Lot 335
Porter, Fitz John (1822-1901) Union general. At the battle of Second Bull Run (Aug. 29, 1862), he disobeyed orders from Gen. John Pope because of counter-intelligence he had received, of which Pope was not aware. At a politically-motivated court-martial, he was found guilty of disobedience and misconduct, and dismissed from the Army on January 21, 1863. Porter never gave up seeking vindication and in 1878, he was exonerated by a special commission under Gen. John M. Schofield, which found that Porter's actions had probably saved Pope's Army of Virginia from an even greater defeat. In 1886, President Chester Arthur reversed Porter's sentence and a special act of Congress restored Porter's commission as an infantry colonel in the U.S. Army, backdated to May 14, 1861, but without back pay. On August 7, 1886, Porter retired from the Army.
Autograph letter signed ("F.J. Porter"), one page, 10½ x 8 in., New York, Aug. 26 (18)96. To Hon. Horatio King, who briefly served as Postmaster General under James Buchanan (Feb. 12 until March 7, 1861): "I give you following date to, perhaps, rouse your memory of an early event in Lincoln's administration, which if true, shows that administration was as anxious to avoid collision as was Mr. Buchanan's -- and decisions of separation rather than collision, which Mr. B's avoided. Overhauling old memoranda of 1861 I find a note, indicating that negotiations were going in Lincoln's cabinet for the surrender of the Forts & other property in South Carolina to South Carolina. Dr. Todd of Kentucky, a brother of Mrs. Lincoln and favored the South, was in the White Huse, & encouraged the negotiations & through him they became known. The firing on Fort Sumpter put an end to the idea of issuing a proclamation, turning over the forts & government property, and caused a call for troops. Is this true? It has been said that Mrs. Pickens had a copy of the intended proclamation given to Dr. Pickens by Dr. Todd. Or was it unfounded?…" Boldly penned and signed.
A note in King's hand at top left says in part, "Never heard that Mr. Lincoln considered the matter of the impudent request of the S.C. Comrs. to turn S.C. over to that State. There is no doubt that they did make such request. The Nicolay-Hay history ought to have the facts."
Estimated Value $800 - 1,000.
Christie's, New York, June 9, 2004.
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| Realized $240 |
