Description:

Fitz John Porter
New York, NY, June 21, 1889
Fitz John Porter Responds to Requests for Painting Details on Battle of Gaines Mill and Second Battle of Bull Run
ALS
A post-Civil War letter from Union General Fitz John Porter concerning historical battle pictures. 3pp, measuring 5" x 8", New York, dated June 21, 1889. Signed "Fitz John Porter" and addressed to General Augustus D. Ayling. Porter makes mention of a steel engraving of the Battle of Gaines Mill, along with interactions with the Prince de Joinville, the Comte de Paris, and Duke de Chartres. With flattened mail folds. The first page of the letter has been mounted to the verso of an engraving of Brigadier General Frederick Dent Grant, Ulysses S. Grant's eldest son. Boldly signed. Overall very good.

In full:
"For want of a better, which I am unable to secure, I send you today a steel engraving of the Prince de Joinville picture of the Battle of Gaines Mill. The scene may, perhaps, be assumed to be one described in my sketch of the Battle published in the Century's Battles of the War where I mention the Comte de Paris coming to me a second time and asking that his uncle the Prince de Joinville be sent with a message to General McClellan so as to take him out of the dangers of the battlefield. The Comte de Paris and Duke de Chartres were willing to endure the risks of the field, but they deemed them too great for the Prince on account of the interests at home in France. Unfortunately my connection with the Army of the Potomac was so limited that I am unable to furnish historical pictures of later date than August 30th 1862 of the Battle of Bull Run. I hope other members from New Hampshire have been able to cover the walls of your gallery."

Fitz John Porter (1822-1901) was a Union general during the Civil War, who showed a strong talent for defensive fighting at battles such as the Seven Days Battles and the Battle of Gaines' Mill. Unfortunately, he is best-remembered for his performance at the Second Battle of Bull Run and his subsequent court martial, which he mentions in this letter. At the Second Battle of Bull Run, Porter chose not to follow orders from General Pope to flank Stonewall Jackson's position due to the fac that it would have collided suicidally with General Longstreet's large force. Pope insisted on the flank attack, and Porter reluctantly complied and was heavily trounced in the field. Pope was infuriated by the defeat, accused Porter of insubordination, and relieved him of his command on September 5. Porter was later arrested and court-martialed on November 25, 1862 and found guilty on January 10, 1863, of disobedience and misconduct. He was officially dismissed from the Army on January 21, 1863. After the war, Porter worked for almost 25 years to restore his tarnished reputation and was finally restored to the army's roll.

François d'Orléans, Prince de Joinville (1818-1900) was the third son of French King Louis Philippe. After the outbreak of the Civil War, he traveled to the U.S. and offered the services of his son and two nephews to the U.S. Government. His son, Pierre, Duke of Penthièvre, studied at the Naval Academy, while his nephew, Prince Philippe, Count of Paris and his younger brother Prince Robert, Duke of Chartres, were appointed assistant adjutants general and served as aides to Major General George McClellan.

This item comes with a Certificate from John Reznikoff, a premier authenticator for both major 3rd party authentication services, PSA and JSA (James Spence Authentications), as well as numerous auction houses.

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  • Dimensions: 5" x 8"
  • Medium: ALS

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