Greenleaf, Halbert Stevens (1827-1906) Speech of Hon. Halbert S. Greenleaf of New York, in the House of Representatives, Saturday, January 19, 1884.
High-resolution images are available to schools and libraries via subscription to American History, 1493-1943. Check to see if your school or library already has a subscription. Or click here for more information. You may also order a pdf of the image from us here.
Gilder Lehrman Collection #: GLC08445.04.01 Author/Creator: Greenleaf, Halbert Stevens (1827-1906) Place Written: Washington, D.C. Type: Pamphlet Date: 1884 Pagination: 1 v. : 7 p. ; 23 x 14.7 cm. Order a Copy
Representative Greenleaf discusses the court-martial of General Fitz-John Porter. In support of Porter, concludes "Why, then, in view of these clearly established facts, should we longer delay this simple act of justice to a most meritorious but much-abused soldier? Why wait for a more auspicious day? Why wait till this perfectly innocent man has gone down with his gray hairs in sorrow to the grave? Let us act, here and now... I support this bill for his relief with all my heart..."
In 1878 and 1879, General Porter was placed before a military board gathered to reevaluate his actions in the Battle of Second Manassas. In March 1879, the board exonerated Porter of former charges placed against him. In the 1880s, Porter's sentence was officially reversed, and under a special act of Congress, his commission was restored (with no back pay due). In an autobiographical sketch (refer to GLC02494.07) he notes, "restoration to the army by President Cleveland under authority of act of Congress dated July 1 '86- Commission as Colonel dating back to May 14 1861. Placed on the retired list of the Army as Colonel July 7 1886."
Citation Guidelines for Online Resources
The copyright law of the United States (title 17, United States Code) governs the making of photocopies or other reproductions of copyrighted material. Under certain conditions specified in the law, libraries and archives are authorized to furnish a photocopy or other reproduction. One of these specific conditions is that the photocopy or reproduction is not to be “used for any purpose other than private study, scholarship, or research.” If a user makes a request for, or later uses, a photocopy or reproduction for purposes in excess of “fair use,” that user may be liable for copyright infringement. This institution reserves the right to refuse to accept a copying order if, in its judgment, fulfillment of the order would involve violation of copyright law.