Daily national Republican. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1862-1866, 1862-12-04
corRT-MARTIAL OF GEN. PORTER

The court met at IL o'clock, when, Gen. King
being present, an organization took place.
Gen. Porter's request for an open trial WAS
granted.
The following charges and specifications er
hibited against Major Gen. Fitz John Porter, of
the Volunteers of the United States Army, by
B. S. Roberts. Brig. Gen. Z. s. Volunteers and
Inspector General of Maj. Gen. Pope's army,
were read;
CHARGE 1st. Violation of the Ninth Article
of War. - ..
Specification 1st.-In this That the said Maj
Gen. Fitz John Porter, Of the Volunteers Of the
United States, having received a lawful order
on or about the 2sth of August, 1862, while at
or near Warrenton Junction, In Virginia, from
Mai. Gen John Pope, his superior and COM
manding officer, did then and there disobey the
said order, being at the time in the face ofthe en-
my. This al or near Warrenton, in the State of
Virginia, on or about the 2Sth of August, 1862.
Specification 2d.-In this: that the said Major
General Fitl John Porter, being in front of the
enemy al Manassas, Virginia, on or about the
morning Of August 29th, 1862, did receive from
Major General John Pope, his superior and
commanding officer, a lawful order, which order
the said Major General Porter did then and
there disobey. This at or near Manassas, in
the State Of Virginia, on or about the 29th of
August, 1862.
Specification 3d.--In this: that the said Major
General Fitz John Porter, having been in front
of the enemy during the battle of Manassas, on
Friday. the 2gth of August, 1862, did on that
day receive from Major General John Pope, his
superior and commanding officer, lawful
order; which said order. the said Major General
Porter did then and there disobey, and did fail
to push forward his forces into action either on
the enemy's flank or rear, and In all other re-
spects did fail TO obey said order. This at or
near Manassas, in the State Of Virginia, on or
about the 29th Of August, 1852.
Specification 4h.-ln that the said Major GEN
eral FtZ John Porter, being at or near Manassas
Junction, on the night of the Goth of August,
1859, did receive from Major General John Pope,
his superior and commanding officer, lawful
order And the said Major Genl Fitz John Por-
ter did then and there disobey the said order,
and did permit one of the brigades of his CON-
mand TO march to Centreyille, out of the way
of the field of battle, and there TO remain dur
ing the entire day Of Saturday, the 30th Of Au'
gust. This at or near Manassas station, in the
| State OF Virginia, on the Goth and 30th days oi
| August, 1862.
Specification 5h.--Tn this: that the said Major
| General FitZ John Porter, being at or near Ma
nassas station, in the State of Virginia, on the
night of the 2Sth of August, 1852, and having
received from his superior and commanding
officer, Major General John Pope, the Lawful
order set forth in the specification four to thii
| charge, did then and there disobey the same
and did permit one other brigade attached L
his command, being the brigade commanded
| by Brigadier General A. s. Pratt, TO march Il
Centreville. and did thereby greatly delay tn,
arrival of the said General Pratt's brigade oil
the tield of battle of Manassas on Saturday, tn,
SOth OF August, 1862. This at or near Manas
| Eas, In the State of Virginia, on or about tn
29th day Of August, 1852.
CHARGE II. Violation of the Fifty-second Ar
ticle of War.
Specification la.-In this: that the said Maio
General FitZ John Porter, during the battle o
Manassas. on Friday, the Goth Of August, ls62
| and while within sight of the field, and In full
hearing of its artillery, did receive from Majo
General John Pope, his superior and command
ing officer, lawful order TO attack the enemy
which said order the said Major Genera
| Porter did then and there shamefully disobey
and did retreat from advancing forces Of tn
enemy without any attempt to engage them, o
aid the troops who were already fighting greatl
superior numbers and were relying on the hanl
| attack he was thus ordered TO make, to secur
a decisive victory and TO capture the enemy
| army; result which must have followed from
said flank attack, had IL been made by sal,
| Gen. Porter, in compliance with the said orde
which he SO shamefully dlsobeyed. This at o
near Manassas, in the State of Virginia, on o
| dDOuTl Tue @Jln Ol august, looS.
Specification 2d.-In this: that the said Majo
General Fit2 John Porter, being with his arm.
corps on Friday, the Goth Of August, 1869, be
tween Manassas station and the field Of a bat
tie then pending between the forces of the Uni
ted StnteS nnd those of the rebels, and within
sound Of the guns, and In the presence of tn
enemy, and knowing that severe action o
great consequence was being fought, and tha
the aid OF his corps was greatly needed, did fai
| all that day to bring il on to the field, and dit
| shamciully fall back and retreat from the ad
vance OF the enemy without any attempt to Civ
them battle, and without knowing the force
from which he shamefully retreated. This nea
Manassas station, in the State of Virginia, ol
the 29Ih OF August, 1862.
! Syec.f .fcdtiOi 3D.. In that the said Major Gen
cral Fitz John Porter being with his army corp
near the field of battle of Manassas, on the 29tl
| of August, 1862, while severe action was be
ing fought by the troops of Major Genera
| POpp's command, and being in the belief tina
the troops Of the said General Pope were sus
taiuing defeat and retiring from the field di
shuinelully fail 10 70 TO the aid of said troops
and I'D shamefully retreat away and fall bacl
with his army TO the Manassas Junction, an
leave TO the disaster of a presumed defeat III
said army, and did fail by any attempt TO al
tack the enemy 10 aid in averting the misfor
tunes of disaster that would have endangere
the safety of the capital of the country Thl
Ut or near Manassas station, in the state o
Virginia, on the 10Th day of August, 1862
Specification an. In this; that the said Majo
General Fitz John Porter, on the field of battl
Of Manassas, op Saturday, the S0th August
1862, having received lawful order from hi
superior officer and commanding General, Maj
General John Pope, to engage the enemy
lines, and /" carry position near their centre
and TO lake an annoying battery there posted
did proceed in the execution of THAT order will
unnecessary slowuess, and by delays give tn
enemy opportunities TO watch and know hi
movements, and TO prepare 10 meet his attack
And finally 20 feebly fall upon the enemy
lines as 10 make little OF no impression on tn
same, and did fall back and draw away hi
forces unnecessarily and without making an,
of the great personal efforts to rally his troop
TO meet the sacrifices and TO make the resist
Gncc demanded by the importance Of his posi-