The National tribune., 1893-06-01
FITZ-JOHN PORTER.
Some Convincing Arguments offered in I'll
Behalf.

benau.
RTO doubt Comrade 81. NJ. Jones' 18th
mi Mass wrote in all csDdor and
LIN honesty and yet about every word is
untrue, though he says truthfully,
that Porter was as brave and the ablest corps
commander who ever served in the Army oil
the Potomac"
All the rebel Generals admit that Jackson
was miserable failure at Gainess Mill. Lee
commanded. and Longstreet and the Hills dld
substantially all the fighting.
Porter was not ordered to move the night OF
Aug 90 but the 9th, and moved with all pos
sible expedition. He was not expected to pre-
vent Longstreet passing Thoroughfare Gap on
the Goth. In fact Longstreet was through by
daylight, and before noon of that day had
% 600 men confronting Porter's 5000.
Popes troops did comparatively no fighting
on the 29th. The fighting was on the 3Gth,
and Porter did the most of it. Mcdowell was
with Porter but short time and deserted him,
taking away from him whole division. and
then lied about him to save himself; aud there
can be no doubt that he was almost solely re-
sponsible for Popes lack of success and reverses.
There is evidence of any sort that Porter
had any regard for Mcclellan more than per-
sonal friend and loyal subordinate might prop
erly have.
Few would care to say that Grant was not as
honorable, manly truthful, magnanimous, fear
less and clear headed as any man OF whom has
tory has a record. Though for many years
holding unfavorabe opinion OF Porter. we
know that on investigation, he not only ac-
quilted him of every vestige of wrong-doing,
but gave him unsparing praise.
Certainly Gems. Schoheld, Terry and Getty
must be counted as honorable men and in every
way competent to pass upon the facts. and
entered upon the investigation with an admit
ted prejudice against him, and reluctantly.
Here are couple of extracts from their finding,
after months of most searching investigation:
IL is not possible that any court-martal could
have condemned Porter's conduct il IL had been
correctly understood. On the contrary. that con-
duet obedient. subordinate, faithful. and judi
c!ous. II saved the Union army from disaster on
the 29th of August.
As to the 30th. and after the men of the Fifth
Corps had done all that men could do against
Jackson, with murderous entilading IRE from
Longstreets batteries through McDowelPs
wrong medicines:
As Lungstreet's army pressed forward TO strike
Pope's exposed left wing and flank, Warren. with
his little brigade, sprang into the gap and breasted
the storm until but handful OF his brave men
were left alive. Then Sykes. with his disciplined
brjgades, and Reynolds. with his gallant Pennsyi-
vania Reserves. seized the commanding ground in
rear and like IA rock withstood the advance of the
victorious enemy and saved the Union army from
rout. Thus did this gallant corps nobiy and amply
viudicate the character of their trusted chief aud
demonstrate 10 all the world that "disobedence of
orders" and misbehavior in the presence OF the
enemy" crimes which could not possibly find
place in the head or heart of him who thus COM
manded that corps.
And what possible motive could Grant, Scho-
field, Terry, and Getty have had in the matter
other than desire to see justice done and an
unspeakable wrong to great and gallant SOL
der righted?
II may be said, too. that so keenly did Gen.
Terry feel the injustice that he had done to
Porter that he offered to resign in order that
Porter might have his commission in the Regu-
lar Army.-VoLUNTEER