The Morris County chronicle. [volume] (Morristown, N.J.) 1877-1915, 1901-05-24

General Fitz John Porter died on
Tuesday morning at six o'clock at
his home on Farragut Place, sur
rounded by all his family save one
daughter, Mrs. Dogget, who is with
her husband, an Episcopal clergyman at
Broken Bowl, Nebraska. The General
had been sick for many months from a
complication of diseases, the result OF an
attack of the grip His death removes
from our midst one of the most con-
spicuous figures in the history OF the
Civil War. He came to Morristown
when he was believed by the public to
have disgraced himself and for twenty
wears conscious of his own rectitude and
the wisdom and bravery of his actions
he had to fight to remove from his name
the stigma which most undeservedly
had been placed upon it. In this he was
completely successful, although the ma
ton never did him full justice. He leaves
us with the unbounded respect and ad-
miration Of the American people.
After leaving the army he came to
Morristown to reside and was engaged
with the late Governor Randolph in
large coal operations. Later he was en-
gineering superintendent at the erection
of the State Hospital at Morris Plains.
He acceptably served as Police Com
missioner of the City of New York, also
as a Fire Commissioner under Mayor
Hewitt; he was not re-appointed to
this last named Office by Mayor Grant
who did not appreciate man so con-
scientious and independent as General
Porter. Under Postmaster Day he
served as cashier in the New York
postoffice during his administration.
General Porter was born in Ports
mouth, New Hampshire, In 1929. He
was the son of Captain John Porter, a.
well known officer of the United States
Navy. He entered West Point in 1S41,
and was graduated in 1S45, standing
eighth in a class of forty-ive. He was
commissioned brevet second lieutenant
and attached to the Fourth Artillery, as
sisting for some time in the instruction
of the cadets in the Artillery and Cavalry
Department.
Lieutenent Porter was ordered in 1846
TO join the army operating against Mexi-
CO; and ''for gallant and meritorious
conduct was breveted successfully cap,
tain and major During 1853 Abe officiated
as an instructor of artillery, and in 1854-5
of cavalry at West Point. In 1855 he was
appointed Assistant Adjutant General,
participating in the Kansas slavery
troubles A year later he was staff
officer 10 General Albert Sidney john
son when ordered to Utah to suppress
the Mormon rebellion. While inspecting
troops and Notifications in Charleston
harbor, he recommended Major. Anderson
for the command of Fort Sumter; the
bravery of the latter during the famous
siege of the old fort sustaining fully the
good Judgment shown by General Porter
in making the appointment. He COM
manded the Fifth Army Corps during the
battles of New Bridge, Hanover Court
House, Mechanicsville, Gaines Mills,
Turkey Bridge and Malvern, and for
conspicuous bravery he was breveted
Brigadier General of the regular army
and appointed major of volunteers
He later served under Generals Pope and
Mcclellan, commanding the centre of
the line of battle at Antietam.
Without reason he was relieved from
his command in 1852, and afterwards
was tried by court martial, although it
was not until month
Later he knew with what offense he
had been charged. He was convicted by
the court martial and cashiered from
the army. 1t seemed almost impossible
that justice could be obtained for him.
Nothing short of gross and culpable
ignorance of Longstreet's forces, on the
part of General Pope would have lead
the latter to issue his well l-known order,
"a. 80 p, M" August 30, 1862, ordering
General Porter "to push forward into ac.
tion on the enemy's flank"
Both General Porter and his friends
who had carefully examined the facts of
the case were confident that he had
acted wisely and for the best interests
of his command as to the 4.30 order. In
1878 court of inquiry was appointed,
comprising Generals Sch field, Terry
and Getty,wh in their report complete
ly vindicating General Porter, said
"Porter's faithful, subordinate and in
telligent conduct that afternoon Aug.
29thN saved the Union army from the
defeat which would otherwise have re-
suited that day from the enemys more
speedy concentration; Porter had under
stood and appreciated the military situ-
alton, and so far as he had acted npon
his own Judgment, his action had been
wise and judicious.
In 1881 Gen. Grant examined all the
evidence in the case and reversed his
opinion, sustaining the Judgment of the
court martial supporting and commend
ing in every respect the decision of the
Schofield-Terry-Ge be ard. In every
possible way Gen. Grant endeavored to
have Gen, Porter restored to the army