ular conduct of General McDowell since he was assigned to the com. mand of a division in the Army of the Potomac, under General McClellan, on the 24th day of August, 1861.

It is not deemed necessary to furnish an abstract of the testimony in this report except in a few instances, where it appears desirable for an intelligent understanding of the whole subject.

For convenient analysis of the case the court present it in chronological order as nearly as practicable.

GENERAL M'DOWELL AS DIVISION AND CORPS COMMANDER UNDER GENERAL M'CLELLAN.

General McDowell entered on the command of a division in the Army of the Potomac on the 24th day of August, 1861, in which he continued until the 13th day of March, 1862, when he was assigned to the command of the First Corps of the same army, in which he continued until his detention to form part of the force for the defense of Washington, on the 4th day of April, 1862.

During all this period he was under the command of General McClellan, and it appears by the concurrent testimony of every officer who has testified on the subject, and the court report the fact to be, that he was energetic, intelligent, faithful, and without reproach in the performance of the duties of his station.

THE SEPARATION OF GENERAL M'DOWELL'S CORPS FROM THE ARMY OF THE POTOMAC AND FORMATION OF THE DEPARTMENT OF THE RAPPAHANNOCK.

The cause of the detention of General McDowell and the separation of his corps from the Army of the Potomac, when that army proceeded to Fort Monroe to commence the campaign of the Peninsula, has been carefully and thoroughly investigated. The object proposed for that army was the capture of Richmond. The minds of officers and men were deeply imbued with it. It had all the importance and brilliancy of expectation to awaken ambition and a soldier's thirst for glory. The Army of the Potomac contemplated the achievement as one to be ac complished by their united efforts, and for which they had the required numerical strength, discipline, and equipment.

It was to be expected, and it was the fact, that the portion of it which, in the necessary distribution of force, was left behind regarded their separation from their more fortunate comrades with feelings of bitter disappointment.

Public attention had been strongly attracted to the fact that the separation of General McDowell's corps occurred when the Army of the Potomac was taking its position before Yorktown, and a presumption followed, from a want of information as to all the circumstances of the case, that such separation interrupted the plans formed for that army and was the primary cause of the failure of the campaign against Richmond.

It is not difficult to understand how that presumption, when adopted as the real state of the case by officers and men in the Army of the Potomac, would affect their opinions of General McDowell.

That officer immediately succeeded to the command of an independent army and department, known as the Department of the Rappahannock. When the public mind planted itself on the fact that the disruption of the Army of the Potomac, by the detention of General McDowell's

corps, was a capricious and unnecessary act; when that officer was beheld invested by it with increased rank and command, it required but another step in this presumptive process of argument to hold him virtually responsible for the disasters of the Peninsular Campaign. To this separation primarily and chiefly associated with the memory of the first battle of Bull Run, the court ascribe the wide spread discontent with General McDowell throughout the country, his own army, and that of the Potomac.

The court could not perform the duty devolved upon it, in this branch of the case, without a searching investigation into the causes of that separation and the influences through which it was accomplished.

This investigation has revealed, and the court find the fact to be, that the detention of two divisions of General McDowell's corps, amounting in the aggregate to about 20,000 men, and which was the whole force so detained, was not the result of caprice or any unworthy motive whatever, but was in execution of an order of the President, which preceded the departure of the Army of the Potomac to the Peninsula, which order had the substantial concurrence of all the corps commanders, which, under the circumstances at length disclosed before this court, the safety of the capital and common prudence enjoined, and which the President had reason to believe, from a report made to him by three general officers, viz, Generals Hitchcock, Thomas, and Wadsworth, who were on the spot and were specially instructed to investigate the facts, had not been complied with.

In this investigation and report of those generals and the communications which led to it General McDowell had no share whatever. He was not consulted. He expected and desired to proceed to the Peninsula, following the other portions of the Army of the Potomac.

GENERAL M'DOWELL AS COMMANDER OF THE DEPARTMENT OF THE

RAPPAHANNOCK.

Following the natural order of events, and the subjects which have been the occasion of the strongest dissatisfaction manifested toward General McDowell, the court has carefully and thoroughly investigated his operations as commander in the Department of the Rappahannock.

His army was not designed to operate beyond the limits of his own department, while the enemy continued in a position to menace and reoccupy it, including, as it did, the city of Washington.

Still, this attitude of defense was not agreeable to General McDowell; his mind was continually occupied with the idea of participating in the operations of the Army of the Potomac which were then progressing by the route of the Peninsula against Richmond.

With the concurrence of the President, which he yielded only when it appeared that the Army of the Rappahannock could be safely sent forward, it was ready to move from Fredericksburg against Richmond, by the way of Hanover Court-House, on the morning of the 26th of May.

The ambition of General McDowell was deeply interested in this movement. He had for a long time been devoting the most unremitted and energetic efforts to be adequately prepared for it.

So far from manifesting any reluctance to co-operate with the Army of the Potomac the desire to render such co-operation engrossed his mind and heart. Public opinion and censure were never more at fault than in imputing to General McDowell a want of earnest zeal and desire

to assist General McClellan from Fredericksburg in the assault on Richmond.

His demonstrations in that direction were timely and useful. They led to a withdrawal of Jackson's forces from Richmond and their renewed menace against the approaches to Washington. The Army of the Peninsula was in this manner relieved of the resistance of a force which it must have expected to encounter, and which numerically was stronger than the portion of General McDowell's corps-20,000—which had been detained to cover Washington.

The movement of Jackson's forces down the Shenandoah Valley, and the jeopardy which menaced the capital, and what was then supposed to be the inflammable and revolutionary sentiments of a part of the population of the State of Maryland, led to an order suspending the march of General McDowell on Richmond and his recall to cover the approaches to Washington on the 24th of May.

It is not possible to determine accurately what would have been the result of persistence in the movement at that time of McDowell's army on Richmond.

Had there been great celerity of movement and co-operation between the armies commanded by Generals McClellan and McDowell, and Richmond had been carried by assault, without a halt and without interruption by the excessive rains which flooded the rivers and streams of Virginia on the following Friday, Saturday, and Sunday, May 30, 31, and June 1-had all this been successfully accomplished before Jackson could have gained any countervailing advantages against the capital and in the State of Maryland, it is quite obvious that General McDowell would have been justified by the results, in his opinion, that it was inexpedient to recall him from his projected movement against Richmond. The court has not found it necessary to decide this hypothetical question. It will remain a fruitful subject of conjecture, perhaps of recrimination, until a time of peace shall reveal all the circumstances calculated to elucidate it.

If it be doubtful whether General McDowell ought to have allowed his mind to be so fully occupied with a campaign beyond the limits of his own department, it is perfectly clear that he yielded a prompt submission to the order of the President, and without reservation or evasion, and with the most commendable alacrity, pushed forward a part of his troops toward Washington and another toward Front Royal, still leaving one division at Fredericksburg.

The whole inquiry into the conduct of General McDowell has disclosed in the most signal manner, however, at Fredericksburg on the occasion in question, that he appreciates the military necessity of submission and obedience to the authority over him. Instead of furnishing any occasion for censure, his whole conduct at Fredericksburg should receive unqualified commendation.

THE CORRESPONDENCE OF GENERAL M'DOWELL WITH THE ENEMY'S COMMANDERS OR WITH ANY ONE WITHIN THE ENEMY'S LINES.

The only correspondence of General McDowell with the rebel commanders requiring notice relates to the removal of Mrs. Robert E. Scott from near Warrenton, Fauquier County, Virginia, to her friends within the rebel lines after the murder of her husband.

The evidence discloses that her husband was an eminent citizen of Virginia, distinguished for his high character and loyalty to the Gov

ernment.

In the opinion of the court, both humanity and public policy not only justified but required the course of procedure adopted by General McDowell.

THE CONDUCT OF GENERAL M'DOWELL TOWARD THE INHABITANTS OF THE COUNTRY OCCUPIED BY UNITED STATES FORCES, WITH REFERENCE TO THEMSELVES OR THEIR PROPERTY.

General McDowell adopted as a principle of administration that the exclusive authority to control and appropriate rebel property was vested in and should be exercised by the commander of the army, and that all interference with it by subordinate officers or soldiers, not sanctioned by that authority, should be denounced and punished as acts which were calculated to demoralize the army and defeat the objects of the war.

In this particular the opinion of the court is that the principle was right, and the measures adopted by General McDowell to enforce it merit commendation.

It is apparent that the censure which was passed upon his conduct during the course of a debate in the Senate on this subject arose from a want of information of all the circumstances relating to it.

From the date of the departure of General McDowell from Fredericksburg to the formation of the Army of Virginia, on the 26th June, 1862, in which the Army of the Rappahannock was merged, his conduct has been the subject of critical investigation by the court. particular facts were elicited which require special consideration. Throughout this period the court find that his conduct was irreproachable.

No

It was during this time, and while the enemy's troops under Jackson were operating in the valley of the Shenandoah, that General McDowell sent forward McCall's division of Pennsylvania Reserves, about 10,000 strong, to the Army of the Potomac. This division reached the Chickahominy and got in position on the right of that army at Mechanicsville about the 19th of June, being a week previous to the arrival of the enemy's troops under Jackson and the retirement of the Army of the Potomac to the James River.

GENERAL M'DOWELL AS A COMMANDER IN THE ARMY OF VIRGINIA, UNDER GENERAL POPE.

When General Pope assumed command of the Army of Virginia, on the 26th of June, 1862, although in order of rank he was below General McDowell, he has testified that he received from that officer the most valuable and cordial co-operation and assistance.

The court dwell with satisfaction on these fine qualities of military subordination, frequently exemplified by General McDowell under circumstances trying to the pride and emulation of a general officer.

The conduct of General McDowell at Cedar Mountain was incidentally called in question by the testimony of General Sigel during his cross-examination as to the unfavorable impressions resting on his mind against General McDowell; but no specific and tangible accusation against him could be predicated on that part of the testimony of General Sigel, nor upon any other part except that which relates to the operations and battles in the neighborhood of Thoroughfare Gap, Gainesville, Groveton, Manassas, and Bull Run, on the 28th, 29th, and 30th days of August last. In respect to the whole conduct of General McDowell preceding those days, and especially the engagement of Gen

eral Banks with the enemy at Cedar Mountain, the court have found no incident to modify their approval.

The conduct of General McDowell on the 28th and 29th days of August, in the neighborhood of the locality best known as Manassas and Bull Run, has been the subject of specific arraignment in the evidence of General Sigel, and the court have felt bound to examine with critical attention all the testimony relating to the operations of those days. Previous to the 27th day of August the forces of the enemy under Jackson had moved east of Thoroughfare Gap, and came between the army under General Pope and the city of Washington.

This force of Jackson was about 25,000 strong, probably somewhat less. On the 27th General McDowell, with his own corps and that of General Sigel and Reynolds' division, had proceeded eastwardly from Warrenton toward Gainesville across Broad Run at Buckland Mills. He was thus moving along the Warrenton pike, so called, in the direction of Centreville and Alexandria. On the night of the 27th the head of his column, to wit, the command of General Milroy, in Sigel's corps, rested at Gainesville. The rear of his column was at Buckland Mills. At this point of time General Pope was at Bristoe and pressing with Heintzelman's corps and Reno's division on the troops of Jackson, which had been driven to Manassas Junction. The rebel general Longstreet, with the largest portion of the enemy's force, was west of the Bull Run Mountains, and was approaching the passage through Thoroughfare Gap to unite with Jackson.

By looking at the map it will thus be perceived that McDowell, with his whole command, including Sigel's corps and Reynolds' division, was interposed between Longstreet and Jackson, while the latter was being closely pressed by General Pope, within striking distance from the direction of Bristoe and Greenwich.

From Gainesville a highway and the Manassas Railroad lead directly to Thoroughfare Gap, which is 5 miles distant, passing through Hay Market, only 2 miles distant. Another highway leads to Manassas. Junction, chiefly on the south side of the same railroad. The Warrenton pike passes from Gainesville through Groveton to Centreville.

On the night of the 27th General McDowell received orders from General Pope to march on Manassas, as follows:

Major-General MCDOWELL:

HEADQUARTERS ARMY OF VIRGINIA,

Bristoe Station, August 27, 1862-9 p. m.

At daylight to-morrow morning march rapidly on Manassas Junction with your whole force, resting your right on the Manassas Gap Railroad, throwing your left well to the east. Jackson, Ewell, and A. P. Hill are between Gainesville and Manassas Junction. We had a severe fight with them to-day, driving them back several miles along the railroad. If you will march promptly and rapidly, at the earliest dawn of day, upon Manassas Junction we shall bag the whole crowd. I have directed Reno to march from Greenwich at the same hour upon Manassas Junction, and Kearny, who is in his rear, to march on Bristoe at daybreak. Be expeditious, and the day is our own.

JNO. POPE, Major-General, Commanding.

The order was received at about 2 o'clock on the morning of the 28th, and the movement was directed to be made immediately. Without following the succeeding movements in all their details, the court will direct their attention to the single point in the conduct of General McDowell which they cannot pass without disapproval.

In the afternoon of the 28th, at fifteen minutes past 4 o'clock, the sev.