Prescott journal. [volume] (Prescott, Wis.) 1861-1871, 1863-02-11
THE MODERN ARNOLD
F:tz John For er Branded and
Sent Loose.
rFrom the N, Y. Spirit of the Times

England produced ahother-uuh' anu
the third war for American liberty has
produced third-Porter.
Passing over the period when Porter
was the pet and secret emisnry of the
thief and traitor Floyd, and was sent by
that miscreant on n confidential mission
to Fort Sumter; ard passing over his III
sdious advice to tho loyal soldier in
command that, "were he 10 chnrge. he
world not attempt to defend the work
if attacked from the land side:" passing
over his performances when acting rs
chief of staff under Patterson during the
first battle of Bull Run, when by bis ad-
vice and influence the force Of Patterson
WAS withheld from reinforcing or heIping
Mcdowell, which caused the carnage
and disasters of that droadtu! day
passing from thence, we trace Porter rs
leading adviser Of the long and ingIoriou,
inactivity before Manassas; the engineer
who protracicd the disgrucefuI siege OF
Yorktown; the strategist who deliberate
IL planted his batteries in 81 rayine(in one
of the seven DAYS battles. )instead Of on 81
hight, wh!e he steamed his regiments
before raking fire Of the enemy; the
beau sabreur who fed percipita ely from
the sneers Of brave Mccall, when the
butternut lines were advancing upon
than at Gaines Mil; the traitor who
failed Pope at Ceptreville, and the nn
grateful comrade who, when Burnside
was sinking under the accumulated
weight of Hill and Longstrect, at Aniie
tam, refused reinforcements out Of the
10000, which had stood idls under him
during MI the fierce temptations Of that
dav. His whole cnreer, therefore, is one
consistent current of darkly suspicious
acts; and. at the end, he stands convict
I'd By the solemn judgment of his peers,
of a vilainy which equals the measure of
the worst that had been thought Of HIM
befors. Il is seldom, that in tbs course
even Of the longest life, one man has the
opportunity for 80 much evil rs f'ltz
Porter found in the space Of twonty
months; and that he improved ill the
occasions which were thus presented, no
one who has read the testimony in the
resent trial, and been m observer If his
previous career, can, for q moment doubt.
The changes against him in that pro-
ceed;ng were, that having while ut War
renton junction. Va, on the evening OF
the 9th of August last, received an
urgent order from General Pope to
move forward Mt l O'Clock on the follow
ing morning to Bristow Station, (Which
was but nno miles distant) in order to
he able to attack the enemy Mt daylight;
he deliberately disobeyoi that order,
went to sleep upon it. and did not begin
10 move his men till daylight
The second was, that OH the day but
one afterwards. to-wit: the 29th1 of
August, he, while in sight Of the enemy,
ut the distance Of but mile aid bali
for seven hours, did after receiving an
order to attack, shan fully turn his back
upon the foe. whose inferior force he
might eaisly have crushe !, and march
from the sound of the hostile cannon
with his whole division, thus leaving the
exhausted Federal forces to he out num-
bered and driven disnstrously back up
on Arlington Heights and Alexandria
The testimony on the second charge
make soma astounding reye'stions. [
appear. that on the morning Of the 23th
Porter md Mcdowell were ordered to
move forward together on given road.
and follow i. till they INST the euen Y,
unless Mcdowell. who ranked Fitz John.
should decide that any considerable
advantage were 10 be gained by pursu-
iny different course.
On arriving a. certain point in thoir
march, Mcdowell decided that the COM
mands tad better 10 separated and
Informing the accused that he { McDowelI)
would move on with bis division, and
attack the enemy upon the center. di-
rected him to take road leading to the
left. wher. the rising dust showed thrt
the enemy might there be taken in the
flank.
The accused, instead Of receiving
the order with the spirit Of soldier
merely pointed with his hand to the dust
rising above tho trees and remarked-'
We cannot 90 in tlisre, anywhere, with
ont getting into fight" The answer of
Mcdowell was-"That's what We came
for" whereupou being full of his bust
ness he hurriedly rods off Porter then,
in mere seublanco of obedience, order
cd portion Of hs forces. under Griffin
to move forward, but when they had
advanced about 600 yards he directed
them TO halt. In this position he re-
manned till O'Clock p. IN, with his Is,
900 well appointed men, perfectly idle
before an inferior number of the foe,
who all the while were contributing to
harass and overwhelm our center.
Amazed at Porter's absence from the
fight. Pope 1T lena :h sent him an order
dated at halfpast 4, r. N, ''to pnsh for
ward into action at once. on the enemy's
right flank, and, it possible. upon his
rear" This order was delivered to him
at half past 5 o'clock, he received it
while lying down under shade tree.
and without attempting to obey, he
continued reposing in the same manner
during tho twenty minutes the messenger
Tn noticing the testimony on
tb;s mint Jud0o Holt atnnIovs The FOL-