Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1886-02-17
P0PE'S ORDER TO PORTER.
Bland OBEDIENCE WOULD
HAVE BEEN SUICIDAL.

WASHINGTON, Feb, l6.-When the
morning hour expired to-day the House
went into committee Of the whole on the
Fitz-John Porter bill.
Mr.. Wheeler, OF Alabama, speaking IN
support of the measure, said that when
the last Congress adjourned 1t seemed
that the members were thoroughly in
formed regarding The eventfil campaign
Of August, 1862 Not they alone, but the
reading public had become very familiar
with these historical events. Since
that time much official correspondence
orders, reports, etc, relating TO the cam
paign had been published by thegovern-
ment and every new fact developed added
strength 10 the now almost universal con-
ciusi0n that the sentence OF the court mar
tlal by whicn Mai.den. ktt2 j ohm Porter
was dismissed trOu the army was one OF
those atrocities which at long Intervals
disgrace the records OF even the most hon.
oral BILE and chiyalric nations.
PoRTIER's CAMPAIGNS.
He then proceeded to give detailed
history Of the military operations In Nir-
GINA during the summer of 1862, and re-
ferring to the battles OF Meehanicsyille,
Chickahominy, Savage Station, Peach
Orchard and Malvern Hill, described
Gen. Porter as the principal actor
in most OF these engagements, and
declared that by his skill and intIepidity
Gen. Porter had won more distinction
than any other officer OF the Potomac. He
quoted from the order OF Gen. Pope of
Aug, 20 directing Gen. Porter to push
forward into action at once on the enemy's
flank. This, be said, would be recognized
as the famous "a $50 order" the alleged
noncompliance with which had for
twenty-iour years been relied upon by
the supporters OF Gen. Pope as the grand
central fact which supported and verified
&ll The reckless charges against the honor
and patriotism Of Gen. Porter, and to
which they now appealed to prevent the
tardy justice to u gallant soldier which is
contemplated by this bill.
GEN. PoPE's MIsAPpREHENsIoN.
AS this alleged failure to comply with
! this order constituted the very core, soul
| and life of all the charges against Gen.
! Porter 1T was evident that bis complete
! vindIcation must follow the establish
ment OF the fact that such compliance
| was simply impossible, and that 1t was
| issued by Gen. Pope in ignorance Of the
actual situation IL which his army was
| placed. ANY commanding officer must
| have realized at once that the order just
total misapprehension of the actual state
| of affairs upon the Federal left. Gen,
| Pope said distinctly that Gen. Porter s
| line OF march would bring him "on the
enemy's right flank" but Gen. Porter
knew that he was already opposed to the
| superior force immediately In his front.
GEN. LEES ARMY.
The order and Gen. Pope's evidence al
the trial already quoted. shows it to have
| been issued in a belief that Gen. Jackson
/ had received no reinforcements whatever.
| Gen. Porter knew that Gen. Lees whole
army was united, aud that while the CON-
manding General at 1880 O'Clock in the
/ afternoon fancied himself TO be opposed
| only by an isolated fraction Of the Con-
| federate forces, he was In fact at the date
/ of the order, aud had been since Il
/ o'clock, opposed by Gen. Lees entire
army, most advantageously posted in a
formidable position. The order directed
Gen. Porter to fall back to his right and
rear IN case rettogfade movement be-
/ came necessary. Gen. Porter knew
/ that to attempt an attack on the
enemy's right flank could have no
other result than to cut him of from the
| possibility OF retiring by bis right and
rear, as it would inevitably interpose a
/ greatly superior force of the enemy be.
| tween himself and the line OF retreat he
was directed to pursue.
PoRTER's DUTY.
The duty of a corps commander was
/ the same as the duty OF an army com.
mander, and the duty OF each was TO bis
country aud to his men. And as his
| men constituted the instrument which
| alone enabled him 10 discharge bis duty
| 10 his country. it was obvious that be had
no right TO decline the responsibility OF
exercising his discretion when forced to
! choose whether he would sacri,
flce success and ieopardiZe his
country or fail to comply literally
with an order evidently issued In
ignorance or misapprehension OF his stu.
alton. Gen. Porter knew from actual con.
tact with the foe, that every presumption
of his commander was erroneous, and be
was fully justified in using discretion in.
separabIe from bis position to preserve
his command aG the only means OF avert
/ ing the irreparAble catastrophe which he
| saw was probably impending as a result
! of his commanding Generals erroneous
impressions.
CHANGED OPINIONS.
! Mr.. Wheeler then ran over briefly the
! constitution and the findings OF the court
/ martial and board OF review, and spoke
/ ia terms of the warmest cOmmendatiOn
/ Of the action of Presidents Lincoln and
| Grant and Gems. Schoheld, Terry and
4 Getty, who, having examined the case in.
/ tsllectuslly, had been convinced VI their
I error and had Immediately sought 20 do
/ Gen. Porter justice. He made copious
quotations from the correspondence OF
| Gen. Grant on the subject. ending with
! the letter OF July 4, 1894, when, after hay-
/ ing been financially ruined, apparently
4 fOrgetful OF his own troubles, be eX-
1 pressed his regret that President Arthur
| had vetoed the FitZ John Porter bill and
| his belief that Gen. Porter had been dis
missed unjustly and was entitled 10 restO-
ration.
PRESIDENT ARrHUR's OBJECTIONS.
Mr. Wheeler then reviewed the grounds
/ taken By President Arthur in his veto mes.
Il sage. and declared that the objections oi
/ the President had been satisfactorily dis
posed OF TO the minds OF all unprejudlced
i people by Gen. Grant, who had charae.
| terized the veto message as the '.merest
! sophistry.n He Mr.. w heeler Il not Wish
/ to be understood as impugning or In any
way assailing the integrity and fairness
OF courts martial. On the contrary
he maintained, and was prepared to de-
fend and uphold, the proposition that a. q
/ rule tbe courts of our army have been dis
tingulshed for their anxiety 20 arrive ~ q
thorough and accurate knowledge Of The
facts which were 10 influence or govern
their deliberations, and for equal, exact
and impartial justice OF their decisions.
NOT ALWAYS RIGHT.
And yet partial "a he was BY education
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