Radical Sacrifice: The Rise and Ruin of Fitz John Porter

Civil War historian Marvel examines the life and career of Fitz John Porter (1822–1901), a Union officer whose career was cut short in 1862 by accusations of disobeying orders from General John Pope at the 2nd Battle of Bull Run. Marvel portrays Pope’s charges as vindictive attempts to deflect blame from his own serious command failures. Porter’s subsequent court martial, conviction, and ensuing public shunning resulted less from actual misconduct than from Porter’s friendship with General George McClellan, a man removed by Abraham Lincoln as Union Commander who eventually became the Democratic candidate for president in 1864, against Lincoln. As such, according to Marvel, Porter became a target for retribution by the Radical Republicans during and after the war as he sought to exonerate himself by correcting the record of his actions. Porter ultimately prevailed, but only after a long, exhausting effort.