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It is proved that both brigades remained under General Hooker's eyes and under his immediate control.
It is proved that I was officially notified of this by staff officers.
It is proved that General Hooker, while with my Brigades did not order them to Geary.
It is proved that when I came back from Tyndale’s Hill, the Commander of my 2d Brigade was in General Hooker’s immediate presence.
It is proved that as soon as the control of my two Brigades was restored to me, Geary was reinforced with all possible speed.
It is proved that when my first Brigade arrived at Tyndale’s Hill, the firing at Wauhatchie had already ceased, so that it would have been impossible even for that column, in spite of all double-quick movements, to arrive there before the end of the fight.
It is proved, that when Col. Hecker was ordered forward from the cross-roads, the fight at Wauhatchie had long been over. It would have been absurd therefore to expect him to arrive there before it was over.
And now I ask you, with all candor, what is there in all this, that I am, or that my troops are to blame for? Where is the non-compliance with orders, and where is the lack of courage and valor?
No doubt mistakes were committed. But the question is, whether they were my mistakes. It may have been a mistake to take the Tyndale Hill. But if so, it was Genl. Hooker's mistake, for he acknowledges to have given the order. It may have been a mistake that Genl. Hooker was not immediately advised of the impossibility to reinforce Geary, while this order was executed. But most certainly it was not my mistake; for I informed Genl. Hooker’s Aide explicitly of all the circumstances which produced that impossibility. What more had I to do? If that Aide when he reported the facts to Genl. Hooker, did not report the facts fully, as his duty required, am I responsible for Genl. Hooker's Aides? It may have been a mistake, that the troops were stopped at the cross-roads. But it was not my mistake; for nobody, I suppose, thinks that I ordered them to stop. The case of the 3d Brigade is clearly established; and as for the 2d, how was it possible, if such an order had come from me, that one of the brigade staff officers should report, to the its detention by orders coming from General Hooker?
If the stopping of the troops was a mere mistake, it is to be regretted, that it was not at once rectified. But that mistake happened under Genl. Hooker's very eyes; he, by giving instructions, participated in it, and of all men in the world he was the man to remedy it. I did all I could to direct his attention to it by giving his Aide all the information that was necessary. I will stretch self-criticism to the utmost limit, and say, that I might have
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