The evening times., 1901-05-21
FITZ JOHN PORTER DEAD
The Veteran General Passes Away
at MOTristOwn, n. J.

His Part in the War With Mexico
/ aad the Conflict Between the
! States-Once Cashicred, But After
ward Restored 10 His Rank.
! MORRISTOWN, N J., May IL
! Gen. Fitz-John Porter died at o'clock
this morning. He had been i'll for some
time and was suddenly taken worse
yesterday morning. The collapse was
not looked for until midnight, when it
was seen that he could not long sur
vive. Both his sons and his physician
We're with him when he died. His
daughter did not arrive until late this
morning.
Fitz-JohH Porter was born in Ports
mouth, n. H, August 81. 1922. and was
the son of Capt. John Porter, of the L. S.
Navy, and d nephew Of Commodore David
Porter, who commanded the famous fTig-
ate Essex in ISI2-I4. Fitz-Johu Porter at
tended school with Benjamin HallowcIl,
Of Alexandria. Va and his education was
continued at Phillips Academy. Exeter.
N H He next took a course Of study at
the school of Stephen NJ Weld. in ia
maica Plains, Mass, in preparation for
the West Point Military Academy, enter
ing that institution in ISn and graduating
in 1873, the eighth member Of class num-
beriag forty-flve.
He was commissioned brevet second
lieutenant and attached to the Fourth Ar
tiHery, and for some time was an assist
ant in the department Of artillery and
cavalry He was sent TO join his regi-
ment at Fort Monroe.
Lieutenant Porter, in 1916. joined the
army operating against Mexico at Point
Isabel, Tex, and saw active service at
Salullo, during the siege of Vera Cruz,
and in the battle Of Cerro Gordo, Consre-
Tas, MoIino del Rey, the siege 4 ChapuI-
tepec, and the capture OF Mex } He was
brevetted successfully captain and major
for gallant and meritorious conduct" at
Molino del Rey and the City Of Mexico.
He was assigned to duty IN the United
States Military Academy in 1873 and held
the positions of adJutant in 1854 and in
structor OF artillery and cavalry in 1S54-
s. He was appointed assistant adjutant
general in 1886 and assigned to the staff
Of Gen Persifer F. Smith, the command
ing general in Kansas during the slavery
troubles in that State. In 1857 he accom-
panied Gen. Albert Sidney Johnston to
Utah to aid in suppressing the Mormon
rebellion.
In the autumn OF 1861 Porter was on
duty at the headquarters of the army in
New York city, when he was sent to in
spect the troops and - Notifications in
Charleston Harbor- It was at that time
that he inaugurated the policy for the de-
fence of that harbor which was subse-
quentIy carried out. He was sent to Tex
as in February, 1851 to bring out the
troops and re-enforce the garrisons of
Key West and the Dry Tortugas. He ac-
complished this after much difficulty,
Texas having seeded from the Union,
and he secured the surrender of all other
troops in that State.
In April 1861, Porter was on duty in
the Adjutant Generals Office in this city
and he was chosen 70 superintend the
protection Of the railroad between Balti-
more and Harrisburg and reopen and
maintain communication with Washing
ton through Baltimore He also organiz-
ed the three months volunteers in Penn
sylvania this being the nucleus Of the
celebrated Army Of the Potomac.
Porter was next appointed colonel Of
the Fifteenth Infantry and soon after
ward brigadier general of volunteers IN
the spring Of 1862 General Porter was AZ
signed with his division to Heintzelman's
CORPS and ordered to the Peninsula. He
was in command at the siege of
Yorktown and after the surrender Of that
stronghold was placed In command Of the
Fifth army Corps, with which he fought
the battles of New Bridge, Hanover
Courthouse. NechanicsviIle, Gaines Mills.
Turkey Bridge, and Malvern For meri-
torious service in this campaign he was
brevetted brigadier general in the regu-
lar army and appointed a major general
Of volunteers
From the Peninsula General Porter was
transfe red with his corps to northern
virginia He then served under General
Pope for a brief time, when he rejoined
the Army Of the Potomac under the com
mand of General Mcclellan, moving
against General Lee in Maryland
In November, 1852, General Porter was re-
1ieved Of his command without any reason
being given Soon after his arrival IN
Washington an order was issued from the
War Department directing the formation
of a military commission To examine into
certain charges which had been made
against him by General Pope This order
was afterward revoked and a court mar
tiaI ordered and On November . General
Porter was placed under arrest He was
accused Of disobeyinS several orders is
sued by General Pope. He was convicted
by the court-ma-tiaI and cashiered from
the army. On June -. ISIS. court of en-
uuiry was appointed to examine into the
findings of the court-martiai and vindi-
Gated him from all the charges made
against him, giving him high praise for
his military service In 1856 bill was
passed in Congress restoring General Por-
ter to his rank ia she army.
After his retirement from the military
service. General Porter was appointed a
Commissioner OF Public Works in New
York city and he was employed by the
New Jersey Central Railroad Company
for several years as assistant receiver
Afterward he received an appointment as
Police Commissioner of the city of New
York and on the expiration of his term
Of Office in that department was made n
Fire Commissioner, retiring at the close of
hs term to private life where he had since
remained
SMALLPOX ON A STEAMER.