The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1890-05-29

stricken Picketts charge at Gettysburg was
made with about 200 men, and was soon over.
Lees loss in killed and wounded at Malvern
Hill was not far from rs great as Pickett's en-
tire force greater than this force sustained in
the entire Gettysburg campaign; greater than
either army sustained on any one day at Gettys-
burg; than the Union army on either day at
Chickamauga; than the Union loss on both
days at Shiloh. Ii was as great mistake on
Lees part as Grants at Cold Harbor, and at
tended with much greatGr slaughter to the
Conlederates Immediately on returning from
the front about 8 o'clock at night, Porter COM
municated with Mcclellan, expressing tho hope
that the retreat had ended, and advising early
aggressive action There was an abundance of
both bravo men and ammunition. Whether
Mcclellan received this communication or not
before giving his orders, ho had heard of Por-
terB victory but all he seems to have been
capable of doing was to instruct his Generals
to run their mon for all they were worth that
their only salvation was in Ito use his own
Words celebrity of movement; 10 sacrifice"
their trains and spike their guns, if necessary;
stimulate the men TO foTtitude and renewed
courage (in) celebrity of movement. by knowl-
edge of he fact that at IarrsOn's Bar (wcrc) nd-
ditional gunboats, comfortable position, aud con-
siderable rcinforcemonts, under Gen. Shields"
(kimball in Gact,) from the Shenandoah. And
writing to Washington that he had fought
every man in his army until thoy could not fight
any longer, Cater stating that they were
"blecding ut every pore, and requesting
Inducements "rather over than under 100000
men," and actually under serious apprehen-
sions of the capture and destruction of his
| army.
Lees loss in killed and wounded in the seven
days was over 10000, more than four-ffths Of
whom probably fell in front of Fitz.John Porter
Mcclellan admits loss in his ilght, inclusive
of prisoners of over $4,000, and we are told that
1. .xch I,.s
to be believed in stating the capture of 10000
his loss cqualcd Lees. Considering the fact
that Mcclellan greatly Outuumbered Lee, his
wild destruction of Union propcrty-with the
abandonment to Leo of over 10000 new rifles
many cannon, and much other material-has
never been paralocd. Neither is il surprising
that he has often been called either coward or
traitor, or that Lee aud tho South had n great
regard for him. There is every reason for
believing that had Porter been in command of
the whole army at Malvern Hill the Confcd-
oracy would have found its last ditch soon
after; and months before, had he been in COM
maud instead of three years later.
IL ought Ia be n source Of general and deep
rejoicing that so great, true and brave Il soldier
has been triumphantly relieved from charge
so seriously affecting his honor as n soldier and
citizen; and | have TO confess that for many
years | shared in the general belief of its
justice. Anyone who reads the evidence, or
even the finding of the last court composed of
officers opposed to him in politics, and who
had believed in his guilt, or Gen. Grants lucid
and unassalable vindcatiOn of him. cannot
believe there was so much even ms speck of
wrOngdong on his part In the second Bull
Run campaign; rather that his conduct there
was in the highest degree creditable, whether
to unusual ability, energy, courage or loyalty,
and corresponding with his conduct Mt Malvern
| Hill and every other field on which no was
present.
His action in departing from his orders laid
down by Mcclellan, and on his own RESPONSE
| biity hurrying from the Peninsula to Gen.
Pope's side. should alone have precluded any
suspicion of disloyalty to that officer. Indeed,
ii he had Jagged behind with Mcclellan il is
not improbable that he might later have been
called 10 the command of the army, his zeal
and loyalty to the Union alone bringing his
trouble upon him. No ono under Pope fought
moro stubbornly or suffered so heavily in
battle and the covering OF Popes retreat by
him was both bold aud mastery. In the hurry
aud sccthing excitement Of the times, with
the tumutuous resentment Of the people over
McCielaus disastrous and shameful flight,
with Popo's discomi ture and McClellans cupa
bio failure to support him, victim seems to
have been thought necessity, and the wrong
man was selected. The proceedings of the first
court were not unlike those under the admin
istration OF Judge Lynch. under which many
an innocent man has lost his life With the
possible exception OF Hancock aud Custer, it is
doubtful whether another officer not having
separate C0mmand-and very few having it.
can point 10 deeds AS valuable TO his country as
FitZ,I John PoTtcr.--Gfo. w. CARPENTER Co.
r. 5th MIMI, Fargo n ID.