, 1862-12-06
HEADQUARTERS ARMY OF VIRGINIA, m TIE
FIELD NEAH BULL Run,
Aug. q. 1462-S:6D b. IN.

FIELD HEAA BULL lfUN.
Aug. q. 1662-S:50 p. N.
Major General Fitz Jthn Porter:
Immediately upon receipt of this order, the
precise hour Of which you will acknowledge, ron
viii mach 5our command to the field Of battle Of
fou are to understand that you are to comply
strictly with this orer and bs pEesent On the field
within three hours after its receipt, after day-
Maior General % co,nmanding.
And tia said Mnjor General Fitz John
Porter did then and there disobey the said
order, and did permit one Of the brigadcs Of
his command to msrch to Centrevi11e out OF
the way Of tie field Of battle, and there to re-
30th day Of August. This at OF near Manas-
sas Station, in the State Of Virginia, on The
229:h and 30ih days Of August, 1869.
Specification 5.-lR this, that tho said Major
General Fitz John Porter, being at or near
Manassas Station in the State Of Virginia, Oh
the night Of the 29th Of August, 1862, and
having received from his superior and COM
manding officer, Major General John Pope,
the lawful order Bet forth in the specification
four to this charge, and then and there disobey
the same, and did permit one other brigade
attached to his command, being the brigade
commanded BY Brigadier General l. s. Pratt,
to march TO Cen1eville, and did thereby
greatly delay the arrival of the said General
Pratt's brigade On the field OF battle Of Ma
nasaas, on Saturday, the 30th Of August, 1862.
This az OF near Manassas, in the State Of Vir-
g1nia, en CT abont the e9th day Of August,
1851.
CHARGE 2.--Eiolation Of the 57th Article Of
War.
Specification lin this, that the said Mai,
Gen. F1tz John Porter, during the battle Of
Manassas, on Friday the 291h day of August,
1862, and while within sight OF the field, and
in full hearing Of its artillery, did receive from
MAJ. Gen. JOHN Pope, his superior and con-
mcnding officer, 4 lawful order to attack the
enemy, In the folloTing figures and letters,
to Wit:
HEADQUARTERS IN TIE FELD,l
Arg. 29-aH p. III.
Major General Porter:
Ieus line Of march brings you on the enemg's
tlcn al once On the enemys aank, ard i possible,
on his 1eaF, keeping your right ii communication
with GEE: Reyncsu's. The enemy IS msssed in
eoon az You eDgrge their flank. Keep heay5 re-. e.
se1ye, aid use your batteries, keeping we'll closcd
to TIC lig1t ill the time In case you are obliged
to fall oatk, % 60 to your right AID rear 60 Is to
Major General Commanding.
Witch said order the said a1ajor.Geu. Porter
did then and there shametu1sy disobey, and
did retreat from the advancing forces OF the
enemy, without any attempt to engage them,
craia The troops who were already lighting
On the flank attack he was thus ordered t1
make to secure decisive victory, and to cap
ture the euemy's army, q result which must
have followed from said flank attack, had II
been made by said Gen. Porter in ompliance
with tire said order which he SO shametu1ly
disobcyed. This at OF near Manassas, in the
State Of Virginia, On Or about the 29Ih Of Au
gust, 1862.
Specification 2.--1n this that the said A1ajol
Gen. Firz John Porter, being with his arm,
corps, on Friday the Z9jh Of August, 1863
between Manassas Station and the field Of
battle then pending between the forces Of thu
United States and those Of the rebels, anl
within sound Ut the guEs, aud in the pTeaen CT
Of the enemy, and knowing that 9 severe &C
tiun OF great consequence Was being fought
and thai the aid Of The corps was greatly
needed, cid fail all that dag to bring it on TIL
Iead, ard did shametuGy fall back aaG retrea
from the advance Of the enemy, without au7
attempt 20 give them battle, and withon
knowing tie icIce from which he Shameful
1el,eated. This Near Manassas Station, ia "a
State of Virginia. on the 29th of August
lSC2.
pceifeatioss 3.-1n that the said Mai Ger
Fig Jotn Porter, being with his arlay corp
Eesr the te1d Of battle Of MANASSAS on ia
::syrh of august, 1852, while :. severe BATH
was being fought by The troops Of bI9j. Gen
Pcpe's command, and being in the bslsf -ha
tainipg defeat and retiring from the f=id, di'
! sbane1n}ly fail to 60 to the aid Of said troops
| end did ehanetnliy retretreat away and fa|
back with his army TO the Mkusssas junction
aud leave to the disaster Of presumed d.
feat the said army, and did fail, by any at
tempt to attack the enemy, to aid in avertIn
| the lnisfartures Of disaster thaE would hay
endangered The safely Of the capital Of tb
county. This at or near Manassas St4tio1
iu the State Of Virginia, On the 29En al
| gust, 1862.
I Specification 4.-1n this that the said Maio
| Gen Fltz John Porter, on The field Of baS1l
OH Manassas, On Saturday, the 3Osh August
| 1852, having received lawful order from hi
superior o1iicer and Commanding Genera
Major Gen. John Pope, to engage the enemy
GrtE, aud to carry position near their centre
and to take an annoying battery there poste,
| did proceed in the execution Of that ordt
with unnecessary E1oWness, and, By delay
give the enemy opportunities to watch au
know his movements, and to prepare to met
bis attack, and f1naily so feebly fail upon II
encm3's lines as to make little or no tmpre
sion On the same, and did fail back and dra
away lis forces unnecessarily, aud witho1
making any Of the great personal Efforts
rally his troops to meet the sacrifices, and I
make the resistance demanded by the impo1
Epce Of lis position aud the uomentous CO
GequenceB and disasters Of retrest at so cri
cal q juncture Of the day. B. s. ROBERTS,
Brig. Gen. Vols, and Inspector Gen.
Pope'e army.
4 true COPY. ]. Holt, Advocate Gen.