Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1862-12-03
SECOND edition.
runrRIAL OF MAJOR GRNERAL PITT JOHN
III pDRrER.
rHRa1 O'CLOCK. r. y.

TIA Court Martial trying this officer met
81, oday. when the following charges and
sncciAcations were made puble-the Court
having decided that the trial shosld be an open
one:
charges and spec iHcations eXhoitfd against
Major General Fits John Porter, OF INC VOL
unt,.srs of the United StSte- Army, oy ID n
Roberts, Brigadirr General L ). volunteers
ard Inspector General OF Mai. Gen. ropes
amy. .;,, NJ
Charge Isl. Nloiotion Oh TIC I>'' ~
Sa.-;s-ot;on Iyt.-In this that the said Major
Gvre,al Fitx John Porter, OF the voiunI.rs oil
the United States, having received q ia%tu'
order on or about the2sth OF August, isS2, wniie
a; or near Warrcntou Junction, In Virgins,
from Mai. Gen. John Pope, his superior aiu
commanding omcer, IN TIC Ioiio"'hS "sN
H.aoquartsrs ,.rmy Of Fir5iHta,
August -, i-62-3 p. m.-Bristcw Stsuon.
Yr,. G,p ,, j. Porter, Wdrrenton Jutct'on-
General: Tho NJ alor General Comnan dung Oil
reefs that YOU start at one O'Clock TO night, ana
como forward with your Whole corps, or such
part Of it - is with you, 30 as 20 oe mere ~
.Is,n light tomorrow morning. HOOKER mas
had a yerv severe action with the enemy,
with loss CT absut thrc hundred Killed ana
wounded. The enemy has ben driven OAK,
tut il retiring along the railroad. Wa must
drive him from Mauassas, and clear the coun-
try between that place and Gaine.viiie, wh re
Mcdowell is. II MorsH has not joined You
,end word 10 HIM to push forward immediate
": also send word 70 Banks 70 hurry forward
with all speed to take your place 1T WarTenton
Junction. 1t is necessary ON all accounts th;tt
YOU should be here by day light send al Oh
ficer 18th this Dispatch who will conduct you
tu this place. BE- sure to acnd word To Banks,
who is or, The road 10 Faycttevilir, probably IN
the direction OF Bealton- Say TO Banks also
thai he had best run back the railroad trains to
this side of Cedar Run. If hc is not with you
write him 10 that effect
by command of Major General Pope.
GRO. D. RUGGLE-.
Colonel and Chief OF Staff.
P S-If Banks is not at Warrenton Junction
leave regiment OF infantry and two pieces oil
artillery az 4 guard till he comes up, with in
structions 10 follow you Immediately. II
Banks is not ar the Junction, instruct Colonel
Cleary 10 run the trains back TO this side of
G. dar Run, and posVa reg meEt and section OF
artillery with II.
By com mand Of Maior General Pope,
Gro. II. RCGGLEs, COl and Chief OF Staff.
Did then and there disobnT the said order,
being AZ the time III the Face OF The enemy This
at or near arrenton, in the State of Virginia,
on or about the 18th Of August, 1859.
Spsc;fcaiim 2d.--In this, that the said MAJOR
General Fitz John Porter, bring i'll front OF tte
enemy at Manassas. Virginia on or about the
morning OF August 29th. 1862 did receive from
MaioY ti,n,ral John Pope, his superior and
commanding officer. a lawful order, in the fol-
low ing lrttrr> and figures, TO wit:
headquarters army Of FI-giaid. J
Ccntrer,R-, AuSust %, l-62.
Generals Nc bowel and Portsr: You will
phase move forward with your Joint COM
manda tow ards Gainesville. l sent General
Porter written orders 20 that effect an hour and
half ago Ieintze Imam, Sigei and Il No are
moving on the Narrenton tufnrik', and must
now be not Tar from Gainesville. / desire that
a. SOON as communication Is established be-
tween The force and your own the whole COM
nand shall halt. Il may be necessary 10 fail
lack L.hind Bull Run, at CenterviIl-, tonight.
j pres ure II viii be so account OF our sup
plies. i have sentnO orders Of any des cription
to Ricketts, and none 10 interfere In any way
with III, movements Of McDowell's troops ex-
Crpt ~ hat Srut Ivy his aiIct!e cam last nj yht,
which were 10 hold his position on the War
rrnton pike until troops from here should fail
the rly's flank and rear. l do not even
know Ricketts, position, ~ have not been able
to find Out where General Nc lowell was until
late hour this morning. General Mcdowell
" Ill TAX Immediate steps to comm unicate with
General H cc:ts and instruct him To- JOIN the
other iii, isiUEs Of his Corps rs SOON as practi-
cable. L! any cons id,ribe ad vantage u
bp gained by departing from this order il will
not tie strictly carried out. One thing mus; be
held Ill view Lat the troops must occupy
pU.Itlun from " hIch they reach Bull Run
Tonight OF by morning. The indications ara
that tn. whole force Of thu enemy is moving
il this direction II a pure that will bring them
Il, re by to-lnUrrow night the next day. My
own headquarters will. for the present, De " 9Th
L" int imam s Corps or at this place.
john PoPE, Maj. Gen'i Commanding.
Which orc"r the said Major General Porter
dld thrn and there disobey. This a. or near
Manassas, ia the State of Virginia or about
the .gth of August, log.
,>pect tcu.1Dn III. In this: that the said Major
II,
Of The enemy during the battle OF Manassas. on
Friday, the 29th OF August 1862, dad that
day receive from Major GtT.rll John Pop,
his superior and commanding officer, lawful
order i'll the following letters and figures. To
Wit:
He.t1tgtsrrters in ne Field,
August 29th, l-02-i30 %. m I
Major General Porter: Your line of march
briL-s you in on the enemy's right flank. L de-
fire you to push forward into action at once on
the Etmy Hank, and If possible on his res :,
General Reynolds. The enemy is massed il
he woods in front of US: but can be sheilei out
as soon as you engage their flank. Keep heavy
reserves, and use your batteries, keeping well
clos 81 10 your right all the time. In case you
are obliged TO tall back do SO to your right and
rear, 20 rs TO keep yoa in close comm unication
" it'll the right wing.
joins PORE Mai. Gen. Commanding.
hich said order the aid vi a or Gen Porter
did then and there disobey, ana qua I;tIi L. ,usn
forward his forces nto action either on tn'.
rmy's flank rear, anu in all other res pacts
did fail to obey said order. This at or near
Manassas, in the State of Virginia, on or shout
the SSth OF August 1862
Npscifcotion Ita. In that the said Major tienr
tltz John Porter being II - near MANASSAS
Junction on the night 81 the both Of uruSt,
1907, did receive from Maj Ien, John Pop, his
superior and commanding officer, - lawful
order in figures and words, 81 folio w, TO Wit
headquarters Armg Of Ftrgiain,
In the Field nedr Bal Run, Aug 10 1865, So D. m
Ma or CENT Fat. John Porter immediately.
upon receipt of this order, the precise hour of
which you will acknowledge, you will march
your command 10 ehe field OF battle OF Today,
and report TO me- in person for orders. YoH are
10 understand that you are 10 comply strictly
with this order, and TO be present the field
within three hours after its receipt, or after day
break to- morrow morning. JOHN PORE,
Major General COMMANDING
And the saId MAJOR General Fitz John Porter
did then and thsre disobey the said order. and
did permit one of the brig;,des of his comma nd
TO march to Centerville, ont OF the wav Of the
Held OF battle, and there &c 7emain during the
entire day OF Saturday, the 3Jth OF August
This ~ or near Manassas Station, in the st lte
OF Virginia, on the 2sth and 30th days Of Au-
gust 1-62.
SPECIFICATION 5ts.-In this that the said M1jor
General t1tz john Porter, being at or near Ma
hassas Station, in the State Of Virginia on the
night Of the 18th Of August, 1882, and having
received from his superior and commanding
omcer, Major General John Pope, the awful
order set forth in the spe, incation four 10 this
charge, did then and there disobey the same,
ana did permit one other brigade alta :hed TO
ms command, being the briggs de commanded by
. 0I1&dQler (3an6ral Pratt IN .An