Smyrna times., 1901-05-29

he people who remember the Civi
30 years ago cannot forget the es-
'tiOn in which Gen. Fitz John Por-
as held-that is, that his regard
a. Mcclellan was stronger than
)ve for the Union, and this is put
seit mildly. 1t fortunately did not
Vifice the Union, but it was believed
tto him, it made very little differ
A. He was an officer of great capa-
tties, and if he had shown the pat
Elsm that characterized Grant, Sher-
an, Sheridan &c, his death last week
ould have been accompanied by SOM
thing more than a bare announcement.
A contemporary in reviewing the case
ot Gen. Fitz John Porter says:
President Lincoln was free from par
islsan preIudices. General Mcclellan,
democrat, had been heartily recon-
mended to him as young man of great
military accomplishments, and as Nc
JIellan had met with some early sue
eesses in West Virginia, Lincoln called
an to the command of the Army of
he Potomac. Mcclellan was very sue
.essful as an organizer; won the con-
olence of his army and attached to
I'm as personal friends some of his
orps commanders, among the General
itz John Porter who was a veteran
I the Mexican War and distinguished
older.
h-Then McClellan's Peninsula cam
gn had ended in failure and he was
boan k..o ~, :" 'lon. AItnougn they nave.
b',Sn beS,, heFe toTS1'faety days thew bana
U1eHtss; and some of .la.., .IIy assoeie scssfe
..tes made indiscreet remarks in criti.
Ism OF the Government and of Cen
oope, who had been appointed to suc-
weed Mcclellan and to whom his old
my was required to report.
Ihere was strong animosity between
The friends and enemies of McCleIlen
Pa I'd predictions had been made that
orter and others would do all in tboir
Wer to break Pope. These predic. |
1ins appeared to be verified when
ana De was disastrously defeated at the
second battle of Bull Run, and be as:
. crloed 1t to the failure of Gen. Porter TO
,,ooey an order that had been sent him
10 attack Jackson. As matter of fact
'rorter, commanding a large division.
dld not go into the battle that was rao'
ing near him; but the next day saved
mes army from utter rout
'"'rter was tried by court martial on
charges preferred by Pope. and
hng been convicted. was casb;orod
,aen. 2l, 1863, "and forever disoualifed
li-em holding any Office of trust or pro.
: srunder the Government of the Uni.
g ! States, for violation of the 9th and
oveo1aaicles of War"
Ioiorter ehafed under the DISGRACE ona
'Ssrnt the best years of his life in tba
'ser eayor to yindicate himself from, tbo Il
grace that had been put upon him
Z =. Grant, while President. persis
Sltly refused to interfere After 10
rs of Agitation President Havao
tted the peDIality as to disousii6
A. on. 'r eShce, but Gen. Porter re-
am 20 be satisfied with anytbing
tort Of complete vindication bv res,
tcration to the army.
de tried to get relief bills tbrouob
Congress, but failed. Finally. Gen
Grant was induced to make a study Of
me case durin- the leisure neriod
q ii'on io'i' retirement from the
> fresldency. Much new evidence was
afforded by the Confederate reports
not available at the time of the orio-
mai court-martial, and the result Of
Gen. Grants study of the subject was
that he exonerated Gen. Porter At
last, % years after Gen. Porter had
been dismissed from the army in dis
grace, ne was restored to it with the
rank OF Colonel, and was at once placed
on the retired list.