New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1878-10-09
THE PORTER INVESTIGATON.

TESTIMONY OF THREE REBEL OFFICERS.
MOVEMENTS OF GENERALS JACKSON AND LONG
STREET AT THE SECOND BATTLE OF BULL RUN.
The proceedings in the case Of General FltZ
John Porter we're made interesting yesterday by the
testimony Of three former officers OF the rebel
who described the movements Of the troops under tho
command of Generals Lee and jackson at thetsecond
battle Of Bull Run.
The first witness however, was Federal officer Gen
eral william Birney, who commanded the 57th kegi-
meut Pennsylvania Volunteers, Kearney's Division
The regiment he said left Ccntrevle about yoreaA
August % marching along the Warrenton turnpike to-
ward the front reached the presence of the enemy
about a. H. There we're all the usual indications OF
battle From noon night the firing was heavy with oc-
casional lus The witness the troops moving Tor
ward bnt from his position could not see them when
actively engaged.
General Abner Doubleday, who commanded brigade
IN McDOwe's Corps, testified that his brigade having
marched from Manassas Junction, lay in reserve, but
late in the afternoon was engaged having advanced
upder the impression that the rebels rctreatng.
II was very quiet continued the General. as we I'd
vancCd but when the stiffness was broken oun% our
Captain william w. Blackboard, OF Washington, TOT,
merry captain IN the corps 81 eagnSeI' "Fu ~ Sa
had been sent on the evening OF August p WIZ reports
20 General jackson. He reiOined General stuart inc
next morning while he on his way FROM sudley 10
meet General Lee, who was approaching Win Long
streets Corps. Jackson had received late on The pre-
yious Afternoon dispatch from Longstreet announcing
his massage Though rhurougbfare Gap. The courier
who delivered the message said that nc the fourth
who had attem pied the mission A. rs the dust ~
Lougsreet's advancing force was observed, General
Stuart with his staff and an escort OF about 100 men,
gaIJoped across country make the junction, IL was
early III the day the witness inferred MS ieenE
or relief that LODgtreet would arrive ~ uie 70 1'sisl
IN repehng the anticipated attack jackson had been
occupying isolated position, and the Junction Win
ayerted OF serious disaster General
Lee was riding the mead Of the column when stuart
whO gallOped far ahead OF MS escort came up icy
rode together through Gainesville ana SONS distance
along the WairontOn pike, and then drew on rum to
ROAD TO conclude lneir conference. LonEsiSo' "a INN
did not halt and Stuarts detachment Wnlch ldu come
mn passed through the column, man NJ a ume, IN
order not 10 disturb IT'S march prE 81 hn, me
main body followed the pike. At the cOnCu-on OF tue
meeting Stuart struck across TO the Hue OF Nuees on
The eTtTrme right The advances along the MANASSAS
road OF a column Of Federal troops having been OBJ
lie learned that il force OF infantry AFTER report
ing the fact To General Stuart he continued the recon
| Inn a commanding emnence behind him, opened nre
on the Federal troops. The witness ana not see any
Colonel IL Kyd Douglas, Of HagerstOwn' ND. was As
! sistaut InspectOr-General, and GU August ~ was
! staf OF General jackson. The hnal limo OF battlg
formed BY Jackson was along tne line OF protected
| roiiroad-tbe Independent Line TO Manassas Gap.
Ewel's division III the centre and A. r. Hhis on the
left Hps extreme left was turned back sgltg 10
sons line DETECTED from the line OF railroad Jubl
Early with two ergades, was thrown out DeIGnG tnC
later in the day and placed on HIPS extreme iet al
the attacks made dHE si are atSr WAS at D. ms and
NOT iess than SIX assaults were made before dark
The last assault WAS Uado Just about shutdown; JACK
sa,,s line mad not been advanced during the day, but
Early's Brigade which had taken position ON the ex
IRENE Jeff OF Hill followed up the rcpuse OF the iAst AT
| tack being. however speedily recalled.
| Bushrod W. Frobe OF Atlanta, Ca, formerly major
commanding the artillery battalion OF Hoods DIVISION
| marehed ON August 20 through ThOrOughiare Gap TO
ward GAINESVILLE He ordered by General Hood TO re
IN General stuart he found near the Manassas
can Railroad He tired about fifteen rounds at inc enemy
but the fire was returned The witness then moVeO
his command 10 the left support OF Jackson and &C
cnped the heights making the gap between jackson and
81 RI stlrges Colonel OF the 9Th Cavalry, was brig
sdar-senera commanding tho division OF which he hat
only nne brigade He had been ordered 10 join Genera
Parter's COrps which he found Bethlehem Church
on the Manassas road Alter reporting to General Port
ar the witness rode the front aud examined the cOun
try He saw no rebels but in the woods detected th'
glitter OF gun General Porter told him that he was ms
taken hut fire was opened few minutes. Genera
Parier then ordered lin fall back e. Manassas juno
| ton and take up a defensive position