New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1880-05-11
GENERAL sHERIDANs STATEMENTS.

days. General J. L. Chamberlain OF Maine and General
Richard Coulter appeared among the spectators. The
examination of Northumberland Sheridan re-
sumed at the point where 1t broke OF on Friday. He
said he estimated the distance the enemy who fought
Warren on tho White Oak road March 81 would have
had TO march to get in his Sheridans trout at about
ten miles He could noe say when the engagement Of
Warren with this force ended but according to O dis
patch from General Grant the time 1880 $50 D.
M. He did not learn that the Fifth Corps recovered Its
position but understood that drove the enemy
| and took position equivalent the control Of the
| White Oak road
1.-THE attack Of the enemy from west OF Chamberlains
Bed me-" said General Sheridan, was late in the
| afternoon"
"Dd It strike you that the enemy must have marched
very rapidly from In front Of Warren to your
| trout In the time given I"
III do not now know"
"Have You since learned that yon were mistaken, and
that these forces OF the enemy were not the same ~
"No SIR am still Of the impression that the force at
Five Forks was the that marched from Warren's
| 'front.'"
Mr. stickney asked General Sheridan to mark
map tho positions Of Warrens three divisions April
l before they advanced and formed at Gravelly Run
Church.
"I can't do that accurately" was tho reply.
bad at topography. didn't graduate high on that"
"Can you give accurate statement how far the
divisions would have had reach the place of
| formation ."
II
| wo miles no division had TO go three miles"
How long, 10 your judgment an infantry officer,
| would 1t take to march that distance and deployp
"We, II had heard the firing up there at Five Forks
should have pretty lively"
"Yes. you would but please answer the question:"
IAN hour little YOu must Judge by the sur
| rounding circumstances"
The witness said he did not recall that Warren came
up him nnd consulted about the formation and stated
that during the march and formation he was with War
rem au hour or SO.
Can you state what General warren's was =
He seemed reluctant prepare for the engagement
and said that Bobby Lee was always getting people
into trouble He appeared to he gloomy, and thought
It strange that he should talk that when he had to
fight. The tendency might have been to discourage me-
We had other conversation, but do not rooa It as do
tuis, which made impression my mind"
Wouldn't he have had great many matters to at
tend 0 corps commander Q"
ION. yes"
"Do you remember anything to indicate that he was
called upon to direct the movements OF divsiOnsp
ono; but tho corps commander had command and
was Responsible"
"Was there anything to indicate that Ayres Griffin
or Crawford was unable to bring his command INTO ac
tiOn propcrlyW
'Tho corps commander would have general charge OF
such matters"
Would not he have to examine the grounds a.
" II was not necessary there"
"Was II not prudCntp
1T is always prudent to Inform yourself about tho
grounds. but there they small that the troops
almost covered them"
ayes, the ground they formed on"
After putting IN evidence the original Of General War
rens order for the formation and attack, MI sckney
asked dd not conform TO the orders the witness had
Issued aud General Sheridan sad did, with Va
alton. In reply fnrlh'r questions, he said no had
Warm. IN h,s opinion. must have known OF thoD.
Glow af'rr you got over the White Oak road did
at must have been very so0n."
chow soon was tho assault on tho works OF the
IVY idea is that 1t was in about half hour. and
think It about an hour inter the advance began
that the works were captured"
THIS COURT or INQUIRY NOT PLEASANT.
In your testimony you have alluded to the confusion
OF the men-their mdlty arising from the fact that
,bey had grown accustomed fight behind broasworks
Did you refer TO Ayress division -
Eyes"
al. this now your deliberate opinion OF Ayress I"
at my opinion with reference to the men saw IN
do you wish to correctitl"
81 didn't know but that you might In your Official
report OF May 1863 you speak Of the Fifth Corps burst
ing upon the enemy like u tornado. Wasn't 1t Ayres's
division you referred Co" observation-disclosures
| pose to antagonlze the Fifth Corps They mad won
victory, aud wanted to say a. much as posslbe
own soldiers This inquiry Is the most disagreeaole
thing ever had to with. have TO aniagonize not
| only General Warren but many officers OF the FINN
Corps have already received many letters from them
| asking mo II ! Am going back on the corps. ,
'Thea the praise you gave the Fifth Corps was unde
yes, It was undoserved. The cavalry won the sub
What caused the break between Ayres and Crawford
II think the firing did IT, n you know Of anything
gel OF me, for don't like to talk on that eubjcct'
What movement was Ayres compelled to mako when
| he got over the White Oak road
| Didn't he have to flank his men quickly And
did not that movement take him away from Crawford1
That's just II you do not remember. Then you
can't say whrtner that the movement which
| took hun AWAY from Crawfordr
vatlon."
Mr. suckney read from General Ayres's Official report
extract which said That after short advance he
PEELED to change n brigade to the left and make some
| other changes IN his line OF advance.
"Does that recall your recollection , c,- -,
| Ayres there such movement" -, T.. -
have pq taken I linn f from Crawford '' ~
Yon saw that when Crawford got to tho Ford road,
| the cavulry had carried the works. Did he not have
"a great many mnskcts were discharged up there-a
/ 0oOd Indication OF fight"
| did you ever learn that CRAWFORD became engaged
| as as he got IN the woods "
lit was woody country there, with deep ravlues and
| WRteI-cOuTsesT
have made II more difficult to make REGULAR march,
Did you ever learn that Crawford became engeged
/
| rOadP $500 =.
| ~ knew he had some skirmishing."
"Do you know what the losses OF the whole Fifth
CorVsp
mo, sir"
"Do you know that Crawords losses were nearly one
| half Of those OF the whole cOrpsP
| CrawfOrd's stats ment would make IL somewhat as
| you say" ,,,, -.
You do not mean to intimate that tho ofhoial report
| s wrong, do you Z"
81 don't know about that"
GENERAL SHERIDAN APPEALS TO THE COURT.
Major Gardner objected that Mr.. snckney's line Of
questioning assumed things to be facts without proving
hrst that they were. General Sheridan also said;
must appeal to the Court. I do not know what will
ccme questions they put me in positions and
| relations that exceedingly unpleasant"
Mr. gtlekney said that was showing his hand with