1862 [Washington, D. C.?]

[the following unsigned draft memorandum is in the hand of Fitz John Porter was written some time after Pope blamed him for the defeat at 2nd Bull Run. Reference to his court-marital in the last paragraph may give it a tentative date of November or December 1862]

                                                 explanation of
                            a few words in relation to these
dispatches, which seem to have highly incensed
                                                                      They
Genl Pope, may suffice for the present These dispatches
were confidential (though partly official,) com-
                                                            tenure
munications to Genl Burnside whose safety near
Aquia Creek was dependant depended on correct
information of ours and of the enemys movements.
                                                      they
They were  Mmade at his request and became official
by the earnest call of the President for information
from the army--communication with which had
been cut off, except by the channel I had, at great
trouble and in anticipation of disaster, established
                                                                           earnestly
and maintained till broken by Genl. Popes orders of Aug 29, ^calling me
to Centreville, and taking me rapidly towards Alexandria
They were not designed for General McClellan as
                                                                    of
asserted by Genl Pope, for Gen McClellan ^  whose position
and relations to the army I knew nothing.  In the
haste of dispatch they were carelessly expressed.
               Each dispatch covered a copy of one of Genl
                                                                            impression
Popes orders, and was designed to convey a correct picture
                        the effect of false reports   
of affairs, and undo destr[o]y erroneous impressions those by
       whatever source created
orders and rumors would create   Should I be blamed

if they show--as is now apparent, and was that I was
                  than Genl Pope was, or is willing to admit
better acquainted  ^ with the position and movements
of the contending forces, and the wants of the

[page 2]
army and foresaw the inevitable results of that
ill conceived & unfortunately executed campaign
and tried to provide against its disaster.
Would I not have been justly held culpable
                                             failed
had I failed, knowing the truth ^ to have
expressed it, even without the call of the
President through Genl Burnside and
              as I did
pointed out ^ the mode of  guarding against
the ultimate result of that campaign.
                      pointed out the inevitable result
     Because I did this, Genl Pope, claims
I desired the and worked for it.
    I have but to add that the President
in person thanked me in person for the information--

[in left hand margin of page 1]
         manifested
If the expressed confidence in our then
    and a distrust of General Popes ability to conduct the campaign (as asserted by the prosecution)
best General ^ they but expressed in this as
on other points the opinion pervading opinion pervading
of our Eastern Armies.

MSS 42