National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1875-03-13

loyalty to the present condition of affairs.
That could be best proved by allowing
matters to remain as they are.
A FEW FACTS ABOUT FITZ JOHN PORTER.
In a very able article regarding Fitz John
Porter's reasonable failure to do his duty
at Second Bull Run, the Ohio State Jour-
nal alludes to Pope's battle of the 2Sth of
August, at Groveton, as drawn" This is
a mistake. The fighting began late in the
afternoon at Groveton. One full brigade,
composed of the Second, Sixth and Seventh
Wisconsin and Nineteenth Indiana regi-
ments, and two regiments Of another bri-
gade, the Fifty-sixth Pennsylvania and the
One Hundred and Forty seventh New
York, bore the brunt of the battle. Long
street had already made his advance through
Thoroughfare Gap, having compelled Rick
ett's division of McDowell's corps to retire,
and was MET in his attempt to reach the
Warrenton turnpike by the six regiments
mentioned. These were of Kings division,
and succeeded in driving Longstreet's ad-
vance back over the hills so far as to occupy
his line of battle and take prisoners of his
wounded. Thus it will be seen that the
days fighting really ended to the advan-
tage Of the Union forces; but Mcdowell,
who was lost in the woods while attempt
ing to reach Pope at Manassas Junction,
was not present to concentrate his forces.
Sigel and Ricketts,, with their divisions,
being near at hand-and King, without due
reflection, probably, ordered his division to
fall back. Morrell's division of Fitz John
Porter's corps reached this battle ground
next day, the Goth, about noon. In the
meantime Longstreet had made good his
opportunity and effected junction with
Stonewan Jackson. Then ensued what is
now known as the second battle of Bull
Run. 1t will be seen from this that if Porter
had advanced from Catlett's at one o'clock
on the 9th he would have been able to
support Mcdowell on the 2Sth, after hav-
ing whipped or captured Stonewal Jack
son, then near Gum Springs. This was
Pope's plan. He intended to "gobble"
Stonewall, and then meet Longstreet and
would have succeeded, If Porter had been
as ardent in obeying his commands as he
habitually was in obeying those of Nc
Clellan. This was really the turning point
in Pope's brief campaign, although on the
succeeding days, the Goth, 9Oth and 31st
up to the fatal night at Chantilly, where
the gallant Kearney lost his life, Porter be-
haved with equal disregard of the orders
of his superior officers.
To any person familiar with the topog-
graphy of the country between Thorough
fare Gap and CentreviIle, or the line of the
Orange and Alexandria railroad, Pope's
plan will appear to have been eminently
wise. Stonewall jackson, after having
fought Banks at Cedar mountain, made an
almost incredibly rapid march along the
southwest banks of the Rappahannock,
skirmished with Sigel and the Fifth New
York cavalry at Waterloo bridge, and
finally got badly beaten by Hooker, then
in command of a division of Heintzle-
mans corps, at Bristoe. When he fell
back from Hooker, the latter, having no
ammunition, could not pursue him with
safety. This battle at Bristoe took place
on the afternoon of the Goth. Two other
divisions of Heintzleman's corps, Kear-
ney's and Reno's, were at Greenwich.
Pope learned that jackson had gone in the
direction of Gum Springs. He ordered
Heintzlcman, with the three divisions of his
corps mentioned, to pursue him, and Or
dered Mcdowell to throw one of his d.
visions, Ricketts,, into Thoroughfare Gap.
McDowelPs two remaining divisions,
Kings and Sigels, were on the Warrenton
pike, but did not connect with Heintzleman.
If Porter had obeyed orders, his corps would
have filed the space thus left open between
Mcdowell and Heintzleman Ton the 9th,
and Jackson would have been confronted
by an immensely superior force and have
been partially surrounded. His only open
line of retreat, TAoroughfare Gap being
guarded by Ricketts,, would have been
across the Potomac into Maryland or
through Smokers and Ashby's or some
other upper gap in the mountains Pope's
plan was, as he expressed himself in his
orders to Mcdowell, and to Kearney and
Reno, sent on the night Of the Goth, to
"gobble" jackson, as we have lntimated,
before he had time to reach these lines of
retreat, and then turn upon the advance Of
the rebel armies coming up the country
from Richmond and whip them In detail.
If Porter had proved to be q faithful
Butcher, or If King had held the advantage
he gained on the night Of the 2Sth in Nc
Dowell's unfortunate absence, there would
have been no second battle of Bull Run
with Its consequent ravage of q great
Northern country. side. But Porter failed,
and, in our humble opinion, King blum
dered.
Gen. Pope and his friends do not fear, as
some writers seem to believe, re-opening
of this case. They are confident that re-
hearing of IT, in all its details, will vindi-
cate him from the results of very general
misconception of his campaign. As long
ago as the 18th of April of last year, he ad-
dressed the following letter to the Presi-
dent on this subject which should be &C.
cepted as conclusive as regards his position:
WASHINGTON, April IS, 1874.
Gen. U. S. Grant, President Of the United States:
Mr.. PRESIDENT: 1t is no doubt known to
you that Gen. Fitz John Porter claims to have
procured evidence since his trial, not attain
able at the time, which would either acquit
him Of the crime of which he stands convicted
or greatly modify the findings and sentence of
the court-martial before which he was tried,
and that he has embodied in a printed
pamphlet the kind and character of this evil
dence, and what he expects to establish by it,
together with an appeal for rehearing of his
case. 1t is widely asserted by those who SYM
pathize with him, and probably believed by
many who have no personal interest in his
case, that influences hostile to him have re-
strained you from examining this statement Of |
his case, and have thus worked great injustice |