Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1874-08-21
Democratic and Conservative Party
OUR NEXT GOVERNOR.
A Brief sketch of James ID. POT
ter. Jr.

ter, Jr.
From the Nashville Union and Americana
"Who is James D. Porterf' While it
is certain that the people of Tennessee
will answer the question IN November
that he is Governor of Tennessee, In the
meantime a brief sketch may not be
amiss to show who he is and what he has
been.
Jamas Davis Porter is now lorty-hve
wears of he was born in Paris, Henry
county. Tennessee, where he has ever
since resided. His father, DR.. Thomas
X. Porter, was an eminent physician,
one of the earliest settlers in Henry
and was a prominent citizen until his
death. His mother was Miss Geraldine
Horton, sister Of the late Joseph W.
Horton, OF Nashville.
James D. Porter graduated at the
Nashville University in 1876, and was
always noted as a good scholar, and
prompt and punctual in his classes, and
a leader in the debating society. Though
hard student he was genial, jovial
schoolfellow and an active participation
in all boyish sports.
He studied law under James t. Dun
lap at Paris and then graduated in the
law school at Lebanon. Locating at
Paris, he married the daughter of Mr..
John Dunlap, of that place, and began
the practice of his profession. DE soon
gained high standing at the bar by the
practice of those sterling virtues, indus
try and attention to business; and,
though he possessed a strong will and
great perseverance and determination,
yet his mild manners and his being,
under all circumstances, gentleman IN
the highest sense of the term, he won
friends of all the bar, and usually won
his cases
In the midst of successful and pop
ular practice, he was called out for the
Legislature in 1853, and was elected to
the House from the counties Of Henry,
Carroll, Gibson and Madison. and he
served his constituents with great salts.
faction to them, and was the author of
the celebrated Porter Resolutions"
which were Immediately adopted by Ken
lucky and other Southern States These
were passed by Tennessee when only
three States had seeded.
When Tennessee decided to cast her
lot with the other Southern States, Mr..
Porter at once volunteered, and was as
signed soon after as Assistant Adjutant
General to Gen. Frank Cheatham' com
mand as chief of staff, and he was with
Gen. Cheatham in the battles, of Bel
mont and Shiloh. At Corinth he was
Frustrated by the diseases which proved
fatal TO so many Confederates, and left
the army for brief period on sick leave.
He soon resumed his duties, and was
ever at his post with Gen. Chatham s
command until the end Of the war, per.
forming all his duties and sharing in all
the dangers which his hard fighting com
mander encountered When the army
had surrendered at BentonvilIe, North
Carolina, and had gone to Salisbury to
draw their last rations, a South Carolina
Major at the head of mob of six or
seven hundred soldiers marched up to
sack the commissary storehouse. Gen.
Cheatham perceived the movement, and
calling Col. Porter to his aid. they two,
nnaidea, rushed in front of the mob. and
BY their determined stand saved the sup.
Plies, Grove back the marauders, and
prevented the suffering which would have
ensued 70 the Western troops had the
stores been robbed, Gen. Cheatham, in
his emphatic way, having throttled and
thumped the Major who had led the mob
Colonel Porter had the unlimited con.
hdeHce OF his superior and fellow officer,
and discharged the aaduous duties n
Assistant Adjutant General for ION,
years with the greatest Obilitv ang
promptness, and received he 6igbes
COMMUNICATIONS from General CAaathap
as a courteous and chivalrous Tentle
man, an able and trusty officer as 4 gal
liant soldier in the field, and a sagaci,n
counsellor in camp.
Colonel Porter had three brothers
the Confederate service; one was kille
and his brother, Captain Thomas
Porter, an officer in the old United Stat
navy, greatly distinguished himsel
Upon the breaking out Of the war he vi
on the Pacific, but resigned and made
hair-breadth escape into the Confed
racy, where he was at once assigned
the Mike Burns Battery, which he re
dered famous IN the battles at Fort Do
elson, as which place he was desperate
wounded and brought to Nashvill
Captain Porter recovered and soon h,
charge sf another fighting battery, VIII,
he was a second time severely wounde
and upon his recovery was assigned
the Confederate cruiser Florida, as fir
lieutenant and executive officer und
Captain Matt, and be was captured
board Of the Florida when she was c
out Of the port Of Bahia, Brazil
Colonel Porter on bis way home fro
North Carolina after the surrender vi
bis sidearms aud parole, was arrest
near Knoxville and carried 10 that poi
,~he-a he uae rohhed diearmad a.
was. BY General Stoneman's ord
thrown into prison in Tiolation Of