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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