Centre Democrat. [volume] (Bellefonte, Pa.) 1848-1989, 1883-11-15
General Grant : Letter.
GIVING MS REASONS 'FoR DEFENDING GTS
PDRTER.

New YoRK. November g The follow.
ing il the iull text of General Grant,
letter TO General Porter, bri, hy men
toned yesterday
As there is now some discussion as to
the probable reasons for my change oi
mind IN regard to your case, how pend.
ing before the people OF the United
States, deem 1t proper that | SHOULD
give them myself.
In the first place, | never believed
you to DO a traitor, AS many affected
to believe. thought knew sou too
we'll to believe Tor Que moment hat you
would accept the pay, rank aud com.
maui you held for the purpuse OF hr.
traying the cause you were protesting
TO serve. Then, too. your services had
been too conspiclous as staff officer at
the beginning OF the var and rs = com
minder OF troops later TO support sucn
"a theory for a moment. But | did be-,
lieye 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 TO accept the
verdict Of a court martial, composed a.
one which tried you was, some OF the
members OF that court knew person.
ally, aud hsd great confidence iG their
judgment and jIstIce. supposed you
bad shared IN tins feeling towards Pope,
and While not more guilty than oihrrs,
you were unfortunate IN being IlAc,
in a position where specifications could
be made, showing this hostility.
After the close OF the war, when
was requesIed to read our nes deren-e
| read II with the feeling above de, crib
ed. At tue same time | read the other
side as prepared-or iurni,hrd-b, Gen
Pope. Tnis gave maps showing the 20
silions OF the Two armies, substantially
ss shown by the 6rsl of the diagram
presented by Mr.. l. ,rd. of san Fr,ncl,.
co, from whom | copied in the article in
your case-snd did not indicate the
pre,ence Of any other force than Jack.
sons, Then, too, it appeared that ou
had actually received sn order at about
Eve or hali.psst FIVE in the afternoon OF
August 29, TO attack the enemy's i,nS,
and that, too, At a time when fierce
battle was ranging ia front.
was hrst shaken in my views, how.
ever, when such man ~ General Ter.
~, who unitrs the lawyer with the sol
dier, aud mao Of high character and
ability, and who had believed az had,
and possibly wore, after many weeks OF
investigation. should entirely vinrica,e
you, and he sustained. too, by men of
the known ability 81 his colleagues on
the Board. Until in 1881 re-examined
FOR myself, my belief was, that on the
29th of August, 1862, great battle was
fought between General Pope, cum.
manding the Union forces, and General
jackson, commanding the Confederate
forces that you. with corps of twrlve
or moro thou apt men, stood in poal
tion across the right f,nk OF Jaokson.
and where you could easily get into bis
rear thas you recrived an order TO do
80 about 0 or half past O'Clock. which
you refused to obey because Of clouds OF
dust in your front, which, you contend
ed, indicated 81 enemy in suuerior
force TO you that you allowed Pope To
get l-aten, while you stood looking Idly
on. withudi raising an arm TO help him.
With this understanding, and without
= doub. as to the correctness Of il,
condemned YOU. Now. on full inves.
tigation OF ,hs facts. find that the bnt
tie was fought on the 30 b Of August /:
that yoLr corps commanded directly hy
you In per.on, lost greater percentage
than any oilFr corps engaged that the
haH.past 4 order OF the day before did
not reach yOu until night iaIl that