MAJOR GENERAL JOHN PORTER HATCH - MANUSCRIPT LETTER SIGNED 06/03/1869 - HFSID 101512

GENERAL JOHN PORTER HATCH
John Porter Hatch, a brevetted major general and Congressional Medal of Honor recipient during the American Civil War, signed this manuscript letter to President Ulysses S. Grant in 1869 to refute rumors that his friend was a drunk.
Manuscript letter signed "Jno. P. Hatch Bvt. Brig. Genl. U.S.A.". 1 page, 8x10, ruled paper. Carlisle Barrack, Pennsylvania, June 3, 1869. Addressed to the President of the United States (Ulysses S. Grant). In full: "Sir, I have been informed that some mali-cious person, hoping to prejudice the head of the Treasury Department against Mr. H. A. Hershberger, has reported that he is an habitual drunkard. Being personally acquainted with the habits of Mr. Hershberger, I take pleasure in contra dicting [sic] the report, and beg leave to add here that I believe him in every way qualified for the position of Assistant Assessor of Internal Revenue. Very Respectfully Your Obedt. Servt." American military officer Porter (1822-1901) graduated from West Point in 1845 and served in the Mexican War before called from garrison duty in 1861 to serve in the American Civil War. He was made a brigadier general of volunteers on Sept,. 28, 1861 and led a brigade of cavalry. He rose to chief of cavalry under Major General Nathaniel P. Banks in March of 1862. Porter served in the Shenandoah Valley Campaign against Confederate Major General Thomas J. "Stonewall" Jackson (March 23 to June 9, 1862) in the cavalry. However, he was demoted to the infantry in August of 1862 after two failed cavalry raids. In the infantry, he was wounded at the Second Battle of Bull Run (Aug. 28 to 30, 1862) and later was shot in the leg and had two horses shot out from under him at Turner's Gap during the Battle of South Mountain (Spat. 14, 1862). Porter's bravery at South Mountain and a Congressional Medal of Honor in 1893. He mustered out of the volunteers after the war and joined the regular army, rising to the rank of colonel, until his retirement in 1881. Lightly toned, foxed, soiled and creased. Light tears in right edge, which touches body of letter but not signature, and in left and top edges. Missing bottom right corner. Rounded top edges. Folded twice and unfolded. Otherwise in fine condition.