Briefly stated, in my report of the battle of Five Forks there were four imputations concerning General Warren.  The first implied that Warren failed to reach me on the 1st of April, when I had reason to expect him; the second, that the tactical handling of his corps was unskillful; the third, that he did not exert himself to get his corps up to Gravelly Run Church; and the fourth, that when portions of his line gave way he did not exert himself to restore confidence to his troops.  The Court found against him on the first and second counts, and for him on the third and fourth.  This finding was unsatisfactory to General Warren, for he hoped to obtain such an unequivocal recognition of his services as to cast discredit on my motives for relieving him.  These were prompted by the conditions alone—­by the conduct of General Warren as described, and my consequent lack of confidence in him.

It will be remembered that in my conversation with General Grant on the 30th, relative to the suspension of operations because of the mud, I asked him to let me have the Sixth Corps to help me in breaking in on the enemy’s right, but that it could not be sent me; it will be recalled also that the Fifth Corps was afterward tendered and declined.  From these facts it has been alleged that I was prejudiced against General Warren, but this is not true.  As we had never been thrown much together I knew but little of him.  I had no personal objection to him, and certainly could have none to his corps.  I was expected to do an extremely dangerous piece of work, and knowing the Sixth Corps well—­my cavalry having campaigned with it so successfully in the Shenandoah Valley, I naturally preferred it, and declined the Fifth for no other reason.  But the Sixth could not be given, and the turn of events finally brought me the Fifth after my cavalry, under the most trying difficulties, had drawn the enemy from his works, and into such a position as to permit the realization of General Grant’s hope to break up with my force Lee’s right flank.  Pickett’s isolation offered an opportunity which we could not afford to neglect, and the destruction of his command would fill the measure of General Grant’s expectations as well as meet my own desires.  The occasion was not an ordinary one, and as I thought that Warren had not risen to its demand in the battle, I deemed it injudicious and unsafe under the critical conditions existing to retain him longer.  That I was justified in this is plain to all who are disposed to be fair-minded, so with the following extract from General Sherman’s review of the proceedings of the Warren Court, and with which I am convinced the judgment of history will accord, I leave the subject: