Gallipolis journal. [volume] (Gallipolis, Ohio) 1837-1919, 1863-02-05
FITz JOHN PoRTER's CASE.

The dismissal Of Major Gen. Fit
John Porter from the army Of the Uni
ted States seems to be q very sever
measure, but it was necessary: un
doubtedly Porter is 9 good soldier 2
far as fighting qualities are concerned
and he acted bravely throughout th'
war until the second battle Of Bull Run
But bravery in q soldier is no excus'
for disobedience Of orders. The sam
obedience which is due from the pri
vate soldier is demanded from the gen
eral officer. Discipline is worth moth
ing il officers high in rank are permitted
to disregard the orders Of their supe'
riors and thus hazard the chances oI
victory. Major General Pope had q
right TO expect the cooperation Of the
corps commanded by Porter. Impor-
iant movements upon the flank Of the
enemy we're entrusted to his care
Had be been as prompt and earnest as
be had been at the battles Of the PENN
sula, il is believed that the rebels would
have been fianked and defeated upon
the plains Of Manassas; the country
would have been saved the disgrace Of
the retreat upon Washington; Lee,
Jackson, Longstreet and Hill, would
never have crossed the Potomac; the
battles Of Chantilly. South Mountain.
Antietam and Shepherdstown, would
never have taken place, Harper's Ferry
would have held out; Stusrt's raid TO
Chambersburg would not have occur.
red, and the disgrace to the Federal
cause Of that bold movement would have
been prevented. At Chantills the Fed
eral army lost Kerney and Stevens,
with 1000 killed and wounded; at
South Mountain we lost Reno aud 1856
killed, wounded and missing; at Antie-
tam we lost Mansfield and numerous
officers, with l9,469 killed, wounded
and missing; at Shepherdstown 500
men were killed and wounded; and by
the disgraceful surrender Of Hsrper's
Ferry ii, ,483 men, besides great stores
OF artillery and munitions of war, were
given up to the rebels.
General Porter was charged with the
loss of the battle of Bull Run either by
his slowness or bis refusal to fight
All the losses OF the succeeding battles
in Virginia, up to the attack on Fred
ericksburg. were distinctly charged
against him as disastrous consequences
Of his conduct. Over fifty thousand
men were placed hors dH combat by the
disasters which followed the Union de
feat at Bull Run. in August. 1869. A
fearful responsibility was incurred by
Major General Fitz John Porter IL he
was the cause Of the defeat in Virginia
by his refusal to obey the orders of
Major General Pope. The Court Mar
tiaI after long and an interesting trial.
and spirited defence, having affirmed
all the accusations against him. It's
members declare, in fact, that if he had
obeyed orders the enemy would have
been defeated, in all probability at Ma
masses, they would have been driven
through Thorougbfare Gap and back to
the Rappahannock; they might have
been thoroughly routed, and the cap
ture of Richmond would have followed
by rapid movements against it by the
way of Fredericksburg.
For all these evils, the only apology
for Fitz John Porter is that be did not
ike Nsjor General Pope. A misera-
bic jealousy of the latter led to those in
famous dispatches from Porter, which
show too plainly that be was more in
terested in preventing Major General
Pope from receiving whatever glory
would have been due him If the Fed
eral army had been victorious. than be
was in serving his country. Pope was
sacrificed to the spirit Of cliqueism
among certain officers OF the army, Of
whom Fits John Porter was the boldest.
On the altar Of jealousy we're sacrificed
thousands Of gallant and patriotic Off
GERS and men. The war has been de-
lsyed, millions of dollars have been
spent to repair the consequences of the
disasters which Porter might have
sverted, and discomfort has risen bold
ly sgsinst the Government throughout
the country. For such a crime, dis.
missal from the service in disgrace is
no punishment; but Is is the only one
that can be meted; eternal infamy will
accompany it.-PhRadslphia Sunday
Dispatch.