Bartlett had been
General Humphreys was waiting 70 hear from before
changing back 70 the Boydton plank road The impress
sion had hat Sheridan a very bad position
and that everything must be given up prevent him
| from being actually DESTROYED"
"Wcre not the enemy at the junction OF the White
| Oak and Clayborne rOads"
81 had no doubt that they there with infantry
and artillery and hat their cavalry vdetes at tho
junction OF the White Oak and Crump roads. could
rot move in that direction without fighting my way
! through"
what points in the situation was General Meade liz.
norant of when he wrote this order |"
He had gained knowledge OF the destru ton OF tho
bridge over the Gravely Run and did not know OF my
efforts to replace it. H. also Of tho posi-
tOn Of the enemy between the Crump ng Of tha
Run and II. Boisseaus"
"By which could Sheridan be most quickly
reached I"
81 thought Benyaurd would finish the bridge and
thus furnish the way"
"WheD did Ayrcs cross the bridge Z"
In a dispatch TO General Meade. dated at 2:O5 a. m
reported that Ayres crossing the bridge at that
time. L would like TO say that a OF doubt and
discomfort to the disOinted connection Of tho
dispatches that passed between General Meade and N.Y.
self was in measure left In an Independent position.
Some of his orders made under suppostou
OF facts that did not exist at all had consider
whether TO carry these orders literally, wais
for him to be better informed-to let thing. work as
they were until better light came"
AT what time did you learn that Ayres had com.
municated with Sherdanw
"4:30 a. N. made preparations almost Immediately
to JON Griffin aud Crawford ana wait until
daylight before moving. It at 4:30
o'clock that an officer OF General sierdan's
staff came to where I was lying down and gave
Dispatch which from its tenor put different phase
on the situation. 1t showed me that General Sheridan
felt confident Of maintaining himself and lett me free
to Dinwddie, bad suggested Oh the pre-
vious day"
"when Crawford reached the Crump road I saw that
pursuit OF the enemy intended. and rode of to
join Griffin. Joined Griffin at about a. n.. on the
road leading to Dinwiddie and he said he had seen
General Sheridan, who left word for the troops be
halted there until he sent orders for them TO move"
Ho W long did you wait there %
Until about IL a. m when thought 1t best TO 20 up
the road and General sheridan. found him tho
side Of road leading Five Forks lie had been
lying down and lie spoke to while partly blanket.
/ sat on a log"
Did he then exhibit any impatience of manner !"
None at ALL"
Did he say anything about delay 7"
Nothing that can remember. / felt good deal
eated that everything had turned out well aud said
we had field day yesterday He replied Do you call
that field day saw from his manner that had
made an unfortunate remark and added, by way OF
apology thai. though il had not been General Meades
intentions to make any movement the day before,
General Lees dispositions had given lively time
Is We had had for a long whle This seemed to
his dissatisfaction"
" How long were you with him ~
"Only few minutes; a scout came up and held
whispered conversation with him, wherelpon he
mounted and rode of He did not ask me TO accompany
lIm, did he leave any directions was occupied in
eelng that the troops were supplied with ammunition
When. st O'Clock, orders came to move no. sent Gen.
ral Bankhead with Instructions 10 go back rapidly
IS possible and order the iroops forward. in tho
rider of Crawford, Grlflin and Ayres He went of az
allOp. went up to General Sheridan. whom met
oming down He told that the enemy was in line
t battle on the White Oak road. he explained that ho
ranted me TO form my lins so that the night centre
hould strike the angle OF the works while the left COW
red the works 10 prevent the enemy from reinforcing
he angle. One division to support tho
tack at the angle. l talked with him until
e was satisfied that | understood him thor
ugnly. MY escort mad now rejoined me. and
ode the front and went up close TO the works as
ould without attracting attention. left my escoro
here to prevent from coming out TO discover
hat we were doing We formed out OF sight OF the
1emy. In the formation decided 10 put Crawford on
e right to strike the angle, with Griffin behind him
nd the smaller division OF Ayres the lett General
leridsn came up after Crawford had formed"
" Dld he say anythngi"
had drawn diagram OF the attack and he assented
II as what Ue wanted"
{" Did you have any conversation with General sheri.
" Yes; he said he was AFRAID his cayalrymen would
Il out of ammunition told tim that the troops were
III
g TO move with what had there, would do So He
ia It would be better TO waL told him II would take
It'll O'clock Tor the troops TO come up and form.
mt staff officers back and stirred them up much as
thought would do any good They came as well as
en- could come. stayed there to that one took
any time in finding out where be should go'
T your personal presencei"
!" When The line was forming I thought the enemy
light choose TO make demonstration TO ind out what
e were doing. and it was my place to be there. At
Out o'clock drew diagram which explained IN
rson TO the division commander and to number OF
iyade commanders"
Were any efforts omitted by You to hurry the forma
,nP
: None at ALL"
General sheridan has made statement that your
amer indicated wish for the sun to go down with
an engagement. | do not ask about your wsh bus
re You conscious Of thing in your manner to give
NO. cannot imagine how he got such an impression.
soon rs Griifn's column came IN sight, went aud
d him 10 hurry and form as quickly as possible {
mt with him TO the ground ! understood that was
ming General sheridan wished"
Had you any knowledge OF the country before your
Where did the FIRE OF the enemy FIRST come from Y"
From the fr0nt-all along the edge OF the woods
rth OF the White Oak road"
DID you zee that Avres got fire on his hsnkfp
Yes From the first fire 1 thought IL prob
10 that the enemys line of battle was IN the edge OF
TIMBER"
lfter telling OF the movement Of Ayres General War
continued: General Sheridan met me there and
d the men were advancing gloriously." Describing
battle further, General Warren said: To encour-
tho colorbearers. took my colors and started
oss the field they followed, and the men started
ID eagerness. There was no heavy nrs
I'll were half Here met
lively fire. At this point officer rode up
IN General Custer, and Informed me that he would
operate IN the attack. When We got close TO tho
dec at northwest the field, discovered
ne OF battle which gave q heavy nre and killed o
VI many Before they could reload weus
II the works aud took 600 prisoners We went prob
Y hall mile further, but there no more hehting
TO- I sent officers TO General sheridan for orders,
In "A short time WAS relieved by written order.
4 inuc nsf ned and General sheridan