Porter, Fitz-John, 1822-1901 Collection of Porter letters [Decimalized .01-.14]
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Gilder Lehrman Collection #: GLC00214.02 Author/Creator: Porter, Fitz-John, 1822-1901 Place Written: New York, New York Type: Header Record Date: September 1878 - June 1887 Pagination: 14 letters Order a Copy
Most of the letters in this collection are to Captain (sometimes Colonel) Julius Walker Adams, a noted engineer and cousin of President John Quincy Adams. Porter discusses the reevaluation of his conduct at Second Manassas by a special commission in 1878 and 1879. The commission, headed by General John M. Schofield, submitted a report 19 March 1879, exonerating Porter from previous charges. In the 1880s, Porter's sentence was officially reversed, and under a special act of Congress, his commission was restored (with no back pay due).
Fitz John Porter (1822-1901) fought in the Mexican War where he was wounded once and breveted twice. He commanded Porter's division, Army of the Potomac and directed the Yorktown siege while leading the 1st Division. Succeeding to the command of the V Corps and named Maj. Gen. U.S. Volunteers, he led it at the battles of New Bridge, Hanover Court House, Mechanicsville, Gaines's Mill, Turkey Bridge, Malvern Hill, 2d Bull Run, Antietam, and Shepherdstown. Relieved by Pope "for disobedience, disloyalty, and misconduct in the face of the enemy" at 2d Bull Run, he was cashiered 21 Jan. 1863. After the war, he strove continuously to clear his name, even getting information and aid from Robert E. Lee and other Confederates who opposed him on the battlefield. He was reinstated in 1886. Meanwhile, he had been a mine superintendent in Colorado, a merchant, and New York City Commissioner of Police, Fire, and then Public Works.
Also written in Morristown, New Jersey
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