The Portland daily press., 1883-11-08
FITz JOHN PORTER.
Another letter of vindication from Gem
eraI Grant,

eraI Grant.
New YORK, Nov 7.-General Grant has
written letter to Fitz John Porter, dated the
Sd, giving his reasons for his change of mind
regarding the case of the latter. He says: ST
never believed you to be traitor as many af-
fected to believe but did believe that General
Pope was SO odious to some of the officers in
the east that cordial support was not given
him by them. was disposed too, to accept
the verdict OF the court martial composed as
the one was which tried you. 1 supposed that
you had shared in this feeling towards General
Pope, and while not more guilty than others
you were unfortunate in being placed in posi-
tion where specifications could be made show
ing this hostility. Until in 1881, when'I re-ex-
amined for myself my belief was that on 29th
of August, 1862, great battle was fought be-
tween General Pope, commanding the Union
forces, and General jackson, commanding the
confederate forces; that you, with a corps of
1900 or more men, stood in a position across
the right flank of jackson and where you
could easily get into his rear; that you re-
ceived an order to do so about five or half-past
five, which you refused to obey because of
clouds of dust in your front which you con-
tended indicated the enemy In superior force
to you; that you allowed General Pope to get
beaten while you stood idly looking on without
raising an arm to help him.
With this understanding and without
doubt as to the correctness of ii, I condemned
you. Now, on a full investigation of the
facts, find that the battle was fought on the
Both day Of August; that your corps command
ed directly by you in person lost greater
percentage than any other corps engaged; that
the half-past four order of the day be-
fore did not not reach you until nightfall; that
your immediate superior had cautioned you
early in the day that you were too far out to
the front then; that General Pope had eau
toned you against bringing on an engagement
except under such circumstances as he de-
scribed, and that in any event you must be
prepared to fall back behind Bull Run that
night, where it would be necessary for you to
be to receive supplies; that from II O'Clock Of
the 9th you were confronted by force twice
your own number, Of whose presence you had
positive proof, while General Pope did not
know of it. This last fact is shown by the
working Of the half-past four order. 1t directed
you to attack the enemy's right and to get in
his rear. General Pope's circular of the morn
ing of the 29th said General Lee was advanc-
ing by way of Thoroughfare Gap, and at the
rate at which he was moving would be up the
night of the 30th or morning of the 31st.
In his testimony before the court martial
which tried you, he said under oath that he did
not know of the arrival of Lees command un-
til o'clock of the 29th. an hour and half
after he had dictated the order for your at
TACK. lnlS circular ana testimony prove con-
clusively that jackson, and jackson alone,
was the enemy he intended you to attack.
Your knowledge of this fact as we'll as the fact
that you had another force quite double yours
in addition in your front would have been suf-
fcient justification for not attacking even if
the order had been received in time. OF course
this would not apply if a battle had been rag
ing between jackson and Pope, but at the
hour you received the order all was quiet"
The General says he hasno doubt his change
OF mind would have occurred in 1867 had he
then made an investigation, and concludes:
"As long as / have voice 1t shall be raised in
your support without any reference to the ef-
feet upon me or Others While men, one at
least, have been restored to the army because of
gallantry aud wounds, after conviction and
sentence not only to be dismissed but to be
confined in the penitentiary, when there is no
doubt of their guilt, and given all their pay
for the years they were out of the service, /
can see no reason for your having less. Your
restoration to the army simply would regard
as very inadequate and unjust restoration. /
hope for your thorough ivindication, not only
by Congress but in the minds of your country
men,"