, 1862-03-25
From the Alexandria (va-) Chronicle, March 81
FindIcatIon Of DIR. J. b. Porter of the
Mansion Hospital, AlexandrIa.


We print this morning, the report Of the
Court Of inquiry, convened at the instance Of
Surgeon j. B.. Porter, Of the Mansion House
Hospital, to examine into certain matters, al
legged against him by one or two Of the in
mates OF the hospital OF which he has charge.
GENERAL ORDERS, No s5.l
HEADQUARTERS ARMT OF TIE PoroAAc,
Washington, March /: 1862.
l. Court Of Inquiry, Of which Brigadier
General William f. French is President, as
scmbled at Alexandria, Virginia, on the 9Th of
February, 1862, pursuant to Special Orders,
No. 81, from these headquarters, Of February
4, 1855. at the request Of Surgeon ]. B. PORT
er, q, 5. A. to examine into Certain matters
:}icgcd against him respecting his treatment
OF the inmates Of the General Hospital at AL
cxandria, with instructions to report the facts
Of the case, and its opinion thereon.
The Court proceeded to take the testimony
Of those parties only whose names had been
connected with the charges against Surgeon
Porter, and, after long, careful and laborious
investigation Of the matter, as appearing by
the statements on oaths Of these witnesses,
came to the conclusions declared in the fol-
lowing statement Of facts,
The Court took these letters as the basis of
their inquiry, and, On the evidence, under
oath, Of the complainants themselves, the ey-
idepce has failed to substantiate the state
ments set forth in these letters, except In q
few instances outside of the control Of the hos
pital department, common to the army on the
Virgins side Of the Potomac, namely: for q
short period in the month Of December, 1851,
the flour furnished to the Alexandria bakery
Was Of an inferior quality.
No witness has testified to Dr.. Porterss std.
king patients, or otherwise Furnishing them
The only instance Of men being punished
outside OF the hospital, Was ofa man who Was
drunk. who was turned over to Provost Mar.
shal Of Alcxandris for Temporary rcatraint.
Within the hospital, patients under treat
ment hare had the usual mode resorted to oi
keeping them confined to their roona-thAt ol
removing their clothes when they have yio'
lated the rules Of the hospital and Of the at.
tending surgeon; that the eating out Of the
swill barrel by several men Was mere yofun.
tart act on their part, in consequence Of thei1
having absented themselves at the usual din
neT hour.
The court has drawn up the facts on the
evidence Of the. compliments themselves
without takipg the evidence Of any one o
the Witnesses whom Dr.. Porter offered te
produce.
The Court finds that the conduct Of DR..
John B. Porter towards the patients has beer
distinguished By kindness and consideration
for the wants Of the sick that no complaint
| has ever been made o Dr.. Porter, except Ii
one inatance, By the principal complainant, tt
| Col Mansfield, and that, according to BIZ
own evidence, it was Immediately corrected
| The Court, from It's own observation. can
| not speak too highly Of the condition Of ths
Mansion Hospital, which Is exhibited in the
f. fact that out Of: over five hundred patients
there have been but thirty-two deashs-
t further appears, BY the Testimony Of SOM
| ject they had : IN. view was to obtals
a,t teis te coisSa .a.ae1d. i .assiaE s t.; H.
treatment, which they could NOT testir
to under oath; that the signing Of th
| rama thar Earxs lad "a ha1fNxn fhnk r. thu,