National Republican., 1882-11-30
Senator Logan Replies to Gen.
Grants Recent Maga-
zine Article.
The History of the Case Re-
viewed at Length and
Wjth Legal Skill
PortSr's Puerile and Nonsensical
Talk About Blockaded
Roads Criticised.
Gen. Grants Map and Accompanying State
ments Shown To Be Rather
Oct OF Trim.
Vigorous Attack on the Ex-Presidents Plea
in Behalf OF Porter for Back Pay.

To the Editor of The Chicago Tribune.
WASHINGTON, d. C., Nov. 23.-fou call my atten-
ton to the article i'll the December number Of the
North American RevictG, written by General U. S
Grant, in Justification of the conduct of Fitz John
Porter in disobeying the orders Of his command
ing general the 9th, 2Sth, and Goth of August,
1852.
dislike very much to enter into any discussion
with Gen. Grant on matters pertaining to military
movements as l must do so knowing am con-
testing g. ound with q man of, yrcat military re-
nown. But, inasmuch MS Gen. Grant has SO re-
Gently changed his opinion on this subject, after
having the case before him when General of the
Army. and during eight years while President of
the United States based upon Porter's own state
ment of the case and after careful examination of
The case concluded that he was guilty, and having
more than once impressed his then opinion upon
my mind, which very strongly confirmed me IN
my own conclusions Of Porter's guilt, therefore
take 1t that the Generals generosity will be sui-
cient to pardon me If shall now differ with him,
and trust my own judgment in the case, instead
Of accepting his present conclusons-eSpecially
when feel confident that can clearly demon
strate that his present opinions are based upon
misapprehension of the facts as they did exist and
were un derstood by those understanding them at
the time.
But that there may be proper understanding
of the question in dispute, it may be necessary to
tions occupied by the opposing forces.
Gen. Pope being in command OF the Army Of
Virginia, had withdrawn from his former line of
operations, and had begun his movements against
jackson OH the evening of the day on which he
sent the first order to Fitz john Porter.
Gen. Hooker's division of Heintzeman's corps
having moved along the railroad from Warrenton
function toward Manassas Junction, meeting
Ewelrs division Of Jacksons force at Bristoe Sta
tion in the evening" a sharp engagement ensued,
in which Hooker drove Ewell III the direction Of
Manassas Junction.
,,Jo
Gen. Pope's headquarters were with this divis-
ion. In his rear, at Warrenton Junction, was
Porter's command the Fifth Army Corps). An
icipating an attack from the confederate forces
on the morning Of the 2sth, HookeI's commend
being about out of ammunition at the time, and
In order that he might be prepared for this attack
and also that he might have his troops up and
well In hand-inasmuch us he desired to send a
portion of his forces in the direction of GAINESVILLE
advance OF Longstreet, who was then marching
rapidly to join Jackson-Pope issued the following
sent the same by Capt. Drake De Kay, one Of his
sPope's) staff officers.
The order is in the following language:
s41Tfos has H. 4ssy % 81 p RaT9 F6e
general commanding directs that you start at
corps, such part of II as is with you TO be
Of about 200 killed and wounded. The enemy has
r and ae Se
E IF sat aSs Sss ad moi d%sS
word to him 10 push forward imn edlaely also send
4 IS
ssIy on all accounts that you should be here by day
conduct you 70 this place. De sure @ send word to
* , whS Is On the TSsd from prSba
that he had best back the railroad trains to this
eide Of Cedar Rum If he is not with you write him to
BY Command of Ma. Gen. Pope
Colonel and CHIEF Of stafr
Ma. l.-Gen F. J. Porter. Warrenton Junction.
E.-If Ranks iq n IN nm Inn o,,o
M pr Snd two PIECES Of f artillery as
Immediately. II Banks is not at the junction sH IN.
sruct Col Cleary the trains back 10 this side
q Cedar Run and post regiment and section OF ar
BY command of Maj. Gen. Pope.
Colonel neHHn and q Chief t:Yeststs of STAN.
When this order was delivered, Capt. Drake
De Kay was instructed to remain with Porter and
direct him on the road II Bristoe Station, dis
tance Of about nine miles,
This order was delivered to Gen. Porter las
Capt. Drake De Kay testifes) at about $50 p. M
Gen. Porter decided not to move at O'Clock as
directed, but at O'Clock on the morning of the
the evidence shows or move his troops until after
sunrise on the morning of the 2Sth.
Gen. Grant justihes Porter in the disobedience o
this order, because, he says, Porter's troops had
been marching that day, were fatigued; the
night was dark the road was b,ocSaGed, ant
that he showed his order to the leading generals
and because they said his troops were tired be die
not obey the order.
Gen. Grant further says:
He (meanng Porter) was entirely Justified in eyer
cislng % hs own Judgment IN the matter because tn
@ e a es nG to a part in any
enemy. He did not leave the commanding genera
for IT. but at once request that the general com
nanding should send back cavalry and clear th,
saight be unobstfuc.ed.
THE CONDITION OF THE ROAD.
Gen, Grant also says that "a literal obedience t,
possibility 1t is further shown that GEN Porter
was desirious of obeying 1t literally, so far as
leading generals not to do So"
Gen. Grant also says:
If the night had been clear, and the road an opel
fion and continuing he describes the road as bein
in terrible condition-almost impassable."
lam very much surprised at this statement O
Gen. Grants, inasmuch as he goes far beyon,
the evidence in the case to justify the disobedi
ence of said order by Porter
The evidence in the case shows that a great por
non cf Porters troops had been in camp at War
renton Junciisn from 10 o'clock in the morning
. day. The evidence does not snow tfat the gen
erals could not obey the order, but that they Gnl
somplai9ed that the troops tired and fatigued
This Gen. Grant knows, as a military man, Is al
= excuse common in any army that troops ar
fstigued when they are ordered to march either ii
Z rest And he knows further that it is not an ex
erse jrhuhed by any one in time of necessity whe
an order can be obeyed.
Gen. Grant says that Porter wanted 10 obey tn
tbrder because he sent two men TO Gen POPE
distance Of nine miles, to ask Pope to clear tn
=, q like to ask Gen. Grant If during hi
conf fmand of armies he had issued an order to on
OF tais commanding generals 70 move his troops
an9 that commanding general had sent back wor
70 ogjen. Grant 10 clear the road for him so tina
~ nigh. move, what kind Of an answer he woul
RAye given that general
The troops that Pope was with had been fghtin
that day. Does Gen. Grant pretend TO say tha
they were in better condition TO " clear the road
thar ~ "t"02ps Of Porter that were to march O.
. the Iva Did he ever know an instance of
onmanding general Of corps asking the com
manGinR general n the N an ba 40
ons out Of the road " SO that he himself couI
march, when he had the very troops marchin
along the road whose duty 1t was to perform tina
Gen. Grants statement that "the road was
q bad road, in bad condition, almost impossible
outside of being full Of wagons" is not supporte
by the testimony. The evidence of those vii
passed over the road is positive TO the effect tht
the road was In good condition; that there was
Station on which Infantry troops could hay
marched that there was a road on either side
this railroad, plain, open, and passable.
The evidence further shows that when GEL
Pope sent this order 70 Gen. Porter, he (Pope)
the same time rode up 70 Gen. Myers the chic
notified him that Porter would march on that roa
that night, and that he must clear il Of wAgol
obstruction 10 the march.
No DISTRACTIONS.
The evidence further shows that nj the time Il
order was delivered TO Gen. Porter The wngol
were going into park OF Of the road that they d
60 into park and that from the time Il o'clock)
the morning that he was ordered 10 march the
was no obstruction whatever on the road ; az
on the morning OF the 2sth. at which time &c
RorteFs orders required him 20 be at Bristoe ST
tion. but that the wagons left the park on the sui
position that the troops had passed, and they al
again enter the road afler daylight on the 26t
ard tsAt the only obstruction that there was TO
time he was TO have been at Bristoes Station tn
he did not move his command the next morniI
untD after these parked trains had eommene'