Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1874-08-20

with the other Southern States, Mr.. Porter
at once volunteered, and was assigned sOon
after as Assistant AdjutaDt General to Gen.
Frank Cheathams command as chief Of
staff, and he v as with Gen. Cheatbam in
the battles of Belmont and Shiloh. At
Corinth he was prostTated by the diseases
which proved fatal 10 so many Confeder-
ates, and left the army for brieffperiod on
sick leave. He soon resumed his duties, and
was ever at his post with Gen. Cbeatham's s
command until the end of the wal, r,perform-
ing all his duties and sharing mall the dan
gers which his hard-tighting commander en-
countered. When the army had sunen-
dered al Bentonville, North Carolina, and
had gone to Salisbury 10 draw their last
rations, a South Carolina MsiQr at the
head OF a mob Of six or seven hundred
soldiers marched up to sack the conmis-
saTy stoFehouse. Gen Cheatham peFceiv-
ed the movement, and calling Col. Porter
tOlis aid, they two unsided, rushed in front
Of the mob, aud by their determined stand
saved the supplies, droNe back the inaraud-
ers, and prevented the suffering which
would have ensued to the Western troops
had the stores been robbed, Gen. Cheat
ham. in his emphatic wav, having tlrOttled
d44d tHAiiipSu lAiS 1haIoi NuO A1u III NuC
mob.
Col. Porter had the unlimited confidence
Of his superior and fellow officers and dis
charged the an,luOus duties of Assistant
Adjutant General for four wears with the
greatest ability aud promptness, and re-
ceived the highest Communications from
General Cheatham as a courteous and chiv-
alrous gentleman, an able and truSiy officer
col flfrr tho fall ann
ciOus counsellor in camp.
Col. Porter had three brothers in the
Confederate service; one was killed, and
his brother, Capt. Thomas r. Porter, an Of
ficer in the old United States navy, greatly
distinguished himself. Upon the breaking
out of the war he was on the Pacific, but
resigned aud made a hair-breadth escape
into the Confederacy. where he was at
once assigned to the Mike Burns Battery,
which he rendered famous in the battles
at Fort DOnelSOn, a. which place
he was desperate ely wounded and brought
to Nashville. Capt. Porter recovered aud
soon had charge of another fighting battery,
when he was a second time severely
wounded, and upon his recOsery was as
signed TO the Confederate cruiser Florida,
.as first lieutenant and executive officer un-
der Capt. Maffit, and he was captured on
board of the Florida when she was cut ont
Of the port of Bahia, Brazil.
Col. Porter on his way home from North
Carolina after the surrender with his side
arms and parole, was arrested near Knox
vile and carried to that point where he was
robbed, diSarmed, and was, by Gen. Stone
mans order, thrown into prison in viola
tiOn of the terms Of the surrender. Upon
his release from prison, Col. Porter return
ed home and resumed tie practice of law
with great success, and in 1870 he was
elected, without opposition, TO the eonsti-
tutiOnal convention where his methodical
business habits, his sound judgment and
legaland legislative experience caused him
TO make his mark and enabled him TO ren-
der valuable service in the formation of the
new constitution.
The next year after the convention, by
the wish Of the bar, Col. Porter was elected
10y an overwhelming majority, as Judge Of
the Twelfth Judicial Distr ct, and dis
charged the duties with great credit, faith
fulncSs and justice, until his resignation in
February, IS74.
Judge Porter is fine specimen of those
splendid physical features for which Ten
neSSee is so famous. He is over six feet in
height, well built and weighs about 10
pounds. He Las a lar-e, massive, we'll
formed head, with high broad forehead, with
marks o.. strong intellec, and plenty of
driving power. His air is dark bat slightly
griZZled his eyes are a clear bluish-erey,
deep set. He has a massive jaw with
film lip, denOting firmness and detemina-
tion.
Judge POrter's career has be II noted for
great industry. sterling integrity AID close
10 business, negleCtiug nothing
that he undertook to do, and as
he has been uniformly
in all his undertakings.
His superior education, his strong
practical everyday common sense,
his correct knowledge OF human nature,
and his amiable temper. have made him
popular. Judge Porter is
known, too, 10 possess both moral and phys
icai courage, and is rot afraid Of men,
mobs or rings. He i a close reasOner and
a good debater, and will carry the flag Of
the Democracy triumphautly through the
canvass.