Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1879-04-02
GEN. FITZr JOHN PORTER.
Fipdingof the Commission sub
-Nuffttsd 10 the .Presidsat- Psr-
ter's Reported VindicatiOn-
7. Mcdowell and Pope Censured.

In military circles in New York and
elsewhere the news is current that the
findings Of the Advisory Military Com
missiOa lathe Fitz, Johp7R Porter, case
cGIHpgsed al General Sehefie ID Geheal
Terry and Generals GettS, haze been
transmitted to the President, and were
in the nature of complete exOneration
Of Porter from all blame in the action Of
August 20, 1862, and the preceding and
subsequent disaster. Concerning the
findings OF the Commission the New
York Times says:
The general tenor OF the text only can
be ascertained. The Commission finds
that General Porter acted with proper
and reasonable expedition on the night
Of. August 81, when ordered To the assis-
lance Of General Hooker at Warrentown
Junction. After fully reviewing the
conflict OF evidence respecting the dark
ness Of the night, the impediments in
the road, etc, il concludes that under
military rules General Porter was justi-
fed i'm nOt starting out until daylight, or
about that time, instead of al | A NJ, as
explicitly ordered. The evidence re-
specting the famous +:3O p. NJ. order OF
August - it finds conflicting, and in the
!, uiaip it gcc,9ts the testimony OF POrteFs
aides as To the hour OF its. reception
namely, about shutdown. The members
OF the board sustain the view that POr-
ter was too weak to make q successful
attack after Kings division was with
drawn by Mcdowell, and the conclu-
sion that the utmost that could be ex-
pected of him was to keep the section of
the enemy in his front in constant aD-
pfeheRsiOn Of an attack, thus preventing
LOngstrret from going TO Jackson aSSlS
tanot; also, that under the discretion
vested in him as corps commander al
ter Mcdowell went away, the determine
ton OF the question how best TO CO.
operate with tine Union forces rested
with linn --..-.... r-...-
The Commission finds, therefore, that
General Porter was wrongiully convicted
and sentenced by the general court mar
tial convened in January, 1865, upon the
findings of which he was cashiered and
that these findings were erroneous: First,
"a respects the disobedienCe to orders on
the night OF August - secondly, as to
the specification OF unOtiicer like conduct
in not going To the assistance OF General
Pope in the action OF August 20; and,
thirdly, as To the specification OF disObe-
dience of orders in not attacking late in
the afternoon OF August 20, after the re-
ception OF the $50 order
Besides juStiiying the conduct OF Cen
eral Porter respecting the specifications,
the commission enters at some length
into the discussion of General POpe's
campaign in August, 1862. and the re-
sponsibllity for disaster With which it
ended. 1t is stated on authority that,
both directly and indirectly, the report
reflects with severity upon the conduct
of General Pope and General Mcdowell
during the campaign and after, even to
the extent of ccnsure; but until the
text is given to the publicit Is inpoSSi
bile To Judge how strongly or whether in
such manner as to render IL necessary
for the latter to demand an investigation.
Mr.. HAYES may, in a special message
to Congress, recommend that General
Porter's disabilities be removed, or he
NAV recommend that he be reinstated,
but until he acts III the premises the
findings OF the board are void us 4 vim
dicatiOn of the once convicted officer.
IL Is stated by General Porter's friends
that he has no intention OF asking Tor a
restoration OF his rank and pay, but
simply L. be set right in the estimation
Of the public Great pressure is being
brought to bear upon Mr.. Hayes to
secure this result, with implied guaran-
tees that Porter will be content with 1t.