Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1884-03-11
THE FITZ JOHN PORTER CASE.
Important Developments Concerning
the Famous Despatch OF Aug. 29ih.

shC ahhOus OCsYhtCu Vi AuSs SJths
BosroN, March 10.
The Herald in the morning will print a
long article on the Fitz John Porter case in
which it is stated that important evidence
bearing on the dispatches on the 29th of
August has been discovered, that the much
advertised for and most prominent despatch
bearer in the second battle of Bull Run has
been found in the person of Josiah Getchell,
now of Brunswick, Me. 1t states that since
the passage of the Fitz John Porter bill by
the House, Senator Logan with the aid of
Congressman Boutelle of Maine, has OBJ
tanned evidence, which it is claimed will
throw much light on the question of Porter's
guilt or innocence. This evidence all comes
from Orderly Sergeant Getchell, Adjutant
Thaddeus Little of the lst Maine cavalry and
lst Lieut.. George +. Jewett, Co. X same
regiment, who all did service at Pope's and
McDowelrs headquarters. Adjutant Little,
who resides in Boston, made a statement, of
which the following is a summary:
"Pope sent his first order on the 29th of
August to Porter at three o'clock in the
morning. At seven o'clock the same morn
ing Porter received third order from Pope
One order received by him at $50 in the
morning, was verbal one. and substan-
italy the same as contained in the famous
written order received at 80 A. NJ. as re-
ceipted for by Mcdowell and Porter The
verbal order was delivered at seven A.
NJ 1t was carried by Josiah Getchell, who
personally handed it to Porter. This order
was a vital one and had Porter sent out a
small party on his front at daylight he would
have known there was no considerable force
before him and he could have taken the po-
siton during the day, which would have en-
abled him to flank Hood, who did not join
Jackson's right wing near Haymarket Road
until 80 the same afternoon. If he had
moved as ordered at A. NJ, he could with
out opposition have advanced and taken the
most choice position on the field and which
Longstreet, "a hours later, managed to &C
cupy without the least interference. | know
Porter could have proceeded with Mcdowell
on the 1890 order by crossing Dawkins
Branch in almost a direct line north, which
would have brought him at two Z. NJ into
line at the front on the left of Mcdowell and
in such position as would have enabled him
TO flank Hood. who at 4.30 p. NJ. was directly
in McDowells front. Even after the 30 L.
NJ order on the 29th directing Porter taking
position at the left of Mcdowell. he
could have advanced with slight opposition,
as the only enemy in his front was small
detachment of Rosser's cavalry, which was
simply thrown into the woods az skirmishers.
Porter speaks of Longstreet as being on his
flank on the Goth. when Longstreet did not
come until after a. ID. on the Both, except
Hoods division, which could not have been
on Porter's front and McDowelfs flank at
the same time. During the 29th | knew by
a personal scout that there was nothing TO
speak of between Porter and Mcdowell to
impede the latters advance on the 29th. Por-
ter was wilfullv blind, and during the battle
all the scouts, skermishers and orderlies
who we're aware of what was transplring,
were satisfied and expressed opinion that
Porter had made up his mind not to aid Pope
even if portion of the army was sacrificed
The whole vital part of the case has been
lodged bv Porter by the subterfuge of mis-
placing dates. Porter's friends persist in
calling attention to the 30th instead of the
29th of August. The First Maine Cavalry
also skirmished the ground between Porter
and Mcdowell, and found only small por-
ton of Rosser's cavalry. By my personal
trip knew Longstreet had not reached the
position occupied by him on the S0th up to
midnight on the 29th, although Porter and
Pore though. he was there during the after
noon of the 2Sth Getchell impressed me by
alluding to the sulky and sullea manner with
which Porter received one of the orders,
which he said was the verbal one. The feel
ing among the orderlies, and which was
shared in by both Getchell and myself was
that Porter did not and would not pay any
regard to Popes orders. Men in the 10th
Maine infantry told me that during the bat
tie they could hear artillery and musketry,
and although eager to join in the fray. they
were not allowed to come forward. Lieut.
John d. Mvrick. who commanded NV COM
pany. and during the battle, was well aware
of all that have related. and at one time
told me that he had all the facts concerning
the dispatches delivered by Getchell, to Por-
ter (at a. M, Aug. 29) covered in sworn
statement of Getchell. whom he had called
upon with the view of getting positive and
unluestionable evidence. Ayrick is dead,
but among his effects, at Augusta Me-, may
be found the statement sllude to.
First Lieut.. Geo. +. Jewett, now engaged
in business in Boston, and who was private
during the battle, was aware of much that
trsnspired in connection Herewith, and cor
roborates many of Littles statements
Orderly Getchell was found by reporter
on his farm at East Brunswick, Me. His
service. at the second battle of Bull Run be-
inc referred TO, he assumed conservative
air and indicated that he had determined not
to talk on the subject. Learning that his
ouestioner was q newspaper man, he said he
would rather meet the devil than . reporter"
because if he should tell what he knew he