Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1878-07-10
FITZ JOHN PORTER.
Testimony Or General Longstreet
which Ruins the Position Taken
by General Pope I'm his Per-
secutiOn OF n Loyal
Man and
An Able Onicer. his Superior as a Sol
dier-Graphic Descriptions OF the
Movements or the COnfed-
erateb on the 2Sth OF
August.

WEST POINT, July 9.-General Lpngstrcet
was witness in the case of General Fitz John
Porter TO day. He testified that General
Jackson 8 force on the twenty-eighth of Au
gust. was about twenty-five thousand men,
and that he was east of Thoroughfare gap,
and LOnestreet was at Thoroughfare gap with
twenty five thousand men, divided into dlvis-
ions of three brigades each. There were two
battalions of artillery and several batteries,
but there was no regular artillery organiza-
ton. The troops were In fine condition, His
troops were marching to the support of Jack
son on the afternoon of the twenty-eighth.
Three brigades got through Hopewell gap
that night, and the Federal forces on the east
side of the gap abandoned their position.
Witness said the troops then took the direct
road to Gainesville, and then straight to
Jackson's command, marching three miles an
hour after artillery firing was heard, reach
ing supporting distance to Jackson
General Hoods troops were deployed at once
Kemper's three brigades were thrown in the
direction of Manassas Gap rail-oad, and the
other troops were In supporting distance
There was no cavalry with Longstreet, but
all the cavalry of the army was with Jack
son. All O. witnesses troops were in position
by eleven o'clock. The troops under Ander-
son were along the Warrenton pike, four or
five thousand strong, and joined Longstreet's
forces at dark. He knew of no terrific battle
raging that day from daylight till after dark.
If there had been he would have known it.
General Lees plan was for Longstreet to
bring on an engagement, and the
latter asked time to make a recon
noisance, which he did, and deemed the
plan hazardous, from seeing large number
of troops in front of him, which he alter
ward learned were those of Generals Porter
and Mcdowell. Because of the woods in
front of him, he thought his position good
one for defense. In view of the impenetra-
bic woods, it would have been very hazard
GUS for General Porter to take his command
around the road to Graveton, and if he had
attempted it his force would have been broken
up. General Porter's position checked the
forces of witness till it was too late. IF GEN
eral Porter had attacked that day, any
time after twelve O'Clock, the forces of
witness would have annihilated him, for
the Federal lines were then too much ex-
tended and disjointed. The battle on the
thirtieth was brought about by an attack on
Jackson. Witness saw heavy masses of troops
pressing the latter, and instead of obeying an
order from General Lee to reinforce Jackson,
witness placed batteries In position and poured
in al infadIng fire against the troops. They
fell back three times, when he finally charged
and dispersed them, following until one
o'clock In the afternoon. If Porter had made
an attack on him on the twenty he
could have held him without drawing from
the rest of tho