The Celebrated Case of Fitz John Porter

My recently-completed book on the life of Orlando Poe necessitated some deep research into the Washington wartime machinations of the Radical Republicans, the Joint Committee on the Conduct of the War, and all the other various high-level politics of that era. Seeing what has transpired over the past five years has convinced me yet again that history tends to repeat itself, especially when the lines between political and military become blurred. Perhaps there really is no line to begin with….

All of which has stirred an interest in learning more about the ordeal of General Fitz John Porter, a George McClellan favorite who was made the scapegoat by Secretary of War Edwin Stanton and the Radicals for the Union failure at Second Bull Run. Porter was arrested in November 1862, formally charged with misconduct during that battle, found guilty by a tribunal that was practically hand-picked by Stanton and then cashiered from the army in January 1863. Porter spent virtually the rest of his life attempting to restore his reputation and rank. The Celebrated Case of Fitz John Porter: An American Dreyfus Affair by author Otto Eisenschiml tells the story of Porter’s alleged misdeeds at Second Manassas, his subsequent court martial and conviction, and then the years spent trying to restore his name. The “Dreyfus Affair” aspect refers to the case of Alfred Dreyfus, a French artillery officer who was wrongly imprisoned in the 1890’s for treason.

Published by the Bobbs-Merril Company in 1950, it was the first book-length look into this sorry chapter of American military jurisprudence written by a non-participant. Almost seventy years earlier, General Jacob D. Cox published The Second Battle of Bull Run, As Connected With the Fitz-John Porter Case, (Cincinnati: P. G. Thomson, 1882), which was an anti-Porter paper Cox had read before a society of ex-army and navy officers on February 28, 1882. Eisenschiml’s book however, is far more sympathetic to Porter than Cox’s earlier polemic. Scholar Allen Nevins described it as "a lightly documented, strongly argued, but on the whole convincing brief on behalf of Porter." David Eicher in his Civil War in Books: An Analytical Bibliography tends to agree with Nevins, pointing out that the narrative depends heavily on courtroom testimony, much of which was perjured or hearsay. He also deftly points out that Porter’s case was one of the more interesting postwar battles that emerged unrelated to the creation of Lost Cause folklore.

The book itself is not uncommon in the first edition. As this page shows, there are currently over 40 copies available for sale just on American Book Exchange, a number of which are signed by the author. Nor is it a particularly well-made title, the paper being easily susceptible to browning which was typical of books published during the WWII-era. Nevertheless, as collectors know, the three keys to determining a book’s collectability are “condition, condition, and condition.” As a closer examination of the search shows, finding both the book and dust jacket in fine shape can be difficult.

I’ve noticed that there are also a couple of recent and forthcoming books on this topic. Judging by the titles, they appear to be as sympathetic to Porter as was Eisenschiml’s book from a half-century earlier. In 2003 we saw Injustice on Trial: Second Bull Run, General Fitz John Porter's Court Martial, and the Schofield Board Investigation that Restored His Good Name by Curt Anders. Later this year, McFarland will publish Fitz-John Porter, Scapegoat of Second Manassas: The Rise, Fall and Rise of the General Accused of Disobedience by Donald R. Jermann.

Carman Book Now Available

My copy of Ezra Carman's legendary Maryland Campaign of September 1862 arrived today direct from the publisher. This is a big book. It runs over 500 pages of fairly small font and has an 8 1/2" x 11" trim size - all of which was obviously necessary to accommodate what editor Joseph Pierro says in his Acknowledgements was a 400,000 word project. It's also fashioned after the McFarland books in that it features illustrated boards rather than a cloth binding with dust jacket.

As previously discussed here and elsewhere, there are no maps. Other than a portrait of Brevet Brigadier General Ezra A. Carman on the frontispiece, there are no illustrations either. At $95 per copy, this one is definitely targeted at the library market. Still, I can't wait to dig in.

FURTHER UPDATE: Kim Guinta of Routledge Press reports that the first printing was only 500 copies but that they will reprint as necessary. First edition collectors take note.

Huzzah! A Home For Poe

I’m pleased to announce that my biography of Union officer and engineer Orlando M. Poe has been accepted for publication by Kent State University Press. The 126,000-word manuscript will contain fifteen maps commissioned especially for the book as well as 20 or so period photographs and drawings, at least five of which are previously unpublished.

I believe Poe to be one of the more underrated and overlooked individuals from both the Civil War and the late nineteenth-century. As important as many of his wartime engineering contributions were, I make the case that his post-war career spent largely on the Great Lakes had a far greater impact on society as a whole. Much of his work affects Great Lakes mariners to this very day. This work will tell his life’s story in depth for the first time ever.

I’m currently considering two titles. The original working title was Great Lakes Engineer: The Life of Civil War General Orlando M. Poe while a more recent idea is “An Approving Conscience is Sufficient Reward:” The Life of Civil War General Orlando M. Poe. I find the former to be more descriptive (think marketing) though the latter seems more “artsy.” Opinions are welcomed.

With the contracts now signed, it’s time to settle down into all the fun pre-production stuff! Also, an article-length version of Poe’s life, entitled Orlando Metcalfe Poe: General William T. Sherman’s Right Hand Man, will be published in North and South magazine. Editor Keith Poulter informs me it should appear in the upcoming issue.

The Abraham Lincoln Bookshop

The missus, daughter and I will heading west to the Windy City this coming weekend for a few days with friends. Chicago is a wonderful destination as many already know, filled with great restaurants, clubs, theaters, and yes, bookstores.

Any Civil War bibliophile who visits Chicago will want to pay a visit to the Abraham Lincoln Bookshop located at 357 West Chicago Avenue. In this correspondent's humble opinion, it is the finest open shop dedicated to Lincolnia and the Civil War that I've ever had the pleasure of visiting. You name it, they've got it. New titles, reading copies and the rarest of the rare. Much to the missus' humorous dismay, my wallet is always a tad thinner after visiting the ALB.

According to the shop's website, the store was established in 1938, and to this day "serves the needs of collectors and scholars, professional historians and independent writers, dedicated first edition hunters and casual history enthusiasts.

Ralph Newman, a master promoter, raconteur, one time merchant marine, minor-league baseball player and hopeless bibliophile, founded the shop in part to serve the passionate collecting needs of a small circle of friends devoted to the study of the Civil War and the Great Emancipator. Among that small circle were poet Carl Sandburg, authors Bruce Catton, Otto Eisenschiml, E. B. ‘Pete’ Long, Stanley Horn, Lloyd Lewis, and T. Harry Williams, Illinois Governor Otto Kerner and William O. Douglas, Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of the United States.

Also among Newman’s circle of friends were the fifteen men who became the charter members of The Civil War Round Table, the first chapter in a movement of Civil War Round Tables that meet monthly across the U.S. and around the World. Round Table members from around the globe still visit the Book Shop and sit at the original “round table” while reviewing Lincoln autographs, manuscripts, artwork, or rare books. In 1971 Daniel Weinberg entered into a partnership with Ralph Newman, and in 1984 purchased Newman’s interest to become the sole proprietor."

Serious Research / Writing vs. "Only Blogging"

Crossed Sabers has a post containing this link on blogging and the potential peril it poses to the serious writer. Though the post is a humorous "Poe-esque" cautionary tale addressed to what I interpret would be writers of fiction, the same danger still holds true for non-fiction historians. In my opinion, the potential pitfalls are real.

Is Borders About To Go Belly Up?

Today's Detroit News reports in this story that Borders, the nations #2 bookseller, will consider putting itself up for sale in an attempt to save itself. Shares in the Ann Arbor-headquartered company fell more than 39% yesterday to close at $5.07 a share. Three years ago, it's shares traded at around $25.

Still, Borders might have a tough time finding interested buyers, analysts said, because of its shaky finances. "We see little opportunity in the near term for Borders to be sold," wrote Gary Balter, a Credit Suisse research analyst, in a Thursday note to investors. Given financials like the story reports, I kinda doubt that turning books face-out rather than spine out, thereby resulting in less choice, will turn things around.

The Hot Tampa Sun Must Have Brought This On...

The descendant of a 19th-century Tampa (Florida) business owner has sued the city to collect on a Civil War-era promissory note for implements and ammunition to defend the town. I kid you not. Hey Eric, does she have a case or what? :-)

With interest, the "bill" amounts to more than $22 million.

The note issued by the city June 28, 1861, was $299.58, but with the desired 8 percent interest since, the total comes to $22.72 million, an attorney for Joan Kennedy Biddle says in a December letter to the city requesting payment. Read the whole story here.

I really like the one reader's response. Since the suit is from 1861, if the city loses, they should pay her with Confederate dollars!

Speaking of Tampa, there's a wonderful book by Canter Brown that chronicles the role of this Florida Gulf Coast town during the Civil War. It's title is Tampa in Civil War & Reconstruction and was published in 2000 by the University of Tampa Press.