Daily national Republican. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1862-1866, 1862-12-05
couRr-MARrrAL OF GEN. PORTER

The proceedings Of the previous day were
read and approved. L
Major Gen. Pope was then called and sworn,
and examined as follows by the judge advocate.
Question. General, will you state to the court
what position you occupy In the military SER
vice of the United States
Aascer. I hold commission as brigadler
general in the regular army and major general
of volunteers.
1 o. What was your position and command,
and what the position Of your operations, on
the eth of August last
A. Do you mean my military position as
commander
q. Yes, sir. I'D. .
4. / commanded the Army of Virginia,
which, as originally stated, consisted Of the
army corps of Mcdowell, Banks and Fremont.
This, by the eth of August, had been rein
forced by portion Of Gen. Burnsde's COM
morning of the eth, by half Of Gen. Porter's
corps. portion Of my command also con-
sisted of the troops under Gen. Sturgis, which
had begun to come up to Warrenton Junction.
was myself, on the morning Of the 27th, at
the Warrenton Junction, the field Of the opera
tions Of the army at that time covering the re-
gion of country between the Warrenton turn
pike and the Orange and Alexandria railroad.
Q. At what time, on the 9th, did you leave
Warrenton Junction, and In which direction
did you mover
A. I left a little before midday, think, and
moved east along the railroad, following the
movements of Hooker's division toward Ma
nassas Junction.
Q. At what time did Gen. Porter arrive with
his command to which you refer, or portion OF
II, at Warrenton Junction.
A. think between the hours of and 10
o'clock, on the morning Of August 27th.
O. How many troops had he then with him
TT .h.t ha hal l,ro, ,,srkt
Sykes's division of regulars, numbering 4 500
men. ...
Q. Did you see his troopsi Ifso, what was
their condition.
A. only saw them as they passed at a dis
tance, and was therefore unable to notice theii
condition.
o. Did YOU, after leaving warrenton juno
. tion to proceed east, issue an order to Gen
Porter and, IL so, what was Its characterf
4. l issued an order to Gen. p. late In th'
! afternoon of the eth, directing him to NOV
! forward with his command at o'clock tina
{ night to the position then occupied at Kettl'
! Run; that If Gen. Morrell with his division wal
; not at wauenton Junction when he receiyeS
} the order, to send back and hurry him up, bu
to come forward with the troops which he had
i | gave him some further directions concerning
: Gen. Banks, the substance Of which only
recollect.
IAN order, dated Bristow Station, Virginia
, August <6tu, loOS, dt Osoo Y. hei'
handed the witness, which he acknowledged 4
be the one referred to in his answer.
Q. VIII you explain to the court the reason
for the urgency of this order as indicated in tn
following words 7
"It Is necessary that you should be here b.
5 daylight. send an officer with this dispatcl
a who will conduct you to this place."
A. Yes, sir. General Hooker's division ha
had a severe fight along the railroad, commenc
ing some four miles west of Bristow Station
and had succeeded in driving the division O
a General Ewell back along the road, but withou
putting il to rout, so that, at dark, Ewell'
forces still confronted Hooker's division alon
u the banks of q small stream at Bristow Station
I Just at dark, General Hooker sent me wor
a (Which fact was also reported to me by Genera
Heintzelman) that he was almost entirely ou
Of ammunition, having but five rounds to tn
man left and that, IL any action took place i
b the morning, he would, In consequence, b
without the means of making any considerabl
> advance. As Il was known that jackson, wit
y his own and the division of A. P. Hill was g
b or in the vicinity of Manassas Junction, an
D uear enough TO advance to the support of Ew
ell, IL was altogether probable that, If he shoul
learn the weakness of our forces there, h
S would unite and make an attack in the morI
Y ing. II was for this reason was so anxious
have General Porter's corps present,
\ o. What distance would GenerapP. have hs
;, TO march TO obey the orderl
u A. About nine miles.
re q. Within what timer
m 4. / directed him to move at one, in ord
to give his command as much time to renal
III their beds at night as possible; supposing
would occupy him three hours TO bring h
= forces upon the ground. had looked for hi
III about O'Clock, certainly.
> Q. You had just passed over the road aior
II. which he was required, by this order, to marc
oi win you state its condition.
re A, The road was in good condition ever
ia where, and the greater portion was doub
:, road.
I'd Q. Did Gen. Porter obey that orderi
i'll 4. He did not.
no O. AT what time on the 2Sth did he arrive
Bristow station, the point indicated In yo
orderi ......
ed A. The head of his column reached there
IS, precisely twenty minutes past ten in the NOR
Nv ing.
y Q. Did he at that time, or at any time pri
hu to his arrival, explain to You the reason why
did not obey the orderl
A. He wrote me note, which think /
o. ceived on the morning Of the 2Sth, little beft
X; daylight.
/, coInsel-Reverdy johnson. We should Ii
- to see the note.
". Witness. 1t has been mislaid. Ihave search
DR., for it, but have been unable to find il.
@. What was the nature of the night; cl'
49, or stormy
80 A. II was very clear night, II recollt
eW Alright.
&c, Q. Were any obstacles likely to be encou
tered on the marchi
4. have several times made marches W
a. a larger force than Gen. Porter had, during I
IN, night. There was some slight obstruction
NV caused by the wagon trains following In
rear of Gen. Hooker's division, on their way
Manassas, but not sufficient to have della.
for any length of time the passage of artille
he But, even had the roads been entirely blockad
es- the railroad track was clear, and along q
road had passed the larger portion Of G,
a' Hooker's infantry. Gen. Porter's infantry col
is have marched along the same route without a
he difficulty.
a. Q. Whatever the obstacles which might hi
- existed in point Of fact, was 1t not, (and {
it as a military question: the duty of G
ar Porter, receiving his command from you
his superior officer, TO have made earnest efit
TO obey iti
4. Undoubtedly, sir.
nav Major General Hitchcock interposed an
lection as unnecessary.
The Judge advocate stated that he put
e a question TO him as an expert, as 1t was a pc
-, In regard TO which military men might diie
GU In that view 1t was allowed TO be put, and
90 upon the record.
I'd Q. Win you state what orders, If any,
gave to Gen. Porter on the Goth of August
aP- reference to the movements Of himself and