Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1882-01-19
FlTz JOHN PORTER.
General Porter's Appeal In His Own Behsi1
General Grants Recent Letter GO the
President.

<3ecaraa porter's Appeal In His Own Behalf
General Grants Recent Letter to the
President.
The following correspondence, Of general in
terest, has recently been made public:
GENERAL poRrER's APPEAL TO THE PRESIDENT.
NEW YORK, Decemb er %, ISL
To the President, Washington. D. c.:
SIR: respectfully represent that, In Jann-
airy, 1853, by court-martial, WAS most unlusIy
fenced "to be cashiered and forever disquali-
fed from holding any Office of trust or prom:
under the Government OF the = nitHn ~ that
court have protested my innocence OF an
wrong done, and asserted the injustice OF the
sentence, and, presenting sustalning eviuenG T.
have from time to time urged rehearing. In
1878 the President, in orde to be fully INFORMED
OF the facts of the case ana 70 De siaf sr.
pointed board of army officers TO examine inoo
the merits Of the case, and report what acuon,
# any in their opinion y msuee That
Board, after thorough examination INTO the
facts Of the case, vindicated me in every. re-
spect, and reported that. in their opinion, JUS
tice required at the hands of the Presideng
such action as may be necessary to annul ana
set aside the findings and sentence of the court
which that sentence deprived me-sucn restO
ration to take effect from the date OF dismlssa!
from the service And now res pectIuny anu
urgently represent that the sentence - e
continuing sentence, and SO long as IL exisIs ~
is within the reach and under the CON
and burdensome originally, and lasting
through many years, 1t is, Tor str3hgs
er reasons st;on the qS5ecu ror now mat It Il
proved to have been founded in error and to
be unjust; and respectfully ask you, If con-
of the Advisory Board, to annul and set aside
the findings and sentence Of the court-martial,
and nominate me to the Senate for the restora.
ton Of my rank in the army under the act OF
Congress of 1883, allowing that mode of redress
of the wrong committed by the court-mardal.
those most dear to me, but in justice TO tho
army to which belonged, and which has ever
believed in me, and to the Government which
yours, FITz JOHN PORTER
GENERAL GRANT TO PRESIDENT ARTHUR
NEW YORK, December ~, 1881
The President Washington, D. G.:
DEAR SIN, At the request Of General Fit,
John Porter have recently reviewed his trial
Schofield court of inquiry held in 1879, giving
to the subject three full days of careful read
the intervening time The reading Of the
whole of this record has thoroughly convinced
me that. for these nineteen years, have been
injustice in thought, and sometimes ia speech.
feel it incumbent upon me now to do what
him and from his family the stain upon
his good name. I feel this more incuna-
bent upon me than I should if had been
-
er command in the army than the one which
did; but as General l had it possibly in my
power to have obtained for him the hearing
which he only got Mt q later day; and, as Presi-
dent. certainly had the power to have order
ed that hearing. In justification for my in
justice to General Porter, can only state that,
shortly after the war closed his defense was
brought to my attention, but read it in con-
nection with q sketch of the field where his
onenses were said to have been commtted,
which now see. since perfect maps have been
made by the Engineers Department OF tho
whole field, were totally incorrect, as showing
the position of the two armies. have read
it in connection with the statements
Porter, and am afraid possibly, with some
little prejudice in the case, although General
Porter was man whom personally knew and
liked before; but got an impression, with
port Of General Pope in his campaigns, and
that General Porter, while possibly not more
guilty than others, happened to be placed in
position where he could be made responsible
was not a severe one for such an orense. I
am now convinced he rendered faithful, efia-
Gent and intelligent service, and the fact that
he was retained in command OF a corps Tor
been committed is I'm his favor. s-1t-1t
What would ask in General Porter's behalf
from you is, that, if you can possibly give the
time, you give the subject the same study and
thought have given it. and then act as your
judgment may dictate. But, feeling you will
not have time for such investigation flor II
would take several days time) would. ask
that the whole matter be laid before the At
torney-General for his examination and opin-
ion.
an officer who has suffered for nineteen years
q punishment that never should be inflicted
upon any but the most guilty, am very truly
yours, U. 5. GRANT.