New-York tribune., 1880-10-24
GRANT AS A WITNESS.
'EsTIFyING AT THE WARREN COURT.

GENERAL SHERIDAN.
The dull routine of the Warren Court of Inquiry
was broken yesterday by the appearance OF Generai
Grant as witness The report that he was 10 tes-
tfy brought an unusual number of spectators 10
the courtroom; many of them were unable 10 oo-
tain seats. Among those present was General Auan
Badeau late Consul-Genera to London, who came
with General Grant and sat at his elbow during the
examination General Grant came into the court
room about 10 o'clock and took his scat upon the
stand He was dressed IN plain business suit
Most of his answers to the questions OF the counse
were given in a quiet, unhesitatng manner. Frc-
quently in the discussions between the opposing
counsel he made remarks upon the points in dispute
and once or twice in his examination by Mr.. suck
ney he manifested considerable feeling.
The President was questioned by General Sherl-
dams counsel chiefly in regard to message that he
sent TO General Sheridan the day OF the battle oil
Five Forks in which authority was given for there
mOval of General Warren If 1t was thought that the
exigences of the case required II. MAJOR Oardher
attempted 10 introduce testimony the reasons
which General Grant had for sending this message
but Mr. Stickney objected on the ground that the
reasons were not based on the conduct OF General
Warren during the time that came within the Iimlts
of the inquiry. After an extended argument on the
part of both counsel the Court decided that the evil
direct testimony General Grant was crossexamined
at considerable length with reference toa number OF
messages sent by him to General Meade, General
Sheridan and Others which had already been offered
IN evidence The examination as follows:
THE EXAMINATION
Major Gardner-Do You reeolect the circumstances
connected with the movement OF General Warrens
corpsl
General Grant-From actual do not fix the
tho. Init fv hen
currcnces about the OF the movement OF General
Warrens corps from the lines yOnd the Potomac to
reinforce General sheridan the nslgnbOrhood OF Din
widdie Court House
Major Gardner-DJ you rccolcct the day OF the battle
OF Wnite oak Ridge
General Grant, cannot fix the day from memory but
Of course ! know ii from reading reports.
Major Gardner-DJ you recolcct the movement OF
General Warren's corps upon The enemy upon White
OAK Ridge prior to his movement TO reinforce General
Sberidaml
General Grant-No. Probably hld better state just
what occurred. General sheridan had been sent with
cavalry corps to 20 DmwIddie TO flank Eve Forks
The force not ben. sufficient. he was Obliged to
tail back on his position. lie reported TINS to me,
that uc was falling back gradually and drawing the
enemy out. I thought 1t was fine opportunity
and proposed attacking the enemy outside OF MS forh-
cations AMI determined to rcnorce enerll sheridan
for this purpose. General Warren's corps was the only
corp, 20 situated the uc rs to BE- dra wn on effect
lively and quickly Hs corps seec ed for that rcl-
SON The orders he received a matters OF record
but what they we're cannot re,ollect
Major Gardncr-On the same day that General sheri-
d,u made the mOycmcnr Five Forks, from wnicn NJ
fell back to Dinwiddr. you know If the fiih Corps
made a movement ~ tine nature Of a recnnn0islncef
General Grant, do not recall tho fact "a the present
time. know from the records and heaIsiy
Major Glrdncr-D.d you send tIe folIo"ins Dispatch
10 General Mead. datsl March 81:
II the enemy mas been attacked Warrens front what
attacaIns before giving him time . entrencn rerc
~ good order his old line cutrenchmeOtf Il" nos
II defstaud why Warren permitted his corps 10 be
fought in detail Wien AYres was pushing forward lie
.hOuld hava sent other troops 10 his support
Genera. Grant, not recoect II from memory but
] know that IL was sem.
Mjor Gardner-Docs that recall to your memory the
movement OF General Warren which called forth that
dspaichl
General Grari-No, not specially. l recocct tnat
there WIS disappointment al his tardness-tha IL the
mear Ing OF send the otderhe dIssdtlsfac ION Bu
cannot SPECIFY particular just what he did hat was
a # rent from what expected HIM 10 do, except iha
lis hour at 81 rring was later.
Hai5r Garmer-You refer to the orders you gave for
his cong down u r mi rec General Sheridan
General nt-Ycs s!r. Ido not recollect anything
o. the krd urrei before that have N recol-
lection oi hi visit 10 General Meldos headqu1rers
Major GarGner-Do ylu remember sending General
BaDcou. ON any dlty l.ai dayl
General Graul-Np; remember sending a number OF
NV stan Gnic,r--Gcucral EaDcocE among the nrmber.
General Porter and othrro General SAcrdans h al
quarters ~ az to obtain Information from them, and re-
uolt as to ANYTHING tha Iluspircd which ml-ht be IN
uortari f,r mc 20 know What YOU wish to get at s If
Inc orfer I'D regard - relieving General Warren wa,
Maj r. CIlrauer-Pe4-e state the circumstances under
1,.p.Ia. Granr-rhe circumstances under whicn the
/ Iu.s-aZ. Nas tQut we're tHcsc. =
M S1clney infcrru,lng cx prc> sod hope that the
4 tFrr4 RON ttir f4tI
Genera Grqn-i should keep those ont Of consider
alton shout. have TO say, 10 nearly a. can from nom
nrv thai notified Genera sheridan thai me auth e.
ized 20 relieve Gerera Warren 4 N ni,Juf@ment was
airald Conceal Warren was Ia Ing az critical moment
That The substance " nv message cannot rrprn-
bcI the prcc o course ndd 10 Judge % the
fact -l .td from my own know eiee of General war
I z-.o Cd tr of
| Nr Sucsury objected General Grants c"inion Of
General Warren qHal heatons nen- reprodur d 6rsrd
ar ihr! we're upon previous cic'lh-tihces' anu 'i"
! Gardner. repY. quoted from testimony adluced by
the oJncr side 10 show mat such OPINIONS had already
been allowed Nh. 'uckneY 0o-eI'Giu a. tIll ,hr uhY 90
ecf coud be to weigh down General Warren quallnca
tons with the advcrs- opinion oi the greatest inay
authority of wo.d. hicI was unfair and inpropeI
GENERAL wABEFN's DEPENCE.
General Grant Gntermplingj-I 10 not think Tat it
WAS I'D consequence OF any information at all that
brought u ne IN regard 10 General Wirrens
movements at tnat line, lhat sent this order IT Nis
simply uy impression that General Warren N that crit
cal poslfion- which then expected t0 make tae last
battle OF the war-I thought he probab failing
| Toat order WAS sent because wanted to warn Genera
sheridan Of danger he was In do not thnk It
sent consequence Of any eport that was brought to
me II vas simply that knew General Warren detects
Mr Stickney-What You thought General Warren's de-
| fects ~
General Grlut-What ID aught General WarTen's de-
| frrts Thought Wdntn's was the only corps could
send promptly and therefore % was sent ihat corps
would NOT NC n could have sent another a.
nroutlv But was iust thinking Of the consequences
al "a faliurc there and wanted 10 put -neridDn on ms
guard li mat authority - that he should have
no hesitation ID removing officer II 1t seemed at All
! necessary 10 success.
! Mr. Suckncy argued that this order, 'hen was sent
uuOn General Grants OpiuiOn merely ana he. there
ire assrd that he part ~ hs testimony reatnE 10 his
nuiulou which based uuOn events occurring prior
! Ia ;he uay ~ war be strlck-H ont.
&Iter - mug discussion he Court ruled the conduct
I OuiuI has ia