The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1878-07-25
FITZ JOHN PORTER,
A STATEMENT OF THE QUESTION
IN ISSUE.
How lie Saved His Corps From q Crushing
Defeat.
[ChIcagO Tribune, July 18.l

The explanation Of the importance, in General
PorterB case, of ex-rebel General Longstreets evil
denCe as to his position and force is as follows
The graVamen Of the charge against General POr.
ter is dsobedlence of General Pope's order of 4SC
p. m Of August Goth, received by Porter at 1880 p
M, which reads:
Your line Of march brings you In on the enc.
my's flank, | desire you to push forward at once
on the enemys right flank, and II possible, on his
rear, keeping your right in communication with
General Reynolds. The enemy is maBsed in the
woods in front of us, but he can be shelled out as
soon as you engage their flank, Keep heavy re.
serves and use your batteries, keeping well closed
to your right all the time. In case you are oblig-
ed to fall back do so by your right and rear so as
IN keep you In close communication with the right
wing JOHN POPE,
Major.General Commanding
On the original trial General Pope testified ai
follows:
General Porter was expected to attack, II posi-
ble-and as understood II to be practicabe-the
right flank of JacksOns forces and If possible the
rear of his forces to prevent If itwere practicable
the junction OF Longstreeps forces with JaCks0ni
and to crush JacksOn's flank before LOngstree
could effect a junction with him. did not then
believe, nor do I now believe, that at the time
(4;3O p, n.y. any considerable portion OF Long
streets corps had reached the vicinity of the
field, (Ete., etc.
Now comes General Longstreet, and declares
that, with his force outnumbering and outhanking
Porter's he was all that afternoon in line of bat
tie between Porter and the fright flank of Jack
son, which Pope ordered Porter to attack.
Pope's wish was father to the the thought thai
the right flank of Jackson was uncovered to Por
ters advance. The wish we all join in, but the
thought we know TO be an error, by the infallible
test of reconnaissance, developing superior force
in line of battle outfanking his own. General
Lee, commanding the Rebels, and present on the
field, says QSth OF February, 1S7O)
The effect Of an attack on Longstreet after 12 m
August 20, 1862, with about u 900 men, would have
been repulse; and If repulse, especially at an
early hour, or before p M, the effect would have
been an attack upon General Pope's left and rear
by LOngstreet and Stuart, which, If successful
would have resulted in the relief OF jackson. and
probably rendered unnecessary the battle OF the
next day,
And again July, 1S7O):
Porter could not take Jackson in flank while he
was attacked In front. He could do nothing OF
the sort. was there then. l saw Porter approach
lie went out and reconnOitered his corps, and made
the proper dispositions TO meet it. We tlanked
him. He could not flank Jackson.
suppose we should have cut Porter to pieces if he
had attacked to get at Jackson's flank
tits often said by persons well informed on non.
military matters, that General Porter, or any 9th.
er subordinate officer, must obey orders without
queston-must attack when told to do so, whether
the force opposed to him be great or small This
is false. An order from superior officer is to be
obeyed to the letter when that officer Is present on
the spot but it is to be obeyed with the utmost
discretion when he absent. An officer cannot
sacrifice his men in FOOLS battle, and then shield
himself from responsibility for their loss by pro
ducing an order from an absent superior COM
manding him to attack. A General can be court.
martaed for obeying orders that ought TO be de-
layed or dlsregarded. If Porter, on being ordered
to attack Jackson's right had thrown his corps
against Longstreets flank, and had been, in Gen.
eral Lees words, "cut to pieces" he would have
deserved the worst fate which martial law could
have meted out to him; he would have deserved
to be treated as he has been treated for not com.
mitting this fatal error. JOSEPH KIRKLAND.