September 22, 2011
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 9/22/2011
Manuscript Document signed by nine Union Generals, 8" x 12-1/2," Washington January 10, 1863. In part, "The undersigned members of the General Court Martial for the trial of Maj. Gen. F.J. Porter, take pleasure in testifying their entire satisfaction with the manner in which W.P. Lord Esqr has reported the voluminous proceedings of this Court. He has made a complete & accurate verbatim report .... our high appreciation of Mr. Lord as a gentleman, and, tendering him our thanks for the efficient manner in which he has discharged his duty." The document concludes with the signatures of the nine Generals and the Judge Advocate, presented in two columns. All signatures are fine, as is the document. The signing members are: "E. A. Hitchcock, Maj. Gen. Vol" (West Point 1817); "B. M. Prentiss, Brig. Gen. Vol" (captured at Shiloh); "James B. Ricketts, Brig. Gen. Vol" (West Point 1839, wounded and captured at 1st Manassas, wounded at Cedar Creek); "N. B. Buford, Brig. Gen. Vo" (West Point 1827); "Jno.P. Slough Brig. Gen. Vol" (killed, at Santa Fe, N. M., on Dec. 16, 1867, in a personal attack over politics); "D. Hunter, Maj. Gen." (West Point 1822, served as president of this court martial, served as commission president of the Lincoln conspirators trial); "Rufus King, , Brig. Gen. Vol" (West Point 1833); "Silas Casey, Brig. Gen. Vol" (West Point 1826); "J. A. Garfield, , Brig. Gen. Vol" (future President); "J. Holt, Judge Advocate" (conducted the trial of Porter and the Lincoln conspirators). After the Battle of Second Manassas, Porter was blamed by Pope for his defeat. Pope claimed that Porter had been insubordinate, and during the fall of 1862, after the Antietam crisis, Pope preferred court-martial charges against Porter. The primary allegation was insubordination. Because the Lincoln administration was greatly embarrassed by the failure of its hand-picked commander Pope, and enraged at McClellan's failure to pursue Lee into Virginia after Antietam, it wanted to send a message to McClellan. So, it selected reliable officers to serve on the court-martial panel, including some of the subordinate officers who served under Porter at Second Manassas. The court-martial of Major General Fitz John Porter was heard November 25, 1862 through January 22, 1863, and considered by many as a major event of the War. Fitz John Porter was found guilty of disobeying a lawful order, and misconduct in front of the enemy and removed from command based on internal political machinations of the Federal government. The court-martial was later found to be unjust and overturned, and Porter was reinstated in the United States Army.
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