The Evening critic. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1881-1885, 1882-09-05
FITz-JosN PORTER DEFENDED

by Ono of His StRn Oncers-A Tissue
of -Fitz-JOhD Seeks Justice
at tho Hands of Congress by So
Iicitcd outside InGuence-One OF
His Lettcrs-The Old New YORK
Home of General StOneman. POSI-
bly, CaIifornia's Next Governor.
Special Cor. of TIE EVENING Critic.
CHAUTAUouA LAKE, n. ", Sept. 2.-To-day
found man who really speaks strong words
In favor OF Fltz.John Porter, and who believes
Fitz-John not only did the right thing whom
ho refused to obey the orders OF MaIor.General
Mcdowell, his superior ofllcor, but that he per-
formed q wise and humane act In that memoir
able refusal to charge the foe. Instoad OF
roprimanding Porter, my ncwly-discovcrcd
friend oulogized him-built monument OF
rosobuds, topped II on with daisies, and namod
It Fitz-John Porter. The gontloman who had
tho good words for the late distinguished
soldier ls the Rov. Mr.. Clark, an aged Unlver-
salist minister from jamestown, this State. He
was up here to-day and had quite a pleasant
conversation with him. His head and chopped
whlslsers are white as an early snow, and his
Intelligent eyes sparkled when, In our CONVEX
sation, the name Of
Fitz-John Porter
was spoken. suppose opened rather rough
on the good.natured yet lrm'opinioncd old
gentleman whom said;
''porter is not very popular In the present
Congress. I've heard half dozen distin-
guished ex-Union officers who are now mem-
bers of the House say that he should have
been ordered shot when court.martlaled, aud
II the bill had been up for discussion In the
House during the past winter there would
have been some speeches hoter'n molten lead
poured at him."
The minister looked at me I'm passion OF
heat and said
"a better soldier never lived than Fltz John
Porter. He was kind, bravo and true. Hehad
m n
OF all the officers who were not Jealous OF
him."
on tho part OF Porter. Iheard n distinguished
gentleman-a brigadiergeneral in tho Union
army, and now, an Ohio member, who was
there or Whereabouts ut the time Porter re-
fused TO come TO time-say that
Porter Was Full of Jealousy,
and refused to obey Maior-General Nc.
Dowells orders, because Mcdowell had won
the principal laurels up to that timo, and Por.
ter desired that the move tho army was then
making should be failure"
"That Is all CANNON, sir, answered Mr..
Clark. "Do you not know that Mcdowell has
not charged that he ordered Porter to mako
the move he is alleged to have ordered?"
"No, am not aware OF that fact. Seems to
me the evidence fled before the court. martial
that tried Porter shows that Mcdowell did
order Porter TO move his army, and that Por
ter refused three or four times-refused
absolutely and without reserve or reason"
"Mistaken you are. Mcdowell did not order
Porter, and Porter, II he did refuse, was right,
for he saved the men he had at his command
A letter from Porter,
which received shortly after 1t was written,
and am for the bill placing him back to his
Army roll"
The letter was written In December last, and
| asked the Rev. Mr.. Clark to use all his in1u-
ence on members OF Congress and others In
power to help the passage Of the bill restoring
him to his rank in the Regular Army. The
letter appealed for influence rs one Intimate
friend would solicit urgently ofanother friend
and closed by requesting that the fact that the
letter was written be not made known, as the
| erect OF influence before Congress would be
very much curtailed II 1t became known that
evidently desires II to be thought that It Is his
friends who are seeking his restoration to the
Regular Army, and that he himself is leaning
back on his oars, waiting for justice. This is
POrter's Pet Trick.
"Then you believe the bill to restore Mr..
Porter VIII be passed by Congress ?"
"Oh, yes"
"You seem to have been on Intimate terms
with him during the war;"
Tho minister's eyes pOddcd the least bit.
81 was on his staff before was made chap
lain. / was with him at Antietam, and think
understand tho case made against him. II
is all wrong"
After had used the names of two brlgadier.
generals and one colonel who were about the
scenes OF Porterism when he refused to obey
orders and who are now denouncing him In
the House, the Minister answered:
"Each OF those three gentlemen are Jealous
OF Porter. They were disgruntled at him be-
cause they could not be promoted"
And he proceeded to specify reasons to show
why they were dlsgruntled and Jealous and
analysed pretty thoroughly Its situation.
"Then YOU believe Porter did right in his
command; that he did not disobey orders from
a superior officer; that he is a man suitable TO
be placed as an ofllcer In our regular Army;
that he would not refuse to obey II another
test was put to him; that, In other words, he
will pass, as It shouldT'
81 believe all you say"
General StOneman's Old Home.
Shortly after Mr.. Clark had uttered the last
| sentence luoted, and after he had sat drum
| ming the piazza with his cane few moments,
| he tapped me on the shoulder, and, pointing
| his index finger south along the lake, ejacu-
| lated:
| "Lookl Peer away down south along the
| lake. two or three miles south OF Ravenwood-
down through that oriice In the clump OF
| chestnuts yonderl Do you see that beautiful
| old farm laying on the side of the hill p
replied anirmatiyely.
"well, sir, that is the old stoneman farm.
| That is where General Stoneman, who has lust
| been nominated by the Democrats OF Califor-
| MIA for Governor, was raised. Yes, sir, he was
reared there, and when chunk OF boy
had received pretty good education at
Jamestown, he went to West Point from
whence he went into the Army, where he dis.
tinguished himself"
t.Then you knew him? ?"
| "Perfectly WELL"
| "Cood man, is he ~
/
here on the old farm, you'd think he was Just
| plain farmer-he's so common"
"GencraI SLOVENIAN Is Not POliti.
clan,
ishe|
ono, Sir, and that Is how he came TO be
nominated. He Is a business man, and good
one, TOO. He is intensely popular and Will be
elected. His brother, Byron Stoneman, lives
on the farm here, and cares more for good
stoer or fine sheep than all the political
onices. He has sister here, also, who is a
teacher In our schools The Stoneman is q
sturdy, honest and bralny family"
| The SLOVENIAN farm overlooks Chautauqua
Lake from the eastern bank, and Is one OF the
prettiest In New York. 1t is an old place, in o
high state OF cultivation, and my serloui
friend insisted that the family Is as highly
cultivated as the farm. l presume, from
neighborhood reports, that he speaks well.
CEDRIC.
Want 10 Run Him for Congress.
Cleveland Herald