The Jackson standard. [volume] (Jackson C.H., Ohio) 1847-1888, 1886-08-05
Gen. Logan's Speech.
LCONTINTED. [

ment OF the Senator from New jersey
Yesterday in reference to the character
of Fitz-John Porter prior to this
charge. | have never assalled the
character of Fitz-John Porter prior to
his conduct in the presence OF the
enemy. have never said aught against
his conduct prior to that time. The
Senator said he was a graduate OF
West Point. That is true. So was
Robert E. Lee; so was General john
ston, and so was Jefferson DAVIS. The
Senator said he was brave soldier IN
the Mexican war. So was Robert Il.
Lee: so was Jefferson Davis. The
Senator said that up to that time be
never had been accused of anything.
Up to the time that Jefferson Davis
and Mr.. Lee undertook to break up
this Government they never had been
accused of treason.
So it is not what the man did before,
but it is what he did then. What did
he do or what did he fail to do? FitZ-
John Porter conspired with other Of
ficers to what effect? That no officer
should command the armies Of the
East unless satisfactory to him and
his allies. The Senator from New
Jersey smiles, but the evidence shows
it too plainly to be disbelieved. When
Mcdowell commanded at the first bat
tie of Bull Run and this country, mis-
understanding the facts, said he had
lost that battle, will the Senator be-
lieve me when | tell him that Fitz-
John Porter was the cause OF the dis
aster of the first battle Of Bull Run? ?
[ state that in my judgment it is a
fact.
[ say that Fitz-J ohm Porter and two
or three other men whom it is not
necessary to mention were determined
that no man should command the
Eastern army not satisfactory to them.
Your Eastern army was successful
under Grant, but when Grant took
command Of it Fitz-John Porter and
his allies were no longer in that army
to conspire against their commander.
Had these men then been in command
of their corps and armies, then Grant
never would have succeeded. Thanks
to Lincoln and Stanton for having dis
covered their designs and relieved
them from further retarding the sue
| cess or the Union arms.
Sometimes people forget history.
Let me state the facts sworn to. Jo-
seph E. Johnston was in command Of
nine thousand men on the 10Th day of
July, 1861, and 8 miles from him to
his front was General Patterson with
twenty-five thousand men. General
Patterson was directed by positive
order from General Scott to attack
Johnston, or If he could not attack
him to hold him there so that he could
not re-enforce Beauregard in front of
Mcdowell at Manassas. That order
was sent. General Sanborn had been
sent from Washington city to urge
him forward to attack. He went to
him and was put in CONS. and of eight
thousand Of General P Pattersons s troops
General Patterson was preparing to
attack Johnston, only 9 miles to his
front. While he was making that
preparation this general was ordered
to the advance. He cut road, and
sent part of his men down very close
to Johnston camp.
General Patterson directed the order
to be issued to attack Johnston. This
general was notified, and he was to be
ready to attack the next morning, but
when the order was directed to be is
sued it was not issued. Why? Fitz-
John Porter was the adintant- general
| of General Patterson, and FitZ-J ohm
Porter protested that Johnston had
been REINFORCED by twenty thousand
men and it was dangerous to attack.
Patterson said no he was determined
to attack. He porter then insisted
on Patterson sending for some of the
other officers to consult, Colonel Aber-
crombie and Colonel Thomas. Finally
he consented. They came to his camp
and under the influence Of Fitz-J ohm
Porter they caused Patterson to change
the order, and, sir, instead Of attack
ing the next morning the order was
issued for retreat, and he retreated
20 miles to Charlestown, with these
men to bring up the rear, Stuart's
cavalry covering Johnston's move
ment to Manassas. Johnston passed
over the river in the night, and on the
10Th of that month Joe Johnston
landed at Manassas and took command
of the confederate army at the battle
of Bull Run with every man he had
there save a few sick, and Patterson
was kept 20 miles away from his camp
under the influence of this man Fitz-
John Porter.
Yet you talk about his being a great
general, a brave man and patriotic.
That was his patriotism in 1861. Why
did he do this? Mcdowell and Pope
never could win battle and never did
in the East where Porter and his
friends were. They were never sup
ported. The majority of the people
OF this country believe that Beaure-
gard had command at Manassas, and
that Joe Johnston got there on the
evening Of the battle; that he came in
there with three or four thousand men
on the evening Of the battle and at
tackled Mcdowell on the flank. That
is the general impression, but that is
not true. AS | said, Johnston was
there on the 10Th and took command
of the army; that his whole force ar
rived there Oh the goth except one
brigade, and that brigade arrived on
the day Of the battle; and his whole
force was there in that battle, and it
was Johnston's force that Mcdowell
fought the major part Of the day in
stead Of Beauregard, and under the
influence Of this man, Patterson was
led away and made to retreat, so that
Johnston could be unembarrassed in
his march to Manassas or Bull Run.
ask the Secretary to read what I
send to the desk, taken from the sworn
testimony on the conduct Of the war.
The PRESIDING OFFICER (Mr.
PLATT in the chair The Secretary
will read the extract desired.
(Here follow several pages of testi-
mony.)
Mr.. LOGAN. That statemnnt is