The New York herald., 1878-09-29
FITZ JOHN PORrER'S CASE.

fllL JOHN POHtEIsS CASE.
CAPTAIN OF ENGIsEt tRs-GRApHIc ACCOUNT
OF THE ALLEGED BATTLE OF AUGUST 20.
wAsHSGroS, Sept. 81. 1875.
Evideuce having been adducsd by the counsel OF
General Frz Jonn Porter. before the inquiry.
TO controvert the statements made by General j. L.
b. Stuart, the Confederate cavalry commander, in hh
official report OF hts operations during the Pope cam
paign, the government mas summoned Colonel w. W
Biacktord, OF Louisiana, who Stuart's staff in
August, 1862, 10 substantiate tho report Colonel
Blackiord, who is now In Washington says that dur.
ing the Pope campaign he was a captain OF vir.
gina troops and duty chief engineer OF
Stuart's stan General Jackson arrived the
neghDorhood OF Groveton about August 26
he thinks, and while waiting Tor Longstrest effect
Junction from Tnoroughfire Gap and his
men he massed his command In thick woodland just
back OF the crest, about half mile bcyopd Groveton,
toward warrenton. Tne lines were placed closely
that there was only just room enough to stack arms
and let the men lie dowG. Stuart's command accom-
panied Jackson ana engaged sxamining the
surrounding country and forming thick curtain
around Jlckson's position, which about quarter
OF mile to the lett OF the warrenton pike you ap
proacn Groveton. This the position when King'a
division came down the pike from warrenton tho
evening OF the 2stn. As they came abreast Jackson
found tnat ho could longer conceal lis position.
and let into King with battery OF artillery and moved
out orco in line OF battle parallel to the road. King
rapidly formed his command TO the loft and moved
right up to tho Confederate lne meeting them fully
halt way. and tho hgntng lasted until darkness put
stop to IT, Jackson did not put IN u large orce, no
did not know what other Union forces near ana
did not want TO bring general engagement until
Longstreet arrived During that night King withdrew
his iorcs and made wide detour, winch, ss Colonel
Bsc4ford understood 1t, brought back Con-
iederate front for the battle OF the 29th Groveton
"rhe next morning." continued Colonel Blacktord.
"when VIC found King gone, Jackson formed his limo
along the crest that while his lett de ably
beyond Groveton toward Sudicy Cnurch mis- right
just extended the Warrenton Pike followed
the bend oi tho ridge, which really tho boundary
the valley OF Bull Run Creek that his line bent
like bow, with MS Hanks advanced Stuarrs troops
formed strong picket and skirmish line In Jankson's
front and well around his right, cover dank
and rear, while the man body some distance
10 right aud rear. Tucy discovered Porter that
morning about eight or nine O'Clock. ne thinks,
ho was then about two three miles away the
right anu beyona Jackson's 'front.'"
THE CLOUDS OF Dust.
He says thnt AS regards the uragaing OF brush In she
dusty roads by Stuarts meu to deceive Portsr by
appearance oil large bodies OF troops marching, ne did
not See II done himself mat he Can receect, but he
distnctiy recoscts hearing II talked over by of-
hcers atetward. and he 10 ready 70 tostty that ~
stuart mentioned II in his report u be Irus ~
stuart was one OF the most reliable state-
ments that he ever knew. stuart was mucn given Ia
such exped iens ana frequently rssortsa 10 them
one time ne came upon strong pickst line OF Union
troops which annoyed him, as ue d,a want his
movement observed and mad artillery win him.
Corporal Hassn, his Chief orderly, under Stuart'G
direction, captured q iour.norse wood wagon from q
farmer near AMI iAsniug = small log on Ihs
oody drove furiousiy up small NIL wheeled 10
duo form ana pulled out the axle bolt The
resemblance TO a held piece was perfect even a
short distance. aud inc picket ne rstired aud les
stuart by. He nos rccoIIect exactly what Zine
lime. Generals Jacxson and stuart rode out mecs
General Lee, who arrived WIN Longstroet's column.
ana me, three or iour miles out, about hslf-pasi
twelve. Hc accompanied General Stuart, and the
whole party rode back togst her. He Is unable "a
specify the exact time whea Lonsstrestis command
placed IN ifne, tut must have boon about two
or tnrco sciock or toward the middI. OF the alter
noon when he rode past the aank General jones'
brigade, wnicn md just formed on the right he
on tho lAnk. Longstreeps position was on JACK.
sons right ana continued The bowke line aionx the
ridge The troops wero formed In roar Of the ridge
aud then moved forward III Aine about hall milo
THE BATTLE on rHK 29rm
The battle oi the 29tn begun about SIX p. n. and
lasted until darkuoss put stop 10 II The Union line
was just al tho edge Of Groveton aud partly across
The Warrcuton pike rne Confederate iorce eng igcd
was General Hooa's division, with General Wicox's
brigade AS support Porter was lying from
three miles away at the tine OF the ngnL There
not very heavy artillery nring, but tue usketry was
heavy. oeiug voiisy hring and rapid. He was about
Two miles distant dorins tue nght out hearu u dts
tincuy. rhe country rather open, the whole Con-
fcderats army having csmped there during the iau
Der. aud ~hiie tue ground where Porto's iorce waa
lying was rather lower being urther valley
than Groyeton, tnere was 10 intervening ridge or
high ground. POrter's position In reality on Q
coutiuuation oil the ridge wnere Jackson anu Long.
street wero.
DARKNESS
Being asked re gardiug mo dakncss the nights ot
August - and - Coionet Backford said 1.-THE night
oi the 2Sth was prety DARK as remember that
tue close OF t.e battle that the Hasn ot
Held guns showed rcd. Ine nighL oil The 29th was
also quite dsrk. | remember that some time alter
the nght oi that evening" winch closed as suddenly
O'CLOCK rode The held. Waite was dong so
was startled ny hail a dozen men startisg up and
detnandIng my surrender. l told thcm Who l was,
but only conv need them hen told them ieel
lace ON my sleeve whicn dssig naiod my rank "
so dark they couii not IL. To 0e sure,
nished lace gray coat not easily dis
tiDgui.hed could see well enough 10 avoid riding
over tho dead aud wounded tho neid aud 10 maze
M, way any wnere. IL was not dark the night be-
Tore as to prevent Ktng Withdrawing hIs command
from our mont and makng good marcn before
m Jrning"
OJiouei Blackiord's testimony will be important a.
showing tuo ent OF the battles OF the 2stn and
2ysu well aU the relative position OF the commands
Porter and the Coniedersts leIt, tue when
Lpngstroeps command arrived Ia position. The
colann met It's way from lhofougnIare Cap
between noon anu one 4. NJ. thrce or four miies
away, ana General Lee had come on ana thoroughly
examined tue ground before inc column arrived, sc
tnat II could nave been Ia line before two p. NJ
ana wss not probably be ore three z. NJ. the gov.
ornmeut Witnesses assert Colonel BlAckiord ID sum
moned 10 appear Octsoer 3.