Herald and tribune. [volume] (Jonesborough, Tenn.) 1869-current, 1874-08-27
Brc,f sketch Of =. ID. Porter. u

years Of age. Ho was born In Paris, Hen
ry county, Tennessee, where he has ever
since resided. His father, DR.. Thomas
k. Porter, was an eminent physician one
% the earliest settlers in Henry county'an
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 al
ways poted as a good scholar, and prompt
and p~unctuaI in bis classes and a leader
in the debating society. Though a hard
student, he was a genial, jovial schoO'-'ol'
low, and an active participation in all boy
ISL sports.
He studied law under james I. Dun
Ian, at Paris, and then graduated in the
law school at Lebanon. Locating at Par
ia, he married the daughter Of Mr.. John
Dunlap, Of that place, and began the prac'
tice Of his profession. He soon gained a
high standing at the bar by the practic
of those sterling virtues, Industry and at
tention to business and though he possess
cd g strong will and great perseverance,
and determination, yet his mild manners
and his being, under all circumstances, a
gentleman in the highest sense OF the
term, he won friends of all the bar, and
usually won his cases.
In the midst Of a successful and popular
nra.tice, he was called out for the legisla-
ture in 1856. and was elected to the louise
from the counties of Henry, Carroll, Glib
son and Madison, and he served his oh
stituents with great satisfaction to them
and was the author Of the celebrated "Por'
ter Resolutions" which were Immediately
adopted by Kentucky and other Southern
States. These were passed by Tennessee
when only three States had seeded.
When Tennessee decided to cast Ter
lot with other Southern States, Mr.. Por'
ter at once volunteered, and was assigned
soon as Assistant Adjutant General to
Gen. Frank Cheatham's command as chief
Of staff, and he was with Gen. Cheatham
in the battles of Belmont ard Shiloh. AT
Corinth he was Frustrated by the diseases
which proved fatal to so many Confeder'
ates, and left the army for a brief Pc
riod on sick leave. He soon resumed
his duties, and was ever at his post with
Gen. Cheatham's command until the end
of war, performing all his duties and
sharing in all the dangers which his hard
fighting commander encountered. When
the army had surrendered at Bentonville,
North Carolina, and had gone to Sails
bury to draw their last %rations, q South
Carolina Major at the head Of a mob of
six or seven hundred soldiers marched
up to sack the commissary s%torehouse.
Gen. Cheatham perceived the movement,
and calling Col. Porter to his aid, they
two unaided, rushed in front Of the mob,
and By their determined stand saved the
supplies, drove back the marauders, and
prevented the suffering which would have
ensued to the Western troops bad the
stores been robbed. Gen. Cheatbam, in
his emphatic way, having throttled and
thumped the Major who had led the mob.
Col. Porter had the unlimited conf
dence Of his superior and fellow officers
aud discharged the arduous duties Of AS.
sistant Adjutant General for four years
with the greatest ability and promptness,
and received the highest commentators
from General Cheatham as a courteous
and chivalrous gentleman, an able and
trusty officer as a gallant soldier in the
field. and q sagacious councillor in camp.
Col. Porter had three brothers in the
Confederate service; one was killed, and
bis brother, Capt. Thomas r. Porter, an
officer in the old United States navy,
greatly distinguished himself. Upon the
breaking out Of the war he was on the
Poetic, but resigned and made q hair
brea tn escape into the confcderacy where
he was at once assigned to the Mike Burns
Battery, which he rendered famous in the
battles at Fort ID NELSON, OF which place
he was desperately wounded and brought
10 Nashville. Capt. Porter recovered
ana soon had charge Of another fighting
battery. when he was a second time Sc
yerely wounded, and upon his recovery
was assigned to the Confederate cruiser
Florida, as First Lieutenant and exocu-
tive officer under Capt. Matit, and he
was captured on board Of the Florida
when she vas cut out Of the port of Bahia,
Brazil.