New-York tribune., 1880-10-27
GEyERAL sHERID4Y'S ST1TEMENE.
WHY he REMOVED GENERAL wARREN-THE c ohl
,E INQUIRY ADJOURNED.

WHY HE RIMONFD GENERAL "N''H> i'"
OF INQUIRY ADJOURNED.
Two witnesses were examined YESTERDAY in tie
Warren IuouIry. General Alexander 5. Webb now
,ros;lo,t of tbe College Of the City Of New-York,
and Colonel A. ~ Martin. A written statement 81
tbe causes which led 10 the removal Of General
Warren was submitted by General Sheridan through
ms counsel -, ., -
n, subordinate the important events Of the battle oi
Five Forks made II necessary 10 refer 20 the facts
nm detail which led up 70 the operations of that day.
General Sheridan moved from his camp near me
James River on the morning of March %. under
written instructions from General Grant From
General Grants dispatches winch were quotcdl, II
would be seen that ne hoped for an opportunity OF
attacking the enemy outside OF his lntrGnch-
ments. General Merritt, who was near j. Bois-
seau's house was ordered to reconn"ltie IN
the direction of Five Forks, ana he succeeded III
pettlug temporary possession OF the White Oak
Road at that point. General Grant wrote on
March 80 that the position, th,re were so lmpof-
tant that they should be held. He added that war
rem was in danger of being attacked on lls lett
flank. and ordered blm 20 be prepared III such
event TO go To arIen's assistance. Again on the
same day General Grant sent MESSAGE 10 inquire IL
tine situation justified the belief that the enc
mys right could be turned with the assistance OF
CORPS Of infantry entirely detached from the rest OF
the Army. The reasons for requesting the SKIN
Corps instead of the Fifth Corps G neral sheridan
sad. had already been stated ocore the Court,
On March 81 General Grant sent word That war
rcn's and Mle,s division Of the Second Corps were
advaucIng and gave some Information ~ regard To
the disposition of The enemys troops me instTuc11
lions received from General blaut uuliorhlS ioV"'u
to important results. bur evluced htue hope OF ac
complishng anything definite by direct assault o
the cnemys work b. the infantry The urgency OF
General Grant IN sendnl the cavalry support aljer
the battle Of DluwIddIe Court House was apparent
IN dispatches which had been already produced be-
fore the court The statement concluded aS loliOWs
The isolation OF the cuemys force sent 10 attack me
at DInwIddie Court House and Five Forks on March 81
and the troops dispatched 10 my support led me to be-
tcvc that great resultS mlEhI poSSlpy now p Hcco'h
pli>hed. Tne importance Of e results hoped Tor was
Tue measure of my desire 10 IN fiji the rXprciau'nS OF
the LcuicnauGenrral ana o NV npdlehcc to s'e ms
promptly Ohcycd by those tr0oiS when hr ad
directed TO my support on the nlght OF March 81.
My dissatisfaction Wlth the non-arrVa OF General war
rcu's command with promptncss was III proportion 20
the urgency of the OCCASION a regarded H. ;" was
with slownc- Of the formation o the corp, before
4e ba Tie OF Eve Forks. am 80 1t with u RAJ
do not pretend thai judged Of these things by An
ordinary standard. fell th1ta great opportunity had
arisen. aud besides had g. realize wi a, coud
The expectation of the LleuIenantGencraL JUDGED
by tbs Standard o tie cohd lHns ~ wen aS OF dutl'
and without prejudice General warren III my opinion
is suIi NV opnou. and relieved hrn OF me command
Of Tie L IN Corps under the discretionary authority
TL,rc sin remain 10 be considered the military posi-
uon which found myself, and the great responsl-
biuIeS thJt devolved on nc Immediately afief the bat
tie of Five Forks was aware tnat onT success OF that
DAY securely established my command in position
from which the enemy would be compelled TO drive me-
! OF aDaud, Richmond and Petersburg. MY own disPo
sltuus made the battle wa, over. the c0un
teruarvhlug the Fifth Corps on the White Oak road
and the taking up o. line facing ihe enemy ID the a.
r.cllou OF Pecr.burgh will Indicate TO the Court with
out other proof and without argument how strongly
was impressed by The risks then he'd | therefore
make culaT reference to the urgency Of Lcueu
Grant. ~ winch might furnish abundant
proof the ne took for further reinforce
mcnt. and III keeping the enemy from dcserunE their
line nearer Petersburg, aud coming to attack me. con
fue uNs self 10 The iulurnccs thdt uIccly aHrceu uc
la OF these and OF the probabilities within our
grasp, II 1 could bold my position now AT
| the battle OF FIVE Forks I still further re
caGded 1t as my duty remove from command corps
commander IN whom could no longer feel confidence.
Ii was an incident Of a camuagn fruitful OF great
suits. surrounded by difficult condition. and urged on by
the expectations OF the Lieutenant Genera rs evidenced
the atcn, referred TO, tnee was no room IN nv
action toward General Warren for anything bat con
sdeTlou OF The periiOus situation O my COhndnC, ana
| OF tue best Interests OF the service
The Court adjourned until November 4, at IL D. n.