Cleveland morning leader. [volume] (Cleveland [Ohio]) 1854-1865, 1862-12-17
The Porter COurf-3InFtiaI---Slze
the Oficers and HOtabIes Present.
| rCorrasnnndanne Cincirnati Cnrnrnercial I

/ there is consequently brilliant display OF
buttons and stars, and q handsome assort.
ment Of swords in gold scsbbards and
black hats plumed with ostrich feathers,
| ornamented the walls. About the waist Of
each General composing the court is wound
/ his sash, the big tassels hanging by their
sides like great heads Of ripe wheat.
/ General Hunter resembles the rest Of the
Hunters Of Virginia, heavy in build and
! dark Of complexion: and his face is rather
| grim in repose, but lights up in most
courteous and kindly smile When address,
| ed by friend on some personal matter the
! grim wrinkles quickly give way. His thin
hair is black as ink. He is clean shaven
with the exception Of his moustache, which
sweeps around the corners of his mouth ra-
ther jauntily. When reading he wears
glasses. At other times while presiding
in this court he swings his spectacles slow
ly in his left hand and shuts his eyes and
mouth hard so as to pucker his chin and
forehead; and so quietly will he sit that he
is liable to the suspicion of being sleepy,
until there is point to decide, when he
opens his eyes and is clear instantly as to
the whole subject If there is any humor
afoat he evidently has great apprecia-
tion,ofit He looks the old soldier in every
feature, and enjoys good joke as veteran
ought he is dreadful Abolitionist, you
know, and was almost, if not quite, face
tious in answering from South Carolina
last Summer resolution of inquiry from
Congress concerning his attempted milit-
ary organisation of contrabands. Herein
he provoked the well-nursed wrath of Mr.
Wiekliffe, NJ. c., Of Kentucky.
john J. Crittenden was presented to the
presiding General in the court room on Sat-
urday, and was received with q cordial
politeness and ease of manner which his
distinguished and distant relative, Ex-Sen-
ator Hunter, Of Virginia, who was some
thing of sloven, might have studied with
advantage. He never impedes business by
elongated observations. His meaning is
generally fully expressed in ten words,
uttered in low conversational tone, and
q manner insinusting great Difference, but
really somewhat imperious. He leans for
ward over the table, his attitude that of
strict attention.
Major General Hitchcock sits well back
in his chair, displaying to advantage the
twin stars on his shoulders, and the groups
of buttons on his breast he is a hale, ell
derly gentleman. His hair consists ex-
clusively of pufs, resembling snowy os-
trich down, above his ears, and delicate
fringe of the same fossy article about the
back of his head. His bald crown and fine
face are Of a uniform rose color. His nose
is slightly disposed to be beak, but is not
large enough to be aggressive, and is a
very neat compromise between the thin and
gross specimens of that important feature,
His eye is keen and restless, and glances
from beneath broWs that are jet black, and
that mark his physiognomy as by the ca
price Of an artist. He speaks more fire.
quently than any other member of the
court, and always somewhat positively,
though by no means abruptly, and insists
upon the most rigid observance of the regu-
lations provided for such courts by military
law. The counsel for the accused pr01u-
ced dispatch, relating to which he asked
General Pope question, and handed it to
him for inspection. General Hitchcock
quietly observed that there was an infor-
mality about that proceeding: there should
not be any direct communication between
the accused, or his counsel, and the wit
ness. The dispatch should have been
handed to the Judge Advocate, and by him
delibeTates as to the propriety of a ques-
tion, or enters into any discussion develop
ing difference of opinion, the room is
cleared Of all persons but the members of
the court. This process is INDUCED in
three or four times per session, and al
most invariably at the suggestion Of Ma
jor General Hitchcock. But it would be
unjust to him to form the impression that
he is a testy and fussy old gentleman
He is sharp locker on, sees a point a
few seconds sooner than it makes its ap-
pearance to others, and has convictions off
hand which he does not care to conceal.
It would be hard to find better living
specimen Of the true old gentleman.
Fitz John Porter is young man in ap-
pearance, of slight, but well knit frame.
His hair is thin and light-his beard black
and heavy, and both are trimmed short.
He is reserved in manner, and deeply in
terested in the progress Of his case, watch
ing every point intently, and frequently
making suggestions to, and prompting,
his counsel. He certainly does not i'm
press the beholder as q man of extraordi-
nary parts, but there are great many
who pass as unusual individuals who do
4NN w NANAa AAA9 nOE5 nut SEEK the
faces Of the men about him. Perhaps he is
toe much occupied for looking at people.
But when you notice his eye it will claim
a second observation. 1t is large and
black, and while it is not flashing or piero-
ing, there is steady sombre light in it,
like that Of live anthracite coal, and pos
sibly, little dangerous in meaning.
Judge Holt is a pOrtly, almost stately
gentleman, and his citizens clothes show
him in marked contrast with the Generals
by whom he is surrounded. There are a
good many Kentuckians Of the first class
who resemble him. He is tall, hearty
hnRasssAsJ -i1e4iHvd to mi up MS Uroad=
cloth completely. His face hardly adver- |
tises that rich enthusiasm of nature which
shines forth in his impassioned and vivid
eloquence. 1t is only redeemed from heav-
iness by the grand outline Of the nose. and
the earnest light, at intervals breaking in
to a spark, in the eye.ss His well-preseTved
physical and moral condition-the agree
able prosperity sf the flesh and ease Of |
conseienee-are diseoYerable in the good |
ly dimples on his cheeks and chin-but |
the fervent heat Of the massive brain has |
his dark hair heavily with gray.
General Pope, during his examination, |
which has lasted three days, has occupied |
a rocking-chair, leaning backwards, and |
when not in the act Of answering a cues |
ton, rocking himself assiduously. Heisa
round and heavy little man. |
his face is rOund-round as an apple
and surrounded by heavy growth of
beard and hair; his head is round-his
body is round. His voice is a tolerable
tenor, with q streak Of harshness in it,
over which his words, uttered pleasantly
enough, have to be rasped as they go. His
smile commences pleasantly, but subsidies
into . sneer, or rather, perhaps, into quick
Indifference. His whole appearance would
indicate that he is on good terms with self,
morally and physically, and that if he