The Portland daily press., 1863-01-01
BY TELEGRAPH.
TO THE
Portland Daily Press.
FROM WASHINGTON.
The Porter and Mcdowell Court
Martials.

WASHINGTON, Dec. 81.
In the Porter court martial case to-day, Gen.
Burnside testified to having received unofficial
kilograms from Gen. Porter after that officer
had joined the army of Virginia, relative to
the operations of the forces under Gen. Popes
command. He was satisfied that what was
said therein on Gen. Hooker's character was
correct. Being asked whether the indsposi-
tion evinced by many Of Gen. McClellan's otf-
GERS to serving under Gen. Pope was not
chiefly caused by the withdrawal of the army
from the Peninsula, he reped that almost
every officer with whom he had conversed had
fully sanctioned the wisdom of that move
He had, however, no desire to make personal
reflections upon the capacity of Gen. Pope.
Being further questioned in regard to General
Porter, he stated that he knew that Porter had
Immediately obeyed the order requiring him
to join his forces with those of Gen. Pope, but
whether he had used efforts beyond the die
tates of his duty to do so he was not aware.
He spoke also of an incident that occurred
on the banks of the Chickahominy, in which
Gen. Porter displayed foresight. Whilst on the
point of crossing that stream, the wagon
trains very much impeded the movements of
the troops. Gen. Porter had ordered the
wagons to pass Oh beyond, and in doing so he
was compelled to change the position of his
corps. Gen. Mcclellan was at first displeased
with this vancouver, but after the army had
crossed fully assented to its judciousness.
Gen. Butterfield, of Gen. Porter's corps, was
next sworn. He stated that he was present
when the order from Gen. Pope arrived di-
recting Gen. Porter to march at / o'clock A.
M. on the morning of the 2Sth of August.
Gen. Porter, he said, having sent out his aides
to explore the road, was convinced by their
report of the impracticablity of starting be-
fore daybreak, and decided accordingly. He
gave an account OF the march from Ellis Ford
to Bristow during the latter part of August,
and the fatigue of the soldiers thereon, and
believed Gen. Porter had performed his whole
duty.
Gen. Bufford, Chief of Cavalry to Gen. Por-
ter's army, was called in, and briefly questioned
with reference to the report he made to Gen.
Mcdowell on the 10Th of August of the pres
cnce of large force under Gen. Longstreet
near Gainesville. He stated that he thought
they had come through Thoroughiare Gap,
and had approached from the direction of
Gainesville about Q or 10 A. NJ. The Court
then adjourned.
A communication was received on Tuesday
from Gen. Sigel to the Mcdowell Court of In
quiry, stating that he was not prepared as yet
to make any correction in hstestimony. This,
together with letters from Gen. Mcdowell
designed to throw light in the declaration he
had previously made before the Court, were
read by the Recorder, and ordered to be ap-
pended to the days proceedings.
Major Willard Aid to Gen. Mcdowell, was
the only witness examined. He testified con-
corning an interview between Gen. Mcdowell
and Gen. Sigel on the 9th of August, near
Bucksport Mills, at which he said he was
present. He said he thought he heard Gen.
Mcdowell request Gen. Sigel to march to
Manassas, and march also to Thoroughlare
Gap, offering him for that purpose the COM
mand of one of his divisions. The Court ad-
lonrned till Monday, in order to enable the
Recorder to bring up the record. a large cor
respondence remaining to be copied.