Page:Hooker Inquiry (Wauhatchie Engagement) - Schurz Argument - Page 08.jpg

 Smith’s and Tyndale’s Hills hastily reconnoitered and ascertained that it was not held by any troops. This is the gap through which the main Chattanooga road runs; the road upon which a part of the enemy’s force had come into the valley. I ordered Colonel Krzyzanowski to take position in this important thoroughfare with a portion of his Brigade, which was decimated by picket and other details, while another portion was directed to join Colonel Hecker in marching to Geary. Arrived at Tyndale’s Hill, Hecker’s Brigade was ordered to halt a little while, for the purpose of awaiting the reinforcement which arrived promptly. A regiment was thrown forward into the gorge through which the railroad runs, and as soon as the 141st N. Y., the strongest regiment of the 2d Brigade, had closed up on Hecker’s column, Hecker was ordered to march forward to Geary. He executed the order without delay. The ground between Tyndale’s Hill and Wauhatchie was mostly covered with thick woods on both sides of the road. The column marched in a formation which is proper in the presence of the enemy, front and flanks well covered with skirmishers. It arrived at Geary’s position about 5 A. M., and we are told that Geary met Hecker at 5.30. The day was just breaking.

Here I wish to say a word about the estimates of time occurring in the testimony. It must have struck you that these estimates as given by the witnesses are exceedingly uncertain and contradictory. Hardly anybody looked at his watch. An interval between two occurrences, which seemed to Gen. Hooker nearly two hours, seemed to Gen. Butterfield about five minutes. I abstain throughout from referring to the testimony of the latter, because his recollection has evidently lost the thread of events. An interval of time appeared to an individual longer or shorter, as his attention was more or less engaged or his mind possessed of greater or less anxiety. Thus the duration of the stay of the 2d and 3d Brigades at the cross-road is evidently under-estimated by most if not all our witnesses. About the time occupied by the movement from the cross-roads to Geary, we are fortunate enough to have very precise data. Lieut.-Col. Meysenburg met the column at the marshy run about 250 to 300 yards from the cross-roads. He looked at his watch. It was about 4.30. There the troops had to undouble files, which inevitably delays the march of a column a little. From that place to Wauhatchie, the distance is not far from two miles. Taking into consideration, that a little time may have elapsed between Col. Hecker’s arrival at Wauhatchie and his meeting with Geary, it may be concluded with reasonable certainty, that his whole march from the cross-roads to Wauhatchie, a march with skirmishers and flankers through a wooded country and over muddy roads, occupied, inclusive of all delays, not over 45 minutes, probably less. It is well proved,