Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1866-05-10
THE JOHN POPE AND FITz JOHN POR-
TER CASE.
New Light Thrown on the Subject.

Mr. William Swinton, the historian OF
THE Army of the Potomac" whose
carefully written work is just making its
appearance, gives the following account
of the new light that has appeared in the
John Pope and Fitz John Porter contro-
versy, which resulted in the trial by
court-martial and the dismissal OF the
latter from the army
AS the view above taken of the action
of that part of the "Second Bull Run,
fought on the 29th of August, differs IN
some important particulars from preyi-
ous accounts, and especially from the
official report of General Pope, l shall
here substantiate, by Confederate official
records, the truth OF such points OF dif-
ference as are of moment. The question
foremost in interest has relation to the
time at which Longstreets corps joined
jackson. General Pope repeatedly states
that this did not take place till about
sunset" (see Pope's Official Report, p:
2l, and it is on this ground that he and
the court martial that tried General Por-
ter based their condemnation of that Off
Ger for not turning Jackson's right. Says
Pope ~ believe-in fact, | am positive
that at five in the afternoon of the 18th
General Porter had in his front no consid-
erable body of the enemy. believed
then. as | am very sure now, that it was
easily practicable for him to have turned
the right flank of Jackson, and to have
fallen upon his rear that if he had done
so we should have gained decisive vic
tory over the army under jackson before
he could have been Joined by any OF the
forces under Longstreet. (Pope's Re
port, p Y.
Now, this assertion is traversed by the
positiye evidence of the official reports
Of several of the Generals under Long
streets command, who show conclu-
sively that Longstreet Joined jackson as
early as noon. Says Longstreet himself: I:
Early on the 29th the columns were
united, and the advance, to join General
Jackson. was resumed The noise of
battle was heard before we reached
Gainesville. The march was qulckened
to the extent of our capacity. The eX-
element of battle seemed to give new
life and strength to our jaded men, and
the head of my column soon reached 4; a
position in rear of the enemys left Hank.
lReports of the Army of Northern Vir-
ginia, vol. ii, p. s.) See also Hood.
Ubid, p. 209) But General ID, Il: Jones,
who commanded the rear division OF
Longstreet's corps, is still more explicit:
EARLY on the morning Of the 18th, l
took up the march in the direction of the
old battle-ground of Manassas, whence
heavy firing was heard. Arriving on the
ground about noon, my command was
stationed on the extreme right Of our
line" etc. Ibid, p. 2l7.) This would
appear TO settle the time Of arrival OF
Longstreet; and | shall now show that
before Porter came up from Manassas,
Longstreet had taken up such position
as TO bar his advance to Gainesville. On
this head Longstreets own testimony
will suffice, and it is as complete as could
be desired. After giving his dispositions
for his connection with Jackson's right,
he states that Hoods division was de-
ployed on the right and left of the War
renton turnpike, at right angles with 1t,
Gen. ID. r. Jones division was placed
on the Manassas Gap railroad, to the
right, and in echelon with regard to the
three last brigades (Ibid, PIP. 81, 80
Now it is quite obvious that this dispo-
sition covered Porter's whole front, and
that it barred his approach to Gainesville.
ANY attack by Porter would, therefore,
necessarily be made in front When he
received Pope's orders to attack the enc
my's right and turn his rear, Morrell $
division was already deployed in front
of Longstreet, and it was near dark
when the order came TO hand Probably
there is no military man who will now
say that the operation indicated by Pope
was at that time possible. General Por-
ter. many months subsequent to these
events, and after having in the mean,
while had command of the forces for tn
defense of the Capital, and been at the
head of his corps at the battle OF An
tietnm, was arraigned before a court
martial ut Washington, and dismissed
the service Of the United States, for al
legged disobedience to the above orders OF
Pope. do not constitute myself the
champion Of General Porter, nor OF any
other officer but having become pos
sessed of the Confederate official reports,
and having been struck with the new
light thrown on these events by the Tn
conscious testimony given above by the
Confederate Generals, | should have
violated my instinct Of historic veracity
10 have suppressed these facts.