New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1885-12-21
GEN. GRANT TO GEN. PORTER.
ANXIOUS TO HELP HIS CAUSE.
CORRESPONDENTS SHOWING THE DEAD GENERALS
RELIEF IN HIS FELLOw-sOLDIER.


RELIEF IN HIS FELLow-sOLDIER.
Correspondence which passed between Ten
ee Grant and General Fz John Porter In relation 10
the laters efforts obtain rehearing in his case was
made public yesterday, along with the testimony SUD
United to General Grant which caused him to reverse
his opinion Of General Porters guilt and led him strongly
to advocate the reversal OF the sentence of dismissal
from the Army. The earlier letters show that Genera
Porter wished General Grant while he wa' General o
the Army TO give his careful study ana Wheh u"
became President the application was renewed. Inc
appeal with increased evidence, was renewed III june
1869. aud again In 1874. But action was taken by
General Grant except refer the matter To the A'or
ncyGeneral until after the decision Of the schofcd-
TerryCietty Board in September, 1881 Then Geheia'
Porter renewed his application.
General Grant took the papers submitted 10
him. including the evidence taken before the
ScGOheld Board. Tho result OF three days care
full examination by General Grant convinced
him that General Porter innocent lie wrote u the
President under of December % 1851 in part as
follows:
Z" The reading OF the whole Of this record has thor
ongnly convinced me that FOR these nineteen years
have been doing gallant ana efficient soldier very
great injustice IN Thought, ana sometimes III speech.
iee II incumhent upon me now 20 40 %l"oNer S lam I
upon good feel this the more incumt ent upon
occupying any other command III the Army than tne
which and hut is general had II pos IDLY III ny
power 20 have obtained for HIM tue nearing whieh ne
oaly got AT a later day, and President certainly had
the power 10 bave ordered that he ,rnG In Jnstlnca
ton injustice H. General Porter can OhlN s'ale
atshorty he war closed his defence was hronsht
nv attention. hut read 1t IN connection win a
sketch OF the hcld where ms offences were sh 10 nav,
b,en committed, which now see, since erect H"ts
have been made by the En- ;lnerrS pcpiith-t "i ,ho
whoi" held. totally incorrect as showing the posi-
ton Of the TWO armies. also read II III connection ".t
statements made the - her side. AGAINST General
Porter ana am atIad possibly WITH some niue lttJu
dice ia the casr-ath"u=h General Porter was "a man
Whom | personally knew and hked before put !
GOT tne NM, oS,on. "i[n NAM oIGr' ~, ,H' ,rU pn,.
lft,rIp
than others. happened 10 be placed IA position whrte
he could be responsible for his Indifference. ana
that me punishment not severe one Tor such Nh
offence convinced that he rendered faithful,
eicnt and intelligent service ana the fact that he was
f au'G "E in G",cp. P"rtrrs bcnaif
from you Is # you pp,>b ave the time, that You
give the subject the -tudy aud thought that nave
glvrn H. and act thea "a Your Judgment may dictate.
Tut feeling Ihai You VIII not have the tiur
INVESTIGATION DOR WA cake several "ays tmel would
thtt the wuolc matter ~ Ian boioe tho Attorney
General for examination ana opinion.
ON February t. l--2 General Grant wrote a long let
terto Senator Cauctoa going the ground covered
by the court-uaral Of 1862. and a~rwAd mat of the
schuhed Board declaring tuat the new evidence placed
General P0rtcrs conduct ~ AN entirely new light AMI
showing that tho order to attack General Jackson
not received $50 T. August 20 1862 ALLEGED.
but an late to prcyct an attack being made.
aud also proving talt General Porter knew Genera
Loussttcct was IN with forco greater than
his own. fact ~ which General P"po was ignorant at
the Zine the order attack given By him. General
Grant added
When commenced The examination Of The Titl-Ioh
Porter case ~ II ~" 81 mus IL was WIN the
thut his sentence was just ouc and THAI MS pnhSh
tr,d To thrnw All prejudice ~ the case ana to"Nauur
II ON %. merits. came oIt ~ tht cNunl pu win
tie him conviction that an ,niirry innocent man hd
cen most uuIustly punished cast cru-utc upon
court which trcd bim because The evidence which
ar, IL Wa , 10 10 h ,,.,, frrt ,pcum
ltt ti, iu NIpty off - nos
heretofore and my failure tucu To do what no" t.h
hlt 13l' ,,o ~, m ', a. f,t n.Ir, ana r., re-,
par my own uuintcntioual Injustice"
Tle action OF General Grant IN General Portors case
had caused comment aud under date Of November
23. $50 he wro to Genera! Porter a. follows:
A. there D.. some disco. Son to tho probable
r. sons my chln-c OF mind In regard 20 your 'as
row pending hei"re Do" reope 81 the United siair,
nrst place never believed you 90 le traitor as many
affected to believe. l h'ushi | KIN" yor TOO well 10
rank and command you hra i"r Tie purpose ~ bcii-
in cause you were protesting 10 r'r'" Then t""
your services h been 100 -pCuOuH st'H uni'rr
al the beginning 81 the and rdcr oi iIuos
later to support such th'"r> Tor inomohI hnt u'u
ryc that General Pope ui'uH tu snmr Oi Ga"
Gers 10 the Eisj that cordial support wa- not gwen
him by them wa, disposed. too. accept the verdict
Of , ,uri ,rtill com .,-cu a. trrd you
was some Of The member, OF that court know person
i,-Jicr supposed yol hAi shared tu!, feeling
ward Pope and whr not more guilty than Others. yon
W r. unfortunate iu being placed .n rG'ion where
specifications could be- made showing this h"tiiiiy
Genera Grant then gain reviews the finding Of the
c.urt-martia OF -G2 and the evidence taken hy the
schoneid Board lie say. that his former views
first shaken by fact that General Terry who uut'7
the LAWYER with the soldier should have entirely yudl
Gated General Porter. aud hc concludes:
e" have no doubt now but the change would have
taken place IN l-G7 ~ had thrn made al nyc,tisiou
rcr,i now that uid not uudcrsIand your case thcu
do now Your whole lie slucc your tral. % well ~
vr services before di~pruvcs The Crrat burden ~ the
charge. then sustained by court uar nal A. long s
nave voice shall be- raised support without
any reference To the effect upon me or others Your re-
stoItinn the army. rimpt. wuld regard very
Inadequate aud unjust Ieparation'
General Grant hid previously written to General
Porter saying that 10 would rather the bi Tor
p.aciug hm General GrnnU tho retired list
Of the army should be Withdrawn n would interfere ia
any WY Win g, neral Pnrtcrs ends were Ell
dclvoriug have passed Immediately after tn" veto
Of Pr -idcut Arthur 81 the BIN Restoring General Porter
10 his rank In the Army General Grant wroe to General
Porter:
.YOn can scarcely conceive tho pam 1t crused me Ia
read the veto your BIZ 10y the Frc-drnt yesterday.
"a A. not urcplred for IT.. Hts message IN the mrrct
-ophi.try. I. Doubt great disappointment To- you
doing yon fuller justice. you wrro dismissed uniu-ty
ana YOU are rntitloI IL Restoration That would mako
vou a Niaio from the date Of di-mi~sA to De
lime OF r. stJraton to tins hnai drcision IN
your lie Of good cheer, ana pray that Justice may
yet he done you and yours
DID DR. SATTLRR CAUFERIZE THE BITE
Veterinary Surgeon Ludwig X. Sattlcr, of