The Worthington advance., 1882-01-12
4 THE FlTz john PORTER CASE.
Ten Port Gives to the Public His Appeal to
the President for Restoration to the Army
Likewise Gen. Grants Letter to the Presi-
dent and a Friendly Epistie from Gen. Terry.

ANAoWise Gen. Grants Letter to the Presi-
dent and a Friendly Epist,e from Gen. Terry.
n,,,p ronTER's APPEAL TO THE PRESIDENT
u, MEN YORK, Dec. 23, 1881: TO the President.
January, 1864. by court-martial, was most un-
justly declared guilty Of charges against me, and
sentenced s to DO cashierel and forever disqualified
119M nynnt i,o,;I. ho'ns any o1ics Of trust Or
tod statey t:oa he ga s'e ., 'a, the
verdict Of that court l have protested, my
justice OF the sentence, and presenting satisfactory
evidence have from time to time urged hearing.
In 1873 the president, in order to be fully informed
ot tbs facts of the case, and to be enabled to act
a board ct army officers to examine into
aas;or the iner'r OF the case and report what
Ssss isHn REQUIRED soa sS be akc o t'2, y apao1' 29S'
That board, after thorough examination Of the
facts Of the case, vncatcd me in every respect and
reported that in their opinion justice required at
necessary TO annn and set aside the findings and
sentence of the court-martial ami restore
lnsto,,,' me to d1.; the positions Of ~hiel, tHat
to e nts s Of disssa i1f 4e is
service and respectfully and urgerty represent
that tie sentences is q ccniruiif sehtt;nce. and so
long as it eAists is within the reach and under the
control of the executive power: that harsh and
burcnsonle originally, and lasting through many
years. is for stronger reasons subject for the
sons'dcrat,on com, rat, :. and action Of the executive
ccnfounded with error and unjust, and I respect
fully ask yon. if convinced of the Justice of the
recommendation of the advisory hoard, to annul
aud set aside the findings and sentence Of tho
court martial and nominate me to the senate for
restoration to my rank in the army under the act of
congress Of 1868 allowing that mode of
red redress onse Of ,n",,,, the wrong commited by
not merely in Justice to me and those most dear to
Inc, but in Justice to the army to which belonged
an. which has ever believed in me- and to the gov
spectfuly yours. iSignedl FITz JOHN PORTER.
GEN. GRANTS LETTER.
NEW YORK, Dec. ::' lSsl.-To tho President,
Washington, d. C.-Dear Sir: At the request of
trial and the testimony furnished before the Scho-
field court Of inquiry held in 1879. giving to the
subject three full DAYS, Of, careful
e he a e Ge aaa reaane Of %Sa
Of this record has thoroughly convinced me that
i.r these nineteen years l have been doing gall
liant and efficient soldier very great injustice in
thought and sometimes in speech. feel it in
cnmh"nt now to do whatever lies in my power TO re-
move from him and from his family the stain upon
his good name. feel this more incumbent upon
only, or occupied any other command in the army
than the one which did But as general had it
possibly in my power to have obtained fol him Il
hsaring ,s ,n which he e,os5dy+ only got at later
the power 10 have ordered a hearing.
In justification for my injustice to Gen Porfer, i
can only state that shortly after the closed his
defensc was brought to my attention. but read in
connection with sketch of the fed where his
ofteaces we're said to have been committed, which,
s;ns, perfect maps haye been made by the en-
incorrect as showing the position of the two
armies. haze read it ih connection with
statements made OH the other SIDE against
Gen. Porter: and, am afraid possibly with some
little prejudice il the case, although Gen Porter
was a man whom personally E,low .tlll liked but
got an impression with many others ;tlat there
canpaens,and that Gen Porter, while probably MOI
0'S to be ss pscea 'ia IN '1'S po:,ion Di"st phsft
he could be made responsible for his indiffcr-
such an offense. am now convinced that he rem
1ered faithful, efficient and intelligent service, an.
the fact that he was retained in command OF the
corps for months after his offenses were said
to have been committed is in his
iavot What I weuld ask in Gen. Porter S behalf
from YOU is, that i ;'o; can possibly give the time,
that you give the subject the same study and
thought have given it, then act as your judgment
may dictate: but feeling that you vii! not have time
for such investigation, for it would take several
days time. would ask that the whole matter
nation and opinion. Hoping that YOU will be able te
do this much for all officer who has suffered fol
nineteen years punishment which never should be
pnjs ns'sa on any ssncd knt the most guilty. s
GEN. TERRy's LETTER
ST PAUL, Minn., Aug. 20, ls79.-Dear Gene.
raj: Soon after the publication OF the report Of the
Schofeld board you wrote me, thanking me as one
o. the board for our action i'll your case intend
ed to reply to your letter at once. but Just tller
Gen. Sheridan desired me to accompany him on
visit io some bost in my department, anG
delayed my reply util my return to st. Paul
Then, in a multitude of things to which had to ut.
tend. forgot to make it. l write you to say that il
is not thanks, but pardon. which should ask from
you for the years did you wrong in thought, ant
sometimes wrong in speech. 1t is true that
this was through ignorance, but / had no rigl
to be 60 ignorant. l might nave learned
something .. least Of The tr,;th had I diligently
sought it. If you find anything in my action rs
member of the board which you can accept as
atonement for the wrong did yo1R shall be more
then gratiied. With great respect and admiration
l am, Yours most sincerely,
[SigncdJ ALFRED H. TERRY
TO Maj. Gen. Fitz JOHN Porter. New York