New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1880-06-18
TESTIMONY IA VORABLE TO W1RREN.

TESIIMOAl IA TOHAbLE ~ W <IhItE-''
THE INFANTRY ATTACK AT THE LEFT.
A CONFEDERATE GENERAL WHO SAW THE INFANTRY
AT TIE GILLIAN FIELD-GALLANr ACTION ok
THE FIFTH CORPS.
The testimony of three witnesses was taken
before the Warren Court of Inquiry yesterday Colonel
David L. Smith of Allegheny City, Penn the chei COM
mssary the Fifth Corps. was called hrSt lie hau no
command at the battle OF Five Forks, hut voluntarily
accompanied General Warren after the attack had De-
gun For some minutes at the time the advance began
and the attack was made he engaged in providing
hosp,tal supplies near the Gravelly Run Church HAY
ing performed his duty this matter the witness SAID
he started off find General Warren, whom he overlook
before the Ford reached lie was present Wheh
Generals Warren and Crawford met IN the Young heiu
and heard what was there said. General Warren said:
Crawford, you are too far TO the right lWaht W"
TO change to the left and attack at Once.'
ATTACK where :" asked General Crawford
Pointing in the direction OF the artillery firing which
came directly from the Forks, General Warren said;
"Iwant You to charge Just there, where the firing is"
Crawford az once obcyed orders and marched south on
the line Of the Ford road Couers brigade look the
guns and the witness heard Coulter 1iy:
Pant Your cOlOrs here have no time now To care
for these guns We can get them when we come back
About this time strong regiment OF mounte cavalry
came from the front left and passed between CouerS
men and General Warren. General Warren stopped the
officer command ana spoke With nlill dltti within
cavalry continued TO the right. General
Warren continued on, entering the Gillian field near
the northwest corner The only Federal forces the Wit
ness knew of present then were Conlters men, Ger
tainy no mounted cavalry were TO be seen 1t was
dark enough for the flashes from the enemys
guns to appear brightly force OF the enemy was formed
on the edge Of the woods the west Of the field They
delivered one full vOey hut made more substantial
oppOsitjOn. Colonel Smith ordered by General
Warren this point TO 90 and provide hospital sup
plies consequently ne nothing more OF the events
of the day. When he LEFT General Warren no order al
been received from General Sheridan relieving HIM OF
command. The Confederate force TO the west OF tie
Gillian field appeared 10 be q brigade of reasonable
size AT the close II the battle the provost Of the Fh
Corps made r"qulsion for rations for from $500 to
| 4 900 prisoners, taken Ivy the lninHtry.
The second witness was Il. VI. +. Bealc member or
| Congress from Virginia In 1865 he coniinanded bil-
| division aud rank as Brigadicr- General. General
Eralc said lie formed all Of Ills brigade executing u c
IN of Aurll on the pr lOnga0n Of the uc of works.
The men went to work aud an hour had constructed
| was dsmountcd. The wncss sad his front was not
afsaed at all during the entire day: ard was not at
tackled unti after the stampede late In the evening
when the Federal infantry came IN front OF their lcf
cavalry to his lett before tie main arIacE
General Mayo mad informed him that a
| force Of cavalry had charged In between his
| sklinsh line aud the works, aud swept away the
! entire skrnsh line. And abOut 3 y. M Il regiment
Federal cavalry broke through me sklrlnlsh me OF
Mayo and Corsc. and, wheeling TO the right went of
| INFO woods in the rear OF the GllilHln mouse.
force of cavalry had also repeatedly charge 100 men
OF the 10Th Virginia, who were stationed at the Gillian
| house They were repused with considerable loss,
Late in the evening, nlhued General Bc".c Hrefu'
MunfofG told him that force or Federal Infantry was
sSrKe the White Oak road Just in rear Of his uc In
about half hour lie saw three lines OF battle coming
lie had ridden out what had caused the pcde
of the Confederate infantry. who mad been passhg TO
were distant not more than $50 yards, opened fire, and
the witness found 1t Impossible to JOIN his men, He
| l.tlf nff h4 and Auye r
He learned aferwar that the mcu OF his command had
seen told to themselves and that they stAmprdrd
for their horses which were held To The rear III the
woods.
COMMANDED a brigade OF Confederate Infantry under
| General Pickett, examined lust General Hunton
took no part IN The battle Of Five Forks, and he
anlncd with reference to the battle o! White Oak Ridge
on March 81, VIII ch fought by the Fhih Gurus He
| said that on tue morning OF that day he had been
ordered out of fortified Won ks at Petersburg, in
junction with two other brgadtT to form IN line OF pat
| tie on the White OAK road. The order was ls>ucd by
General r. f. Lee with the purpose Of Keeping the road
open for Pcki 1hs ng ad Se%IGeV DGen I"fGI
| sequcntly learned was part Of the Fifth Corps, adj
vaccd against it. The Conlederales arged ana drove
the Fcdras back .ldcrabc distance nearly 10 the
fl.st branch OF tie GrnEelIy Run Tho pursuit wa.
checked because IT was understood that the ccny nah
retired behind works General lcr was very llI y
pleased with this success and ordered the troops to hold
thrown up. but they had 10 be abandoned, owing
to flank attack the left. the CUncdcnte forces
White Oak road and II second time threw up Temporary
works A large Federal force advanced against Them
|
had come close When the fire delivered the Federal
line wavcrcd, and norton of II broke ana ran l.,
| Tie rest reformed under fire, advanced and drove
us ont l thought this was one 81 Inc most gallant
things mad ever seem" General IuntOn checked ms
| Testimony to saw. When VIC we're driven back" he
| 90 nIiuuad. eve gave mp all idea of holding the
nosition and had difficulty in getting behind The
man line works, close was the pursuit. The
witness said lac remained behind the works until Late
next day. when unravOrablc news cHne from Five Forks
and he was sent reinforce Pickett. He Reached the
north side OF Hatchers Run after lark and joncd what
forces had been saved BushrOd Johnson arrived mex
day.
fac Court will meet this morning to examine General
| Ransom. at present Il Uni'cd States senator frou
North Carolina, who commanded the confederate force
| the angle.