The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1892-08-04

" How different it would have been had they
(Fitz John Porters Diyision) been double
quicked to the assistance of our left" etc. As
| wrote you previously, when Gen. Mcdowell
came from the left UP the New Market road he
exclaimed: p" Fall in. Fall in, boys; we've got
them now! Gen. Porter's in our rear with
$4,000 men," We did not understand him ex-
actly, surprising him tosay that Gen. Porter's
in their rear" etc. This seemed to us possible,
as the relative positions had been such that we
were. on the 2sth, between Longstreet and
Jackson, and Porter had been the 29th
where he could have marched over the ground
where the identical three lines came against
McDowei's flank on the 30th. And this brings
mo to what | started to say, that have read
just where / cannot say, but think that 1T
was in the trial of Porter, or else In the report
of the Committee on the Conduct of the War
that Mcdowell rode to Porter on the hill, and
i'll the presence Of his own and Porters stan
called on Porter to bring on his men, and to
this Porter replied that he would only receive
the order In writing or through stab oibcer;
whereupon Mcdowell, turning to one OF hls
staff, said, Repeat that order to Gen. Porter"
This was done, but the help did not COME to US.
l have often wondered if it was at this time
when Mcdowell. feeling that he would not
have the support of Porter, reckless OF conse.
quences, knowing that second defeat on the
same field meant disgrace to him, had plunged
into the hell we were facing. counting the death
which seemed certain to all of us.
l may be mistaken as to what read Zone is
so easily mistaken, l find, even when striving
to be right about Porters action toward Nc
Dowel but it was strongly impressed upon my
mind, because the only good reason for re-
curing an order of the kind to come through
a staff officer or in writing is to secure evil
dence, / suppose, that such order was given.
In this case it was so publicly given that mem
bers of the staff of each heard it, and Mellow
ell did not even repeat it. If am mistaken l
will thank you to set me right from the records.
/ want justice done to the memory of Mellow
ell, against wi HON shared the same ill-founded
prejudice and unknd feelings which so many
of us cherished for so long, and ii l am doing
Porter a like injustice ] want to be set right.
1t is but fair to say that have seen nothing IN
all that has been said about his being the VIC
tim of spite, the scapegoat, etc, or IN favor OF
his restoration to the Retired List, which has
had, to my mind. the least tendency toward re-
moving the prejudice which engendered
against him, and which, succincty stated, con-
firmed my belief that he would, at that par
ticuar time, have preferred the defeat we sus-
tanned to a victory under any other General
than George b. Mcclellan. Therefore having,
as / said, cherished such sentiments for SO long,
it is but just, if they are wrong, to have them
set right while we are in the way of it; and so
l again say that, if you can, l will thank you
to do so from the records.
If I may indulge for a moment in personal
reference, l will say that / have always felt
proud that / could truthfully say that l be-
lieved myself the las: of my regiment to leave
the front of the three rebel lines which smashed
McDowell's flank. All of the little squad who
were with me at the edge of the wood are dead.
One died in prison, another on the field, and
others, STILL in the hospital; but all are gone:
As / went up the little slope and over the NIL
toward the stone house (ior my line of retreat
was along the rear Of our line of battle, or
what had been our line Of battle) the rebel
line was almost upon me. 1t would be too long
story to relate it all, but it is as clear to my
minds eye now as it was to my sight then,
when, not II years old, with no one anywhere
near me. except the rebs, who were firing at
me, stopped on the top of the hill and fired
back into the advancing line, and saw the dust
raised by the bullet had intended for the rebel
Color.S ergeant.-S d. WEBSTER, Co. d. 18th
Mass, Terminal Railroad Association, st. Louis,
Mo.