The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1878-04-18
GARFIELD ON PORTER.

PLAIN LANGUAGE FROM TRUTHFUL JAMES
WHY The COURT MARTIAL WAS P,RrIAL TO
THE pRIsoNER-THE FLAGRANCY OF THE
OFFENCE.
A reporter Of the Washington Republican on Mon
aay visited General Garfield TO converse with him on
the movement 10 retry the OF General Fiz Jonn
Porter General Garfield said that .'until the In
junction OF secrecy removed from the debera-
tons OF the Court he could not divuge anything that
TRANSFERRED But II tho subject came before Con-
eress Tor discussion there he would favor . remova
OF the Injunction"
.svory good General; but you give me any facts
that may have been OF public notorietyy"
eyes. In tho first place, the Court was composed
OF three regular oflcers-Major Generals Hunter and
Hitchcock and Br,gadlor General Slas Casey; three
volunteer oifcers-Msjor General Prentice, Brgaaier
General John p. Slough, and myself, also Brigadier
General, with General Joseph Holt Us Judge Advo-
Cate
..Where and when aid you meetf"
sIn the tall OF 1882, and on Fourteenth street, be-
low Pennsylvania avenue, over what was then known
as Ferd' Buller's restaurant"
sid you have a steaographc reportcry"
Eyes; william Blair Lord, reporter at present IN
IN. House Representatives noted all our proceed
ings And as nave before SAID II ever this matter
comes before Congress the injunction OF secrecy
should be removed. had not any ilwill 10 General
Porter. nor had any other Of The members OF The
court"
"some OF them friendly to him, we're they
noty"
.Yos; why General Hitchcock the godfather
at h 10 baptism There was no III feeling toward him by
any the Court In fact some OF the Board remarked
tnat In view Of their friendship for MN, they aid
consider they could give an impartia judgment !"
.Why do they wish 10 reopen the case. shonY"
IL understand that there are Confederate reports 10
be submitted snow that General Porter could not
move to the support OF Mcdowell In consequence OF
the Confederate forces beng ~ such strength before
him IS form an impossible barrier"
WAS word sent by Pope 10 Porter 20 move up with
his support aud assist IN engaging the enemyY
,sYes; three times. There ne lay with 1000 pen,
the flower Of the Army Of the Potomac, within tour
miles Of The terrible struggle that was raging There
he was from morning until night: aud II was not I'M
til the third order came-and the last which would
moved; but II was TOO iale-the battle was los"
ssWere hts troops liz 10 20 into actonf
.undoubtedy they were among tho best In tic
army they were mostly regulars had the best ariil-
cry and were fresh troops"
THE ORDER WHICH NOT ISSUE.
"was not General Pope much embarrassed by Por-
ter's dclays"
Eyes. And Porter's not obeying the second
the arrest Porter aud his being immediately shoti
igader General Roberts, Of the regular army per-
suaded raj Pope to send the order but givo
him ffsobertsl another mssive to convey TO Porter,
ordering the latter TO br ny hts forces Immediately
M. This he did, and Porter obeyed II"
.sHad Porter any counsel at mis- trial Y"
eyes; Reverdy johnson, Of Mary land, and William
NJ Games Of this CITY, since dead, were his counsel"
80 you think the case has been disposed oil, and
the verdict just onef"
.Yes. WHAT Confederate archives have to do with
the case His case 10 oil tho psat--tred,
and an impartial verdict rendered. He refused 10
obey orders; and, while do not think ne traitor,
nor naturally dsoyal 10 his country ne was dsloyal
the TINE he disoyaI TO his country No, SIR; no
other verdict could have been rendered."