Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1863-01-03

WASHINGTON, Jan. 2.-ln the Porter court
martial, to-day, the court having called on
Cen Porter to bring forward his witnesses, he
said the first one whose evidence he most
needed was Col Marshall who then lay ill
at a neighboring hotel. The question was
raised us to the propriety of adjourning to the
invalid's room, which was decided Affirmative
ly by the judge advocate. The members then
proceeded to the hotel, where the court was
re-opened in the chamber of Col Marshall,
who was sworn, and testified that he was
colonel of the 18th New York volunteers, at
tached to Gen. Morrell's division, and a cap
tain in the regular army. He said that on the
afternoon of August 29th, he had been de-
tailed by Gen. Porter to deploy skirmishers
and feel the position near the line of the Ma
nassas railway. He stated all he knew of the
enemy's force that day, who seemed to come
from the direction of Thoroughtare Gap. He
supposed them to have been twice as strong
as Porter's force. He thought it was impos-
sible 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
other 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 backward one, which
was of course impracticable under the Cir
cumstances, though he had achieved his re-
treat by this route the following day.
GEN. McCLELLAN's TESTIMONY.
Gen. Mcclellan testified that he commanded
the army of the Potomac from Immediately
after the battle of Bull Run in 1861 up to
about the end of Augt, 1862.
QUEsTIoN.-Did Gen. Porter command
porns in that arnnv2 If 81 at what tina
ANs.-He served in that army from some time
in Sept, 1862, first as commander of divis-
ion, and then as commander of corps from
about the end Of April to the beginning of
May, 1862.
QUEs.-When did the army of the Potomac
reach Aqua Greek. ANs.-By detachments
during the latter part of August.
QUEs.-Have you knowledge of any efforts
made by Gen. Porter for the purpose of NOV
| ing with his own command, in order to reach
Aqua Creek to join Gen. Pope? Ans.-I
| have.
QUEsT.-Please state them. ANs.-Imme-
| diately after the commencement of the move
ment for evacuating Harrison Bar, Gen. Por.
| ter was instructed to remove his corps to the
vicinity Of Williamsburg, holding a position
in front of it, so as to be able to support either
| wing of the army if attauked. While there
| he received information from contrabands and
| Intercepted letters showing that the rebel
| troops in the vicinity Of Richmond were NOV
| ing upon Gen. Pope, and Immediately, with
out waiting for further instructions from me,
| he moved his command with the utmost rapid
| ity to Newport News to embark. While at
| Newport News he used every effort to facili-
| tate the enlbarkation of his command from
| Aqua Greek.
QUEsT.-Did he know the object of that
| movement on his part was to go as quickly as
| possible to the assistance of General Pope !?
| ANs.-He did.
QUEsT.-At what time did he get off from
| Newport News? ANs.-I think he embark ed
| in person on the goth of August. l could not
| tell certainly, without reference to papers and
| dates.
A dispatch was handed to the witness, and
| the question was asked if that document re-
freshed his recollection. The following is the
dispatch alluded to-
Fort MONROE, Va, Aug 20, IL AM, 1862
Please push off your troops without one mo-
menrs delay. The necessity is very pressing,
a matter OF life and death. What progress is
being made? and when will you be through?
See me before you sail.
GEO. b. MCCLELLAN, Maj. Gen.
To Maj. Gen. +. j. Porter
Aftea reading the paper and acknowledging
the authorship, he said TO the best of my
| knowledge and belief, on the eve of the goth
/ of August.
QUEsT.-That order, as we understand it,
was executed to your satisfaction? AVS
| Entirely 50.
QUEST. have stated that the first
movement which he made for the purpose of
| getting to Newport News was without orders
| from you. Was it not contrary to orders at
the time? ANs.-lt was departing from the
| letter of instructions / had given him. |
should say, however, in explanation of this,
that Gen. Porter sent me a telegram, perhaps
two, saying he would move up certainly, il
! did not forbid by some delay. l did not re-
ceive these dispatches till after he started, but
fully approved of his course in what he did
QUEsr.-Was the effect of that movement
to expedite his arrival at Aqua Creek?
ANs.-Very decidedly; at least one day if
| not more.
| QUEsT.-After he left Newport News with
his command when did you see him, if at all,
Afterwards.
| ANs.-At Aqua Creek.
| QUEsT.-How long was he there under
| your immediate supervision?
ANs.-I think from twenty-four to thirty
six hours between there and Falmouth.
QUEsT.-Did you see him after he left Fall
mouth till the campaign was at an end?
ANs.-No sir.
QUEsT.-From what you saw of his con-
| duct, or from anything that you may have
heard from him after he knew that he was to
| go the assistance of Gen. Pope, did he do all,
In your opinion, that an energetic, Jealous,
and patriotic officer could have done?
ANs.-I think he did
QUEsT.-Had you at any reason at any time
| after he received notice that he was to 20 to
the assistance of Gen. Pope to believe he
would fail Gen. Pope or the country?
ANs.-None whatever.
QUEsT.-Do you remember whether YOU
received from Gen. Burnside after Gen. Por-
| ter Joined the command, or was about to Join
| the command of Gen. Pope, any dispatches he
had received from Gen. Porter?
ANs.-l received several. The exact num-
Der do not know; perhaps three or four for
warded by Gen. Burnside from Falmouth.
QUEsT.-To yourself?
ANs.-The copies l think were addressed
both to Gen. Halleck and myself.
| Gen. Mcclellan here examined the various
dispatches referred to in which Gen. Porter
comments upon the manner in which the Vir-
| ginia campaign had been conducted, and ac-
knowledged them to be the same he had re-
| ceived.
QUEsT.-Did you, from the kilograms you
received, form an impression that Gen. Porter.
would not be true to his duty to Gen. Pope !?
ANs.-I did not.