The New York herald., 1863-01-11
THE PORTER COURT MARTIAL.

speech OF General Porter in Hts Defence.
WAsHnoroH, Ian 10, 1888
On the assembling Of the Porter Court Martial this
morning Mr. Eamos Of General Porters counsel read
elaborate review Il tho evidence on both Sides
ing conclusions in favor the lie followed
on the same side By Hon. Reverdy johnson.
Tho following Is General Porters personal defence-
Mr.. PRgspsr GssrrKnEr:-My defence s now con-
cuded. Before, however, deliver IL into your hands
hope to be nduged In remarks more exclusively
personal. To speak Of ono's seG in terms Of com
mcndatIon is always unpleasant, and ia generally
against the laws OF good TASTE but there
when Il becomes unavoidable The sensibty which II
then wounds must bear the in1ction because higher
sensiblity demands The sacrifice When soldiers honor
Is impeached; when his loyalty is sssaled when
ardce is nsinuated against him, and when tho
safety OF his country said to have purposey and
causelessly hazarded by him. tho indulgence some
low, petty, contemplate motive, II cannot be expect
ed that he Is TO be restrained by the decacy
which belongs to the ordinary intercourse be-
tween gentlemen n his past life gives the lie tho
charge at all exhibits conduct totally Inconsistent
with its truth; if 1t speaks a nature that would revolt
at the thought OF tho crime n 1t evin long and
perilous OF duty and ardent and enduring
love Of countrya constant zoa for the honor nag
and undyins devotion to its service IT, in the present
crisis o its history from the rst moment that unhaiow
ed ambition started its Of treason he hs. given
himself with seepIess vigilance, and amidst countless
hazards, to do what he could put down rebel
lion and reinstas the authority OF tho government, IT,
until the unorunatc Virginia campaign OF last summer
his services approved by the public by his brothers
n.arms, and sgnalIy acknowledged hy no Presdent-f
these facts true Of myself, then may be weil
cused for proudly invoking them TO the false
and groundess lmputatons upon my duty and my
a a hat haa heen nv
tory first, served, then being a youth.
In tho Mexican war, throughout the respen-
dent campaign Of Lieutenant General scott. and
actively gagged the several battles OF Vera Cruz
Contreras Mono dol Roy. Chcpniicpcc and the city or
Mexico. entered that service brevet second lieu
tenant Of the Fourth regmsot of artillery. and
breveted captain for distinguished services in the bat
tie OF Molno del Rey and major FOR like tho
battle the city OF Mexico second. in February 1851
ordered by tho then Secretary OF War, Mr. Holt,
your Judge Advocate proceed to Texas FOR the purpose
States AZ could from that state and thereby counter
acting as far a. possible the effect OF tho then
recent, uncxampod and base treachery OF General
Twiggs Amiast great difficulties and much personal
peril succeeded in rescung companies, all Ave
hundr cd men and In posting two OF them at Tortugas
two at Key West and taking threc to Now York The
whole duty performed 10 the perfect satisfaction
cd as colone in tho regular army. and in August \
hrigad,er general Of volunteers, and served
throughout tho pennsulsr campaigns der Major Gene
raj Mcclellan Az the siege OF Yorktov he constituted
director Of the sego In the battle Of Hanover
House commandcda CORN, tho Fifth corps of the
Army OF the Potomac including all tho regulars In tho
battle OF Gaines Mills my command being twenty
seven thousand, list. in killed, wounded and missiag
thousand which tells the severity Of the
conflict batie OF Malvern Hill, site selected by
myself tho day before the fearful struggle with
my own corps which WAS Joined by tho commands Of
sumner, Hcntzelman and Couch each of whom engaged
In the fight or cheerfuly rendered mo every assist
ance in their power. amounting in the aggregate
gaanTy Of my oficcrs and tho indomabIo brsvory og
my troops. succesdsd in totally repulsing and with
despcsas ava most gallant assaults q from thirty
10 forty thousand of tbs enemy evidently bravo sei
diers as ever trod tAs battle hd For my services
Hanover Court House received the Of
chief Tor brevet d Drigsdier general u The regular
army, sad tnS hko Recommendation foe ssrvices ~
Gaines Millstns brevcs o. mater general IA the regular
1852, and 10 - follows:--
cal. n;aosv,sr.s.. sa Ansy Q. r.. = fo,ess.c,l
To tn Hon. Eowis n srAsTos, secretary of'wsrs-
out he s and ssSa s."S
s.ys ss sy Srs.Ser Seoe r rcr'.r de-
From the very his assday IN hts
he has rsaasrea man
nagenent o. his command the march the siege tho
6re have coSs~d 70 render him eonspcuo"s among the
@ .@s sssns T.ti s. 81 s
rors r., r,sse % the ersvs re- Of ssrde h the rs.r
sss ,s ssye T st Gr - the regular army for the
servant. GKORGE Is MCMILLAN
Major General Commanding
there % rss .aqhs a grade g .da wo ask 4 s the
shsr ss %pasn an: ~ oD nH credit
ocers IN q. regular army .sf myself
dI.paysa ias spc.t from hsar..y from perssn.
S oaicer. ike him ''' ' oEoRGE y ncoLEIIas ILL ''e'A
Major General Comma nding
once. Washington. Jan. .. 1861
Prior receipt by the Honorable Secretary OF war
Of this letter had. unsolicited. been promoted BY the
President major general Of volunteers and brsyet
brigadier general the regular army. May not con-
hdcaty refer TO this testimonial Of Itself coniutaon
Of the caumnics with which reckless interest
malice have for months endeavored m the public ear
Traitor TO my country! When did treason eDdeayor
maintain the authority Of the government Traitor 10
my country when did labor and peril life to
rescue It from destruction Traitor TO my country In
different to tho honor ts Gag Gratifying supposed
personal dislike regardless OF The safety and reputation
Of the men entrusted to my coinm,nd and who had
followed me, and apparently with even increased
confidence through terrific ordeal-through the
battles unparalleled In herceness fury and mortality n
the charge had not assumed the soemn form tina, has
been given 70 IL IL would be received ywhers where
my whole conduct Is known M ludicro false. Or the
creation Of morbid or dstempercd brain without
sumang to myself pnrer patrictsm than anmaics the
soldcrs of The Union say fearlessly that none
one, loves Union with stronger. hoer love
do Thsrc nothing in ns future there has been
thing In the past that could not and would not gladly
do achieve the victory over enemies and 10 bind
up ali The wounds under which b1csds
Lfc-what IL TO the sodcr who u falzc TO his as and
with the nag dshonorcd country Lost May God
such calamity Who would wish TO survive 10 witness the
Tag of his country traiied ia the dust Its
reputation and lis power broken the people separated
into fragments, their fraterna affections converted
into bitter hate and tho Of constitutional freedom
Itself for ages II not forever eItngushed, A. far
aud the aspirations OF heart may be exsrsd 10
avert so dire calamity mine viii be used TO the last
moment OF my life. live now amidst whatever dis
souragemens surround and through the gloom which
they cause, cheered only by the anticipation that all viii
yet be we-ths the Union will emerge from It's present
danger stronger than for the tras through
which II Is passing-thas will be TO Be
proud that q strong and united people, and
glory In the thought that country shall again
light tho world BY the snugencs Of its example. Our
country must become what IL was but recently. monu
meat Of past ronowa and pledge u future gory-and
70 continue until Times last echo shall have ceased 10
sound.
Judge Advocate Holt At the conclusion Of General Por
ters speech, which listened 10 with the deepest
attention said that he would nos present any written
reply 20 the Arguments OF the defence for the
he did not wish longer " dctsn the generals com.
posing the Court from their duties In this field He there
fore hoped that the Court would arrive speedy con
eiusion the II had been presented.