New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1863-01-26
THE NORTHUMBERLAND
THB PROCEEDINGS, FINDINGS AND SENTENCE
OLA
GENERAL COURT.MARTIAL
HELD IN THE CITY or WASHINGTON,
FOR THE
TRIAL Of MAIIA.GEN. FITz John PORTER,
OF THE
UlyITED STATES VOLUNTEERS.
UlyITED STATES VOLUNTEERS.
Jrpar.Aproc,rn nrrrn.n, orr1cn. Lam. 10. lnsa


Sir; In compliance with your written instruc-
tons under date OF the 18th instant, to revise the
proceedings Of the Court-Martial in the case OF
Major General Fitz Johu Porter, and to report fully
upon any legal questions that may have arisen IN
them, aud upon tho bearing Of the testimony in
reference to the charges and specifications exhibited
against the accused and upon which he was tried,
/ have the honor to submit the following report:
AS the anmuS OF the accused toward his coIn-
handing General in pursuing the line OF conduct
alleged aganst hin, mu.t largely affect the question
Of his orlmnality, aud may iurnish safe aud rolf
able light for your guidance in determining points
otherwise left doubtful by the evidence, 1t is proper
that il should II possible, BIO ascerained before en-
tering at large upon the review Of the case, which
you have instructed he TO make.
| Gen. Porter, with Lis command, belonged 10 the
army OF the Potomac which had closed its dsls-
trous campaign the Peninsula just before the mo-
ment which the narrative Of the events set forth
in the record before you is taken up by the wit
nesses who have deposed. Gen. Mcclellan and
Assistant Secretary Of War Tucker state that no
displayed great energy and zeal in debarking his
troops aud Fastening their departure for Aqua
Creek.
The former, however adds that il was not then
known 70 the accused that he vas 10 be placed I'M
der The Immediate command vi Gen. Pope, the ques-
ton OF the command not having at that tune ceen
decided. Il Soui likewise DO borne IN mind that
tho transfer OF the Army Of tie Potomac, once be-
Cun, was movement OK extreme peril. and that ex-
troranary eiiore Oh the part Of all engaged IN it
were prompted, not only by those high consIdera.
tons OF Tatr,oti'm which nugt be supposed 10 have
been present, but also by thB equally urgent in
ftiuots Of sslEpreserVation.
The order Of Gen. Halleck, directing the iurctiou
OF the command Of the accused with that "a Geu.
Pore, seems TO hayo reached him ut Aqua Creek.
From tnig re proceeded In obedience TO the oraer
10 eject the junction and at that time as we learn
from Geu. Burnade, be lacked confidence in Gen.
Pope ana shared the dstrust, alleged by the witness
70 have entertained by many officers, OF bic capacity
10 conduct tho campaign in which the army Of yir.
gina wss then engaged. He reported TO Gen. Pope'
by note on the 2bth and IN person on tie morning VI
the 9th Of August, 1852, az Wsrrenton Junction.
In the brief conference WEIGH ensued between them
in tho forenoon oi that day, he must have acquired
all the information he thsn possessed as 10 the plan
nes Aits' ~. conference. at O'clock Of tAA day
lie 'sH' 10 Goa Burnside no srEiea h, referred TO 10 tie
81 military intslssacs. f5Hnd li- 9vipG sIp's,.on-i
We ming low o. Vet boinG BuA hur, Nnd pre-.
will DC ,lefe IN 'ew d@ys strategy doit usa up
Tie stssgy s. magnificent snh tactics n tic inverse pro.
lofneA ral iLioiAea 10 aay' D, he Deaf sH1Lonsyr
thrt In opposition % Gen Fop.'s views, tits army was
pushed e'' 10 .4vs The ay Of the ro'oaosn amy thu,
could tsfe care Of ii's" Most Of tbs II private but If
/ you got away. do 40"
In aaonsf dtspstch no ocsr on 2Tih August he
ssy.; " fia.so LStsn beck tho wagons down snd
inorm Moclolsn, ihs' may know that doing nrht"
Agan, u n. q the 7ssh no dsgsches An that TAX
about bAssns Jackson 6c was b1sL" That enormous
sep Mna's wa eii OPEN aHd shs enory Jumped through
nd TIE story Of Acileweli having cut On Longsree
if a. uHeu ffF
memo amount 4 property - Mana.sss-csn and supplies
.1pcet tho nexi ling vii be ssd te,r By lona
s.rco rto ra, 's' ~" And smother dispatch to
dated Hhstow August 4ih ltt2, $50 aud introduced
by the sccussl concludes oows - hope she best
hops heCeianls t. NJ also on vii hesr Of US BY
way - A-G-uiri~" II f1no ohcsr. from Bus'ow H.
vile, wttfe they nerch.s ye.teiday"
Poue went 70 Cc'fegir win the last Two AZ body guard
al 10 ,ius rot tnoas wAs'e "a. he ersmy and wtea
syd vas o. tns within eshI nile Of him and N sight
Comment unHeco"eIy. noTe Macs o. woTE ana
VIII ,'oa g. ordered III OF ,si'; IS would 'eem from
proper sa,t sens' Of tho enemy that he vas Wondering
nd l,Os-. ult expect tey mo" whI they doing
vso' l. more 'han any one here OF any where tnows"
Ihs prroiss import o. these feeTtao- word, IN their
nsc3n. cannot b. niststtn nor can fell o be ObeTyed
how hai,h theyjI upon the prop i"iies OF military life II
tJ 20 ssey aifnSd ,hA hoy eapes' on tho ant Of tho
s-cutod end contempt r. th5 strategy end
moysn sp,' q lhe sry o. Virginia wearness and disgust
for his octon with u, s'dol 20 bitter tug a. his Com.
,rsudire O.nela found w the e.trordahy d-claston
that hAd taken Two divisions u h army BODY guard
| T. Centfeville.
The words ts quoted drla,o also looking BY tho &C.
cuseG not Gen. Pore bv TO doE Mcclellan BIZ guide
ADD ~ Auc. uy0n IA, oua md nG 10 relieve HIN
10 "a connection With tho army OF Virginia, aud
yec,son not hope that they woald al soon sye a.
Thi- q ~ true, would involve che dec
Of hal army bl would also Involve le dioodt OF IL,
commander ana woug restore the aceused 10 bis former 20.
tcipaton, ard such erta,ny wal the result
H. az mind ~ me imtroisiop tIsv tend 10 ,usIs II ue
eyed the deise and wss proved by Gen Bursdo tha.
they oi ter character aud .st tie ccusud had
been equcs 20 furnsI h inio nation 10 rceence 10
VII ion H. r,aa serving 20 r - The purpose for " hicG
~ wsts OF red ~ The Go,ernrlrhr f. eororsA il i.
wholly imtla 81 under whose prompting or ior what I'D
n hr wort make manifest ,hs. The accused enter aiucl
feelings of - attempt Ird hostility toward tie Amy vi IT,
ginl sud IS commander ~ matters Whistler thry were
,poteu TO- private aud oonfd,nta, Ia Official
gTLyr formal official corgespondeuoo rust chow
h,~ sgr3 these feelings were AID how difficult wa TO 10
la q ~ 70 what must be REGARDED the prevailing sau
eut me gasgo quoted taeo wA,e-d h. tho rionso
cent, dated sep.euber2 1852 1t ful iervent PARROT
of professions 1t devotion hs duty in connection
wl' army 81 virginia aud .ta commander Tho Count
oobtedly 10 this paper tho confederation 1t doeyed
Y anapliy. IL cltlo TOO lac.
f4l thu enemy and tho naou Of tho tc'u'ed could IL
uce upon ~ aud at Ihe y5 nomen. this dspach was wit
po when p'hei va Orlng st ~ away oy the o. aei
sle thai for ne Amy Of Viz iuia to fA bacs With
IL ie irtenemolso Washington and Of course u4def the
Ihs Testimony flaos Yet other evidence Of tho auimu.
u accused Con POPE wanrd b Gel. Rl ert and
Lieut. Col Smith and By others. that tie "wold
s him" In bis ifank and uspscg nature, he seems u
hA,s dang tie .mpu1tloi om him. do had o tie tho sh
Ageward his afriva at Washngton. hs Informed o
tbe dspaches sent By The accused 10 Gen burnside bis mind
! eppesrs - hayo been very differently impressed.
In tie afternoon 81 the 4ah August Oen Roberts became
sEtltd a. ne hC1u ca was no dong hi duty IN soOi hl
70 Con fope. llo arrived Il this well om ~
ses d disobedisncst 10 The order 10 march A. OF A
moaning, a. from tho declaration OF den Kearley osn
oDsa had previously ned tho sceused in hsh estimation
NLtn n4rIioug this 10 Gen keauey, latter ed
.
would isl Gen. Pope"
Lieut. oil Thomas C. H. Smith an ad.de-camp the
.ts of Gen Bops. called ,hs accused afternoon Of
tho 45th Of August lie h heard OF hi. edence Of
sny orders and had, LAC Gen Roberts. the most isyoIaols
opinion Of hi. and conduct officer sncl
tho made upon him By hi. ard con-
,cation, that az tho close Of their Interview he st han
fully shisad that 10 would fail Cen Pope asd would with
hod from him bis support In this then pending operations oil
the Army Oh Virginia.
10 arrived the headquarters OF Zen
Pope aud said him hr he had just Gen Porter GU DIS
way there and that he fail him aud added 20 cor
tnin that tz John Porter il traitor that would ahoo
HIN tone far any crime bsfo.e Gods concerned
| tIo law would allow 10 do it." "a,
The rresalon thus expressed be sill retains anu rev
erGsi ia his testimony. This evidence is OF most sisns
diameter and should be- cosey examined with view 10 the