Page:Hooker Inquiry (Wauhatchie Engagement) - Schurz Argument - Page 06.jpg

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killed and wounded. It is in keeping with his other statements about details. But he testifies also, that he left very soon after he had given me the order, and went back to Genl. Hooker to report to him. When he left, part of the Brigade was still on the road. If the firing had really been as he described it, Generals Hooker and Butterfield, who were behind me at a considerable distance, would hardly have noticed it,

My situation was now as follows: knowing that Lieut. Oliver, Genl. Hooker’s Aide, had gone back to General Hooker, and having informed him of the circumstance, that after the taking of the hill I had no troops to send to Geary, as the balance of my command was kept back, I was justified in expecting that Lieut. Oliver would give General Hooker a true and complete report of what had happened. For that is one of the duties of a Staff officer. If, then, anything was found to be wrong or not in accordance with General Hooker's views, I had a right to expect that General Hooker would correct the mistake by sending me further orders, for Lieut. Oliver having just left me, he knew well where I was.

Meanwhile, being ordered to occupy the hill, the importance of which consisted in its commanding one of the few passes leading through that chain of ridges, we proceeded to do it as it ought to be done. When we had obtained possession of the crest, the troops were promptly put in position. Such parts of the line as were loose and weak, had to be strengthened, connections to be established, a reserve to be placed in a suitable location. The wounded were carried to the rear. Patrols were dispatched to explore the ground in our front and our flanks, the skirmishers were thrown forward. It was reported by an officer, that he had seen something like a column passing to our right. Patrols were sent in that direction to ascertain the truth of the statement. The completion of such arrangements will, under all circumstances, take some time, especially in the night, and on uneven and densely wooded ground, where nothing can be discerned with certainty, even at a moderate distance. During that time Lieut. Oliver might well have reported to General Hooker; Genl. Hooker might well have taken things into consideration, and sent me new orders if anything was not in accordance with his views. I received no further orders. The firing had meanwhile ceased at all points, except a few straggling shots here and there, such as skirmishers will fire at random in or after a night engagement, and I was justified in supposing that everything was as desired. So I rode back in order to see what had happened there.

I found General Hooker in the midst of my two Brigades, which had been stopped on the way when following me. Our conversation was of a singular nature. As the testimony indicates, he showed his dissatisfaction with my not pushing through to Geary. I replied that I had received