The National tribune., 1904-03-17

Pope sent at 4:3O, did not reach Porter till
about dusk. He then made dispositions
for attack, but it was too late. 1t is,
however, more than doubtful that, even
had the order been received in time, any
thing but repulse would have resulted from
its execution. Porter was reduced to the
necessity Of making a direct attack in
front; for there was no opportu-
nifty Of making a turning move
ment, seeing that, contrary to POpe's
opinion, he had then, and had had since
noon, Longstreet's entire corps before
him.(2O So as firing now died away in the
darkling woods on the right, a pause was
put for the day to the chaos and confusion
.. ''The enemy prepared for last and
determined attempt Their serried masses,
overwhelming superiority of numbers lab
surd exaggeration common to both sides),
and bold bearing Git was Kearny), made
the chance Of victory to tremble in the bal
ance; my own division, exhausted by
seven hours unremitted fighting, had
hardly one round per man remaining and
was weakened in all things save its uncon-
Querable spirit. Report of Gen. A. p.
Hill: Reports of the Army Of Northern
Virginia, VOL III, 2. 125.
Pope, p. 70.
26a. The Confederate reenforcements Of
| which Kearny speaks consisted of the
brigades of Early and Lawton (See Re-
| port of Gen. A. p. Hill: Reports of the
Army of Northern Virginia, vol. ii, p. 125,
Gen. Early says, in his report: MY bri-
| gade and the 9Th La. advanced upon the
enemy through q field, and drove him from
| the woods and out of the railroad -cut,
| crossing the latter and following in pursuit
| several hundred yards ond."-Ibid., D.
1874. :
q. As the view above taken of the &C.
| ton Of that part of the Second Bull
Run, fought on the Goth Of August, diff
| fers in some important particulars from
| previous accounts, and especially from the
substantiate by Confederate official rec
ords the truth Of such points of difference
as are Of moment. The question foremost
| in interest has relation to the time at
which Longstreet's Corps Joined Jackson.
| Gen. Pope repeatedly states that this did
not take place till ''about sunset (see
Popes Official Report, p. 21); and it il
on this ground that he and the court-mar r
tial that tried Gen. Porter based their con:
demnation Of that officer for not turning
Jackson's right. Says Pope: Il believe
in fact, l am positive-that at O'clock in
the afternoon Of the 10Th, Gen. Porter had
in his front no considerable body of the
enemy: believed then. as am very SURE
now, that it was easily practicable fol
him to have turned the right flank Of Jack
son, and to have fallen upon his rear; thai
il he had done so, We should have gained
a decisive victory over the army under
Jackson before he could have been Joined
by any Of the forces of Longstreet'
Pope's Report, p. 22) Now this asser
tion is traversed by the positive evidence
Of the Official reports Of several Of the Gen
erals under LOngstreet's command, wht
show conclusively that Longstreet Joined
jackson as early as noon. Says Long
street himself: Early on the 29th thu
columns united, and the advance, to joir
Gen. Jackson, was resumed. The noise o
battle was heard before we reached
Gainesville. The march was quickened tt
the extent Of our capacity. The excite
ment of battle seemed to give new life AMI
strength to our jaded men, and the heat
Of my column soon reached position il
rear Of the enemy's left flank" Report
Of the Army of Northern Virginia. vol. Ii
p. 81 See also Hood. Qbid., p. 209l Blu
Gen. ID. r. Jones, who commanded th
rear division of Longstreets Corps is still
more explicit. Early on the morning o
the Goth took up the march in the direc
. tion Of the old battle-ground Of Manassas
whence heavy firing was heard. Arriving
!, on the ground about noon, my command
was stationed on the extreme right of ou
! line," etc. Qbid., p. 217.) This would ap
pear to settle the time Of arrival Of Long
; Porter came mp from Manassas, Long
} street had taken up such q position as &
J bar his advance towards Gainesville. o.
this head ] ongstreet's own testimony viii
suffice, and It is as complete as could b
desired. After giving his dispositions 70
his connection with Jackson's right, b
states that Hoods Division was deploye,
on the right and left Of the Warrentol
turnpike, at right angles with It. Ger
s