F. J. (Fitz-John) Porter
This telegram was probably written using one of the ciphers devised by Anson Stager for the use of the Union Army during the Civil War. As only telegraph operators had access to the codebooks used to decrypt the letter, this is likely a transcription of the telegram for transmission, or a Confederate transcription of an intercepted telegram. Porter was one of McClellan’s officers who had distinguished himself in the Peninsular campaign; at the time this letter was written, Porter would be sent in a few days to reinforce General John Pope at what would be known later as the Second Battle of Bull Run (August 29-30, 1862). Because he did not move quickly enough, Porter was accused by Pope of failure to carry out orders. He was court-martialed for insubordination and cashiered from the army in 1863. Porter’s loyalty to McClellan (who had political differences with the Washington administration) may have motivated this dismissal from the army. Porter protested the decision and fought for reinstatement and compensation. As President, Grant himself vouched for Porter, who was eventually vindicated in 1879; an 1886 Act of Congress restored his rank.
This telegram is available on the digital library project I Remain.