731:
272:
151:
851:
442:
543:. When he ascended with only one securing line, the balloon subsequently broke loose and General Porter found himself drifting west over enemy lines in danger of being captured or killed. Fortunately, the combination of a favorable wind change and himself adjusting the gas valves allowed Porter to return to the Union lines and land safely. Although it was an embarrassing accident, General Porter was able to perform his observations of enemy defences as intended and recorded his findings, although the balloon program was disbanded a year later.
606:
559:
33:
837:
650:
and could not provide political cover for his protégé. Porter's association with the disgraced McClellan and his open criticism of Pope were significant reasons for his conviction at court-martial. Porter was found guilty on
January 10, 1863, of disobedience and misconduct, and he was dismissed from
613:
On August 30 Pope again ordered the flank attack, and Porter reluctantly complied. As the V Corps turned to head towards
Jackson's right and attacked, it presented its own (and consequently the entire army's) flank to Longstreet's waiting men. About 30,000 Confederates assailed Porter's 5,000 or so
602:'s wing of the opposing army had arrived on the battlefield; the proposed envelopment of Jackson's position would have collided suicidally with Longstreet's large force. Porter chose not to make the attack because of the intelligence he had received that Longstreet was to his immediate front.
317:
Although Porter served well in the early battles of the Civil War, his military career was ruined by the controversial trial, which was called by his political rivals. After the war, he worked for almost 25 years to restore his tarnished reputation and was finally restored to the army's roll.
625:. He is said to have told McClellan, "Remember, General, I command the last reserve of the last Army of the Republic." McClellan took his implied advice and failed to commit his reserves into a battle that might have been won if he had used his forces aggressively.
614:
men, driving through them and into the rest of Pope's forces, doing exactly what Porter most feared would come of these orders. Pope was infuriated by the defeat, accused Porter of insubordination, and relieved him of his command on
September 5.
692:
restored Porter's commission as an infantry colonel in the U.S. Army, backdated to May 14, 1861, but without any back pay due. Two days later, August 7, 1886, Porter, seeing vindication, voluntarily retired from the Army.
397:
After the war with Mexico ended, Porter returned to West Point and became a cavalry and artillery instructor from 1849 to 1853. He served as adjutant to the academy's superintendent until 1855. He next was posted to
869:
500:. Soon Porter became a trusted adviser and loyal friend to McClellan, but his association with the soon-to-be-controversial commanding general would prove to be disastrous for Porter's military career.
342:. Porter's father was an alcoholic who had been reassigned to land duty. Porter's childhood was chaotic because of his father's illness. The younger Porter pursued an army career. He graduated from
1380:
1375:
1365:
1370:
922:
1405:
806:
594:
right (which Pope assumed to be
Jackson on Stony Ridge), but at the same time to maintain contact with the neighboring division under Maj. Gen.
1415:
1400:
1360:
703:
On
December 27, 1894, Porter, along with 18 others, founded the Military and Naval Order of the United States, which was soon renamed the
864:
707:. Porter's name was at the top of the list of signers of the original institution and received the first insignia issued by the Order.
1385:
815:
Porterstown Road in the town by the same name runs directly through the area where his forces were placed for the Battle of
Sharpsburg.
755:
658:
wrote that
Confederates who knew Porter respected him greatly and considered his dismissal "one of the best fruits of their victory".
330:, the son of Captain John Porter and Eliza Chauncy Clark. He came from a family prominent in American naval service; his cousins were
1112:
1160:
670:
but declined it. He spent most of the remainder of his public life fighting against the perceived injustice of his court-martial.
1410:
1390:
1269:
Appeal to the
President of the United States for a re-examination of the proceedings of the general court martial in his case
1259:
1248:
1121:
906:
410:
in the
Department of the West in 1856; he was brevetted to captain at Fort Leavenworth that June. Porter served under future
761:
822:
758:
and Mack's 18th
Independent "Black Horse" artillery battery. In 2008 a historical marker was erected to mark the location.
1267:
1233:
1186:
1169:
1140:
751:
634:
482:
394:, a military society composed of officers who served during the Mexican War, and presided over it from 1892 to 1893.
311:
449:
After the start of the Civil War, Porter became chief of staff and assistant adjutant general for the Department of
1072:
John H.Eicher and David J. Eicher. Civil War High Commands (Stanford, CA: Stanford University Press, 2001), p. 435.
1081:
Edward Porter Alexander, Military Memoirs of a Confederate (New York: Charles Scribner & Sons, 1907), p. 208.
704:
644:
347:
700:
Commissioner of Public Works, the New York City Police Commissioner, and the New York City Fire Commissioner.
547:
494:
154:
667:
1395:
567:
598:, a conflict in orders that could not be resolved. Pope was apparently unaware that Confederate Maj. Gen.
574:, a reassignment that he openly challenged and complained about, criticizing Pope personally. During the
571:
422:
230:
225:
115:
32:
609:
August 30, 3:00; Porter turns and attacks, Longstreet in position to attack and "rolls up" Pope's army
856:
796:
735:
583:
575:
520:
508:
327:
307:
242:
220:
55:
271:
999:
486:
478:
379:
371:
355:
186:
181:
111:
887:
Eicher & Eicher, p. 435. Court-martialed 1863, restored and resigned in 1886 to rank from 1861
730:
792:
685:
655:
591:
454:
411:
375:
367:
343:
1254:
Paleno, Gene. "The Porter Conspiracy, A story of the Civil War", PAL Publishing, Upper Lake CA (
535:
In addition, Porter had a memorable experience when he decided to make aerial observations in a
1283:
711:
524:
414:
235:
76:
989:
Dupuy, p. 608: "he was a skilled defensive commander who possessed a fine eye for terrain ..."
387:
383:
191:
677:
exonerated Porter by finding that his reluctance to attack Longstreet probably saved Pope's
590:'s cavalry screen. On August 29 he received a message from Pope directing him to attack the
1355:
1350:
1322:
818:
512:
164:
461:, Porter's later political nemesis, would accuse Porter of helping persuade his commander
8:
715:
497:
490:
474:
168:
150:
92:
750:, on the western bank of the Genesee River. The camp was the mustering location for the
489:, backdated to May 17 so he would be senior enough to receive divisional command in the
441:
1314:
1243:
Portsmouth, New Hampshire: Jetty House an imprint of Peter E. Randall Publisher, 2011.
1156:
719:
622:
516:
504:
466:
391:
335:
303:
292:
247:
215:
210:
127:
1255:
1244:
1229:
1182:
1165:
1136:
1117:
902:
743:
618:
617:
Porter was soon restored to command of the corps by McClellan and led it through the
579:
562:
August 29, noon; Longstreet's Corps arrives; Porter's Corps stops and does not engage
470:
351:
339:
331:
195:
1211:
1175:
1146:
842:
696:
Porter was involved in mining, construction, and commerce. He was appointed as the
682:
678:
599:
595:
536:
462:
407:
399:
100:
1128:
870:
List of people pardoned or granted clemency by the president of the United States
647:
643:
for his actions at Second Bull Run. By this time, McClellan had been relieved by
511:. McClellan created two provisional corps and Porter was assigned to command the
299:
1164:. Oxford History of the United States. New York: Oxford University Press, 1988.
1091:
1217:
1004:
674:
578:, on August 29, 1862, he was ordered to attack the flank and rear of Maj. Gen.
426:
1192:
1027:
421:
in 1857 and 1858. Afterward, Porter inspected and reorganized the defenses of
1344:
1332:
776:
763:
747:
697:
689:
640:
605:
587:
558:
540:
458:
59:
586:. Porter had stopped at Dawkin's Branch, where he had encountered Maj. Gen.
1294:
1290:
1107:
803:
450:
429:, until late 1860, when he aided the evacuation of military personnel from
262:
Public works commissioner, police commissioner, and fire commissioner (NYC)
1198:
923:"Fitz John Porter • Obituary Notice (Association of Graduates USMA, 1901)"
296:
131:
80:
546:
For his successful performance on the peninsula, he was promoted to
418:
205:
96:
386:
on September 13, for which he also received a brevet promotion to
350:(West Point) in 1845, standing eighth out of 41 cadets, and was
1226:
Return to Bull Run: The Campaign and Battle of Second Manassas.
403:
366:
Porter was promoted to second lieutenant on June 18, 1846, and
901:. Portsmouth, NH: Peter E. Randall Publisher. pp. 9–11.
430:
539:
without the assigned expert to handle the craft, Professor
681:
from an even greater defeat. Eight years later, President
621:, where the corps served in a reserve position during the
666:
After the war ended, Porter was offered a command in the
1381:
American military personnel of the Mexican–American War
523:, he displayed a talent for defensive fighting. At the
1216:
The Celebrated Case of Fitz John Porter: An American
1376:
United States Army personnel who were court-martialed
1241:
Porter's Secret: Fitz John Porter's Monument Decoded.
722:. His grave can be found in Section 54, Lot 5685/89.
1153:, Vol. 135, No. 313, December 1882, pp. 536–46.
899:
Porter's Secret: Fitz John Porter's Monument Decoded
832:
283:(August 31, 1822 – May 21, 1901) (sometimes written
742:In 1862, Camp Fitz-John Porter was established in
1366:People of New Hampshire in the American Civil War
1135:. Stanford, CA: Stanford University Press, 2001.
1342:
503:Porter led his division at the beginning of the
1028:"The Day General Porter Gets Lost in a Balloon"
791:In 1904, a statue of Porter designed by artist
566:Porter's corps was sent to reinforce Maj. Gen.
1371:Military personnel from Morristown, New Jersey
639:On November 25, 1862, Porter was arrested and
457:of the 15th Infantry on May 14, 1861. General
306:. He is most known for his performance at the
1266:Porter, Fitz-John; Grant, Ulysses S. (1869).
973:
654:In describing the Battle of Second Manassas,
1228:Norman: University of Oklahoma Press, 1993.
1179:Landscape Turned Red: The Battle of Antietam
976:The Great Conspiracy: Its Origin and History
673:In 1878, a special commission under General
1406:Recipients of American presidential pardons
1265:
1050:
1048:
951:
949:
947:
945:
943:
896:
865:List of American Civil War generals (Union)
688:Porter's sentence and a special act of the
530:
321:
756:140th New York Volunteer Infantry Regiment
752:108th New York Volunteer Infantry Regiment
31:
1221:, Indianapolis, IN: Bobbs-Merrill, 1950.
1113:Harper Encyclopedia of Military Biography
1092:"Camp Fitz-John Porter Historical Marker"
433:after that state seceded from the Union.
378:on September 8, 1847, for bravery at the
196:
1286:, Wife Of Union General Fitz John Porter
1161:Battle Cry of Freedom: The Civil War Era
1045:
940:
890:
729:
604:
557:
440:
958:
661:
326:Porter was born on August 31, 1822, in
1343:
1110:, Curt Johnson, and David L. Bongard.
1416:Military personnel from New Hampshire
1401:United States Military Academy alumni
1361:People from Portsmouth, New Hampshire
1063:Sears, p. 291; McPherson, pp. 543–44.
527:, Porter also played a leading role.
436:
978:. New York, NY: A. R. Hart & Co.
823:National Register of Historic Places
481:. In August, Porter was promoted to
802:In World War II, the United States
390:. He was an original member of the
13:
1205:
1181:. Boston: Houghton Mifflin, 1983.
734:a Statue of Porter in Haven Park,
553:
445:Porter (seated in chair) and staff
370:on May 29, 1847. He served in the
14:
1427:
1386:Members of the Aztec Club of 1847
1327:May 18, 1862 - November 10, 1862
1277:
1116:. New York: HarperCollins, 1992.
635:Court-martial of Fitz John Porter
849:
835:
628:
270:
149:
1101:
1084:
1075:
1066:
1057:
795:was dedicated in Haven Park in
580:Thomas J. "Stonewall" Jackson's
550:of volunteers on July 4, 1862.
477:, thus turning the tide at the
1411:Phillips Exeter Academy alumni
1391:Burials at Green-Wood Cemetery
1020:
992:
983:
967:
915:
881:
705:Military Order of Foreign Wars
651:the Army on January 21, 1863.
453:, but he was soon promoted to
419:expedition against the Mormons
348:United States Military Academy
1:
1008:. April 14, 1862. p. 15
955:Eicher & Eicher, p. 435.
37:Porter Between 1860 and 1870
7:
1016:– via Newspapers.com.
828:
469:'s force escape out of the
374:and was appointed a brevet
358:in the 4th U.S. Artillery.
16:American Union Army general
10:
1432:
1149:"An Undeserved Stigma" in
632:
572:Northern Virginia Campaign
519:, and particularly at the
226:Battle of Beaver Dam Creek
1329:
1319:
1311:
857:American Civil War portal
797:Portsmouth, New Hampshire
736:Portsmouth, New Hampshire
725:
584:Army of Northern Virginia
576:Second Battle of Bull Run
361:
328:Portsmouth, New Hampshire
308:Second Battle of Bull Run
266:
258:
243:Second Battle of Bull Run
174:
160:
145:
137:
121:
107:
87:
66:
42:
30:
23:
875:
531:Inadvertent balloon ride
479:First Battle of Bull Run
380:Battle of Molino del Rey
322:Early life and education
187:Battle of Molino del Rey
112:United States of America
1199:Court Martial of Porter
1133:Civil War High Commands
1000:"The Siege of Yorktown"
812:was named in his honor.
777:43.135444°N 77.620639°W
656:Edward Porter Alexander
507:, seeing action at the
344:Phillips Exeter Academy
231:Battle of Gaines's Mill
974:John A. Logan (1886).
738:
712:Morristown, New Jersey
610:
563:
525:Battle of Malvern Hill
521:Battle of Gaines' Mill
446:
415:Albert Sidney Johnston
236:Battle of Malvern Hill
1151:North American Review
1127:Eicher, John H., and
927:penelope.uchicago.edu
782:43.135444; -77.620639
733:
608:
561:
493:, newly formed under
444:
192:Battle of Chapultepec
138:Years of service
1041:– via YouTube.
897:Wayne Soini (2011).
746:, one mile south of
662:Later life and death
382:. He was wounded at
372:Mexican–American War
182:Mexican–American War
1396:Union Army generals
1157:McPherson, James M.
819:His Portsmouth home
773: /
716:Green-Wood Cemetery
714:, and is buried in
498:George B. McClellan
491:Army of the Potomac
475:P. G. T. Beauregard
310:and his subsequent
169:Army of the Potomac
93:Green-Wood Cemetery
1315:Nathaniel P. Banks
1291:"Fitz John Porter"
1272:. Morristown, N.J.
1224:Hennessy, John J.
739:
720:Brooklyn, New York
623:Battle of Antietam
611:
564:
517:Seven Days Battles
505:Peninsula Campaign
467:Joseph E. Johnston
447:
437:American Civil War
392:Aztec Club of 1847
336:David Dixon Porter
304:American Civil War
293:United States Army
248:Battle of Antietam
221:Battle of Yorktown
216:Peninsula campaign
211:American Civil War
128:United States Army
1339:
1338:
1330:Succeeded by
1321:Commander of the
1260:978-0-9894847-4-9
1249:978-0-9828236-8-2
1212:Eisenschiml, Otto
1176:Sears, Stephen W.
1122:978-0-06-270015-5
908:978-0-9828236-8-2
821:is listed on the
744:Monroe County, NY
619:Maryland Campaign
509:Siege of Yorktown
483:brigadier general
471:Shenandoah Valley
423:Charleston Harbor
356:second lieutenant
340:David G. Farragut
332:William D. Porter
278:
277:
1423:
1323:Fifth Army Corps
1312:Preceded by
1309:
1308:
1305:
1303:
1301:
1273:
1201:, Civil War Home
1195:, Civil War Home
1193:Porter biography
1108:Dupuy, Trevor N.
1096:
1095:
1088:
1082:
1079:
1073:
1070:
1064:
1061:
1055:
1052:
1043:
1042:
1040:
1038:
1024:
1018:
1017:
1015:
1013:
996:
990:
987:
981:
979:
971:
965:
962:
956:
953:
938:
937:
935:
933:
919:
913:
912:
894:
888:
885:
859:
854:
853:
852:
845:
843:Biography portal
840:
839:
838:
788:
787:
785:
784:
783:
778:
774:
771:
770:
769:
766:
683:Grover Cleveland
679:Army of Virginia
600:James Longstreet
596:John F. Reynolds
537:hydrogen balloon
463:Robert Patterson
408:adjutant general
400:Fort Leavenworth
368:First Lieutenant
346:, then from the
289:Fitz-John Porter
281:Fitz John Porter
274:
198:
153:
123:
73:
52:
50:
35:
25:Fitz John Porter
21:
20:
1431:
1430:
1426:
1425:
1424:
1422:
1421:
1420:
1341:
1340:
1335:
1326:
1317:
1299:
1297:
1289:
1280:
1208:
1206:Further reading
1129:David J. Eicher
1104:
1099:
1090:
1089:
1085:
1080:
1076:
1071:
1067:
1062:
1058:
1053:
1046:
1036:
1034:
1026:
1025:
1021:
1011:
1009:
998:
997:
993:
988:
984:
972:
968:
963:
959:
954:
941:
931:
929:
921:
920:
916:
909:
895:
891:
886:
882:
878:
855:
850:
848:
841:
836:
834:
831:
809:FitzJohn Porter
781:
779:
775:
772:
767:
764:
762:
760:
759:
728:
710:Porter died in
664:
648:Abraham Lincoln
641:court-martialed
637:
631:
556:
554:Second Bull Run
533:
439:
406:, as assistant
364:
324:
291:) was a career
285:FitzJohn Porter
259:Other work
254:
141:1845–1863; 1886
130:
114:
103:
75:
71:
54:
53:August 31, 1822
48:
46:
38:
26:
17:
12:
11:
5:
1429:
1419:
1418:
1413:
1408:
1403:
1398:
1393:
1388:
1383:
1378:
1373:
1368:
1363:
1358:
1353:
1337:
1336:
1331:
1328:
1318:
1313:
1307:
1306:
1287:
1284:Harriet Porter
1279:
1278:External links
1276:
1275:
1274:
1263:
1252:
1239:Soini, Wayne.
1237:
1222:
1218:Dreyfus Affair
1207:
1204:
1203:
1202:
1196:
1190:
1173:
1154:
1144:
1125:
1103:
1100:
1098:
1097:
1083:
1074:
1065:
1056:
1054:Dupuy, p. 608.
1044:
1032:Little Wars TV
1019:
1005:Brooklyn Eagle
991:
982:
966:
964:Dupuy, p. 607.
957:
939:
914:
907:
889:
879:
877:
874:
873:
872:
867:
861:
860:
846:
830:
827:
826:
825:
816:
813:
800:
793:James E. Kelly
789:
727:
724:
675:John Schofield
663:
660:
633:Main article:
630:
627:
555:
552:
532:
529:
473:and reinforce
438:
435:
427:South Carolina
363:
360:
323:
320:
295:officer and a
276:
275:
268:
264:
263:
260:
256:
255:
253:
252:
251:
250:
245:
240:
239:
238:
233:
228:
223:
208:
203:
202:
201:
189:
178:
176:
172:
171:
162:
158:
157:
147:
143:
142:
139:
135:
134:
125:
119:
118:
109:
105:
104:
91:
89:
85:
84:
74:(aged 78)
68:
64:
63:
44:
40:
39:
36:
28:
27:
24:
15:
9:
6:
4:
3:
2:
1428:
1417:
1414:
1412:
1409:
1407:
1404:
1402:
1399:
1397:
1394:
1392:
1389:
1387:
1384:
1382:
1379:
1377:
1374:
1372:
1369:
1367:
1364:
1362:
1359:
1357:
1354:
1352:
1349:
1348:
1346:
1334:
1333:Joseph Hooker
1325:
1324:
1316:
1310:
1296:
1292:
1288:
1285:
1282:
1281:
1271:
1270:
1264:
1261:
1257:
1253:
1250:
1246:
1242:
1238:
1235:
1234:0-8061-3187-X
1231:
1227:
1223:
1220:
1219:
1213:
1210:
1209:
1200:
1197:
1194:
1191:
1188:
1187:0-89919-172-X
1184:
1180:
1177:
1174:
1171:
1170:0-19-503863-0
1167:
1163:
1162:
1158:
1155:
1152:
1148:
1145:
1142:
1141:0-8047-3641-3
1138:
1134:
1130:
1126:
1123:
1119:
1115:
1114:
1109:
1106:
1105:
1093:
1087:
1078:
1069:
1060:
1051:
1049:
1033:
1029:
1023:
1007:
1006:
1001:
995:
986:
980:Chapter XIII.
977:
970:
961:
952:
950:
948:
946:
944:
928:
924:
918:
910:
904:
900:
893:
884:
880:
871:
868:
866:
863:
862:
858:
847:
844:
833:
824:
820:
817:
814:
811:
810:
805:
801:
798:
794:
790:
786:
757:
753:
749:
748:Rochester, NY
745:
741:
740:
737:
732:
723:
721:
717:
713:
708:
706:
701:
699:
698:New York City
694:
691:
690:U.S. Congress
687:
684:
680:
676:
671:
669:
668:Egyptian Army
659:
657:
652:
649:
646:
642:
636:
629:Court martial
626:
624:
620:
615:
607:
603:
601:
597:
593:
589:
588:J.E.B. Stuart
585:
581:
577:
573:
569:
560:
551:
549:
548:major general
544:
542:
541:Thaddeus Lowe
538:
528:
526:
522:
518:
515:. During the
514:
510:
506:
501:
499:
496:
492:
488:
484:
480:
476:
472:
468:
464:
460:
459:John A. Logan
456:
452:
443:
434:
432:
428:
424:
420:
416:
413:
409:
405:
401:
395:
393:
389:
385:
381:
377:
373:
369:
359:
357:
353:
349:
345:
341:
337:
333:
329:
319:
315:
313:
312:court martial
309:
305:
301:
298:
294:
290:
286:
282:
273:
269:
265:
261:
257:
249:
246:
244:
241:
237:
234:
232:
229:
227:
224:
222:
219:
218:
217:
214:
213:
212:
209:
207:
204:
199:
193:
190:
188:
185:
184:
183:
180:
179:
177:
173:
170:
166:
163:
159:
156:
155:Major general
152:
148:
144:
140:
136:
133:
129:
126:
120:
117:
113:
110:
106:
102:
98:
94:
90:
86:
82:
78:
69:
65:
61:
60:New Hampshire
57:
45:
41:
34:
29:
22:
19:
1320:
1300:December 28,
1298:. Retrieved
1295:Find a Grave
1268:
1240:
1225:
1215:
1178:
1159:
1150:
1147:Grant, U. S.
1132:
1111:
1102:Bibliography
1086:
1077:
1068:
1059:
1035:. Retrieved
1031:
1022:
1010:. Retrieved
1003:
994:
985:
975:
969:
960:
930:. Retrieved
926:
917:
898:
892:
883:
808:
804:liberty ship
768:77°37′14.3″W
709:
702:
695:
672:
665:
653:
638:
616:
612:
582:wing of the
565:
545:
534:
502:
451:Pennsylvania
448:
396:
365:
325:
316:
288:
284:
280:
279:
175:Battles/wars
72:(1901-05-21)
70:May 21, 1901
18:
1356:1901 deaths
1351:1822 births
932:December 2,
780: /
765:43°08′7.6″N
592:Confederate
412:Confederate
384:Chapultepec
302:during the
1345:Categories
487:volunteers
132:Union Army
108:Allegiance
81:New Jersey
77:Morristown
56:Portsmouth
49:1822-08-31
1037:April 12,
645:President
568:John Pope
495:Maj. Gen.
352:brevetted
267:Signature
829:See also
686:commuted
206:Utah War
161:Commands
122:Service/
101:New York
97:Brooklyn
1012:May 24,
570:in the
513:V Corps
465:to let
455:colonel
417:in the
376:captain
300:general
194: (
165:V Corps
1258:
1247:
1232:
1185:
1168:
1139:
1120:
905:
726:Legacy
404:Kansas
362:Career
338:, and
124:branch
88:Buried
83:, U.S.
62:, U.S.
876:Notes
431:Texas
388:major
297:Union
116:Union
1302:2008
1256:ISBN
1245:ISBN
1230:ISBN
1183:ISBN
1166:ISBN
1137:ISBN
1118:ISBN
1039:2022
1014:2022
934:2017
903:ISBN
754:the
146:Rank
67:Died
43:Born
807:SS
485:of
287:or
197:WIA
1347::
1293:.
1214:,
1131:.
1047:^
1030:.
1002:.
942:^
925:.
718:,
425:,
402:,
354:a
334:,
314:.
167:,
99:,
95:,
79:,
58:,
1304:.
1262:)
1251:.
1236:.
1189:.
1172:.
1143:.
1124:.
1094:.
936:.
911:.
799:.
200:)
51:)
47:(
Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License. Additional terms may apply.
.png){kind=small}