The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1861-07-22
HBADQ o ARrfR, VI THE FOt:G as,

GENERAL ORE,E<s, an. 50 -
- -Toe Ccart II Inquiry which COZ
vensd at Beverly on the 20th alt. a. the request
OF Col. G. Porterh Id. of the Virginia d,uu-
tears. to examine into the cioeam tauce ssof the
'etreat o! the Virgins Forces from Phi ipli o.
the Sd OF June, under his command, has raported
the following facts ia the case:
A force Of Virginia troops, consisting OF some
and about one hundred and seyenty-frs Cavalry
Tor ID ereab01ts sufficiently W ell armed but bad
ly and insufdciently supplied with the aecessaTv
accontrements aud ammunition, was stationed 1t
Pnlltppl, Barporr elunty, Va on the maruiug of
The sd June, 1851, where they had been for some
six Or seven days, under the como nd Of Colon,
Geo. 4. Porterhald, of the Vir.inis Volunteers
On The n ,rnins # che day just indicated at be
tween aay ofeak ana sunrise, thus command was
stacked. ana taken by surprise; no alsrm IF IN
tima'ion of the enemy's approach having been
{v.n W the guard, or inis ntry plckets until the
enemy was wtlhia some four hundred yards of
tho place, aud hal CONNIE 1ced the fra from hi
srt'llery. By the examination, Ii is shown tha
4 main and PICKET guard : strong as was copsis-
tent with the effective infantry force present " a
regularly tailed and posted at distances sufI
cisatly FAR out to accomplish the objec; in view
provided they knav and did their dutc: which
latter l. strongly 10 be suspecte3, from t, fact
that although in advsncs. they fai ed to give any
hich il str.n then cd bv o. otci4 rauor ~ tn
mounted officers out with the scouting rarie. on
.he nigh Of The I'd Of June, tn the had neither
seen an in tutrv picket, nor been challenged by
lts rentineis, going from, OF returning to- ths town
that right. 1t appears. that immediately upon
car In eomrnard, Colonel Portsrfe,d .ook mas
ures 10 place his force, winch was ray and nav
n services under course OF fustructjon aod ~
select hose. In his opinion best 4 tel to in sruct
the aenttlels and guards in thsir dutie, The
testimony shows. chat white there was . certain
of the command moved from the town In go q or
DER and that the whole force, nssrly, arter pass
ing aoms d II nee from the town, was re-forrnad
and proceeded in ordsr.
|. Is @nown in me evidence, that an expectation
Of attach, or movement upon Philip shortly to
be ma5e was en- ertained generally amoog the
officers and others of the command, and that In :
;e lissn'e the" well founded is not known was
supposed In ent of the enemy
The testimony sets forth, that tais had so far
produced is shsct, as t. induce the oncer in com
mand to cati meeting o. his cers: that the re-
sui OF their cOnsu taiions and deliberations as
an almost. II not unanimous dee sion in favor Of
turned 10 the room from W hich he had been ab-
sent short tim J their opinion was convened to
him, to wnieo ne seemed 10th to aceeie; yet, de
tsrmined to make further examination OF the
ammunition on hand, aad to prepare the Gag
gage and Train for removal at moments notice
were given. SO far as can be gath red from til q
testimony, although it APPEARS that an upder-
some, that the movement won not take place
until morning, while some believed it eontin-
gent upon the we ath9r
The rec Ard wilt disclose the fact OF a difference
Of coastructi2n, las to the hour OF return OF the
orders gwen to the officer in mraend Of tie
OsSsIfy mpahy, IRON nleh the scouting paftf
inst.
TEE testlm o9y OF seyefel " illnesses bears evil
denee Of n5 To4l. dsf aerate ana self possess cd
conduct OF Col. Porterdsld, On the morning Of the
sd June. -
The o~urt having been directed to express its
following:
ist: That the commanding ofHcer having re-
prepare Tor an early retreat, erred In permit ing
himself to be Influenced ny the weather, go far as
to delay the execution If his an
"a. That the commanding officer did order dis
Poeltlohs 20 De made to prevent surprise; but a
misunderstandipg as to the tine at wdi"h the
scouts were to be called in, and total want OF
proper vigilance on the part + the infantry ok
cts, can led surprise, which d. tine. ard definite
aast3tInea.ions' properly executed, would have
Sd That the commanding officer erred in not ad-
Vancing ana streng hening his picket hey md the
usaSl Aniis. undor the circumstances.
sta That the oomm nding officer exh bited up
on the occasion decided coolness, self possessi On
ano personal courage, and ex@rted himself, as far
do possible, 20 eHscs retreat in good order,
1.-THE Commanding General having stten
livery considered the proceeding CT the Court Of
sn Sv bs tas IN ns
facts dsduced fiotn ths testimony.
These facts show, that the position at Philippi
the enemy, distant only four hours march; that 1t
Colonel portefdsld wac ewars of the danger of
ana q P1e2srse 70
town by the ensmy was worthy of j praise; and
h.d he prudentiy sent back his baggage and in
taken proper measures to secure informa ION of
tbs adva, &C OF the enemy, he night SAFELY have
retained his position, and either giyea' baaIe
or fetiIed, as circumstances leLt lictats. II
does rot sppea. rson axe record OF tas Couft that
sny psat q, G eferae was fosued bat II does sp
and that the instrletioes to his q vance guarI
we're .ither misoonoeved or not ex-c1sed.
To these 9ifeuuls ces mus, be attributed the
disaster that followed; and thsy eau for heavy
ceasurs upon all concerned
The Commanding General remarks with pleas.
IRE upon the GOODNESS. self possession, cuursg &c
AL a.
.hSmoment OF attack; but he cannot exonsrate
him from blame IN not taain. psopar prsoa stion-
OF a. ths csrc: instances o. the case he does not
think i necessary 7, DO more than to express ia
opinfoa o. the Court In ths hope tia. tAs sad e.
vigilance, as Exhibited "a this case, win &c les-
&c to ~ resaepDered by the Army throughout
ths wSr.
III. Tho Court Of Inqairy. Of which Colonel
WIN: B. Tsiiaftrre, Virg!nis V oiuntssrs, IL Pres.
idsat; Is dissolrs5. -.