Prescott journal. [volume] (Prescott, Wis.) 1861-1871, 1863-02-11


SIS soldier, and have brought him to
not only to his feet but TO his saddle;
but have awakened the sound of eager
preparations throughout bis campl But
the bugie note of this order seems to
have fallen UNDECIDED, and after reading
il. and at the close of an interview Of
from fifteen to twenty inmates, the mes
scnger who bore it. turned away, leaving
the accused still "lying on the ground
In little while after the departure
of the messenger, Porter gave an order
to fall back, and deliberately retired al
together from the theater of the still IA
cling battle. AL this was known two
days afterwards b. Mcclellan, yet he
retained Fitz John rs hls chief corps
commander. and permitted him TO per
form the same part with 10000 men at
the subsequent battle Of Antietam,
"Bat there is one feature of the mac
ten of the accused on the 29th," says
Judge Advocate Holt, (which is esps-
cially sorrowful to contemplate How,
with the cannonade of the battle in his
ears. and its smoke and the dnst of the
gathering forces before his eyes. he
could, for seven End half or eight hours
resis; the temptai n TO purge into the
combat, it is difficult 10 conceive. But
this alone is not the saddest prospect in
which his conduct presents itself Col.
Marshall states that from the cheorings
and peculiar wells of the enemy heard
on the evening of tne Goth. he, and ev-
cry man Of his conmsnd, believed TINT
Gen. Pope's army was being driven
from the field.
1t is further stated by Judge Holt
that The members of the Court were con-
vinced, from the testimony ''that Wig
orous attack upon the enemy by the
accused, at any time between twelve o
clook, when the battle began, and dark,
when it closed, would baye secured
triumph for our arms, and not only the
overthrow of the rebel forces, but prob.
ably the destruction Ct Jackson's army.
This opinion, in effect, is emphatcaly
expressed by Generals Pope, Mcdowell,
and Roberts, and by Lieut.. Col. Smith.
all of whom participated in the engage
ment, and were well qualified is judge.
Gen. Roberts. who was on the field
thrognhost the day, says; do not
doubt ut all that it would have resulted
in the defeat, if not in the capture Of the
main army OF the Confederates that
were in the fell at that time. $40 the
same effect is the explicit language Of
General Pope. whie Mcdowell SAYS that
''eyen had the attack itself failed, the
number of troops which would have
been withdrawn from tho main battle
by tho enemy 10 effect this result, would
have so far relieved our centre as to rem
der our victory complete.
Upon such revelations and such proofs
as these. did the court unanimously find
Fitz John Porter guilty of the crimes
alleged against him; and upon their YER
dict did The President strike the malefac-
tor from the rolls and declare him to be
hereafter utterly unfit to wear sword, or
to hold any office Of trust or profit under
the Government oil the United States.
1t was q punishment far short Of the
measure of the crime; for the culprit
should have been run up TO limb, or
ct least lead ont aMd shot. Bnt the
President doubtless credited him with
some remaining sensibility Ia human
shame. and therefore judged it to be
keener penalty to force him to live and
walk about among bis former fellow men
with - brand npon hi, forehead which
stamps him not only IS the murderer Of
Kenrny and of Stevens, but as the resi-
botraycr Of Antetam and both battles Of
Bull Run. He therefore stalks an out
cast. bearing upon his brow the mark Of
Cain. inviting. but for the decorem of the
law. the pistol Of every loyal man, and
worthy only of the commisera,on of the
Chief who so unduly pampeFed and adj
vanced him.