Fitz-John Porter

Fitz-John Porter 1822-1901, Union general in the American Civil War, b. Portsmouth, N.H.; nephew of David Porter. He saw service in the Mexican War and was an instructor at West Point (1849-55). At the outbreak of the Civil War, Porter was made a brigadier general of volunteers. In 1862 he distinguished himself as a corps commander in the Peninsular campaign, especially in the Seven Days battles . Later that year, however, John Pope alleged that the Union defeat in the second battle of Bull Run was due to Porter's disobedience. At his court-martial Porter declared that it was impossible to carry out Pope's orders, but he was, nevertheless, cashiered. A review of the case in 1879 vindicated him. In 1886 he was reappointed colonel of infantry and retired.

Bibliography: See study by O. Eisenschiml (1950).

Porter, Fitz John (1822–1901) Union army officer. Born into a New Hampshire family with a strong military tradition, by 1847 Porter was already serving in the Mexican War (1846–48), where he was cited for bravery. During the Civil War, his friendship with Gen. George B. McClellan boosted his career, and he was named to command the 5th Corps in 1862. His failure to act in the face of unclear orders won him Gen. John Pope's enmity, left Pope's troops vulnerable to attack by Confederate troops, and contributed to the massive defeat of the Union forces at the Second Battle of Bull Run 91862). In 1863, in a flawed court-martial, Porter was found guilty of disobeying orders during the battle and dismissed from the army; he won a retrial in 1879, at which he was found innocent.