Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1870-02-04
Application for Pardon for Fitz.JOhn
Z Porter.

- AWt AhWWh hNA
{ Porter.
George b Mcclellan came 20 Washing
ton during the holidays, when everybody
hut tho President was absent tomake per
sonal application 10 Grant 10 disapprovC
of the sentence of the courtmartia
cashiering Fitz.John Porter.
| believe you will take the position, that
60 restore Fitz-Jon Porter to honor, would
be scandal 10 history and an injury tc
the United States service, and TO confirm
this position / revive the circumstances
under which he permitted himself 70 DC
como the botrayer of his comrades on tne
field of battle.
On the 20th of August, 1869, Pope, in
command of the Army of Virginia, fought
the first DAYS action Of what IS called the
second Battle OF Bull Run. His army was
drawn up across the Warrenton turnpike,
facing west, and Fitz-John Porter lay at
Manassas Junction, considerably in the
rear of his left, Porter constituting the
vanguard of the Army of the Potomac,
which was supposed to be fastening up
to Pope's relief.
From Manassas Junction q road leading
northwest intcrsects the Warrenton turn
pike at Gainesville, beyond the rebel po.
sition, and the road ilankcd the rebel
right for their line of battle stopped
some distance short of it. Nothing was
easier than for Porter TO have marched by
this road, obtained position on the rebel
right and rear, and while Pope was at
taclSing in front, TO have thrown them into
confusion. This was the order given tC
Porter at o O'Clock in the morning and re-
peated to him with earnestness in the ai
ternoon. Porter obcycd SO much of the
order as to march from Manassas abou
ono-half the way to Gainesville, where
at Bethlehem Church, he halted, pushC,
out feeble reconnaissance, and thcl
stacked arms along the roadside, whcr
he lay idly till the middle of the after
noon, when he sent word TO Mcdowell
and King that he saw much dust ahead
that they had better send their train
back, and that, for himself he meant I,
return TO Manassas.
The dust seen ahead was aflerward
shown by the rebel j. Il. Il. stuart
official report to have been made by "dc
tachments of cavalry dragging brusl
down the road from the direction o
Gainesville, so as to deceive the enemy,
and the rebel Generals agreed that ~
earnest attack made from this thanking
road would have lost them the day.
Yet there lay Porter, with one-third o
Pope's wholc'army, the entire Fifth Corps
and an additional brigade numbering
twelve thousand mon, with eight batterie
OF artillery, "inCluding nearly the Who'll
regular army of the United States" tn
most efficient and best disciplined corp
in the army, quite fresh, for IL ha
marched but three miles that day. Will
Porter, four hours within the sound c
desperate battle, lay there in contempt c
his superior officer and in despite of tn
calls of his country, Mcdowell marcho
up from Manassas, swung of by tn
right, and joined on Popo's left in dutifu
order of battle. Pope ordered Porter l.
be brought before him, and shot dead fo
disobedienCC, but was counselled to tn
contrary by his Chief OF staff.
The animus of this action Of Porte
was undoubtedly, n wish to see Pop
beaten and Inundated, for Porter ha
been one of the intimate family of Nc
Clellanites, which had taken umbrage a
Pope for some innucndocs he made upo
McClellan's lines of retreat" etc, ctt
The dispatches sent by Porter to Burr
side at Alexandria show this, as we'll d
McClellan's own animadversions upo
Pope. Military schisms reached its Bit
torest and worst development at the hcaC
quarters of Mcclellan. The impudcr
letter of the latter TO President Lincolr
saying, 81 throw the responsibility upo
you," and the detection of Porter TO hi
commander, Pope, at Grovcton, were tn
results of the impCrtinent and aristocrati
feeling around the "Young Napoleon,
le Pott Prince. 1t is fit that McClclla
should be here upon Portcr's business |
is unfit that General Sherman should b
made their instrument. If this unfcelin
and disgraced man is to wear tho star {
a general again, let us reverse judgmor
upon Benedict Arnold, and make statue
to Charles Lee and Conway. He is,
the words of Pope, "As clearly rcspo
sible for every life lost on that field as
he had murdered the men with his ow
hands"
Porter has been indehtigable in G
dcavoring TO turn the stido of history
his case. lie prepared, with the help
Rcverdy Johnson and others, partisa
pamphlet, charging that he had been col
viCted by packed and pcrjurcd cour
martial. Pope in recent letter, says:
The person most active in urging r.
mission of part of Portcr's sentence
the Hon. John sherman, of Ohio. The
are also others--Secretary of the Nav
Robson, Admiral Porter "a relative
Fitz j. Porter, and others. 1t rs impo
sble that these gentlemen could play sue
y part if they knew the facts, and couI
understand the injustice their succc,
would inllict on others"
Pope has addressed a printed remol
STRANGE and diagram TO GenoralSherman
20 the Secretary of War; and to the Pres
dent, while Porter IS producing affidavit
from rebel officers, to show that had h
attacked on the Gainesville road he woul
have been overwhelmed But it is Ia
late to alter the official reports of j. Il.
Stuart and Longstreet II is too late
appeal at the gate of honor by the vile
of peace, when there, on the field OF ba
Tie, IL was so easy to win honor and fam
with the prompt, importunate sword
Washington Ger. (JdR, 20) Chicago Tr
6uRe.