James A. Garfield Civil War-Dated Document Signed for Fitz John Porter's Court Martial

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Feb 14, 2024

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• Lot Description
  Civil War-dated manuscript DS, signed by ten including "J. A. Garfield, Brig. Gen. Vols.," one page, 8 x 12.5, 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 taking with perfect correctness every sentence as rapidly as it was uttered by the witness, we are convinced that the ends of justice are fully as well...its administration much more facilitated by the employment of such a stenographer as Mr. Lord. We take great pleasure also testifying 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. 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. Vols." (future president); and "J. Holt, Judge Advocate" (conducted the trial of Porter and the Lincoln conspirators). In fine condition, with several horizontal folds, some light brushing to last two lines of text, and a few other trivial brushes to text.
  
  
  
  Porter commanded the V Corps in the disastrous Battle of Second Bull Run. During the battle, Porter received contradictory and unclear orders from his superiors as he attempted to command his troops based on Confederate positions. In the aftermath of the battle, Major General John Pope blamed Porter for the defeat, claiming that Porter had been insubordinate. After Porter's friend Major General George McClellan was disgraced during the Antietam crisis in the fall of 1862, Porter could no longer seek political protection and Pope preferred court-martial charges against him. The charges were based in politics more than fact. The administration sought to protect itself by absolving Pope, Lincoln's hand-picked commander. In addition, Porter's ties to McClellan and his open criticism of Pope made him a political target. Secretary of War Edwin Stanton—a McClellan opponent—picked the members of the court personally. Porter's court-martial was heard November 1862 through January 1863, and was considered a major event in the war. The trial was covered closely by the press and Porter became a scapegoat as other officers sought to clear their own names.
  
  
  
  This document was signed by the members of Porter's court-martial days before they reached a verdict. Porter was found guilty of disobedience and misconduct in front of the enemy. He was dismissed from the army on January 21, 1863. Delivered in the midst of further military setbacks and political upheaval, the verdict deeply disturbed the public's confidence in the army and the administration. Porter struggled for years to clear his name. Eventually the court-martial was found to be unjust and overturned, but Porter would not receive an official pardon until twenty years later during the Cleveland administration. A document from an important trial that stressed political and military fault lines in the Union at a critical point in the war.
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