Page:Hooker Inquiry (Wauhatchie Engagement) - Schurz Argument - Page 10.jpg

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ing scenes of the action. The orders I had given before leaving our encampment at the head of tho 1st brigade, were correctly carried out. The brigades marched forward on the road to Wauhatchie, the 2d following the 1st, and Col. Hecker with the 3d following the 2d, but, impatient to get on, pressing alongside where the ground would permit. After marching nearly three-quarters of a mile, the 2d brigade suddenly stops. Hecker, still more impatient, sends one of his aides forward to ascertain the cause of the delay. The aide returns with the information, that he had seen one of the staff officers of the 2d brigade, who had told him, that the 2d brigade had just received orders to halt. Col. Hecker replies: “I have received no orders to halt, and I shall march on.” So he marches his column by the 2d brigade, and continues on the road to Wauhatchie. He has hardly advanced beyond the 2d brigade when he meets Major Howard of the 11th corps staff, on the road. Major Howard tells him to halt his troops at tho cross-road, one branch of which leads up to the hill on the left, now known as Smith’s hill. This is done. Major Howard perceives General Hooker near the spot, and referring the Colonel to the General, says: “Here is General Hooker himself.” General Hooker recognizes the Colonel, with whom he evidently is acquainted. In reply to General Hooker's questions, the Colonel informs him that the troops halting there are the 3d brigade, 3d division, and that he is halting in consequence of an order received through Major Howard. The General asks where General Schurz is, and Colonel Hecker replies: “Tn the front; one of his aides was just brought by here wounded.” The General inquires about the other troops or the other brigade, and Colonel Hecker points out to him the 2d brigade of my division, standing immediately on his left, and mentions even the name of its commander, Col. Krzyzanowski. General Hooker then instructs Col. Hecker to form his Brigade in such a manner as to be able to face towards the hill or towards the valley, as necessity might require. Then saying to Col. Hecker, “You stay here,” Gen. Hooker rides over to the 2d brigade, immediately in front of which he remained a considerable time. According to Gen. Hooker's direction, Hecker stays. For this we have the testimony of Maj. Howard, Capt. Greenhut, Asst. Adjt. General of the 8d brigade, Lieut. Miller and Lieut. Kramer, aides of Col. Hecker, and Col. Hecker himself. This conversation being an important matter, the testimony must be examined with greater care. Maj. Howard, when as a witness before you, must have made upon you the impression of a man who is careful and conscientious in his statements. He produces as facts only what he knows with absolute certainty; most of his recollections of what happened during a night of battle three months ago, he gives as impressions more or less distinct and reliable. The testi-