The National tribune., 1890-07-10
GEN. FITz-JOHN PORTER.
A Reply from Private Carpenter TO Capt. wray.

A Reply from Private Carpenter 10 Capt. Wray.
EDITOR NATIONAL TRIBUNE: To my mind,
among the many most admirable characters
tics of the leading military paper of the Ma
tion-THE NATIONAL TRIBUNE-not the least
is the air play allowed in its columns for dis
cusSion, particularly noticeable because rare
| feature in journalism. / write, then, with con-
fidence to say friendly word or two rs to Capt.
| Wray's last letter, concerning Gen. Fitz-John
Porter, while acknowledging the Captains abil-
| ity, honesty and magnanimity; the magnanim-
ity, useif Porter guilty he richly deserv-
ed shooting, not forgiveness ] fail to SEQ that
| have " taken the Captain to task" as lac says
did, and certainly such was not the intention.
| He plainly asked for information, which en-
deavoTed TO give, in measure. But from his
silence in regard TO the man who directed the
brave men in one of the greatest victories OF
the waT-Malvern Hill did suspect him of
entertaining an erroneous opinion of the com
mauder in the battle, in which it appears
l was not mistaken. And if | represented
POrter's deeds as oyershadowing those of all
other officers In our army on the Peninsula
and in the second Bull Run campaign, IL was
simply because the recorded facts fully sustain
such proposition. SO far as ! can ascertain,
the General never much as dropped a feather
during his entire career, nor by word or decd
failed in proving signal ability aud zeal.
fully subscribe to Capt. WTay's eloquent
praise Of Gen. Logan. / think the Generals
name should be fixed on the pages of history
for all time ne one Of the great characters in
the greatest and most intelligent Nation ever
upon earth.
/ read the speech Of Gen Logan referred TO
by the Captain soon after IL was delivered, IN
the Congressional Record and have read II sew
oral times since. In my humble opinion the
speech was remarkably able one, but Il was
delivered from the standpoint of prosecuting
attorney. 1 have, however, read arguments
aud the evidence on both sides, aud the charges
Of the Judges. so TO say; for, needless 10 say, n
Just comprehension OF matters in controversy
IS never obtained by studying only one side.
Now, it appearing that | was right as 10 one
conjecture touching the Captain venture an
other. lt IS that he has never read the report
made after thorough investigation, mature and
calm delibeTatiOn, and so long alter the events
as TO render dispassionate Judgment possible,
of the second court, composed of Gems. SchO-
field, Terry and Getty. honored names ALL nor
yet Gen. Grants noble and disntorested vim
dicatiOn, not 10 speak Of the evidence itself.
IL he does / venture still another conjecture.
IL is that instead of presuming TO grant Gen.
Porter his forgiveness, the Captain will blush,
and feel like asking Gen. Porters forgiveness
for harboring in his mind though uninten-
uonally, so great an injustice TO one of the
ablest aud most jealous Of our soldiers.
Further, il has been stated, on unquestionable
authority, that Gen. Logan became convinced
soon after making his speech that he had been
mIsied, and that Gen. Grant was right. IL will
readily be admitted that Gen. Logan was not
void Of at least a small share of human iniirm-
tiles, and that he was rs fearless, aggressive,
unbendiHg aud determined IN politics as he
was in war, and there can be no doubt that in
the heat of partisan warfare he allowed his
judgment to be blinded and led astray. wish,
however, there were moro Logans in the Sen.
ate today standing at Senator Ingalls's side, TO
do battle for the soldier aud the rights Of men
throughout the length and breadth of the Re-
public.
il was no reflection on the honesty OF the
first court TO say that its proceedings resembled
somewhat those OF Judge Lynch, for there is no
honestcr judge than Judge Lynch; nor one
more righteously indignant at wrongd0ing,
his fault being that he is too prccipitate in
judgment ana execution. Moreover, as appears
OF record. the deliberations OF the first court
were hurried 10 a conclusion by the able and
patriotic but dOmineering and hasty-tempercd
Secretary Of War; and, then, the court was far
from unanimous, there being but one of a ma
jOTity ia n court Of nine members Neither
did Mr. Lincoln examine the testimony so
hurriedly brought before the court, as appears
under his own hand in the Rebellion Records,
Vol. u, Part ?, Sup, p. 1874. No one could
Lincoln. and he was so strongly impressed with
the belief that grave error had been COM
mittcd that be promised 10 have the case re-
heard al an carly day, and he would no doubt
have redeemed his pledge but for the assassin's
bullet. The mistakes Of the first court and
Gen. L0gan's have been 50 clearly demonstrated
over and over again that Gen. Porter's case has
been entirely removed from the region Of doubt,
and so often that don't feel like asking for
space 10 enter into it again.
The most acrimonious critics Of Gen. Porter,
without exception, have conceded his excep-
iional ability and Raliantry AS a soldier. With
his military career before us, the 20 long years.
during which his cause may be said to have
been pending under perpetual cloud breast
ing a continuous torrent OF nBrcasoning
obloquy, cOntending against superior numbers,
hOoted by rabble crowds conscious of the rec
titude Of his cause, Porter carried on a campaign
with good judgment, fine temper. prudence,
inexbaustible patience and positive genius
that has perhaps never been paralleled in the
world manifesting from first 10 last qualities
in liberal measure, / cannot help thinking, like
those OF one Of tho most illustriOus Generals OF
ali time, but the most maRnanimous of all--the
one who carried the flag Of the Union through
the Wilderness. and on TO the glorious sunrise
OF the Unf0n and the eternal sunset Of the re.
beliiOn at Appomattox.-GEo. w. CARPESTER
Fargo, n. ID.