The New York herald., 1862-12-30
Ths Porter Coure Martial.
INTERESTING TESTIMONY or BRIO. GEN. 0RIYYIN.

This Porter Cours Martial.
INTERESTING TESTIMONY or BRIO. GEN. GRIYYN.
stt WASHINGTON. Dec. 20, 1862.
In the Porter court to-day, General Morel corrected
An answer Of yesterday He said no had thrown skr-
mishers In front and tho e Tho order to attack the
enemy received just before sunset the 2oth OF
August, shat TO pass the night about dusk.
Col Ruggies said Mat his bias was not with Gsasrai
Porter He could noa say that hs was ether friendly
unfriendy to him. His prejudices had been increased
against Gen. Porter BY remarks he had heard from Gen.
Pope and his star ol1cers preudisal against him at
various times.
Brig. Cen Griffin was sworn. He wss BrGadier Genera,
Of the United States Volunteers and Captain OF artillery
In the United States Army belonged the Fifth army
corps, commanded by Gen. Porter and attached to
Con. Morells division. We had marchedfrom Barnett 9
Ford on the Rappahsnnock warrenton Junction dis
tance Of nineteen miles. Our troops broken down
and very weary. We had many straggisrs. It was
very warm day. Received orders the 9th 70 march
70 Bristow's O'Clock. Marched about mile and
halted Ny artillery became clogged in ste creek 1t was
dark had to candles There is also bad place
at Catletts especially for dark night several such
places tho road TO Bristows Ny for hating
70 reform my brigade, which had become separated
in the dark II would not have been udicous or expe.
dent have started O'Clock A. NJ 1t would have
O6cn more 30 W nAVo dS we COulu
have tho two hosrs lost In the road We could
have then left camp properly ana avoided the stoppages
the march from Brstows to Manassas my brigade
leading We halted there thirty minutes, and
then received orders TO countermarcn to Gainesville.
Learning from q cavalryman that there was NO
forcc OF 10 front except few mounted mon threw
out four companies ankers and skirmishers moving
on until we came cleared place, probably I've miles
Manassas Junction General Porter here rode up.
threw eight companies to tho support OF the
0rst lour. General Mcdowell ride up and had
veraation with General Porter, during which map
shown AS soon ~ Aclowol ieft got orders 70 recall
tempted do bat dad not succeed in getting further
than six hundred yards where wc met with obsructons
II understood that We might have to rourn TO Cen
trcville 70 get Ths was, l understand, the
burden Of tho COMMUNICATION OF General Pope
% Gcnsrsl Porter. ] did not know NOW much about
coming up front and LEFT from point which
ia tbs direction Of Thoronghfare Gap In my opinion it
practicable 70 have ianked the enemy on his
right i've ociook any during the day.
1horoughfare Gap would have TO have been turned 10
have accomplished this aud the clouds OF dust arising In
that direction showed the enemy In large force then
When startod t0 Manassas asked Gencral Morei III
he was going 70 attack the enemy he answered. In
substance, No. IL too ate and this order has been
given under q wrong impression. When given II
from the impression that the Onomy were rctreatng In
stead Of which they were receiving heavy
feel confident that the enemy was not retiring just at
oiicer, General Morel Who sccompsnisd mo SrOush.
pApcCs0u
when arrived there.
Cross sxamined-wnen halted ut tho place whore my
artillery stuck General Morel directed me to halt until
received further orders believe during the creator
portion Of the day had tho greater portion OF Lccs
troops before During the 29th hoard no fring
Whatever except artillery at long distance, until even
ing, whom heard some volleys OF musketry. l
never heard General Porter mention General Pope's
name but once Ho General porter) then said
tho orders he received werc conflicting | first
received them from officer and then from
another, most OF whom are strangers to me, aud "have
requested him to send me orders hereafter in writing
When witness went to Centrevile he did not know
whether he advancing or retiring II VIC had march
ed the 2sih ut A. NJ one brigade would have got
through and then the batteries would have choked tho
road I consider officer bound 70 obey orders when
they are practicable.
Examipaton OF accused resumed-I do not think any
officer would move without his artillery. II was Ave
O'Clock on the 3Oth Of August when l moved to
the field from CenTeviile. The road was block
ed up BY wagons and stragglers, and the
bridge Cub broken through and 1t was impas
sable did not know were retreatng on the 29th.
thought might be changing position. From what
or General Porters conduct these occasions can
say that he exhibited TO serve
his commander and country. think he exhibited his
usual zeal and energy 70 move ahead Que thing that
made me think him particularly zcalous was the long
march he made from Barnes Ford TO Warrenton. nine
teen miles, breaking his command down 70 q great
~. r,oc~t o,,vrad until enLrn