The National tribune., 1892-09-08

The Ignorance of These Elem VINO f>he"
Not the Man.
EDITOR NATIONAL TRIBUNE:
esrssNTRIGUE and treachery of Mcdowell
6Y49 arc the expressions used against him by
tSE@ /, Il. Lackey, 10th Mich, Third Bril-
GAS gade. First Division. Fifth Corps, in his
$50 communication on Second Bull Run,
nublished in the issue of August1l. / had come
TO the conclusion some time ago that further
attacks on the character oil that brave aud
patriotic Christian soldier would cease, and
that comrades would find other subjects to
write about other than delaming tie memory
and character of this gallant and patriotic man !;
for such he proved himself TO be, even If on
no other field than that of the First Bull Kan.
/ have not The NATIONAL TRIBUNE of May
10. which contained the communication OF
Serg't Thomas, but think he is somewhat ms
taken when he puts the strength OF the flith
Corps at 80. 600 at Second Bail Run. The corps
at that time did not average more than 1o,oou
men of all arms; 10000 at most.
However let that be is it may, wish to ask
Comrade Lackey why il is that ne did not take
up the march of the Fifth Corps in all its de-
tails from Aqua Creek TO Rappahannock
Station a distance of only is miles? Instead,
he iumps the corps from Aqua into the battle
field of Bull Run, as if that battle must come
of the next day. Comrade Lackey forgets the
fact that The rebel army WAS pushing from the
southwest 20 the northeast along the Orange
& Alexandria Railroad, in order TO get IN
Pope's rear before Porter could close the gate
at Rappahannock, which he should have done
were he not treacherous TO Pope, of which
there WAS ample proof in his conduct and actions
at the battle of Grovetou on August %
Here is where Comrade Lackey should dwell,
before CARRYING the Fifth Corps into Bull Run
second. and tell us something of Porter. and
the aid he gave the patriotic and well-meanlng
Gen. pope on the 29th day Of August, 1862.
Porter-iet US bear in mind that this was Fitz
John-fr0m the time that he left Aqua Creek
with The Fifth Corps manuvered along the road,
distance of only As miles, for four days before
he reached Rappahannock Station, on the pre-
tense of having the enemy in force on his left
flank to the south. This was done in order to
retard the corps from giving any aid to Pope,
If possible. Then, when Porter did arrive
with his troops at Rappahannock Station, he
could not move northeast fIom there toward
Bristow and Bull Run to the aid Of Pope,
simply because he did net want TO, as he was
senior in rank notw outstanding that Pope had
been placed in command of the army by the
direct orders of the President. Consequently,
rank or no rank, and as a good soldier, and
having the love OF country at heart, Porter
ought to be prompt TO join Pope and obey his
every order. But he did neither one nor the
other.
When Porter with his corps. on the morning
with Pope and Mcdowell at Manassas June
ton, and there received orders from Pope to
accompany Mcdowell the road toward
Thor0ughfare Gap, but before reaching that
point Mcdowell was 10 break off to the right
while Porter would continue on his way to
the Gap and with all his force prevent Long
street from passing northward TO join Lee,
or If he did succeed in passing, Porter should
fall upon his rear and crush him, did Por-
ter do either one or the other? No; no
sat astride of his horse in that very gap and
watched Iongstreet through his heid-glass
passing north 10 reinforce Lee the field of
Groveion. and between them crush Pope by
force OF numbers. Porter in the meantime
gave orders to his several commanders to move
back quarter of mile stack arms, and rest;
which the troops did, and during that after
noon picked peaches aud apples from a neigh
boring orchard All this from about half-past
two o'clock until dark, the battle still raging
in the meantime at Groyeton.
Now, then, Mr.. Lackey. tell US OF Gen. Fitz
John PoTier's loyalty that occasion, if you
can. And, furthermore, well remember what
poor showing some of the Fifth Corps made
70 help Pope Oh the following day, Aug. 80. at
Second Ball Run. But, on the whole, suffice it
30 say that Porter proved himself in the cam
paign Of P5pe 10 be very treacherous or jeal-
Gus suboIa mate, and, j verify believe, received
his just deserts at the hands of the court-mar-
hal that followed. Furthermore, / believe it
was wrong 10 restore him to the Army and
place him on the Retired List.
The history of that campaign shows that
5eD. Mcdowell did all that he could do to
Iyeft disaster in one field as well as on the
bther.
IN MS much muddled communication Com
rsde Lsckey trusts that in % years more Nc
clellans conduct of the Peninsular campaign
may be yindicated, at the end of which time,
II is to be presumed, the humiliating actions Of
Halieck and the treachery and intrigue Of
Mcdowell, as he puts il, will be proved to the
satisfaction Of Comrade Lackey. The gallant
Warren needed no vindicatiOn at the hands of
The CanBoBeeT. The conduct of Sheridan in
relieving Warren OF his command was mere
jealousy and spite. Warren, after being re-
ieyed, asked for q court OF inquiry. court
martial, bat failed ia obtaining either, Shcri-
Han having no charges TO bring forward against
the gallant Coionel of the invincible 5th \. Y
and Major General Of United States Volunteers
Ia command OF the Fifth Corps, which Phil
saw Ct 10 deprive him OF at the opening Of tue
battle at Five Forks without investigation.
Warren WAS equally as good and dashing SOL
der Was Little Phi, but the latter had a
"puil."
Now, Comrade Lackey we will try right
here 20 yindicate Little Mac. When Fitz John
Porter with the Fifth Corps opposed the great
bulk Of Lees army at Gsines's Mill June q
1862, did Mcclellan aid him from the south
blde Oh the Inickahomluy TiLh any part OF the
$1,000 Een he commanded Ola that bank of the
stream 4? Not seeing his way clear TO reinforce
Porter, and knowing he did that Lee was
sending heavy reinfo:cements to Jackson
thereby endargering the deicases Of Richmond,
why, then, did not McClellsn. with his 600
men, move up and attack Richmond, only four
miles away, capture il. aud thea with two
thirds Of has remaining force wheel to the right
and fall upon Lee and Jacksoms rear at Me-
ehanicsviiie, which would compel them 10
change 'front.', by which means Porter would
then be able TO follow the new rear of the rebel
army, and between himself and Little Mac
crush Lee right then and there?
Grant would have done it, Instead. Nc
Clellan Kept 60,o00 men Idle all day long ex-
cepting at about sundoWn. or a little before,
when he sent over the brieades of French,
Neagber. and Sloeum TO the aid OF Porter 10
cover hs retreat.
Ia this engagement Porter showed himself
70 be good General and brave soldier. But.
oh! for Grant al the head OF the Army Of the
Potomac Ola that 9th OF June. Certainly the
Army Of the Potomac proved itself on many
hard-iought field 10 be not inferior in fighting
qualities 10 any other army in the field Fed
eral or rebel, but up TO the time that Meade
took hold OF il it was without dogb; badly
handled Ninety thousand OF as good men as
ever took up arms went into the Peninsula
under command of Mcclellan aud very moor