MAJOR GENERAL FITZ JOHN PORTER - AUTOGRAPH LETTER SIGNED 01/22/1870 - HFSID 72768
Price: $3,000.00
FITZ JOHN PORTER
Court-martialed after Second Bull Run, the Union officer defends his actions to Robert
E. Lee's biographer and tells of his long friendship with the Confederate General.
Important ALS: "F.J. Porter", 3¼ p, New York, 1870 January 22. To General Robert E.
Lee's former Aide-de-Camp, Colonel Charles Marshall, who at the time was in the midst
of writing an autobiography of his experiences with the General: An Aide-De-Camp of Lee,
Being The Papers of Colonel Charles Marshall. Marshall corresponded with many of
Lee's subordinates in an effort to collect their correspondences with Lee for reference
and publication in the book. Porter had known Lee since his boyhood and was "close to
him" in the Mexican War and "at West Point, where for a time I [Porter] was his
adjt". General Lee died just nine months after this letter. Porter writes, in full: "I have
yours- and thank you. The opinions quoted in my 'data' are all from original letters - I had
Genl Lee's written permission to use his letters, whenever I deemed it necessary - I
withheld on account of delicacy to him, and to prevent his name, during life, being
banded about by Radical hounds. I have put the matter generally as if the letters were not
to me - hence the reason I am generally spoken of in the 3rd person. Wilcox told me that
Anderson got up close enough to have reinforced Jackson on the 29th and bolted into
Hoods (sic) position at night. Beverly Robertson now here says the same - also others -
all confirming Genl Lee. I try to be accurate and will be if possible. The quarrel now is
entirely between McDowell and me- I don't care for Pope except to hit McD- who has
been hard at work in Washington & arrested Grant's favorable action last spring. Genl
McD - gave me full information of your army - and of the policy to be pursued at 2d Bull
Run - He really commanded & Pope only went outside of his views when he could not
consult. My course at Bull Run was dictated by McD (sic) advice - He denied it and I had
no proof- our interviews being unattended. He had to persecute me- to secure himself
against the denunciations attendant upon his leaving me and going to Groveton via
Sudley Sp. road. His course was wrong, if I was to fight or advance and I denounced him
as giving false testimony. My 'data' & sketches when completed will be sent to you. In
your biography of Genl Lee I may be able to give you some few thoughts or rather data
to illustrate characteristics of which you will comment. I knew him in my boy-hood in
Alexandria- was close to him in Mexico- and at West Point, where for a time I was his
adjt-but should you come this way I will talk with you - and when you get to writing of
Bull Run. I give you some data on our side." Court-martialed in 1863 for disobedience
during the Second Battle of Bull Run (Manassas), FITZ JOHN PORTER again was
trying to clear his name and military record. Having served under General GEORGE
McCLELLAN in the Peninsular campaign, Brigadier General Porter and other Corps officers
were then assigned to General JOHN POPE and his Army of Virginia. Most of McClellan's
officers did not like Pope and being assigned under him made matters more difficult. Porter had
unfortunately made comments about Pope prior to his assignment. He did, however, attempt
to follow Pope's orders, but trouble soon arose. At the second confrontation with the
Confederates at Bull Run (August 29-30, 1862), this time against Lee, Pope ordered
advancement of the corps of Porter and General IRWIN McDOWELL, thelosing
commander of the First Manassas. However, McDowell had separated from Porter and
moved up the Sudley Spring Road, leaving Porter to engage in defensive battle with
Confederate General James Longstreet and unable to advance. The next day opportunity
arose to comply with the order to advance and attack, and he did so. Porter's control of his
corps prevented a complete rout of the Union army and further advancement toward
Washington by the Rebels. Three months later, Porter was again serving with McClellan
when he was arrested in Maryland, taken to Washington and held for court-martial.
McDowell had been relieved of duty for his ineffective role and became vindictive toward
Porter. Pope had issued charges of disloyalty, misconduct and disobedience by means of failure
to advance and attack, according to War Articles 9 and 52. Because of his earlier
comments, erroneous testimony by McDowell and the political prejudices of Radical
Republican Party members, who were against Lee and all things Confederate (which
they believed Porter abetted), Porter was found guilty of the charges in January 1863,
court-martialed and cashiered. The year before this letter, the Khedive of Egypt offered
Porter the position of Major General of Egyptian forces; Porter declined in order to continue his
pursuit of vindication. At the time of this letter, he was engaged in business in New York and
would in two years supervise the construction of an asylum in New Jersey. Porter constantly
strove to clear his name. However, it took nearly 24 years before an Act of Congress
(August 1886), approved by President Grover Cleveland, restored Porter to the Army at the
rank of Colonel, retroactive to May 1861. As Porter stated in his letter, he had known Lee
for many years and had served with him under Winfield Scott in the War with Mexico
(1846-1848) and had been Adjutant to Lee when he was Superintendent of West Point
(1852-1855). Folds, 1 touches the "J" in signature. Fine condition. Framed to an overall size
of 39½x21.
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