Daily national Republican., 1863-01-03
THE PORTER CouRT-MARTIAL.
FRIDAY, January Q, 1856.


The Court having called on General Porter,
yesterday, to bring forward his witnesses, he
said the first one, whose evidence he most
needed, was Colonel Marshall, who then Law
III at a neighboring hotel.
A question was raised as to the proprlcly of
adjourRing to the invalid's room, which wa
decided in the affirmative.
The members then proceeded to the hotel.
where the court was reopened in the chamber
of Colonel Marshall.
He was sworn, and testified that he was Col
Onel Of the Thirteenth New York volunteers
attached TO Morell's division, and a captain In
the regular service; also, that on the afternoon
Of August 20, he had been detailed by General
Porter to deploy skirmlshers, and feel the posi-.
tion of the enemy near the line of the Manas-
sas railway. He went on to state all he knew
Of the encmy's force on that day, who seemed
to come from the direction Of Tnoroughfare
Gap. He supposed thom TO have been twice as
strong as Portsr's force. He thought 1t were
impossible for Porter TO have attacked the right
wing of Jackson, who, with another portion
Of the rebel army, was at the same time fight
ing Pope Since the direct road thereto was
blocked up by the enemy in front, and the 9TH
or roads were impossible by reason of dense
woods and the rugged nature of the country.
The only path that Porter could take would
have been a backward one, which was, of
course, impracticAble under the circumstances,
though he had achieved his retreat by this route
on the following day.
TESTIMONY OF GEN. MCCLELLAN.
He commanded the Army of the Potomac
from Immediately after the battle of Bull Run,
In 1851, up 10 about the end of August, 1869
2. Did Gen. Porter command corps in that
army; If so, at what timcl
4. lie served in that army from gometlme in
the month Of September, 1SGl-frst as com,
mander of a division, and then as commander
of corps, from about the end of April to the
beginning of May, 1862.
/ Q. When did the Army of the Potomac reach
Aquia Creek
4, It reached, BY dctRchments durIng the
latter part Of August.
Q. Have you knowledge Of any efforts made
by Gen. Porter for the purpose Of moving with
his own command in order TO get TO Aquia
Creek to join Gen. Popel
4. have.
! Q. Please state them,
4. Immediately after the commencement OF
T.
Gen. Porter was instructed 10 move his corps IL
the vicinity Of Williamsburg, holding posi-
tiOn in front of It, so as 10 be able 10 support
either wing Of the army Y attacked. While
there, he received Interpolation from contra.
bands and intercepted letters, showing that the
rebel troops in the vicinity Of Richmond were
moving upon Gen. Pope, and Immediately, with,
out waiting for further Instructions from me
moved his command with the utmost Tapldity
q to Newport News TO embark. While at New,
port News he used every effort to facilitate the
embarkatlon of his command for AQUA Creek
Q. Did he know that the object Of that move
ment upon his part was TO 60 as quick as pos
sible 10 the assistance Of Gen. Popcl
A. He did.
Q. AT what time did he get off from Newport
Newsl
4. l think he embarked In person on the 9Otl
of August. could not tell certainly without
reference TO papers and debts.
A dispatch wac handed 10 the witness, anC
the question asked, II that document refreshed
his recollection.
The following is the dispatch alluded to
FT. MONROE, Va,
Aug. 2O-ll q. M, 1859.
Please push of your troops without one mo
ment's delay. The necessity isveTy pressing
a matter Of life and death. What progress Il
being made, and when will you be through
See me before you sail.
CSlgned) GEO' Is, MCCLELLAN,
Major General
To Mai. Gen. +. j. PORTER.
After reading the paper and acknowledging
It's authorship, Gen. Mcclellan siad
To the best Of my knowledge and belief, Gen
Mcclellan sailed on the evening Of the Goth 0
August.
Q. That order, as We understand it, was eN
ecuted by hlm TO your satisfaction
a. Entirely SO.
O. You have stated that the first movement
which he made for the purpose Of getting I,
Newport News, was without orders from you
Was II not contrary TO orders at that time
4, 1t was departing from the letter of lnstruc
tlOns had given him. | should say, however
in explanation of that, that Gen. Porter sen
me a telegram, perhaps two, stating that h
would move up certainly, II did not forbid 1t
By some delay did not receive these dispatches
nnll aftnr he had aInrtnh hnl fnllr nrnrnvn.