MAJOR GENERAL FITZ JOHN PORTER - AUTOGRAPH POEM SIGNED 02/14/1886 - HFSID 28027
Sale Price $467.50
Reg. $550.00
FITZ JOHN PORTER. Autograph Poem signed: "Fitz John Porter", 2p, 4¼x3½ card. Morristown, N.J., 1886 February 14. In full: "'Give him a lift! Don't kneel in prayer/Nor moralize with its despair./The man is down and his great need/is ready help, not prayer and creed.'/xxx/'Live like a Christian-speak in deeds,/a noble life's the best of creeds:/And he shall wear a royal crown/Who gives them a lift when they are down.'/as best I can I comply and with pleasure." Porter has penned the first and last stanza of a four stanza poem (not authored by him), almost word for word. His only big mistake was "Live like a christian"; it should be "Give like a Christian". Major General John Pope attributed his defeat at the second battle of Bull Run to alleged disobedience on the part of Brigadier General Fitz John Porter. At his court-martial, Porter declared that it was impossible to carry out Pope's orders, but he was found guilty and cashiered from the Army. A review of the case in 1879 vindicated him. In July 1886, five months after he wrote this poem, an act of Congress restored his rank to Colonel of Infantry dating from 1861, and placed him on the retired list. Dampstained at left and upper margins of front and at upper margin of verso. Right edge of signature side blackened. Overall, fine condition.
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