The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1877-04-27
LET JIlSTICE BE DONE.

powers that perC, however, selected Major
General Fitz John Porter, one Ut the able,t
generals in the Union Army, for the Nsrr-
fee. On the 9th of November, 1862, a
general Court Martial was illegally ordered
by Gen. Halleck, upon charges preferred by
Gen. Roberts, then member of Pope's
staff. On the 10th of January, lS63,a pack
ed Court Martial found Porter guilty, and
he was not only cashiered, but disqualified
frem holding any Office of trust or profit un-
der the Government of the United states.
Since the close of the war the evidence of
Gems Lee and Longstreet, aud the Confcd-
crate Archives, now at Washington, show
his entire innocence of the charges preferred
against him. The Fifth Corps Association
has demanded reheariug for their favorte
General. The Army of the Potomac has
sustained the demand. Legislatures of diff
ferent States have seconded the demand. In
lg74 the following Resolution, offered by the
writer of this article was almost unanirnous-
" passed by the Legislature of til, State
then almost two-thiids X puhlicgD:
WHEREAS, Fi;z John Porter ~ 20. during
the late war, at and prevlo4s 81 iDr battle of
Bull Run in August, one thuu-und eight
hundred and sixty two, nImmrnd"d the
Fifth Corps of the Army oi Jft Potomac;
And whcrsqs, the said Fz Jpnn Porter
was tried by = court martial upon various
charges preferred by General Pope, then
commanding the Army Of Nirguu,, and wns
found guilty of several char ,os and speciii-
cations aud was duly sentenced;
Ind aghered8, II - .iegei that since the
close of the late war evidence has been dis
covered which, if produced, Noula entirely
exculpsts the said Fita John Porter from
the charges made agaiDst hian, AMI thus re-
move the stain upon his previous spotless
charaater,and remove the disgrace reflected
upon bis corps and the entire army there
fore, be it
Rcsoirea By the Senate and House of Repre-
scatatirts of the Commonwealth Of PenAsylva-
nia in General assembly met, That the Pres-
dent OF the United States be requested to
appoint another court martial, before which
the said Fitz John Porter may appear and
give such additional evidence as may bear
upon his guilt or innocence Of the charges
preferred against him, and the Governor of
the State of Pennsylvania il hereby request
ed 10 forward copy Of this resolution to
the President of the United States.
Asa contribution to the history of the
times, we also give the following letters
from the "Orleans Princes" then serving
upon Gen. McClellan's staff;
80 RUE VERNEr PARIS lie 8 Mai 1874.
SIR,
have to state that during the time was
in the United States Service as personal
aide. de- camp to Major General Mcclellan,
never saw & never heard OF, anything, that
could iD the slightest degree justify the ex-
traordinary charge of giving Tor allowing
TO give) military information to the Confed-
crate army, charge brought as you inform
me in your letter Of the 4th ult against
General +. J. Porter.
Without being appointed on his staff, !
knew the General well e being several times
detached to do duty with him in advanced
guards, had different opportunities, prin-
cipaly in the battle of Gaines Mill, of wit
Messing his most brave Il gallant conduct
beg to remain,
Sir,
Very truly youis,
r u ORLEANS
due de Chartres
Late Captain & A. d. G. U. S. A.
Chef d 'Escadrons 9th Chasseurs,
| The hOnble. G.. B. Brockway, member o
| the Legislature of Pennsylvania.
PARIS l29 faubourg d Honore May 4th 1877
SIR
On my return to Paris, after q two week.
stay in the country, find your letter, ant
hasten to address you my answer, apologiz
ing for the delay.
served on the Staff of General McClel
Ian from September 1861 to July 1862
During that time, | was not, properly speak
ing on the staff OF any other general, but
accompanied very often General Mcclellan
to General Fitz john Porter's Headquarters
spent many day with him and his staff.oii
GERS, under his tent, or visiting his troops
and, lastly, | was detached ON special duty
with him on the 9th OF June, and had tht
honor of being under his orders during tha
bloody day on the field of battle of Gaine
Mill.
All what | saw, or heard, or knew durin,
that time is in direct contradiction with tn
most extraordinary charges which you men
ton as having been brought against him
and, TO your question-whether ] have an
knowledge of, or belief in the alleged fact @
an imprudent or treacherous rse being mad
of the plans of the ualon fortiticatious b
General Porter or his staff can emphatic
ally answer in he negative. think it i'm
possible for any one who saw them durn
all the trials of a difficult campaign to enter
tain such belief.
Allow me TO add that no treachery OF IN
discretion in the Army was necessary I
supply the Confederates with accurate infoi
nation regarding the Notifications aroun
Washington. Hundreds of suffers, dealer
and contrabands, were, during sever;
months, in constant communication wit
the federal camps; and the enemy's spi,
had, 10 consequence Of the neighboIhood {
the capital, every possible facilities.
would, therefore, be very strange if tt
Headquarters of the Army OF Northern vi
ginia had not been able to collect in th
, way all the information which WAS wantt
regarding ihe Qualifications.
The documents which would have been rea
ly valuable for the ennemy werethe plans
= campaign and the marching orders of Il
r Potomac regarding these also, have on
, to repeat my assertion that | neither knO
of, nor believe in,the charge brought again
General Porter.
e should wish to put this letter under Il
C eyes of General Porter, and, as | do n
= know where to address him, take the Ii
erty to ask you TO be kind enough 10 dire
= the enclosed letter TO him.
v remain, Sir,
!. yours truly
- LOUIS PnILIPrE D'ORLEANs,
> Comte dc Paris
late Captain * A. d. c..
The Hon. G. b. Brockway,
Member of the House OF Representative
s of Pennsylvania.
d Lincoln, Henry Wilson, Greeley, Curt
l. and other prominent Republicans promi'
Y | Porier that insLice shnnlh ha done him