National Republican., 1883-06-01
An Address by Gen. h. V. BOynton Before
Burnside Post Of the Grand Army.
A Reply to Senator Cameron's Speech on
the Fitz-John Porter Bill,
The Generals Loyalty Established by PortOr's Own
Reports aud Much Other Evidence.
His Fidelity Proved Before Virginia Went
Out OF tho Union.

dOTt huTnhlub DObb VI bnb 0NbHu army VI Vho
Republic, of this city. 1t is in reply to state
mep,s questioning his early loyalty contained
in the speech Of Senator Don Cameron upon
the bill restoring Fitz-John Porter TO the
army. 1t is furnished for publication in
compliance with resolution Of that post:
COMRADES: It is the province Of such or
ganization as this TO keep alive recollections
OF the field, to stand shoulder TO shoulder with
living comrades, and to defend the memory
of the hero dead.
| have been asked 10 lay before you to-
night evidence to controvert the declaration
of Senator Don Cameron that Gen. George IA.
Thomas was not at the outset loyal officer,
but that IL was the persuasion Of Fitz-John
Porter which brought him TO see his duty,
and saved his services to the union cause.
This speech of Mr.. Cameron's was not
careless statement, made without reflection,
but it was prepared with deliberation, as is
shown by the fact that it was printed and dis
tributed in advance of its delivery In the sem
ate. This will appear the moro remarkable
as its utter lack of foundation is made to ap-
Dear. Rising in the senate on the eleventh
Of January last to explain his vote in favor
of restoring Fitz-Jobn Porter TO the army,
Mr.. Cameron said:
Firz.John Porter. in April, 1861, then major on
the staff Of Gen. Scott, was sent by the War de-
partment to Harrisburg Pa. to aid me state ,te
authorities in organizing and forwarding the
troops Of that state TO the seat OF war at washing
ton.
After commencing Porters zeal, tact, in
dustry, and wonderful vigilance, the senator
continued:
1t became my duty TO take charge Of the rail-
way from Harrisburg to Baltimore, and while 80
engaged an incident occurred In my onice when
impressed me greatly at the time, and which, II
has always seemed to me. should atone to a great
extent for any errors Gen. Porter may have COM
TO a great extent through him, in my Judgment,
that the services of Gen. George H. Thomas were
secured to the side oil the union.
Gen. Thomas, then Nni. Thomas, was stationed
at Carlisle barracks; there were at the same time
two other majors of the army stationed at the same
place. have forgotten their names (but that is
immaterial, for the records Of the War department
will show, when an order was received from the
War department by messenger VINO came across
the country, directing Mai. Porter to send the
troops then at Carlisle TO Washington with direo-
tions to have them cut their way through. Is
that this Of the darkest periods OF the war;
The capitol Of the nation was menaced BY an
enemy camping within few miles OF 1t, aud had
but a handful Of men for its protection.
Porter, with quick perception OF the gravity Of
the situation, ana showing thorough knowledge
OF the fitness OF the man for the duty to be per.
formed selected Thomas from the three majors,
And him ,5a TO report pas 70 s q" oSs m
Thomas arrived there promptly the same evening.
When informed of the duty TO be performed,
between % the two oiicers which, continued until
morning, and made lasting impression on my
mind. Thomas argued against the war, taking
the ground that the trouble had been brought
upon the country by the abolitonists OF the north
nnd he Sas as @
Porter took the position that he, Thomas as a
soldier had no right TO look at the cause OF the
trouble, but officer of the United States army
it was his duty TO defend his flag whenever 1t was
attacked, whether by foes from without or from
as have ever heard any man plead cause In
which his whole heart was engaged, and 1t was
this pleading which caused Thomas 10 arrive All
do not say that Thomas refused to obey his or.
ders. but do say that he hesitated ,bnd would
much have preferred that the duty had devolved
upon another. Thomas was Virginian and mad
as many other good and patriotic men, great
doubts as to the advisability Of the government
coercing the states back into the union that had
by their legislatures formally withdrawn; but
having that night decided TO remain with the
union, from that time forward there was no doubt,
no hesitancy, no waverng, but an earnest, hearty
support to the side which had for It's motto the
is among the brightest, best, and purest OF its
military heroes. II z-John Porter was to any
onr list of military heroes, ask should not this
country be grateful to him2 Think it should.
battle of Bull Run, for which he was tried, con.
fess my inability TO judge.
This imputation against the early loyalty
of Gen. Thomas, made, as it is, by senator o.
the United States, and based, as heeclaims
and doubtless believes, upon personal knowl'
edge, calls for the serious attention of this
officers friends.
More than twenty-five years have elapsed
since Thomas, breaking away from his south
ern associates and life long army friends, drew
his sword for the union. In all those year
until now no northern man has questioned
his prompt and steadfast loyalty
1t is my purpose to present in compact form
lhe evidence which proves, beyond room 70
doubt, that Senator Don Cameron is more ig
norant of the action Of Gen. Thomas on tn
occasion to which he refers than he confesse
to be of the record Of Fitz-John Porter at thu
second hattie of Rull RIM.
Tho only evidence needed is the officia
report of Fitz-John Porter himself concern
ing the very movement to which the senate
alludes, and covering also the identical conver
sation with Gen. Thomas, which the senator
doubtless through inaccurate memory, now 81
seriously misrepresents. Ten days after thi
movement and this conversation, namely
May /, 1851 Porter, then major and assistan
adjutant general on the staff of Gen. Scott
sent an official report to the War department
in regard to the discharge of the duties witt
which he had been charged at Harrisburg
From this paper, now on the files, it appear
among many other details that Porter was q
Harrisburg ON the twenty-hrst Of April 1851
awaiting the arrival of Maj. George II
Thomas with four companies of cavalry fror
Carlisle barracks One brief paragraph fror
that portion of the report relating to tn
events of that day destroys the senator's entir
speech Says Maj Porter:
Late that afternoon Mai. Thomas. with fou
hundred cavalry lulsInOunteu), tOlernDly equipped
arrived ut Harrisburg. By darkwe had embarke
on the cars and. followed by the bridge builder
and MATERIAL we reached York near midnight.
Arriving late that afternoon" and leavin
"by dark !" where was that pleading wit
Thomas which began that evening in Do
Camerons office, and continued until morn
ing" and "made lasting impression o
his mind2 1t is perfectly clear that neithe
Thomas nor Porter spent the night, nor an
other considerable time in Mr. Cameron
office.
While this ends the case so far as Mr.. Can
eron presents it, by the evidence of the yer
witness whom he CITES there was a conyersG
tion at the train while the soldiers were board
ing Ii, in which Gen. Thomas took part. Tn
is also officially reported by Porter, and 9
before, TO the confusion of the senator's stor,
Says Maj. Porter:
The Officers accompanying Maj. Thomas wei
without exception southern men. They were Il
anxious, In doubt as to what should be their In
mediate action, and gloomy as TO the future The
had their private conferences aud cvidenu
looked TO MAJ. ThOmass action as their presel
guide. | knew Muj, Thomas's views had Il
doubt of his course. But / did fear that some,
not all, of his subordnates would tender the
Ger had done so before leaving Carlisle barrack
and had gone 20 his home in Maryland. Just be
fore entering the cars, which were about to star
one of them, turning 10 Nal Thomas, and In III
hearing OF all the others and of Col Andrew Po
ter aud myself, asked; "Tom, what shall we do
Washington and there we go. There will be tin
enough after getting there Tor you to decide wht
This incident and other events satisfied me tha