Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1863-01-24
THE DAILY SPY.



The announcement that Gen. Fitz John
had be en- found guilty and cashiered excited
surprise, rather on account of the impress ion
that the government would not have the firm
ness to convict and punish, than OF belief in
his innocence. SO many high officers, rivalling
Gen. Porter in rank, and some of them out
ranking him, had offended with impuni.y since
the war begun that it came to be assumed
that any accused officer could shield himself
by his past service or his titles, and escape I'M
reproved. The associations of Gen. Porter.
too, had been such as to win for him the sup
port of some and the partially of others, who
would, of course, be satisfied with nothing but
his acquittal. The Daily Advertiser, one of
the latter class, makes the following COM
ment =
"The testimony upon which this finding is
based has been so widely circulated: SO IA
vorable to Gen. Porter; so unequivocal, we
will say, in its bearing upon the reputation of
Gen. Pope as an officer and man of veracitv,
that acquiescence in the verdict of the court
will not be ready or by any means universal.
If personal jealousy or political
design has entered into this Judgment, the
members of this court martial will not escape
merited and hateful Immortality in history"
This is the language of disappointment and
chagrin-which has a wonderfully tenacious
memory of all the irrelevant virtues the con-
demned officer may have sometime exhibited,
but persistently forgets the essential and
proved fact that he did not 90 to Gen. Pope's
relief when he was commanded and had the
power. On this point the testimony of the
witnesses-not only General Pope, but Gen
eral Mcdowell, General Roberts, Colonel
Drake DeKay, and others-was cumulative
and unanswerable-proving that while Gen
erals Pope and Mcdowell were engaged in
front, General Porter was within reach of the
enemy's flank with a sufficient force; that to
him was assigned. by General Pope the i'm
portant task of making the flank and rear at
tack, which should decide the day against the
enemy, the rest of the army meantime attack
ing in front; that General Porter entirely
failed to attack, as ordered, and made no at
tempt to do so; but alter remaining inactive
for part of the time, finally ordered a retreat,
because he judged that our troops were beat
en-; and then did not even attempt with his
troops to go to the rescue of his countrymen
whom he thought defeated.
1t is very likely that General Porter, in lis
lordly arrogance, thought it a fine thing to be
in position where he could break the pres
tige of rising officer, whom he may have,
feared as well as despised; and that it never
entered his mind that he would be held re-
sponsible to the country for the loss of the bat
tie, which he suffered when he could have
prevented it; and to God and history for the
lives which he saw sacrificed when he might
have saved them. We have no doubt that he
listened to the roar of the battle with com
placency, while his countrymen were falling
by hundreds. vainly, hopelessly; and that he
withdrew from all pos sbe danger without a
conjunction, at the first prudent moment, his
fine corps of twenty or thirty regiments-re-
puted one Of the best, if not the best, in the
service-when by obedience to his orders he
might have turned the scales of battle and Sc
cured an honorable victory, instead of rem
dering certain shameful and disheartening
defeat.
But however lightly he and his class of
army officers may estimate the enormity of
such conduct, the nation whose honor was
wounded could not be Indifferent; and the
blood of those who were needessly sacrificed
could not long go unrevenged. The verdict
of the court martial and its prompt approval
by the president, is partial atonement; and
will go far to reassure the confidence and
hope of the country. The guild, or conspira-
cy of old army officers, will suffer by the dis
grace of one of its pillars; but the army and
the country will breathe freer for this ade-
quate, though late, act of Justice