New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1862-12-06

A. In answering that question it will perhaps be
nece sary for me 10 state at eaAt particularly the
condition OF things the afternoon OF the 2otn, ana
during the night Of the 2h of August for the reason
that the information from the front upon winch the
dispositions of the army were made varied al
different periods Of the day and night and 1t was
not until toward daylight in the morning that pc
came thoroughly satisfied of the position OF the
enemy, and OF the necessary movements OF troops 10
be made in consequence. The orders that gave to
Gen. Porter on the 18Th a. remember them, were
four, one OF them dated 81 night, think; my I'M
preston TO- that that order required him IN conee-
qGence OF information which we had received OF the
concentration OF the enemies forces beyond Centre
vile 20 move upon that place; about daylight IN the
morning | sent Gen. L. MI order to take BIS own
army corps which WAS then al Manassas Junction,
and which by NY order had been REINFORCED by the
brigade OF Gen. Pat, which had come M there un,
de- command of Gen. Siurgs, and Kings DIVISION oil
Mcdowell o cOrps which had withdrawn TO Manas-
sas Junction or TO that vicinity, during The night OF
the 2Sth to move forward IN the direction OF Gaines
vile. An hour and half later l reserved "a note
from Gen. McD., who had not been able TO nhd
until that bour in the morning., requesting tuat
Kings division of ms corps he n0' turned over 70
Cen Porter. but that he be allowed to have II
himself | then sent Joint order 10
Gems. Porter and Mcdowell, direct 10 them at
NJ anassas Junction, specifying III detail the move
mens that wished 10 be nude by tue troops under
their command; Kings Division, Of MeDowelis
CCrns. which /
greater part Of the night OF the 2'th on the Warren
ton Turnpike aud west OF the troops under JACKSON
Rad Withdrawn To Manassas, and had therefore,
feared lef open Jacksons retreat IN the direction
OF Thoroughiare Gap, to which point the nam por'
ton of the army of Lee was then tending TO rem
force him; did not desire TO puEsue jackson be-
yond the town of Gainesville, AZ We could not have
done so, on account OF supplies Of railons for the
men and forage for the horses my order, therefore,
to Gems. Porter and Mcdowell, directs them 70
pursue the route TO Gainesville until they effect
junction with the forces which were marching upon
Gainesville from Centrevle, under Heintzelman,
Sigel and Reno; that when that junction was
formed as expected II would have been, very near
10 Gainesville the whole comm AID should halt,
il being AS .aid before, not feasible for my com
msnd IN the condition 1t then was, To pursue oa,H-
sons forces further during the whole morning the
forces ~ der Sgel and Heinizelmsn had Kept ny
skirmishes with the rear OF Jacksons forces,
they retiring in the direction Of GAINESVILLE;
they were brought TO q stand at Grovetown,
think Gbout eight miles from CentreViiie,
perhaps i've or nix from Gainesye when
rode on the battlefield, which was about noon,
having been delayed AT Centreville, i found
that the troops had been sharply engaged, and were
still confronting each other; Gen. Sigel reported TO
me that b. needed recniorcemens IN the 'front.' that
hi, lines were weak and that the condition Of his
troors required their withdrawal from the action;
told him. az | told Gen. H., who was present on the
ground that | only wished them to maintain Their
positions as he corps of Mcdowell and Porter were
then on tie march froin Manassas Junction toward
re .nenv's right nank and On 'hi n very hort
ume 10 oe ia snch poe'ion rs - fall upon that por-
lion of his line derir,d them therefore only to
maintain the position that they occupied, and
aw ait the arrvIi of Gems. Med. and T. about ~ IN
the afternoon, finding that neither MED nor 4. hnd
made hir appearance upon the field, cent al order
10 Gen T. informing him OF tie condition OF things
ON the field and stated to him that desired him 10
push forward and attack the enemy on the hsnk
and II possible in the rear, without any delhy ths
was on the 2s,h NJ TO the orders That were sent on
the 2sth. finding that Gen. Z. did not comply with
the order and receiving dispatch which he sent TO
Gems Mcdowell and King, stating that he was
about To fall back 10 Manassas Junction because he
saw clouds Of dust, showing that in his judgment,
the enemy was advancing ON the ROAD th't lie was
occupying and stating that 1t appeared to nm IRON
the fire that he had been Listening 10 on the battlefield
that our forces were retrealing aud the enemy adj
yancipg he had determined TO fall back TO Manas
,as junction, and recommended Generals McD. and
X to send back their trains also; shortly AFTER re-
ce wing this note, purpOrng 10 be from General 4.
TO Generals Med. and n, sent an order 10 General
L. directing him immediately upon receipt of the
order 10 march his whole command 10 the field OF
battle and TO report 10 ne III person for orders,
stating to him that expected him to comply strictly
with that order; put II II such FORM perhaps, his
was not entirely courteous because had under
stood General Porter upon two several occasions
previous to have disobeyed the orders that ! sent
him. the fret Of these orders WAS superseded by the
one issued 10 Gen. Med. subsequently.
O. Atwh.t hour was the second order addressed
TO Generals Porter and Mcdowell
A. think it was between and o'clock in the
morning.
O. Was there an engagement then pending
a. Yes, sir; sharp lighting going on on the
turnpike leading from CeDueville 10 Warrehton.
.. Did the march OF Gen. Porters command,
Indicated in that order, lead him towards tha, bat
tie 7
A. Il did. Porter. entire command Il, tina, time
numbered about T., 800 men.
q. What was the distance FROM MANASSAS to the
scene of this engagement
A. Between and miles, with roads in excel
lent condition
q. Did Gen Porter obey this order
A. lie did not certainly obey II fully II he had
obeyed it, he would have been brought up 20 the
enemy before ~ clock in the evening; but AT that
time no one on the battlefield knew where Porter
was
q. Did he obey the second order Issued at a p.
IN. on the 18th of August, directing him to engage
the enemy III the flank, and II possible III the rear
A. lie did not, nor did he make any attempt TO do
So as far as my knowledge extends.
.. Will you state the condition Of the battlefield
at that hour and the importance OF bis obedience OF
this order Tor the succesS OF your troops
A. Late in the afternoon OF the 18th, perhaps
toward or q o'clock, about the time that hoped
that Gen Porter would be in his position and he as-
saultny the enemy on the flank, nnd when Mcdowell
had himself arrived with his copson the field Of bat
le directed an attack TO he made on the left OF the
enemy's lincs, which was Handsomely done by
Ileinizelman and Renos corps; the enemy was
driven back IN all dIeotions, aud left large part OF
the ground with his dead aud wounded upon It in
our possession had Gen. Porter Jllien on the fdnk
Of the enemy any time mp 10 8 O'cioek that n'gtt,
as Il uaS hoped he woHid, It IS my firm cOnpiction
that IRE should hare destroyed ne wAoie army Of
Jackson.
O. You state that Gen. Mcdowell obeyed that or
der 20 far as appear upon the battlefield with his
command.
A. Yes, Sir; he arrived on the battlefield think