Phillipsburg herald. [volume] (Phillipsburg, Kan.) 1882-1905, 1886-02-20
SEAL. !
LOngstreet's View Of the FItz John
Porter Controversy

From the Century War Series in the
February number we quote as follows
from General I.Ongsheet's paper on the
March against Pope": General
Pope, sanguine by nature, was not care
full enough to keep himself informed
about the movements of his enemy. At
half-past four on the evening of the
29th, he issued an order for Porter to
attack JacksOn's right suppOsing 1 was
at ThOrOughfare Gap, when in fact L
had been in position since noon, and
was anxiOusly awaiting attack. 1t is
said that General Stuart, by raising a
dust in front of Porter, so impressed him
that he did not offer battle. I know
nothing of the truth of the story, and
never heard of il until after the war.
Il from any such cause Porter was pre-
vented from attacking me it was to. our
disadvantage, ana delayed our victory
twenty-fOur hours. Porter knew L was
in his front. He had captured one or
two Of my men which gave him infOr-
nation Of my position before he actual
" saw me. If Porter had not appeared
when he did would have attacked by
our right early in the afternoon. In
that event Porter would have had a
fine opportunity to take me on the
wing and strike a fearful blow. As it
was, he was check upon my move
against POpe's main position. If L had
advanced upon Pope 1 would have been
under an en6lade fire from Porter's
batteries, and if 1 had advanced upon
Porter 1 would have been under a fire
from the batteries on POpe's front as
severe as the raking fire from my bat
teries the next day, when Pope was
massed against jackson. Had Porter
attacked me between noon and night on
the 18th, L should have received his
5000 with about double that number.
l would have held my line to receive
the attack, and as soon as his line had
developed its strength, 1 would have
thrown three brigades forward beyond
his extreme left. When my line of bat
tie had broken up the attack, as 1t GER
tainly would have done, these three
brigades would have been thrOWR for
ward at the flank, and at the same time
my main line would haYe pushed on in
the pursuit. The result would have
been Porter's retreat in confusion, and
1 might have possibly reached POpe's
left and rear in time to cut him off.
When his army was well concentrated
on the 3Olh he was badly cut up and
defeated. 1t does not seem unreasOna-
BILE to conclude that attack on the 29Ch
in mis- disjointed condition would have
been attended with more disastrous re-
suits to him. If had been attacked
under the 4: 80 order the result might
have been less damaging, as Porter
would have had the night to cover his
retreat, and the Federal army could
have availed itself Of the darkness to
screen its move back across Bull Run
But Porters attack at night. if not fol-
lowed by the retreat of the army, would
have drawn me around the Federal
left, and put me in a position for
striking the next day
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