Gallipolis journal. [volume] (Gallipolis, Ohio) 1837-1919, 1863-01-22
THE PORTER COURT MARTIAL.

counsel, read an elaborate review g
d the evidence on both sides. DRAWN
e conclusions in favor Of the accused. II
! was followed on the same side by Hon
, Reverdy Johnson.
The following is General Porter
personal defense:
Mr.. President and Gentlemen:
Ny defense is now concluded. Be
fore, however, l deliver it into you
hands. l hope to be INDUCED in som,
remarks more exclusively personal. Tt
speak OF ones self in terms OF commen
dation is always unpleasant, and i;
generally against the laws Of good
taste; but there are occasions when il
becomes unavoidable. The sensibility
which it then wounds must bear the
inhiction because a higher sensibility
demands the sacrifice. When a soldiers
honor is impeached it cannot be expec-
ted that he is to be restrained by the
dehcscy which belongs to the ordinary
Intercourse between gentlemen. If his
past life given the lie to the charge; if
it at all exhibits conduct totally neon.
sistent with its truth; il it speaks ma
ture that would revolt even at the
thought Of the crime; if these facts are
true Of myself. then i may be well ex-
cused for proudly invoking them as an
answer to the false and groundless i'm
puta,ions upon my duty and nv honor
as citizen and soldier. What has
been my history? First, l served.
then being mere youth. 10 the Mexi-
can war, throughout the resplendeut
campaign Of Lieut. General Scott, and
was actively engaged in the several bat
ties of Vera Cruz. Contrerss, Molina
del Rey, Chepultepec and the city Of
Mexico. | entered on that service as
breVet I'd Lieutenant of the 4th regi-
ment Of artillery, and was breyeled as
Captain for distinguished services in
the battle Of Molina del Rey, and as
Major for like service in the battle at
the city OF Mexico. Second, in Febru-
ary, 1861. | was ordered by tle then
Secretary of War, Mr.. Holt, your Judge
Advocate, to proceed to Texas Tor the !
purpose Of Withdrawing as many OF the |
troops Of the United States as could .
from that State, and thereby counter
acting as far as possible the effect ofthe
then recent. unexarpled and base
treachery of General Twiggs. Amidst
great difficulties and much personal |
peril, | succeeded in recruiting seven
companies. in all FIVE hundred men,
and in posting two Of them at T)rtu-
gas. two at Key West and taking hree
TO New York. The whole duty was
performed to the perfect satisfaction
Of the Department. Third, in May,
1861, was commissioned as Colonel
in the regular army. and in August a
Brigadier- General of volunteers, and
afterward served throughout the P,nin-
sula campaign under Major Geleral
Mcclellan At the siege OF Yorktown
he constituted me director of the sege.
In the battle OF Hanover Court House
l commanded corps, now the Fifth
corps of the Army of the Potomac in.
cluding all the Regulars In the ta,tIe
OF Gaines Mills, my command icing
about twenty seven thousand, / lot, in
killed, wounded and missing. nine
thousand men-a fact which tells the
severity Of the conflict. In the tatIle
of Malvern Hill. site selected by my
self the day before the fearful and test
Struggle with my own corps, which
was joined by the commands Of Sumner.
Heinlz Imam and Couch, each Of whom
in the fight or cheerfully rem
drred me every assistance in their ,ow
er, amounting in the aggregate to some ;
eighteen thousand men, through the
skill and gallantry Of my officers and
the indomitable bravery of my troops,
succeeded in totally repulsing andwith
slaughter unexampled in any Modern
battle long continued, desperate and ,,
most gallant assaults Of from Thirty TO 4,
forty thousand of the enemy, evidtndy
as brave soldiers as ever trod the tattle-
field. For my services at Hsnoyer
Court House | received the recopmen- 9.
dations Of my chief for brevet of Briga-
dier-General in the Regular Army,
and the like Recommendation for ser
vices at Gaines Mills the brevet Of .
Major Grneral in the Regular Army. /;
Prior TO this had. unsolicited. been
promoted by the President Major !
General OF volunteers and a Breyet
General in the regular army. !:
May not confidently refer to this tes- t.
Iimonial as Of itself confutation Of the
with which reckless igno- !;
rance or interested malice have for .
months endeavored to gil the public !,
ear. Traitor to my countryI When .
did treason so endeavor to maintain the
OF the Government? Traitor :
% my countryl When did treason so :
abor and peril life to rescue it from
iestruction? Traitor to my country!
Indifference to the honor of its hagl
supposed personal dislike,
of the safety and reputation =
u the men entrusted to my command. i
md who had followed me. and appa- :
sntly with even increased confidence
Trough a terrific ordesl-through
he IRE OF battles unparalleled in fierce
ess, fury and moitalityl II the charge
Iad not assumed the solemn form that Il
as been given 10 it, il would be re-
eiVed everywhere where my whole r