MAJOR GENERAL FITZ JOHN PORTER - AUTOGRAPH LETTER SIGNED 04/05/1886 - HFSID 89907

FITZ JOHN PORTER
The military man most famous for being blamed for the Union loss at Second Bull Run pens this letter honoring a request
Autograph Letter Signed: “Fitz John Porter”. 1p, 5¼x8½. New York City, April 5, 1886. On official letterhead of the commissioner's office of the police department of the city of New York, New York. Addressed to “Edward Sondheimer”. Written to “My young Friend”. In full: “With pleasure I comply with your simple request and wish equal success in all similar applications./ Yours truly”. Admiral David Porter's cousin, Fitz John Porter (1822-1901) was a West Point graduate who also taught at the respected military school. He was wounded in the Mexican War and even served some time on the frontier. At the end of August 1862, Brigadier General Porter failed to cut Stonewall Jackson's and James Longstreet's forces and allowed the Confederates to emerge from Second Bull Run with a victory. General Pope blamed the Union Army's failure on Porter, charging him withwillfully disobeying his orders. Porter was courtmartialed, found guilty in January 1863 and forced out of the Army. After spending the next 23 years trying to clear his name, in 1886, by Act of Congress, his rank was restored and Porter was reinstated so he could honorably retire. An investigative board also decided that Porter had shown better judgment by ignoring Pope's orders. Show-through from horizontal fold creases, repaired on verso with clear tape. affecting signature. Minor ink transfer shadow at lower section. Toned and worn at edges. Otherwise, fine condition.