USA Bio Andrew Porter

[Battleline]

Brig. Gen. Andrew Porter (b. 1820, d. 1872) Like many other early leaders in the Civil War, Andrew Porter wasn’t on the field of battle at the end of the conflict. Instead, Porter was making his residence in Paris, France. Mainly due to health issues, Porter was mustered out of volunteer service in April of 1864 and resigned his regular commission that same month. He traveled abroad before settling in Paris. Porter was born July 10, 1820, in Lancaster, Pennsylvania. Grandson of Revolutionary War Gen. Andrew Porter and first cousin to the mother of Mary Todd Lincoln, Porter had other ties to famous people. His father, George Bryan Porter, was a territorial governor of Michigan. His father-in-law, Maj. John Biddle, was an early settler in Michigan. His first cousin, Horace Porter, was a brevet brigadier general and the secretary of war under Pres. U.S. Grant. Porter received an appointment to the U.S. Military Academy in 1836, but left after six months. At the start of the Mexican War, he received was appointed a first lieutenant in the new Mounted Riflemen Regiment. A year later, he was promoted to captain. He received brevets to major and lieutenant colonel for gallantry in battle. After the war, he stayed in the military in Texas and the southwest. He was made colonel of the new 16th U.S. Infantry May 14, 1861. At First Bull Run, Porter commanded the First Brigade of Hunter’s Division. His command suffered 464 casualties and Porter commanded the division after Hunter was wounded. Porter was promoted to brigadier general of volunteers, the fourth-ranking brigadier of that organization, Aug. 6, 1861. That promotion was dated to May 17, 1861. When McClellan’s Army of the Potomac was formed, Porter did not get a higher command and served as the provost marshal for the army during the Peninsular Campaign. At the end of the campaign, Porter was reassigned to aid in the organizing and forwarding of recruits from Pennsylvania. During October of 1862, he was charged with enforcing the draft in Pennsylvania and became the state’s provost marshal. He was ordered back to Washington, D.C., Jan. 24, 1863. During July of 1863, Porter commanded the depot for drafted men in Philadelphia. With poor health, he was mustered out of service in April of 1864. After traveling, Porter settled in Paris. He died at his Rue du Colisee home there Jan. 3, 1872. He is buried in Detroit.

[Gil R.]

Copied. Thanks.

[Gil R.]

And here it is:

Brig. Gen. Andrew Porter (b. 1820, d. 1872). Like many other early leaders in the Civil War, Porter was not on the field of battle at the end of the conflict – instead, he was making his residence in Paris, France. Mainly due to health issues, Porter was mustered out of volunteer service in April of 1864 and resigned his regular commission that same month, subsequently traveling abroad before settling in Paris. Porter was born on July 10, 1820, in Lancaster, Pennsylvania. Grandson of Revolutionary War general Andrew Porter and first cousin to the mother of first lady Mary Todd Lincoln, Porter had other ties to famous people: his father, George Bryan Porter, was a territorial governor of Michigan; his father-in-law, Maj. John Biddle, was an early settler in Michigan; and, his first cousin, Horace Porter, was a brevet brigadier general and the secretary of war under Pres. Ulysses S. Grant. Porter received an appointment to the U.S. Military Academy in 1836, but left after six months. At the start of the Mexican War, he was appointed a 1st lieutenant in the new Mounted Riflemen Regiment. A year later, he was promoted to captain, and soon received brevets to major and lieutenant colonel for gallantry in battle. After the war, he stayed in the military in Texas and the southwest. When the Civil War began in 1861, he was made Colonel of the new 16th U.S. Infantry Regiment on May 14. At the First Battle of Bull Run on July 21, Porter commanded the 1st Brigade of Gen. David Hunter’s 2nd Division, taking over command of the division itself after Hunter was wounded. Porter’s brigade (Just making sure – you meant the brigade and not the division, right?) suffered 464 casualties during the battle – more than a quarter of the Union’s killed and wounded that day. Two weeks later, on August 6 (but dated to May 17), Porter was promoted to brigadier general of volunteers, the fourth-ranking brigadier of that organization. When Gen. George B. McClellan’s Army of the Potomac was formed in the immediate aftermath of Bull Run, Porter did not get a higher command; instead, he served as the provost marshal for the army during the Peninsular Campaign of March-July 1862, and at the end of the campaign was reassigned to aid in the organizing and forwarding of recruits from Pennsylvania. That October, Porter was charged with enforcing the draft in Pennsylvania and became the state’s provost marshal. He was ordered back to Washington, D.C., on January 24, 1863 (Why?). In July of 1863, Porter commanded the depot for drafted men in Philadelphia. Poor health eventually led him to be mustered out of service in April 1864, enabling him to travel overseas. Porter died at his Rue du Colisee home in Paris on January 3, 1872, and was buried in Detroit. (Bio by Bill Battle)

Leadership: 3
Tactical: 2
Initiative: 2
Command: 4
Cavalry:

Start date: 14
“Death” date: 78

Teaches: Shooters

[Battleline]

Of my three sources, Porter only appears in "Generals in Blue." Warner's writing can be a bit obscure at times. Here is what he wrote about Bull Run. "At the Battle of First Manassas (remember Warner was Southern) in July he (Porter) commanded the 1st Brigade of Hunter's Division, which sustained 464 casualties; after the wounding of Hunter, Porter commanded the division itself."
civilwarhome.com reports on First Bull Run have Porter in charge of the division for the entire battle, not mentioning Hunter at all. Porter's report, also on that site, does not list casualties. When he issued the report, stragglers were still coming back.
So, to make a long story short, these probably were the division's casualties.

As for the ordered back to Washington, D.C., Warner writes, ". . .but on January 24, 1863, was relieved and ordered to report to the adjutant general in Washington."
Warner cites Official Records XXI 1003 for this source. However, Warner did not go into further detail on the matter. As my other two sources have nothing on Porter, I cannot elaborate with my current research. Porter was in ill health by this time and he was reassigned to the depot of drafted men after that, likely a much less stressful job. Again, that is speculation.

Thanks,
Battleline

[Gil R.]

Thanks for the extra info. As you can see, I'm wording things ambiguously in both cases myself, so that we're not saying anything wrong.


Brig. Gen. Andrew Porter (b. 1820, d. 1872). Like many other early leaders in the Civil War, Porter was not on the field of battle at the end of the conflict – instead, he was making his residence in Paris, France. Mainly due to health issues, Porter was mustered out of volunteer service in April of 1864 and resigned his regular commission that same month, subsequently traveling abroad before settling in Paris. Porter was born on July 10, 1820, in Lancaster, Pennsylvania. Grandson of Revolutionary War General Andrew Porter and first cousin to the mother of first lady Mary Todd Lincoln, Porter had other ties to famous people: his father, George Bryan Porter, was a territorial governor of Michigan; his father-in-law, Maj. John Biddle, was an early settler in Michigan; and, his first cousin, Horace Porter, was a brevet brigadier general and the secretary of war under Pres. Ulysses S. Grant. Porter received an appointment to the U.S. Military Academy in 1836, but left after six months. At the start of the Mexican War, he was appointed a 1st lieutenant in the new Mounted Riflemen Regiment. A year later, he was promoted to captain, and soon received brevets to major and lieutenant colonel for gallantry in battle. After the war, he stayed in the military in Texas and the southwest. When the Civil War began in 1861, he was made Colonel of the new 16th U.S. Infantry Regiment on May 14. At the First Battle of Bull Run on July 21, Porter commanded the 1st Brigade of Gen. David Hunter’s 2nd Division, taking over command of the division itself after Hunter was wounded. Porter’s men suffered 464 casualties during the battle – more than a quarter of the Union’s killed and wounded that day. Two weeks later, on August 6 (but dated to May 17), Porter was promoted to brigadier general of volunteers, the fourth-ranking brigadier of that organization. When Gen. George B. McClellan’s Army of the Potomac was formed in the immediate aftermath of Bull Run, Porter did not get a higher command; instead, he served as the provost marshal for the army during the Peninsular Campaign of March-July 1862, and at the end of the campaign was reassigned to aid in the organizing and forwarding of recruits from Pennsylvania. That October, Porter was charged with enforcing the draft in Pennsylvania and became the state’s provost marshal. He was ordered back to Washington, D.C., in January 1863, and subsequently given command of the depot for drafted men in Philadelphia. Poor health eventually led him to be mustered out of service in April 1864, enabling him to travel overseas. Porter died at his Rue du Colisee home in Paris on January 3, 1872, and was buried in Detroit. (Bio by Bill Battle)