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Kevin Donovan will present “The Court Martial of Fitz John Porter: Fair or Fixed.”Fitz John Porter was a West Point graduate, Mexican-American War veteran and U.S. Army officer whose career was destroyed in the aftermath of the Union army’s defeat at the Second Battle of Manassas.
On July 4, 1862, in recognition of his admirable performance as commander of V Corps during Peninsula Campaign, Porter was promoted to major general of volunteers. Porter’s corps was then sent to reinforce Maj. Gen. John Pope’s Army of Virginia.
However, Porter was openly hostile toward Pope, so when the two generals repeatedly clashed over the disposition of troops at the Second Battle of Manassas, and the battle ended in disaster, Porter’s court martial was inevitable. Porter was found guilty of disobedience and misconduct, and he was dismissed from the Army on January 21, 1863. The presentation examines these facts and considers whether Porter was treated fairly.
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Event Venue & Nearby Stays
121 N. Pershing Ave., York, PA, United States, Pennsylvania 17401
