A, day or two before the disaster at Vienna, Gen. Tyler2Open page had by orders, with a force gone on the same road three miles beyond that point, and returned past it, seeing neither battery or troops---of which Gen. Schenck had been notified. The morning of the disaster Gen. Schenck received the order under which he acted, which is in words and figures following.
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As appears by the order, Gen. Schenck was not ordered to go himself, but merely to send a regiment; and he went himself, because the Colonels of both his regiments happened to be absent; but he took Col McCook's regt.;4Open page and Col. McCook overtook, and joined him before the disaster occurred; and to whom, (he being a regularly educated military man) the order was at once shown, and Gen S. did nothing afterwards but upon his full concurrence. It is not time, as has been stated, that any notice was given Gen. Schenck of a battery, being at Vienna. It is true that a countryman told Gen. Schenck he had heard there were troops at Vienna. He was asked if he had seen them, and he said not; he was asked if he had seen any one who had seen them; and he said not; but he had seen a man who had heard there were troops there. This was heard by Col. McCook as well as Gen. Schenck; and on consultation, they agreed that it was but a vague rumor.
It is a fact, that not one officer, or private, who was present at the disaster, has ever cast a word of blame upon either Gen. Schenck, or Col. McCook; but, on the contrary, they are all anxious to have another trial under the same officers.