Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1883-02-17

This subject of much congressional debate
Of an earnest character is native Of New
Hampshire. He was born at Portsmouth in
1923, and graduated with honor at West
Point in 1915 As Second Lieutenant of the
Fourth Artillery, he fought in Mexico at the
battles Of Cerro Gordp. Contrsras, Molino
del Rey, in the sieges of Vera Cruz aud Cha
pultepec, AID in the capture Of the City Of
n exico, where he was wounded. His honor
able services in the campaign won him dis
tincsion, and he was successfully brevesed as
Captain and NJ ior duTing its progress. He
! wSs appointed instructor Of artillery ard cav
airy az West Point in the year 1S49. and
sarved ss Assis ant Adju,ant General Of the
Utah expedition from 1857 TO 1860 When
the civil war broke out ne was in Texas. Re.
turning with the troops under his charge, he
was given a command in Pennsylvania, with
the duty of keeping the resds to Washington
open. AS The result of his vigilance and in.
dependence, the Missouri volunteers were
mustered in when photographic communication
between St. Louis and Washington and the
safety of the arsenal at St. Louis were
threatened by the Secessionists. In order to
accomplish this useful service he telegraphed
the necessary order il the name Of the Sec
rotary of War, who highly copplimented
him on his readiness ct resource. After serv-
ing for a time as Chief Of S'aff with General
Patterson, he YVES appointed commander of
division in the newly. organized Army Of the
Potomsc in which capacity he captured
York5owa. As commander of the Fifth
Army Corps he fought in the battles of New
Bridge, Hanover Courthouse, Gaines Mill,
Turkey Bridge and Malvern Hill. and was
promoted Maj ,r- General Of volunteers and
BreYet Brigadier- in the regular
army. When the Peninsula wss abandoned
by the Army Of the Potomac, General Porter
was assigned a command under General
Pope. He reported on the 26sh Of Auguat,
1862 The second battle Of Bull Run was
fought during the closing days of the same
month, and it was charged against Porter by
General Pope that he wss guilty Of disobe-
dience Of orders snd misb7ha before the
enemy during the progress Of this conflict,
August 27-29 The consequence was court
martial trial. which was begun on the 1st of
December, 1862 and was ended Cd the 10Th
of January ensuing. General Porter was
found guilty Of the charges made against him
aud sentenced to be cashiered and forever
disqualified from holding any Office Of trust or
profit uuder the Government Of the United
States" He soon begsn business in New
York city, which ne relinquished TO become
superintendent of the construction Of the New
Jersey Insane Asylum. In 1873 he was sp
pointed q Commissioner Of Public Works IN
New I ork. Ever since MS CONVICTION GeE-
eral Porter has worked in iefatigably to bring
about reversal Of the sentence pronounced
against him President Hayes sppoiltsd &
Commission to inquire into the case, who
exonersted Porter from blame in the matters
upan which he had been found delinquent by
the court-rnsrtisl. This opinion has been
adopted by General Grant; and the friends
Of the disgrsced soldier have succeeded in
getting bill ;hcough Che United States SEN
ate. the pass ga of which by the House of
Representatives and the signature of Presi-
dent Arthur would reinstate him in his
fofmar rank in the army.