Porter, Fitz-John, 1822-1901

Variant names
Dates:
Birth 1822-08-31
Death 1901-05-21
Americans,
English,

Biographical notes:

U.S. Army officer during the Civil War and public official, New York and New Jersey.

From the description of Letters, 1894-1895. (Portsmouth Athenaeum Library & Museum). WorldCat record id: 70975832

American army officer.

From the description of Autograph letter signed : Morristown, to an unidentified Senator, [1876?] Feb. 29. (Unknown). WorldCat record id: 270618668

From the description of Autograph telegram signed : [n.p.], to General Morell, Miner's Hill, [1861]. (Unknown). WorldCat record id: 270618672

From the description of Autograph letter, incomplete : Nantucket, to an unidentified recipient, 1882 Dec. 26. (Unknown). WorldCat record id: 270992447

U.S. Army officer and public official in New Jersey and New York City.

From the description of Letter, 1882 Apr. 10. (Portsmouth Athenaeum Library & Museum). WorldCat record id: 70922441

Union General.

From the description of Notes on Second Manassas [manuscript], n.d. (University of Virginia). WorldCat record id: 647862352

Fitz-John Porter was a United States Army major-general in the V Corps during the United States Civil War.

From the description of Fitz-John Porter papers, 1822-1953, bulk 1822-1893. (US Army, Mil Hist Institute). WorldCat record id: 47350065

Union Army officer.

From the description of Papers, 1882-1951. (Duke University Library). WorldCat record id: 20071506

Army officer and public official in New Jersey and New York, N.Y.

From the description of Fitz-John Porter papers, 1830-1949 (bulk 1861-1898). (Unknown). WorldCat record id: 70980190

A West Point graduate with Mexican War service and an army career, Porter served under his friend Gen. George B. McClellan during the Civil War. Porter became the scapegoat for Gen. John Pope's loss at 2nd Manassas (Bull Run), and was courtmartialed and dismissed from the service. He spent the rest of his life seeking vindication and was restored in 1886.

From the description of Correspondence, September 1892. (Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library). WorldCat record id: 304458104

West Point graduate and Colonel in the Civil War who was accused, by General Pope of insubordination and his failure at Manassass, was court martialed and found guilty, stripped of his rank, removed from the army and denied the possibility of holding public office. In 1880 his case was reviewed and he was exonerated and reinstated, returned to his rank and given his pension.

From the description of Letter, Nov. 17, 1879. (Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library). WorldCat record id: 53882401

Fitz-John Porter (1822-1901) was born in Portsmouth, N.H. In 1841 he entered West Point and graduated eighth in his class in 1845. From West Point he went to a distinguished career in the military until 1862 when he was blamed for the Union defeat in the Second Battle of Bull Run, court-martialed, and cashiered. In 1886, after a controversial review of new found evidence, Porter was briefly reinstated as a colonel and retired.

In 1880 General Jacob Dolson Cox (1828-1900) had sent a letter concerning the Porter case to James A. Garfield (1831-1881). In it Cox opposed the decision of the Advisory Board headed by General John M. Scholfield (1831-1906) to reinstate Porter. Garfield was to defend the original court-martial decision before the House of Representatives. The letter was published and created much controversy. Porter wrote to Cox requesting a copy of the letter so that he might defend himself against the charges. Cox complied.

From the description of Papers, 1870-1883. (American Antiquarian Society). WorldCat record id: 191259626

Biographical Note

1822, Aug. 31 Born, Portsmouth, N.H. 1841 1845 Cadet, United States Military Academy, West Point, N.Y. 1846 1849 Promoted to second lieutenant and served with Generals Zachary Taylor and Winfield Scott during Mexican War, advancing to ranks of captain and major for gallantry in action 1849 1855 Instructor, United States Military Academy, West Point, N.Y. 1856 Transferred to Adjutant General's Department 1857 Married Harriet Pierson Cook 1857 1860 Attached to Colonel Albert Sidney Johnston's Utah Expedition as assistant adjutant general and chief of staff until ordered back to the East 1860 1861 Inspected defenses of Charleston, S.C., harbor, supervised withdrawal of troops from Texas, and in charge of restoration and protection of railroads between Washington, D.C., and the North 1861, Feb. Special duty in the Gulf of Mexico 1861, May 14 Appointed colonel 1861, May 17 Appointed brigadier general, volunteers 1862, July 4 Appointed major general, volunteers 1862 Commanded 5th Army Corps under General George Brinton McClellan 1862 1863 Court-martialed for disobedience of orders and misconduct in the face of the enemy at the 2nd Battle of Manassas and cashiered 1865 1871 Merchant in New York and appointed commissioner of public works, police commissioner and fire commissioner of New York, N.Y., and cashier of the New York Post Office 1879 Vindicated of court-martial charges by military review 1886, Aug. 5 Recommissioned in the army by special act of Congress 1901, May 21 Died, Morristown, N.J.

From the guide to the Fitz-John Porter Papers, 1830-1949, (bulk 1861-1898), (Manuscript Division Library of Congress)

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Subjects:

  • Antietam, Battle of, Md., 1862
  • Bull Run, 1st Battle of, Va., 1861
  • Bull Run, 2nd Battle of, Va., 1862
  • Bull Run, 2nd Battle of, Va., 1862
  • Courts-martial and courts of inquiry
  • Malvern Hill, Battle of, Va., 1862
  • Mexican War, 1846-1848
  • Mexican War, 1846-1848
  • Peninsular Campaign, 1862
  • Seven Days' Battles, Va., 1862
  • Shenandoah Valley Campaign, 1861
  • Voyages and travels

Occupations:

  • Army officers
  • Generals
  • Public officials
  • Public officials

Places:

  • United States (as recorded)
  • Maryland (as recorded)
  • Texas (as recorded)
  • United States (as recorded)
  • Utah (as recorded)
  • New Jersey (as recorded)
  • Virginia (as recorded)
  • United States (as recorded)
  • Manassas (Va.) (as recorded)
  • Manassas (Va.) (as recorded)
  • Portsmouth (N.H.) (as recorded)
  • Utah (as recorded)
  • United States (as recorded)
  • United States (as recorded)
  • New York (State)--New York (as recorded)
  • United States (as recorded)
  • United States (as recorded)
  • United States (as recorded)
  • Maryland (as recorded)
  • United States (as recorded)
  • New York (State)--West Point (as recorded)
  • Texas (as recorded)
  • Virginia (as recorded)
  • New York (N.Y.) (as recorded)
  • United States (as recorded)
  • United States (as recorded)

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