The New York herald., 1878-10-12
GENERAL PoRTER's RECORD.

coScLusIoN OF MAJOR GENERAL M'DowELL's
TEsrIMoNY-oENERaL PORTER DID ATTACK
THE ENEMY AT THE SECOND BATTLE OF
BULL RUN-wIrsEssEs WHO SAW FIGHT
AT GRovEToN.
~ understand that some expressions used ysster-
day 10 Mr. Choats considered as very strong and
as peculiarly offensive when applied 10 lawyers.
did not intend them In that and regret that
used them" SO said General Mcdowell as he re-
sumed the witness stand at the session OF the Fhz
John Porter Board OF Inquiry yesterday morning
~ am much obliged to you, General" responded Mr.
Choate, and business was At once proceeded with
In answer to the crosE-examination, which was re-
sumed, he said:-A tho time OF my interview with
General Porter, at DawKin's Branch, on the 29th OF
August, 1862, 1 said believed tho only Confederate
troops in our front thos. Indicated by General
Bulords despatch I Indicated 10 General
Porter whore he should put his troops but
cannot say whether my expression was Put your
troops In nere' or Put your troops in there No;
do not think It would make any difference which Of
these aovsrbs used, as pointed out The place with
my finger" The General seemed annoyed by these
questions, and after answering tho last to
without being quessioned:"l cannot tell whether 1
used NV right hand Or my left or whether my palm
was upward or my nails.n the examination was con-
tinued and he said hs could tell 10 which point OF
the compass he pointed, as he paid no attention 10
that at tho time Mr. Choate called his attention TO
lhs fact that the original court martial he testified
tna II would take General Porter one hour 10 execute
the movement aud bring his troops TO the point ndi-
Gated 10 MIN by General Mcdowell 10 engage the
emy asked whether in view OF his present opinion
that the enemy farther on than he then sup
posed, he still thought that he could have met the
enemy hour. Witness said his opinion upon that
point had not changed; from twelve until two
O'Clock he heard nothing but artillery hrug along tho
lines.
Ar Choate-Dd you, then, expect General Porter
alone to engage tho enemy with his Infantry when all
along there nothing but artillery aripgS
General Mcdowell (sotto voce TO the Board)-Ah!
IT'S TOO absurd
Mr.. Choaie-rhat would be too absurd, would III
General McDoweli-I did not intend you to hear
that; It was not ior your ears
Mr.. Choate-Well, 1 heard 1t.
witness said IN reply 10 the question that General
Porter would not have been callod upon TO attack
alone, and went on TO explain various methods by
which enemy might be harassed without bringing
on a general engagement; which plan should be
adopted IN any gwen case was TO be decided by the
officer comnland.
..rhsn in your judgment, officer in General Por-
ters position at the time referred 20 should havs used
his discretion AS solaisrr
T'.s LITTLE RxpARrEE
''Now, then, General Mcdowell, wish to Call your
attention TO this dsspaicn OF yours TO General Porter
dateu hall past eleven r. NJ August ~, 1852, and
ing tnat General Longslress was coming through
Yhorougaare Gap ~isa large iorce on 'ns following
Recorder Gardner-On, l thought We had already
settled all tnat
win smlle)-No, rs httls unsettled yet IKE Gsn-
erai McDo~slPs opiuton.
General McDowel-Or ike Mr.. Choate's notion OF
time, very indislinct
The examination developed tho tact that tho de-
spalch IN question was never made public until IL
produced ~ the court ot inquiry hsld AZ Washington
10 investigate General McDowsh Ia January, 1864 IL
WAS produced tnsre on the Tn OF That month. Mr..
Cnoats dwsit upon It's importance Is showing that
witness Knew NJ that time tnat tue army trent OF
General Porter on The 29tn must have beeu Long
streets. The question wnetnsr this despatch was
NOT withhso until !. was 100 late ior Gem
eral Porter 70 produce u on his court
saa was .asou, an, sna N on ,ss,nnnv Tue
court martial ended GU the OH oi January and tho
closed on the 10th. The reason witness did
furnish . copy of the despatch TO General Porter
when the latter Was trial was because he
tninK tilt did not occur TO him as Of any impor
tance
.Now, referring to General Jacksons report, which
was circulated and printed oy YOU and now knowing
that IL refers the Both, want ~ ask you
| troops OF the federal army you unaersLnd this
passage 10 rcfer:-
A one line rspulssd another place. as II de.
by man and fury assault
from our position SO mpetuous and we'll sustained
general ,Sr but the timely aud gallant
Advance OF Gsnsr. Lonrstrsst the right relieved
| from ths pressure Of numbers.
GRsxRAL PoRrER ACT THAT DAY.
"Do you KNOW who WAS COMMANDER Of The troops
Il nave NO doubt my mind that those onses re-
ferrea 10 we're. viii not say exclusively but largely
duo 70 the troops directly under tho command Of
| General Porter"
| 10 General schonsid witness said the discussion
between General Porter and himself at Dawkin's
Brapcn had reference 10 The JOINT order iyom Pope,
aud that the Instructions which witness gave to
General Porter looked no furtner tnan TO getting his
iorcs into position such would adm. nf tneIr
falling back behind Bun Run al nignt, as the JOINT
order directed. 10 Mr.. Choais witness said he
thought the oruers oughI to been carried out,
and whether rsnforcsnsnts reached Jackson or not.
s.Dd not you understand this order as passed upon
tho supposion IN the mud Of General Pope when ne
gave lnat the ensmys reiuiorCemsnls moving
at pace which wouia not brug them up TO Jackson
untn the following night or the next dayr"
"lhat question dId not come up IN my mind"
This enued tho cxaminaton oil General Mcdowell,
and he was psrmittsi 10 leave tue stand.
Major General Shriver WHO was chiei OF General
McDowolPs stan when he commandsd the Thru corps
IN the Army oi Virginia. was questioned ABOUT the
events o the z9tn Of August, lsb2 HIS examination
was briet Alter teliiug wners ne had ridden tue
warren.on PIKE that day ne was asked. Did you see
any oil tue enemy on toe way Z"
"No; mat was aot my business" was the reply,
and tho witness stepped dowa Nobody wanted to
cross-exsmiuc htm.
WITNESSES VINO OF A BATTLE.
Major General John RoDinsop, wno VAS brigadier
general oil volunteers ksarny's division, SAID
more Or less hgntug all aay Oh the 2yt una nat
he lost SIS men aioug the uo OF tho Manassas Rsl-
road. X. H. Doves major oil tho sixth Wisconsin,
kings DIVISION, said he marched IRON Warrsntop up
10 Gainesville on the ngut OF the 27h and found no
parlicuar diflicully IN marching slowly. CoioneI
George Carr, Mo commanded Thru brigade. Soc
ond div,sou lhira corps sit his post BackSurn's
Ford under orders NJ Two A. M. on the 20th
heard nring all day. Reached poshion
near Independents Manassas Railroad, about
noon aud participated IN an engagement during tho
renaindsr oil the day. Along mo front u Was the
most molly contested battle ne ever was IN except
lysburg aud Chancenorviiie Gsnerai George ".
Menail. o. Pnlaoepnls, who was captain and ASSIST
aul ulant koaruy's STALL said lie participated
10 u Dalil Grovetvn on the 2Jtn. The lght
oegan by Carr Soaurz,s command, tnsn Hooksr's par
Iicl lpatcd, anu later kearney'A He Knew that HOOK
er's iorcs charged tue eueny. WIiiian Couue,y,
First Lieutenant OF the Secoud regular nia1try who
was Eirst Lieutenant vi Company ID, SevspIy-lourth
Now YORK volunteers sixth brigade, Sckies divison,
knew OF acton near Groveton about four ociocK
o the Afternoon OF tho yvth Brigade was formed
charge the enemy IN tno woous Witness started
from BlacNburn's Ford IN the morning ana all day
heard cannon aiding.
James N. Dsen, of Baltimore, who was senior MAJOR
Of the FIRST aary iand cavalry know OF hgntng on tue
29lh Corporal solomon Thomas and Private Joseph