Lee, John F. (1813-1884) to Henry Jackson Hunt
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Gilder Lehrman Collection #: GLC02382.084 Author/Creator: Lee, John F. (1813-1884) Place Written: Upper Marlboro, Maryland Type: Autograph letter signed Date: 26 July 1870 Pagination: 3 p. ; 20.3 x 25.3 cm. Order a Copy
Discusses submitting testimony for Hunt, on the issue of military rank and retirement pay. Notes that Hunt is correct in his opinion of brevet pay for brigadiers and majors, referring to General Roger Jones. Writes "in good law you had no right to any brevet pay in your own regiments troop or company, but only to the pay of the commission by which you were mustered. Nevertheless, the law has been a dead letter for 30 years... " Discusses the case of General Fitz John Porter, whose conduct at Second Manassas would be questioned before a board in 1878. In relation to the case, refers to Generals Robert E. Lee and John Pope. Notes that in Lee's opinion, Porter was never a threat to Stonewall Jackson during Second Manassas. Says, "Genl. Lee was here the other day. I asked him about that 2d Manassas - or bull-Run. He said Jackson ... never was in any danger (of reverse, much less capture) - & Porter never in condition to do any harm to that wing or any wing of the Confederate army. The Gnl. never did delight in criticisms, but he could see no ground for verdict of the [Porter's] c[ourt] mar[shal] ..." Mentions an oration on Ulysses S. Grant, a bill introduced by Congressman John Alexander Logan, and the Franco-Prussian War. Writes "I am for France against Prussia... the war is a very good war (as Gnl Porter said of the Florida war)... the French are less troublesome- for they stay at home." Asks Hunt his opinion on the Chinese question, possibly referring to the Tientsin Massacre.
Hunt had served as Chief of Artillery for the Army of the Potomac. After the Civil War, he occupied various military posts. In his later years, Hunt pursued a congressional bill that would affect his military retirement rank and pay.
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