National Republican., 1882-11-30
pulling out into the road to move to BrIstoo sta

Grant has read the evidence carefnllA-n VIII nm
that other troop moved that same night-iu Let, |
were moving All night-not only troops belonging |
TO the Union nrmy under Pope, but that the whole
confederate army under Jackson, composed of
1000 men, moved on that night, with all their
wagons and baggage, from Centerville to the posi-
zion which they he'd on the 2gth, the day OF the
battle
would like Gen. Grant TO answer the question,
how It was that the whole confederate army
could move distance equal, II not greater, than
that which Porter was ordered to move, and take
their positions during that night to defend tben-
selves against the assault Of Popes army, and that
Porter who was expected to take part in that
battle, could not move the distance Of nine miles
along the road where the wagons had been re-
moved or parked out Of his wuy2
Gen. Grant well knows that marches have TO be
made under great difficulty where the command.
ing officer is preparing for action. either night or
that could meni ion where troops under Gen;
Grant, especially in the Western army, moved
through storm, rain, and In the night whether
light or dark, and could give an instance where
troops were moved under his command where
they had to make the road MS they went-making
bridges also-and never heard of an officer that
was ordered TO move under that direction having
to end TO the General Of the Amy for cavalry
on"
NO ROOM FOR DISCRETION.
Gen Grant says that Porter could exercise his
discretion about obeying this order strictly for the
reason that he was not o dered there 10 hght Dul
merely 10 pursue the enemy"
II will not do 10 say this, for the very order IL
self notifies Porter that he must be there AZ day.
light for the that he wanted to drive jack
sons army out of thet part Of The country.
Does any one suspect or beleye that an army ny
Of 80 900 could be driven out OF that part OF the
county without fghtiDg2 But what is the dii-
fercnce7 r. ricr could neither fight norlharm the
enemy unless he got there to do it,
Not only 20, hut it was not an order in which
the general had right TO exercise his dlscretlon
IL was all imperative order to move ut g O'Clock
in the morning, and to be at Bristoe station D!
There could be no misunderstanding of the or
der, aud under the circumstances there was no
aNn fnr nnf nh,y
was no attempt made to obey 1t. and the evidence
through the whole case shows that Porter did not
intend obey that any other order strictly, but
intended TO obey only in such way as TO impede
the progress of Pope. -,
Porter did not arrive at Bristoe Station until
after 10 o'clock the next day.
General Giant says: Under the circumstances
his order (meanng Pope's) required uf the troops
an impossibility that was quite evident 10 Por-
ter"
In what is this statement justifed2 Certainly
not by the evidence; certainly not by any knowl-
edge that Gen. Grant had OF the ground over which
Porter was to march, any more than any one else
who reads the evidence; certainly not on account
of the road not account of its being obstructed
not on account of the condition of the troops, as
| some of them had been resting from 10 o'clock
| that day until that time;- certainly not on ac-
| count of the distance, and on no account what
ever as disclosed by the evidence In the case ex :
cept an indisposition. on the part OF Cen Porter
| to support Gen. Pope in fighting that battle.
| LETTERS SHOWING PoRTERs HATRED OF POPE.
| For the purJ ose OF showing that which was
| working in Fitg-John Porter's mind as well as
showing his feeling of contempt for Pope and Nc
Dowell, will her give two letters TO snow his
| animus at the time and TO show the unkind terms
in which he his disgust of the capacity of
his superior commander. and in order to show
| that he had no Intention OF faithfully serving
| under Pope.
In the first letter he speaks of the enemy having
| captured al OF Pope's clothing, and McDowelPs
also, including McDowells liquors, when 1t was
well-k KIN wn fact that the enemy did not capture
caiture McDowelI,s whisky, as Il was equally we'll
known in the army and by all his acquaintnnces
that he never used liquor in his life OF any kind
| This letter is as tollows
| wARRENToN, 9th, p. M.-7b Gen. Burnstde.--
Morrell left his medicine, ammunition and baggage
ericksbGrs and stofedY His wagons we're ali sent 10
| you Tor grain and ammunition. have sent back to
airy. except what has been sent TO Gainesville Will
get them you after While Eyerythmg e here ne is ~
in every respe:t Our hne Of eonnu',teaton 1 has
army army has has not H thfeo days provisions aae enemy
cdptured all Pope and other clothing, and from Nc
guard
s are rolling shall be hese
Following this was a letter to Gen. Burnside at
Falmouth, Va, at A o'clock p. M:
WARRENToN Junction, Aug. q, 1862, p. M
from Gen. Pope, which indicates the future as well as
the present Wagons are rolling along rapidly to the
see no cause for alarm though think this order may
time to put out the fire and kick the enemy who Is
|
Loudoun County. The forces are Longstreets. A. p.
Hill's Jacltsons Whtngs Ewes and Ar A9dersons h n
ser er to be very strong They have much artilisry
near Cedar Hun, and made BY regiment Of infantry,
two squadrons of cavalry aud section of artillery.
~ They
& rs ana men, ah
NJ nassas. 1t can be easily repaired. No troops are
IS u % awo Foar
OF by the raid The POSITIONS Of the troops & are
sistant Adutsntq was taken direcis Stuart
1unso %c has GS %
north hnd vast n, difference t between an these a
as Burnt eRsSs
much aad sn soS
troops M 70 give them heart aad. Il, think p
res %Te Ha % Ds Sdsa N @
don't use rs o qne stratsoy e n,agngeent and tae,
a,nSanceS i5od Ike also TO be ordered 70 ret,rg
% S.a ts e osnSe or
,eish Su,nnsr eas a asht"Oten and up ,,ear ne Mo
rSe S SSS@ sG y ea S9 I'D
Ibetieue they have contenlpt yo, his Army Of V-
Gimy Of ne fotSadc, and 50 do ou. eompaniens. j
@ tGday yna Sy se v PeS authority hS that IN
pushed out TO save the Army ofthe Potomac, army
to1e since ,eaatea to 90 behind he oceoqita sm 10
great need of ambuiances and the officers need med
ahind hear many Of the sick Of my corps sS are II
i houses tine Rad very sick. think there is nc
csHy !e % ths adVnce
Keys and Barnelrs dords much property WAS left
can AM push % up The Ts grain pngnt please dc
"a S and this army w %tetcheGy
N tfas ne this Pope says he neyer pop4 Gaa
But ifyou can get me away, please do so. Make
what use of this you choose. SO II does good,
Thiswas written on the evening that Porter re
ceived the order to support Gen. Pope, in whict
of Popes movements, for no other purpose, in IN,
Judgment, than to demoralse the army and brini
Pope into disrepute among the officers.
He says "the strategy is magnificent, and tactics
in the inverse proportion" showing his utter con
tempt for the ability OF his commanding officers
In the conclusion of his letter he begs please
Do what? Please get me out OF this. Out o
what2
He had not yet received his orders to move OF
TO fight, and what does. he want to get out of
I Out Of the Army of Virginia2 Isuppose out from
the command of Gen. Pope, and to bring abou
such influence as would put Pope under the bar
of his officers SO that he might b9 relieved anC
probably Mcclellan put back In command Thi
letter shows that he started in after receiving hi
very first order from Pope with criticisms of th
; army and of the general commanding, his move
ments, his positions, and OF everything in connec
Z tion with what he had to do in commanding tn
! He begged so be taken away, saying to Burn
side TO do what he wished with the letter, SO tina
/ it would do good.
} What did he mean by that unless he was in
conspiracy against Pope and determined not on
/ TO disobey him, but TO assist in destroying him
No officer living ever had the confidence or afec
, ton of Gen. Grant, In my judgment, to such a
extent that If he had written such letter abou
3 him Grant criticiSing him and his movements
aud showing determination not to support hin
) could have stayed in the army of Gen. Grant fiji
} teen minutes without being arrested and pun
, isbed. Even the board that tried to furnish rel
sons for acquiting Porter could not help but con
demn him for his criticisms of his commandin
1 officer. Yet Gen Grant speaks Of him sufferin
through prejudice, without being guilty Of an
act of insubordinaIion. How he can do this is
mystery aud wonder TO me. Ii is well know
fact recorded both in ancient aud modern his