Western Reserve chronicle. [volume] (Warren, Ohio) 1855-1921, 1870-03-30

/ them to move their commands on Manassas
without delay. found Porter at Bristoe and
I delivered the message
"Augllsf Sat three o'clock this morning
I / was aroused by Colonel Ruggles in person
to carry written orders TO General Fitz John
Junction, or alternately at BTistOe.n
1 have these official orders in public
documents, but l read from this
pamphlet to save time:
THE combat we had witnessed last even-
ing was between Kings division Of Mellow
ellis corps and a portion o. JacksOn's COM
mand. The fight was sharp and sanguinary,
but without decisive results kearny, hav-
ing driven out the enemy's rear guard, Oecu-
pied Centreville. It was understood that
McDowelfs command occupied a position
Wnich cut Jackson of from the main body
sahguinary battle to-day. Porter's orders
are 10 move on Centreville without delay
IL was broad daylight when reached POr-
IerS headq sq Snarten at BristOe. While he
eoolly read IT over (the dispateh) I noted the
time by his watch, which marked five O'clock
and twenty minutes precisely"
PORTER. who received the order carried nv,
myself this morning at sunrise to move on
Centreville, and a second order at Manassas
turning his course toward Groveton, has
shown no disposition 10 assist in the fight at
all, but has lain quietly in sight and hearing
OF the battle all the afternoon"
have Porter's statement before
me. In explanation of this he says:
II discovered the enemy to be in
large force in my front. and clouds of
dust in the direction of Gainesville"
Now, General Porter says that he has
further evidence which he desires to
submit. So have 1. Sir, fortunately
for the truth of history, we now have
not only our own but the rebel official
dispatches, General J. Z. B. Stuart
was upon our left, their right. This
explains this heavy force and this
cloud of dust. In his official report
to the rebel government he says that
on the 29th of August he was on that
flank with his cavalry. and found our
troops approaching. ''I waited his
LOurl approach long enough to aseer-
tain that there was at least an army
corps, lPOrter's corps, at the same
time keeping detachments of cavalry
dragging brush down the road from
the direction of Gainesville. so as to
deceive the enemy"
There are the heavy force and the
cloud of dust-General J. Z. b. Stu
arts cavalry, with a few horses with
brushes tied to their tails, galloping
down from GainesvilleI That was too
much for Porter's nerves; and he lay
there all day and never executed the
order at all, never went into the fight
at all, never pulled a trigger during
the day. There were three cannon
shots fired by this cavalry force at his
forces, and believe one or two in re-
spoHse, but he lay within a short dis
tance of the field of battle, under the
sound of our guns, with a peremptOry
order to go into the fight, and he new
er went in at all!
He now says he has evidence that
he would have been cut to pieces if he
had gone in. What if he would?
What business was it to him whether
he was cut to pieces or not? His duty
was TO obey orders. But, sir, what
are the true facts in the case? Again
l turn to the facts; and 1 shall now
read from the engineer-in-chief OF
Lees staff; and, mark you, dates be-
come very important.
"On the morning OF the 9th General Lee
took breakfast at house west of Thorough
fare gap. Riding forward rapidly they pass
head Of the column some short distance on
the eastern side. They marched left in front
Hoods division leading. This division
reached the neld and formed on Jackson's
right after sunset on the 9Th
This was the leading division of
Longstreet's corps
"and Immediately thereafter became en-
gagged with a portion of MeDowelrs COM
mand. as before stated. Other portions OF
LOngStreetS command arrived and took Do
sitiOn during the night. On the morning OF
the 30th Saturday Longstreets command
7NNN
had not yet reached the field. The absence
OF this division, and feeling Of uncertainty
as to POrter'S forces and intentions. induced
General Lee TO remain on the defensive du-
ring the afternoon Of Saturday. About one
O'Clock p. m. Anderson arrived"
And the rebel commander immedi-
ately commenced his preparations for
an aggressive movement. This was
one O'Clock on Saturday, the SOth OF
Now, Mr.. President, / have
not gone as fully into this matter as
desired to do. 1 should have been
pleased to call attention to Judge Ad-
vocate General Hollis ''review of the
proceedings in the trial of the late
Major General FitZ John Porter. -
The court which tried him was COM
posed of the following officers:
Major General D. Hunter, United States |
volunteers; Major General Z. A. Hitchcock. |
. Un1ted states volunteers; Brigadier General |
Rufus King, United states volunteers. Brig |
adler General B. NJ. PrentisS United States
volunteers: Brigadier General James Il
hleketts, United states volunteers; Briga- |
der General SilaS Casey, United States vol |
1nteers; Brigsdier General James A. Gar !
Held, United States volunteers: Brigadier
General y. Buford, United States volunteers; |
Brevet Brigadier General W. w Morris |
United States Army; Colonel ]. Holt. Judge |
General United States Army:
udge advocate and recorder OF the COURT !
A fairer or a more just tribunal was
never assembled to try a military !
This tribunal gave Fitz |
John Porter forty-five days for his |
rial, an unprecedented length of time, |
20 far as my knowledge goes, in any |
trial. After the fullest anu |
most complete investigation the Judge |
Advocate reviews the case, and l will !
)nly read his final remarks: I have
rot time to do more, for have Oceu-
1ied more time than 1 intended:
"The ohenses for which the pleadings and
estimOny Rrraign the accused are the very !
,ravest that a soldier can possibly commit
leing neither more nor less than the WillfuI
'iolatiOn Of the orders of his commanding Z
general in the midst of momentous and per-
lops military movements, and the shame
III abandonment Of a struggling army. /
which IL was his solemn duty TO support, IN
he very presence OF the enemy and under
he very sound OF his artillery. The court :
vas careful to give 10 the accused the bene-
it Of all well-fOunded doubts that arose in
heir minds in reference either to the fact OF
or In reference to the measure |
4 criminality that prompted il, and hence
hey found him not guilty Of the fourth and |
fifth specifications of first charge: and in the
anne spirit the fourth specification Of sec
nd charge was Withdrawn. While, hOWey-
r, the court felt that Of crimes such as these
10 officer should be convicted but upon the
learest and most convincing proofs of his
uilt, they must also have felt that the hon
4 OF the profession OF arms and the most en-
urtng interests Of our common Govern
nent and country imperatively demanded
hat there should be no acquittal when that
roof had been made"
Mr.. President, if had more time I
hOuld like to go more fully into this
ubjeet; but l cannot. The court,
fter fOrty-five days spent in careful
brought in unanimous
y the verdict against Porter. Many
{ the members of that court were in
lvOr of sentencing him to suffer
cath. 1t is rumOred, and many be-
eve, that the only reason the death
enalty was not inflicted was the fear
hat Mr.. Lincoln, whose kindness of |
cart was so well known, would not
Xeeute the sentence; and hence, |
hey unanimously brought in the YER
let they did. It was first carefully
and reviewed by Mr.. Holt, |
he Judge Advocate General; it was
hen examined seridtiBl by the then
eeretary of War, and by the Presi- ,