The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1863-01-23


ular army, and the like recommendation
for services nj Gaines Mills for breyet of
Major General in the regular army. This
recommendation is dated the 9th of July,
1862, and is as follows:
HEuDoUARTEEs ARMY OF TIE PoToMACl
CAMP NEAR HARIIsoN's BAR July 8, 1862.
To Hon. Edwin Nj. Stanton Secretary of War:
The energy, ability and good conduct dis
played throughout the eventful period of this
campaign, through which we have passed, by
Brig. Gen. Fitz John Porter, deserves the
marked notice of the Executive and the nation.
from the very commencement, his unwearied
assldulty in his various duties, the intelligent
ana el1lcaclOus assistance which he has rendered
me under all circumstances. his skillful man
agemCnt of his command on the march; in the
siege; or on the field of battle, and his chivalric
and sOldierly bearing under fire, have combined
TO render him conspicuous among the many
faithful and gallant spirits of this army. j res
pcctfully, therefore, recommend that Brig. Gen.
FitZ John Porter receive the brcvet of Brigadicr
General in the regular army for the battle of
Hanover Courthouse, May p. and the brevet
of Major General in the regular army for the
battle of Gaines Mills. June q. | have the
honor to be,
Very respectfully, your obedicnt servant
GEORGE b. MCCLELLAN,
Major-General Commanding
P0stscrpt.-- there was another grade to add,
1 would ask it for the battle of Malvern Hill.
The latter eclipses i'll its result any other en-
gagement in the campaign. and too much
credit cannot be given to Gen. Porter for his
skill and 9lllantry on the occasion. If there
be any vacancies among the General Officers in
the Regular Army, ask one for him. saw
myself the disposition he made of his men, and
the gallantry he displayed. L do not speak
from hearsay, but from personal observation.
WOuI1 Th1t the rOnOtrV had moro (Hppp,,I OIL
GERS like him.
HGEORGE b. MCCLELLAN.
\ True Copy. Maj.-Gen. Commanding
L. d. TOWNSEND. Assistant Adjutant-(3en-
erals Office. Washington, Jan. g. 1862.
Prior to the receipt by the Honorable
Secretary of War of this letter, / had, I'M
solicited been promoted by the President
q Major General Of volunteers and Brew
ct Brigadier General in the regular army
May not confidently refer to this testi-
monial as of itself confutation Of the CAL
umnies with which reckless ignorance or
interested malice have for months endeav-
ored to fill the public ear.
Traitor to my country When did trea-
son SO endeayor to maintain the authority
OF the Government
Traitor to my country. When did trea-
son so labor and peril life to rescue it from
destruction?
Traitor to my country, Indifferent to
the honor Of its flag. Gratifying sup
posed personal dislike, regardless OF the
safety and reputation of the men intrusted
to my command. and who had followed
me, and apparently with even increased
confidence, through q terrific ordeal
through the fire of battles unparalleled in
tierceness, fury and mortality.
Lite--what is it to the soldier who is
false to his flag and country? Lite-what
! will be its value to the soldier with Il flag
dishonored, Il country lost? May God
avert such a calamity.
! Who would wish to survive to see the
flag Of his country trailcd in the dust, its
reputation and its power broken, the peo-
pie separated into fragments, and the
cause Of constitutional freedom itself for
ages if not forever extinguished
If the charge had not assumed the SOL
emn form that has been given to it, it
would be received everywhere where my
whole conduct is known, rs ludicrous,
false, or the creation OF Il morbid or dis
tempered brain.
Without assuming to myself Il purer pa
triotism than animates the soldiers of the
Union, say fearlessly that none, no, not
one, loves our Union with stronger, ho-
lier love than l do.
There is nothing in the future, as there
has been nothing in the past, that could
not and would not gladly do to achieve
| the victory over its enemies, and to bind
up all the wounds under which it now
! bleedS.
As far as one arm, and the aspirations
Of one heart may be exerted to avert SO
dire a calamity, mine will be used to the
last moment OF my life.
! | live now, amid whatever discourage
ments surround Us and through the gloom
which they cause, cheered only by the an
ticipation that all will vet be well that the
Union will emerge from its present danger
even stronger than ever, for the trials
through which it is passing; that it will
! be ours, once more, to be proud that we
are strong and united people, and to
glory in the thought that our country shall
again serve to light the world by the efful-
gence OF its example. Our country must
become what it was but recently-a mon
| ument Of past renown and pledge of flu
| ture glory-and so continue until Time s
last echo shall have ceased to sound.
The J ~dge-Advocate, Hon. Joseph Holt,
| broke the silence 10y q few words addressed
to the Court. He said that the case had
J already occupied torty-iive days, and he had
no doubt that the mass Of testimony was
completely comprehended and appreciated
in all its bearings by the Court. He was
willing to trust to the Court to correct
whatever of inaccuracies or illogical de-
auctions might have been made in the
elaborate defence. To prepare written
reply, in keeping with the gravity of this
proceeding, would require several days,
and thus involve a delay which it was de-
sirable to avoid From these considera-
tons and from the urgent demands which
exist for the service of the members of this
Court in other and more active fields Of
labor, he thought the public interests
would be best served by asking what he
hereby would, that the Court should pro
ceed at once to deliberate and determine
upon the case before them.
The Court then adjourned. The finding
IL ~ Ia, IL