New-York tribune., 1880-01-07
AN ARMY COURT OF INQUIRY
GENERAL WARREN'S RECORD AS A SOLDIER
HIS EFFORTS To LEARN WHY he WAS RELIEVED OF
HIS COMMAND AT THE BATTLE OF FIVE FORKS
THE COURT OF INQUIRY.


HIS EFFORTS TO LEARN WHY he WAS RELIEVED or
his COMMAND AT THE BATTLE OF FIVE FORKS
THE COURT OF INQUIRY.
A Court of Inquiry is now in session at
Department Headquarters Governors Island to in-
vestigate the case of Lieu Gouverneur X
Warren of the Corps OF Engineers and late MajorGen
era of Volunteers, who was relieved from command OF
the Fifth Army Corps at the battle OF Five. Forks va
April J. 1865. by General Sheridan. The Court was or
dered to meet by the President, at the So
lictation of General Warren, to inquire into
his conduct as Major-General commanding the
Fifth Army Corps on that occasion, and In
TO the operations OF his command so far as they
relate TO his conduct imputatiOns or accusations
against him. AS originally composed the Court CON
sisted Of Generals Hancock and Augur and Colonel
Tower. with Major Mcmillan as recorder, and 1t first
met on December H. 1879, adjourulng, n accordance
with instructions from the War Department, until jan
uary g. At that time the Court met and organized Cen
era Newton being substituted for Colonel Tower as
member.
Yesterday morning tho Court met again, General
Hancock presiding, General Warren conducted his own
case and after preliminary action by the Court
he said he had hoped for the presence OF General sher
dan as his testimony would be OF the first importance
He asked I'm the absence Of that officer to be allowed
the benefit OF maps OF the battlefield and offered IN
evidence the official report OF General Sheridan printed
in The Army and Macy 01clGt Gazette question arose
Gs the Official Of the paper and alter dis
cussion General Hancock said the question of its adj
mission official paper would be left IN allegiance
temporarily. further discussion followed In which
General Hancock pointed out to General Warren the
danger OF not only standing accused, Dut OF
being his own accuser unless left the official record OF
the battle contained In the order offered In evidence
the sole allegation. General Warren replied
that he was his He had asked an In
quy find ont why he had been relieved There must
have some for General Sheridans action.
and he thought that General Sheridan himself would DC
the best witness on that point. General Ha. cocks
reply was the Court did not wish to pass upon the
question OF summOnipg General Sheridan until they
knew more OF what General Warren expected to prove
Finally General Warren decided to have number OF
papers from the War Department put In evidence pro-
vided they would appear Of record coming from
him. and they read. Among them were General
sherdan's official report OF the battle. and General
warren's appeal for the Court of Inquiry.
General Sheridan in his report dated MAY &c, 1865.
after detailing the operations OF his command during
tue day OF March 81 said Generals Crook Merritt,
Custer and Denim. by their courage and ability.
tained their commands and executed the rapid move
ments OF the day with promptness aud without con-
fusion During the night OF the 3lSt OF March my head
quarters at Dinwidd.e Court House, and the Lieu
tenant General notified that tue Fifth Corps
would report to me, and should reach by
midnight. This corps had been offered to
the 30th inst but very much desiring the Sixth Corps,
which had been with me In the Shenandoah
Valley asked for it but account OF the delay which
would occur in moving that corps from its position In
the lines IN front OF Petersburg it could not be
understood that the Fifth Corps. ordered
port TO me, was in position s. Dabneys house In
the angle between the Boydton road and the Five Forks
road. Had General Warren moved according TO the
pecations OF the IAeutenantGenera, there would ap
pear TO have been but little chance FOR the escape
OF The enemy's infantry in front of Dlnwddie Court
House"
After narrating some Of the movements OF his com
nand on the morning OF April l. General Sheridan said
iurtbor directed General Merritt TO demonstrate as
though he attempting TO turn the enemy's right
flank notified him that the Finn Corps would strike
the enemy's left flank and ordered that the cavalry
should assault the enemys works rs soon as the Fh
Corps became engaged, and that would be determined
by the voleys OF musketry. then rode TO where
the FIuh Corps going into position, and found them
coming up very slowly. was exceedingly anxious to
attack at once, for the was getting low and
we had to fight or go back In this connection
will say that General Warren did not exert himself as
TO get up his corps rapidly he might have done,
and his gave the impression that he wished
the sun to 90 down before dispositions for the attack
could be completed During the attack again
became dissatisfied with General Warren. During the
engagement portions OF his line gave way when not ex
posed to a heavy fire. and simply from want OF conf
dcnce on the part OF the troops which General Warren
did not exert himself 20 inspire. l therefore relieved
him from command OF the Fifth Corps authority for
this action having been sent 70 me, before the battle
unsolicited"
General warTen's appeal 10 the Secretary OF War is
dated November Is, 1879. In It, after asking for the
Court OF I0quiIy hc said: " The length OF time which
has passed since tle battle Give Forks requires for
proper consideration ofmy request, tnat brief state
ment should be made OF part in it, and also OF my
efforts during this time 10 obtain an investigation Early
IN the morning Of April l, 1865. the Fifth Army Corps
was detached from the lett wing OF the Army OF the
Potomac under Mnjor-General Meade, where It had
previously been. aud. Joining with the command OF
MaorGeneral Sheridan, fought with him the battle OF
FIVE Forks, whero victory remarkable forts
competeness After the close OF the battle while the
head OF my Army Corps directed by me
throughout the continuance OF the battle and
led by me In the final assault, in viii ca latter
nv horse was fatally shot. with several
tbou.and prisoners twelve battle standa rds and bat
terry OF artillery In hands, with armed foe in
sight, received about p m. written order from Cen
oral Sheridan relieving me, and directing me to report
In person LieuenanGeuera Grant. This order came
without any assigned reason had there been sny
real otscordance between Surprised SOUGHT Gen
eral Sheridan and asked hlu nat u meant to whcn NJ
ms oni{ I1PS Pnerai Grant ten ines distant reaoI
ing there about 10 p,sl. p. M ne ne i, toid me ne
had given I he thought Necessity but gave no
reason for its this occasion. then proceeded 10
. pecei%ed nom General Grant an order assigning me
10 the command nj City Point and Bermuda Hundred.
The Bermuda Hundred lines and Richmond and Peters
burg were evacuated by the enemy tnat night and
April was given command at Petersburg, which re-
fnpcd until April While thus stationed AZ Petersburg
the new spapres from the North announcing War
rem relieved Of command the field OF battle" thus
creating widespread, luxurious, al.housn erroneous
popular belief which only tho positive deula OF ones
superior officer, through rcfutaton before Court Of
Inauiry. could remove. On April | applied for
sucn an investigation. Before this communication was
answered xncd May g. 10 the command of The
Denarfmcnt the Mississippi Believing from this act
and from having received no answer 10 application
that would Yndicatsd by superior officer, which
would render the Court OF Inquiry unnecessary, and
washing TO stand fairly In the field about to enter,