New-York tribune., 1878-04-13
A HEARING FOR FITZ JOHN PORTER.
Y ORDER CONVEYING 4 BOARD OF ARMY OfIlCEEs
ley TELEGRAPH TO THB TRIBUNE.


AN ORDER CONVEYING BOAED OF ARMY OillCLEs
FOR THE PURPOSE.
ley TELEGRAPH TO THB TRBUNEl
WASHINGTON, April 12.-The announcement tins
evening that the President has ordered Court OF In
dury rehear the Ftz John POrercase has produced
n considerable sensation IN military circles. The
friends of General Porter, well as those OF Cen
eral Pope agree that the OF Generals Schoheld
Terry and Getty are sufficient guarantee that the
subject will receive the fairest possible treatment.
General Porter founds his claim for Teopenng the
case upon three new points. lie insists that 1t Is
now known that General Longstreet had arrived III
force at an early hour upon the ground which FOR
ter was ordered to occupy at much later time
in the day, and when it was impossible TO
execute the order. IL regard to this point General
POpe's friends reply that IT is known with certainty
that General LOngstreet did not reach this point un-
til afternoon. Secondly, General Porter now asserts
that the known strength of General Longstreet was
such as TO make it impossible to stand against him.
He also claims to be able to show that the
movement of portion of his force late in the day
was such as to cause General Longstreet to with
draw considerable part of his force from the front
of Iis line directly opposed TO General Pope thing
which proved of great assistance to the latter This
point has been inquired into by General POpes friends
and they declare that the force which executed this
diversion brigade of General Banks command.
General Porter has lately visited the field of the
second battle of Ball Run for the purpose of fixing
the locality of this movement, but those who
reside there, and who were acquainted
with the military movements at the point
indicated, agree that they were by a
force having no connection with General POrter's
column. General Pope's friends assert that an in
spection of the ground will show that the position
reached by LOugsreet early in the day Is quite diff
frent one from that where General Porter attempts
TO place 1t.
The TENT OF THE ORDER.
HEADQUARTERS OF The ARMY,
ADJUTANTGESEEALs 5 OFFICE.
WAsHISGTON, April IL, 1s7s.)
The following order has been received from the War
Department An appeal has been made TO the President
as follows: 49, ,. ,,., . 100
To His E1cellenev RUTHERFORD b. HAYES President Of
SIR: most respectfully, but most urgently renew
my oft repeated appeal TO have Won review my
ask it as matter OF long delayed Justice to myset
renew it upon the ground heretofore stated that
PsOG my u''IS nPpea f'"e remains un6eard BY sem sem
tence is a continuing sentence. and made TO follow
my daily life. For this reason II Tor no other, my case
is ever within the reach of executive as ve as legsa
tive interference beg TO present copies OF papers here
tSiTio tSof Tou will deem It proper one for
your prompt and favorable consideration: II do not
make il plain that great injustice has been done then
am that you and al others who love ruth and
justice VIII be gad that the opportunity LOT my Vlhdca
0O'i 1''' -'' FITz JoiIS PORTER
In order that the President may be fully Informed of
the facts Of the case OF Fz John Porter late Major
General of Volunteers and be enabled TO advsedly
upon his application for relief in said case, board
ia hereby convened, by order Of tho President, 10
examine, IN connection with the record Of the
tIia by court martial OF General Porter, such new
evidence relating the ments Of said case,
file in the War Department, together with suOh other
evidence as may be presented TO said board aud re-
port with the for their conclusion, what action
! If any, in their opinion, justice requires should
I Detail IIA' for the board: Msjor-Gcncral j. ~
schofeld Brigader General A. H. Terry Colonel g. W.
! Getty, 80 Artillery, Major Asa T. Gardner recorder.
The board Will at West Pollt, ~ " on the 20th
day Of June, 1873 and authorized TO adjourn from time
10 time and TO SIT in such place as may be deemed expe-
T. d. TOWNSEND, Adjutant-General.
Nearly sixteen years ago lin November, 1862,
General Porter then holding the rank OF majorgeneia
| Of volunteers, and serving under General McClel-
Ian in the Amy Of the Potomac, brought
10 trial before court-martal, convicted Of the
charges against him, sentenced TO be cashiered
and forever rendered incapable OF holding Office under
the Government of the United States. The courtmartal
by which he Was tried consisted OF eight gen
eral officers Of the army and the sentence was
| approved by President Lincoln. The principal
charge against General Porter tlat the first day
of the second Bull Run battle, he, being in command Of
the Fifth Army Corps failed obey the order OF General
Pops (under whose command General Porter served
I'm his front near GrOvetOn and that this disObedence
and by a retreat during the battle without attempting
10 attack the enemy was due the disastrous issue
Of that engagement. He was charged also with dis
obeying General Popes Order CT two DAYS before 10
| move his command at given hour and by his delay
dsarrangug Popes plan Of operations General Porter
has often besides his suffering all the penalties
of conviction on these charges there efforts made
/ 10 fix those arising from the unchanged crime of
4 treason"
For seven years after his trial. General Porter
stanty engaged in efforts TO determination Of
his case and remission Of his penalty. During that
time he appealed TO three PresdensLincoln johnson
and Grantand his efforts received the support OF nnum
Der Of prominent army officers and politicians.
In June 1869 he addressed Appeal 10 President
Grant, containing variety defensive and excupatory
documents "Rjoinder 70 this, made soon after by
| General Pope, but not published over his
| signature, was followed carly In 1870 by a
| "Reply" from General Porter. About that
| time General Porter pressing his with
greater urgency than ever and he confident OF
early remission OF his sentence penalty, removal
OF the imputatiO which had rested upon him for nearly
| eight years and his nomination 20 the Senate
| for RESTORATION 10 his former rank In the
| armv. He then declared, as he has many times
since tnat evidence Of an Important character in his
favor formerly inaccessible had been obtained and that