The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1882-11-21
Grant Defends Porter.
The Reasons for His Belief in Porter's In
nocence.
North American Review for December.

Ga the 9th of November, 1862, court mar
tial was convened in the city of Washington
for the trial of Major-Gen. Fitz John Porter, of
the volunteer force. The court consisted of
nine Rmembers and e-Advocare-the
Judge-Advocate-G General of the Army. The
charges against Gen. Porter were: First-Dis-
obedience of orders under the ninth Article of
War. Observation-Disclosures before the enemy
under the fifty-second Article Of War.
Under the first charge there were three spec
ifcstions of which the court found Porter
guilty. These were substantially: First-Dis-
obedience to the order Of Aug. q requiring
him tn march from Warrenton Junction at /
O'Clock on the morning of the 2Sth and be at
Bristol Station by daylight. Second-Disobe-
dience on Aug 90, while in front of the enemy
to the joint order to Mcdowell and Porter, d.
recting them to march toward Gainesville and
establish communication with the other corps.
Third isobedi~nce on Aug. 20, while in
front of the enemy, to what is known as the
'4:3o p. m. ORDER" requiring Porter to attack
the enemy's flank and rear.
Dnder the second charge the specifications
upon which Porter was tried and convicted
were in substance: First-Shameful disobe-
dience to the 4:30 p. m. order on Aug 20,
while in sight of the field and in full hearing OF
is artillery; and retreat from advancing forces
# the enemy, without attempting to engage
hem or to aid the troops who were fighting
greatly superior numbers, and who would have
secured a decisive victory and captured the
unemys army but for Porter's neglect to at
tack and his shameful disobedience. Second
Failure of Porter all that day to bring his force
ON the field when within sound If the guns and
in presence of the enemy, and knowing that 4
5 we're action OF great consequence was being
fought, and that the aid of his corps was great
y needed, and his shameful falling back and
retreat from the advance of unknown forces OF
the enemy without attempting to give them
battle. Third-Shameful failure of Porter on
he same day, while severe action was being
fought, to go to the aid of Gen. Pope's troops,
when he believed that they were being de-
feated and were retiring from the field; aud
his shameful retreat away and falling back
under these circumstances, leaving the army
to the disasters of presumed defeat; and fail.
are, by any attempt to attack the enemy, TO
aid in avertipg disaster which would hav.
obudueCAOu tuo bdtcty VI bu6 Cdplbdls
These are the accusations that were made
against Gen. Porter for his part and failure in
the battles generally known as those of the
second Bull Run campaign The court found
him guilty of the charges and specifications. If
he was so guilty, the punishment awarded was
not commensurate with tue offense committed
believe lawyers have taken exception to the
formation of the court and to some of its tech
nical rulings; but neither at the time nor after
wards did Gen. Porter attempt to evade the
consequences of his acts by any special plead
ing, or by taking advantage of any technical
error in the composition of the court or the
method of its being ordered, but has relied ell
tirelv upon his innocence of all the charges and
specifica ions, and would not be satisfied with
an acquittal on any other ground than that of
his entire innocence. 1t will be seen from the
foregoing that Gen. Porter's alleged miscon.
duct was embraced in three separate cases OF
rdisobedience to orders, one on the 9th of An
gust and two on the 29th of AUGUST, and in
having retreated unnecessarily from the enemy.
by that act endangering other portions of the
army with which he was cooperating
1t will be seen that, though these offenses
were alleged to have been committed in An
gust of 1852, he was continued in the command
of an army corps until some time in Noyem-
Der following, taking an active part in the bat
ties of the day following the date of the last
charge, and in command of the defenses of
Washington on the west bank of the Potomac.
and also at the battle of Antietam sIme weeks
later. 1t would look at first very singular that
an officer SO wantonly derelict in the perform
ance of his duty as Gen. Porter was alleged to
have been on the 9th and 29th of August
should have been continued in so important
place as the command of an army corps, when
much was at stake as there was on the 30th
of AuQuSt- and in the 6afansae of
and in the later battles in Maryland, when the
invasion of the North was threatened These
Facts would indicate TO an unprecedented mind
that the charges against Porter were an after
thought, to shift the responsibilities of failure
from otbel shoulders and place them on his,
In regard to his disobedience of the order of the
18th OF August, he is alleged to have without
justification deferred his march from Warren
ton junction to Bristol station from / O'Clock
until OF the morning OF the 28th. 1t was about
10 O'Clock o the night of the 9th when Porter
received the following order:
HEADQUARTERS ARMY OF VIRGINIA,
BRISTOL STATION, Aug 81, 1862, 6:30P. M
GENER L: The Major-General commanding di-
with your whole such part of it as is with
you, SO az to be here by daylight tomorrow morn
ing. Hooker his had very severe &C ion with tn
enemy. with loss OF about 300 killed and WON d.
ed. he enemy has been driven back, but is retir-
lie along the railroad " e must drive him fro.
Manassas, and clear the country te,ween th4t
palee and Gaiuesvil Q, where Mcdowell is II
Morell has OF Joined you send word 10 him to push
Onward Immediately; also semi word 10 Banks T.,
arsenton Juncti 1t is necess ~ on ali 90
counts hat you should be lere by Wight. send
officer with this oisp .tch who will Coz duct You
to this place. Be sure 10 send word to Banks " no
is he roai to Fayetteville prob bly, in the drec-
ton of re tou. Say to Banks also that he had rest
run ok the railroad trails to this side of Ced r
Kun. II he is not with you, write him to that
effect.
BY command o Major-Generai Pope.
GEORGE II. RUGGLEs
Color Ell and Chief of staff.
Major-Gen. f. j. PORTER, War en- juno ion.
Psf Banks Is not at Aarrenton junction,
leave regimen of Infantry and two pieces of ar
illery as guard until he comes up, with instruc-
tons to follow you immediately. If banks is not at
tn Juncti ~ truct Col. Clary to run the II aims
back o this si1r of Cedar Run ana post regiment
and ion OF artillery with it.
By command of Major-Gen Pope.
GEORGE ID. RUGGLEs.
Colonel and Chief of staff.
His troops had been marching all day, were
very much fatigu ed, some of them only having
just arrived in camp, and had their supper,
when the order to march at ! O'Clock was re-
ceived. The night as shoan in the testimony
before the court which tried Porter, and as con-
hrmed by the evidence given in what was
known as the Schofeld Board, was extremely
dark; the road very narrow, with numerous
cuts and sire ans passing through it; bounded
by woods on both sides in many places, with no
place where the open country could be taken
for the march of troops; and blocked up with
about 1000 army wagons, many Of them mired
IN the harrow road, so that the officer who COLI
veyed this order to Gen. Porter was over 'hree
hours on horseback, in making the distance OF
10 miles. Porter was expected, with fatigued
troops, worn with long marches, on scanty ra
lions, to make a march on a very dark night
through blockaded road, more 70 pidly than
single aide-de-camp uninc mbered had been
able to get through on horseback
When be received the order he showed it to
his leading General, and, apparently with one
accord, they decided that the movement at that
hour sas impossible; further, that no time
could possibly be gained by SO early start,
and that ii they should start at that hour and
get through to Bristoe station at the time des-
ignated the troops would not be fit for either
fighting or marching on their arrival at that
point. Porter, replied, however, tHere is the
order, and it must be obeyed;" but, after fur
Their consultation, he decided, as did his Gem
erals, that postponement of two hours in
starting the march would enable them to get
through as quick as if the men were kept on
foot and under arms while the road was being
cleared, and hat the men would be In much
better condition for service on their arrival at
their destination. He was entirely justified in
exercising his own Judgment in this matter,
because the order shows that he was not to take
part in any battle when he arrived there, but
was wanted to pursue fleeing enemy. He
did not leave the commanding General in ig-
norance of his proposed delay, ner of the rea-
sons for it, but at once sent a request that the