New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1880-11-20
GENERAL WARREN REEKAlIyED.

THE COURT OF INQUIRY ENDING ITS WORK.
HE HEARING OF WITNESSES PRACTICALLY coNCLUD-
Fp-TuE APPLICANT AGAIN Of THE STAND
FEATURES or IHE ENGAGEMENT AT FIVE FOrKs.
There was an unusual number OF spectators at the
Warren Court OF Inquiry Yesterday. the session
was interesting from the fact that the hearing Of
witnesses was practically completed, ana because
General Warren was recalled to she stand. After
he reading of the record to-day 1t is expected th0t
the COur viii adjourn until alter the holidays, 10
aH I'd an opportunity for the completion OF the
printed record before the arguments OF the counsel
are presented.
Confederate seTV ami ordnance officer in Gen
eral Ransom br gadc first called 10 the stand.
He described the attack on the return of the works
by General AyTes. General Ransons brigade was
on the extreme left OF the Confederate line and con-
sisted Of about 500 men. lie asO described the
retreat If the rebel forces before tie infantry and
cavalry after tue carrying OF the return. In his
cos examination by Major Gardner the witness
SAID ne dil 10, think the rebel forces were much
annoVci BY the cavalry in 'front.' OF the works, and
intimatri that It was the Fifth Corps that drove
them from their position.
General Warren. who was examined at the begin
ming of the inquiry. was recalled by Mr.. Stickncy.
He sad hat as nearly as he could remember Gen
crll Griffin was relieved by General Miles on tho
morning Of March 81 about daylight. About 10
o'clock no himself went - the front for lie first
time. The firing on the opposite side If Graveliy
Run was severe. The bridge the run was not
passabie for wheeled vehicles on account OF Its IN
complete condition. The witness sIid that he did
not receive any message to the effect that any
gagemeut with the enemy would bring on general
attack the dispatch received by Colonel Locke dated
at 1890, did not have the Endorsement OF General
Grant. The troops had very few intrcnching tools.
Just before AyT's alta ked the troops were dis
posed in a line, aud IL designed that they should
lutTeuch themselves and suspend operations. Gen
eral Warren described the Tepuise of General Miles
and other features of the engagement with
the enemy on that day. lie repeated
his statement that dispatch sent from
General Grant WAS not Transmitted 10 nm. He
also said that the impression That the whole of the
Fifth Corps was driven back on March 81 was
erroneous. With reference to the operations
April |, he said
When received nv order, went to confer with Gen
iull AID thought completely und .rstoOd what was
Genera Sheridan again until presented IA sketch OF
the m 'yemcrt TO DC made % see If 1t were rrect.
formed. Wai!c the formation was being made was
engaged IN carefully laying our the ground, and
IN sending instructions wherever | thought they
required. General sheridan did no; make sketch
III the sand IN my presence. He 'incd me, THINK,
sIuOn little III the Of Crawf0rn'' division
fore The movement b gln ana my SIAN Officers division
the time; General sheridan was not iar away, think
the other Side Of the road dd not notice sub
stantdl break IN the troops as tDcy moved down To
WHen General Crawford struck the edge Of The timber
north Of the White Oak Road 10, iar away. |
was with General Ayres's commlnd when he changed
LETT brigade OF CrawiOrds dvslOl to cnaDge front to-
ward the west. Before moving cut requested hat
General Sheridan's escort, which ia trout General
Ayrcs's division, should get IL the OF the line
not TO oD,truct the advance do remember having
made anv remark 70 the ect tnat had de oiagran
the purpose # projecting myself from division
commanders. Tnis WAS The flst time | ever made a |
sketch OF tine formation of the lines, although II
my na0lt TO make diagrams OF proposed move |
mrnt when eouJ: 90 not Tec;n an
about General Lee; nor have l any Ieccolccton Of |
sending word to General Sheridan prisoners
In the advance against me enemy Iedch'd the White
Oa9 road from the north side, near Eve Forks. aud
ouud along toe road 10 the northeast corner OF the
Gillian ieid Thence we moved at steady march
against the en- my across the Gillian fcld | III
General Sher1dan relieving mt from command Was al
the uithef edge O The clearing wet Of the Gillian
c'coDk. At no tme afier ue was a TGa
was on tne White ak road, east oil Five Forks. AT
the point where turned TO 20 PACK met General Cua-
ter, VINO came mp on ny LETT h!nE We w're al advance
OF my cavalry saw. o. nay way back met General !
Held and rive fofks; Cid not uee tAe expression mat
would glVe Lin many mDuica t. reconsider ms |
to me NOW SWING round, and we're ROT thcln,' au,
he dIi express Anxiety at the troops ing far |
10 he right
III answer TO Major Gardner, General Warren said |
he thOnght he gave instructions to several brigade
officers. While the movement was being made be |
was stationed IN an open field north of the White |
OAK road and east OF the Sidncr field ho re-
manned there instead OF going with any partIcd- |
lar division III order that hi staff officers. |
who were conveying his orders, might |
easily fHd him. When Ayres turned his front, he |
left ms position in TINS field aud went 10 the left !
brigade OF CraHfords division. and directed that
the front of tLat division shOnld be changed
Major Gardner read extracts from pamphlet |
written by General Warren III 1865 the battle |
Of Five Forks, and asked the witness II some of !
he statements were not III contradiction 10 his tes
iuony before the Court. General Warren replied |
hat III Writing ;ho pamphlet he accepted as rue |
Lhc official reports of oic rs in command and that
the movements were not as well known then as |
they were now. lie directed the movements |
Df all his divisions, but 1t was |
impossible to sec them in action |
4 portion OF General Clusters command, he con- !
lnued. was south Of him wien he was IN the Gillian !
ield and while there he received message from |
ieneral Custer. As Crawford moved up III the ad- |
there appeared to be enough fire ia his front
20 Indicate that the enemy in sufficient force to
Orm line OF battle. 1t was understood that Gen
,nera Mckenzie was 10 protect the right flank OF |
he miaulTy.
The Court adjoured until to-day at IL a. H.