The National tribune., 1882-01-14
GRANT AND FITz JOHN PORTED

IOKh, december p 1851.
The PRESIDENT, Washington, D. C.
DEAR SIR: At the request of General Fitz John
Porter have recently reviewed his trial and the
testimony furnished before the SchOield court OF
inquiry held in 1919 giving to the subject three full
days of careful reading and consideration and much
thought in the intervening time. Phe reading OF
the whole of this record has thoroughly convinced
me that for these nineteen years | have been doing
gallant and efficient soldier very great injustice
in thought and sometimes in speech. / feel it in
cumbent on me now to do whatever lies in my
power to remove from him and from his family the
stain upon his good name. / feel this the more
incumbent upon me than | should ii l had been
corps commander only, or occupying any other
command in the army than the one which l did:
but as general l had it possibly In my power 10
have obtained fer him the hearing which he only
got at later day, and as President certainly had
the power to have orderd that hearing. In justif-
cation for my injustice TO General Porter, can
only state that shortly after the closed his de
Tense was brought to my attention, but read it in
connection with a sketch of the field where his
otfenses were said TO have been committed which L
now see, since perfect maps have been made by the
engineers department of the whole field, were
totally incorrect showing the position OF the two
armies. have read it in connection with statements
made Oh the other side against General Porter ana
afraid possibly with some prejudice IN the case
although General Porter was man whom per
sonaly knew and liked before, but l got the I'M
preston, with many others, that there was naIi-
hearted support of General Pope III ms campaigns
and that General Porter while possibly not more
guilty than Others happened to be placed IN posi-
ton where he could be made responsible for his
Indifference, and that the punishment was not
severe one for such Otfense. am no" convinced
that he rendered faithful, efficient, and lntelgent
services and the fact that he was retained IN CON-
mand of corps for months after his offences were
said to have been committed is in his favor Wnat
| would ask in General Porters behalf from you IS
that if you can possibly give the time, tnat you
give the subject the same study and thought That
Z of
dictate. But, feeling that you Will not nave 'no
time for such an investigation for II would tahe
several days time, l would ask that the "hV!o
matter be laid before the Attorney loI 1
examination and opinion. Hoping that you VII
be able to do this much for an officer VINO mas SUI
fered for nineteen years punishment that never
should be inflicted upon any one but the most
guilty, am, very truly yours, T. ;. 0hANi'
The foregoing is accompanied with letter IRON
General Porter to Senator Sewell, of New jersey
one to the President, and the following from uen'
Terry:
ST. PAUL MINI, August %, 1919.
DEAR GENERAL: Soon after the publication u
the report of the Schofied board you wrote 10 lno
thanking as one of the board for our action II
your case. l intended to reply to your letter d.
once, but just then General Sheridan desired ne
to accompany him on visit TO some posts III my
department, and delayed my reply until my re-
turn to ST. Paul then, i'll the multitude OF things
to which had to attend, forgot to make IT..
write now to say that it is not thanks but pardon
which | should ask from you. For years did you
wrong in thought, and sometimes wrong in speech:
1t is true that this was through ignorance; but
had not the right to be so ignorant might have
learned something at least of the truth had dlI-
gently sought it. If you find anything in my action
as a member of the board which you can accept as
an atonement fer the wrong which | did you
shall be more than gratifed With great respect
and admiration, am yours, most sincerely,
ALFRED II. TERRY, Major General
FITz JOHN PORTER, New York.