New-York tribune., 1879-04-03


and thar Porter with his divisions saved army
Virginia that day from di7aser naturally due 70 the
alta, Dv General Porter alone could have been but an
H. and followed by counter attack disastrous 20
JaiOu Army, ard tat 5ucu attack would have been
not ou, Erea biunder mt crime what Por,er
nd 90 vas only simple necessary action which
tr.Ilgtrt soldier mad choice but 70 takcl TI4t
,auri-uartsl would nave condemned such conduct II
correctly understood rIat General POrter's conduct
y4- 6b,d'cut. subordinate, faithful and Judicial lt
saved The Union Army from disaster Oh the 29th OF
Tie board decided that to full understanding
of the merits of the the events of the 30th Of
Augunt. in which General Porter took q conspicuous
part should be briefly narrated, especially of
tine charges, alterward Withdrawn, was based upon
his action Of that day. Ii is shown that the Fifth
Army Corps, which General Porter commanded,
bore a most important and gallant part in the battle
Of the 3Oth. They say:
when Longstrcct's Army, seeing their opportunity.
pressed forward strike Popcs exposed let wing aud
n.uk warren. with his lItt!e brigade sprung INTO the
gap breasted the storm until bat handful OF ms
nave mrb were left alive. Then sykes ana REYNOLDS,
also Of Porters mand with their brga ies, seized the
commanding ground and IKE rock WlthstOod INC ad-
vance u he Victorious enemy an ana & saved the CnG.
tof Porersl nobly and amply yindcate tue GAaracleT
~ their ll.tet CllCf ana demonstrate to all the world
thai of orders and sbenaylor the pres
OF the enemy are G. Ies Hnlsh coul not POSslOy
tnd place in the head OF heart OF MIN who thus com
general pope appears from his orders and from his
testimony tO al that tine wholly Ignorant II
situation. lie nad dlhAppIOFeu Oh TIE srhdbs vi
Rckeiia 10 TLOrOu Gap To meet LOngsreet On the
9sth believing that the main body of Lees Army could
moi reach field OI Aaulss before the night Of the
3Uh Hence he sent the order % Porter. dated 1870
d m. 70 attack JaeEson's right hsnk or rear
Fortunately that order did not reach Porter
until about sunset, too late FOR any attack
10 be made. Any attack which Porter could nave made
al any time that afternoon, must necessarily have been
fTltess any good result General Porters faith ~,
suborIiuate and Intelligent conduct that afternoon
saved the Union Army from the defeat which would
ofharvise have resulted thai day from the eemyr more
sneey concentration. The only seriously critical period
OF that campaign VIZ, between II IN. and sunset of
knst 90 was thus safely passed General Porter had
nndersood and appreciated the military situation; and
s far as he had has own Judgment his action
mad wise aud JudiclOus For the disaster OF tne
suceeetnng day he m no degree responsible. Who
ever else may have been responsible, 10 did not flow
from any action inaction OF The judgment OF the
rnurtmartial upon General POrter's conduct evil
denfy based upon greatly erroneous Impressions, not
only respeetng what that conduct really and the
orders under which be acting. but aso respecting
All the circumstances under which he acted Especially
was 70 the character Of the DsLto OF
August 2g That battle consisted OF number or sharp
aud gallant combas between email portions VI the Op-
pSsluR forces.
Tie IOrs Of the 29th and those OF the 30th OF Aug