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 [decorative delimiter] Class of 1860

Vol. II
p737
1849

(Born Pa.)

Horace Porter​1a

(Ap'd Pa.)

3

Military History. — Cadet at the Military Academy, July 1, 1855, to July 1, 1860, when he was graduated and promoted in the Army to

Bvt. Second Lieut. of Ordnance, July 1, 1860.

Served as Asst. Ordnance Officer at Watervliet Arsenal, N. Y., 1860‑61.

Second Lieut. of Ordnance, Apr. 22, 1861.

Served during the Rebellion of the Seceding States, 1861‑66: as Asst.

(First Lieut., Ordnance, June 7, 1861)

Ordnance Officer of the Port Royal Expeditionary Corps, Oct. 5, 1861, to July 2, 1862, being engaged at the Hilton Head Depot, Nov. 7 to Dec. 15, 1861, — in erecting Batteries of Heavy Artillery on Savannah River and Tybee Island, Ga., for the reduction of Ft. Pulaski, Ga., Dec. 15, 1861, to Apr. 12, 1862, — as Chief of Ordnance and Artillery at the Reduction and Capture of Ft. Pulaski, Ga., Apr. 10‑11, 1862, — in preparing Heavy Artillery and Ordnance Stores for James Island Expedition, Apr. 13 to June 1, 1862, — and in the Attack on Secessionville, S. C., June 16, 1862;

(Bvt. Captain, Apr. 11, 1862,
for Gallant and Meritorious Services at the Siege of Pulaski)

as Chief of Ordnance in the transfer of the Army of the Potomac from Harrison's Landing, Va., to Maryland, July 25 to Sep. 19, 1862; as Chief of Ordnance, Department of Ohio, Sep. 29, 1862, to Jan. 25, 1863, — and of the Department and Army of the Cumberland, Jan. 28 to Nov. 1,

(Captain, Ordnance, Mar. 3, 1863)

1863; in the Tennessee Campaign, June 24 to Nov. 1, 1863, being engaged in the Advance on Tullahoma, June 24 to July 4, 1863, — Passage of Elk River, July 3, and of the Tennessee, Sep. 2, 1863, — Battle of Chickamauga, Sep. 19‑20, 1863, — and Defense of Chattanooga, Sep. 20  p738 to Nov. 1, 1863; on Special duty in the Ordnance Bureau, Washington, D. C., Nov. 19, 1863, to Apr. 4, 1864; as Aide-de‑Camp to Lieut.-

(Lieut.‑Colonel, Staff —
Aide-de‑Camp to the General-in‑Chief, Apr. 4, 1864)

General Indicates a West Point graduate and gives his Class.Grant, Apr. 4, 1864, to July 25, 1866; and in the Richmond Campaign, Apr. 30, 1864, to Apr. 9, 1865, on the Staff of the Commanding General, being engaged in the Battle of the Wilderness, May 5‑6, 1864,

(Bvt. Major, May 6, 1864,
for Gallant and Meritorious Services at the Battle of the Wilderness)

— Battles about Spottsylvania, Va., May 9‑20, 1864, — Battles of North Anna, May 21‑25, 1864, — Battle of Tolopotomy, May 28‑29, 1864, — Battle of Bethesda Church, May 30, 1864, — Battles of Cold Harbor, June 3 and 5, 1864, — Passage of James River, June 15, 1864, — Siege and Operations about Petersburg, June 18, 1864, to Apr. 2, 1865, — Pursuit of the

(Bvt. Lieut.‑Col., Aug. 16, 1864,
for Gallant and Meritorious Services in Action at Newmarket Heights, Va.)

(Bvt. Colonel, U. S. Volunteers, Feb. 24, 1865,
for Faithful and Meritorious Services)

(Bvt. Colonel, U. S. Army, Mar. 13, 1865,
for Gallant and Meritorious Services during the Rebellion)

(Bvt. Brig.‑General, U. S. Army, Mar. 13, 1865,
for Gallant and Meritorious Services in the Field during the Rebellion)

Rebel Army under General Indicates a West Point graduate and gives his Class.Lee, Apr. 3‑9, 1865, — and Capitulation of Appomattox C. H., Apr. 9, 1865.

Served: at the headquarters of General Grant, commanding the Armies of the United States, Apr. 14, 1865, to Mar. 4, 1869; as Acting Private

(Colonel, Staff — Aide-de‑Camp to the General-in‑Chief, July 25, 1866)

(Major, Ordnance, Mar. 7, 1867)

Secretary to President Grant, Mar. 4, 1869, to Jan., 1873; and on leave of absence, to Dec. 31, 1873.

Resigned, Dec. 31, 1873.

Civil History. — Vice-President of Pullman Car Company since Dec. 31, 1873. Chairman of the Executive Committee of the Metropolitan Elevated Railroad of New York City, 1875‑79. President of the West Shore Railroad Company, N. Y., Aug. 5, 1881, to Jan. 5, 1884. President of the Board of Visitors to the U. S. Military Academy, 1882. Author of various Magazine articles, 1866‑90. Residence, New York city.

Vol. IV
p116
[Supplement, Vol. IV: 1890‑1900]

Civil History. — Ambassador of the United States, in France, from March 19, 1897 to –––––; Engaged since resignation from army, in construction and operation of railways in the United States. — Director in a number of financial and manufacturing institutions. — President of the  p117 St. Louis and San Francisco Railway Company. — Member of the New York and of the Massachusetts Historical Society. — Patron of the New York Metropolitan Museum of Art. — Received degree of LL. D. from Union College.

Vol. V
p94
[Supplement, Vol. V: 1900‑1910]

Civil History. — Ambassador of the United States, in France, from March 19, 1897 to 1905. — Served as Executive Secretary to President Grant from 1869 to 1872. — Was presented by General Grant with his headquarters flag used in the last year of the Civil War. — Resigned from Army, 1873. — From 1872 to 1897 was Chairman of the Executive and Construction Committee, which had charge of the building of elevated railroads in New York City. — Was Director in the Continental National Bank, Loan and Improvement Co.; the Equitable Life Insurance Co.; U. S. Guarantee Co., and in the following railway companies: St. Louis and San Francisco; Burlington, Cedar Rapids and Northern; Atlantic and Pacific; Hannibal and St. Joseph; Oregon Railway and Navigation; Ontario and Western, and various other corporations; was President of the West Shore Railway Co. and of the San Francisco Railway Co., and Vice-President of the Pullman Co. — In 1892 was delegate to National Republican nominating convention and made the speech nominating the  p95 Vice-President. — In 1892 raised the money necessary to build the Grant Tomb in New York City and completed that structure in 1897. — Was Honorary President American Chamber of Commerce in Paris. — In 1901 the Sultan of Turkey bestowed upon him the "Gold Medal for Patriotism." — In 1904 the French Government conferred upon him the "Grand Cross of the Legion of Honor," the first time it had ever been awarded to an American. — While in Paris he spent six years searching for the body of Admiral John Paul Jones and in 1905 finally recovered it,​b bearing personally the entire expense of the undertaking. For this Congress accorded him a unanimous vote of thanks and conferred upon him the privilege of the floor of both houses for life. — In 1907 was appointed delegate, with rank of Ambassador, to the Hague Peace Conference, where he succeeded in having adopted by the Nations the "Proposition Porter," prohibiting the collection by force of arms of contract debts, claimed to be due from a Government to the citizens of another Government and compelling a resort to peaceful arbitration. — Is President of the Grant Monument Association, Vice-President of the International Law Association, member of the principal clubs of New York City, honorary member of the Society of the Cincinnati, the New York Chamber of Commerce, the Union League Club, the New York State Bar Association, Whig Literary Society of Princeton University and Massachusetts Historical Society; patron Metropolitan Museum of Art and member Museum of Natural History New York City and of Society of Foreign Wars; served six years as President of the Union League Club, five years as President National Society Sons of the American Revolution. — Was Commander of George Washington Post G. A. R.; Commander Military Order of the Loyal Legion, New York Commandery; President Society of the Army of the Potomac; President Association of West Point Graduates; President of the U. S. Navy League; Commander Medal of Honor Legion. — Member of Executive Committee for purging the politics and municipal government of New York City. — Received the degree of L. L. D. from Williams College and Union and Princeton Universities. — Was awarded the "Congress Medal of Honor" for a conspicuous act of gallantry at the battle of Chickamauga. — President of Board of Visitors to West Point in 1882 and in 1906. — President Board of Visitors to Annapolis, 1908. — Delivered the oration upon the following occasions: Laying of corner stone and dedication of Grant Tomb; memorial service in Brooklyn upon death of General Indicates a West Point graduate and gives his Class.Sherman; unveiling of bust of General Indicates a West Point graduate and gives his Class.Hancock, New York City; celebration of the Centennial of the Evacuation of Oswego, N. Y., by the British; dedication of Washington Arch, New York City; before graduates of the College of Physicians and Surgeons of New York; unveiling of Grant Equestrian Statue, Brooklyn, and of the Soldiers' Monuments at Trenton, N. J., in Prospect Park, Brooklyn, and at Pottsville, Pa.; centennial of the founding of the U. S. Military Academy at West Point; celebration of the reception of the body of John Paul Jones at Annapolis Naval Academy; laying of the corner stone of Soldiers' and Sailors' Memorial at Pittsburg; unveiling of the Sheridan Equestrian Statue in Washington; the unveiling of the statues of Washington, Lafayette and Rochambeau in France (the latter three delivered in the French language); unveiling of the Rochambeau statue in Washington. — Author of West Point Life, Campaigning with Grant, and numerous magazine articles. — Residence, New York, N. Y.

Vol. VI
p86
[Supplement, Vol. VI: 1910‑1920]

(Born Apr. 15, 1837.)

Military History. —

Medal of Honor.

Brevet Brigadier-General, U. S. A., Mar. 13, 1865.

Major Ordnance Corps, March 7, 1867.

Resigned, Dec. 31, 1873.

Civil History. — Chairman of Executive and Construction Committee, in charge of building Elevated Railroads in New York City, 1872‑1897; Delegate to National Republican Nominating Convention and made speech nominating the Vice-President, 1892; raised funds for building the Grant Tomb in New York, 1892, and completed the structure in 1897; Ambassador of the United States to France, 1897 to 1905; in 1904 the French Government conferred upon him the Grand Cross of the Legion of Honor, the first time it had ever been awarded to an American; while in Paris spent six years in searching for the body of Admiral John Paul Jones, recovering it in 1905, and bearing personally the entire expense of the undertaking: for this Congress accorded him an unanimous vote of thanks and conferred upon him the privilege of the floor of both houses for life; in 1907 was appointed Delegate, with the rank of Ambassador, to the Hague Peace Conference, where he succeeded in having adopted by the nations the "Proposition Porter," prohibiting the collection by force of arms of contract debts claimed to be due from one government to the citizens of another government, and compelling a resort to peaceful arbitration; Director in the Continental National Bank, Loan and Improvement Co.; the Equitable Life Insurance Co.; U. S. Guarantee Co., and in the following railway companies: St. Louis and San Francisco; Burlington, Cedar Rapids and Northern; Atlantic and Pacific; Hannibal and St. Joseph; Oregon Railway and Navigation; Ontario and Western, and various other corporations; was President of the West Shore Railway Co. and of the San Francisco Railway Co., and Vice-President of the Pullman Co.; President of the Grant Monument Association, Vice-President of the International Law Association; member of the principal clubs of New York City; honorary member of the Society of the Cincinnati, the New York Chamber of Commerce, the Union League Club, the New York State Bar Association, Whig Literary Society of Princeton University and Massachusetts Historical Society; patron Metropolitan Museum of Art and member Museum of Natural History of New York City and of Society of Foreign Wars; served six years as President of the Union League Club, five years as President National Society Sons of the American Revolution; was Commander of George Washington Post, G. A. R.; Commander Military Order of the Loyal Legion, New York Commandery; President Society of the Army of the Potomac; President Association of West Point Graduates; President of the U. S. Navy League; Commander Medal of Honor Legion; member of Executive Committee for purging the politics and municipal government of New York City. Received the degree of LL. D. from Williams College, and Union, Princeton, and Harvard Universities. Was awarded the "Congress Medal  p87 of Honor" for a conspicuous act of gallantry at the battle of Chickamauga. President of Board of Visitors to West Point in 1882 and in 1906; President Board of Visitors to Annapolis, 1908. Delivered the oration upon the following occasions: Laying of corner stone and dedication of Grant Tomb; memorial service in Brooklyn upon death of General Sherman; unveiling of bust of General Hancock, New York City; celebration of the Centennial of the Evacuation of Oswego, N. Y., by the British; dedication of Washington Arch, New York City; before graduates of the College of Physicians and Surgeons of New York; unveiling of Grant Equestrian Statue, Brooklyn, and of the Soldiers' Monuments at Trenton, N. J., in Prospect Park, Brooklyn, and at Pottsville, Pa.; Centennial of the founding of the U. S. Military Academy at West Point; celebration of the reception of the body of John Paul Jones at Annapolis Naval Academy; laying of the corner stone of Soldiers' and Sailors' Memorial at Pittsburgh; unveiling of the Sheridan Equestrian Statue and of the John Paul Jones statue in Washington; unveiling of the statues of Washington, Lafayette and Rochambeau in France (the latter three delivered in the French language); unveiling of the Rochambeau statue in Washington. — Author of West Point Life, Campaigning with Grant, and numerous magazine articles.

Residence, New York, N. Y.

Vol. VII
p63
[Supplement, Vol. VII: 1890‑1900]

Military History. —

Medal of Honor.

Brevet Brigadier-General, U. S. A., Mar. 13, 1865.

Major, Ordnance Corps, Mar. 7, 1867.

Resigned, Dec. 31, 1873.

Died, May 29, 1921, at New York, N. Y.: Aged 84.

Buried, Old First Methodist Church Cemetery, West Long Branch, NJ.

Portrait and obituary in Annual Report, Association of Graduates, for 1930.


The Author's Note:º

1 Son of Governor David R. Porter, of Pennsylvania, and grandson of General Andrew Porter of the Revolutionary Army.


Thayer's Notes:

a A more detailed short biography of the general is given as a chapter of Indicates a West Point graduate and gives his Class.W. H. Baumer's Not All Warriors: "Horace Porter", pp261‑304.

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b A detailed account of how Jones' body was found and identified is given by Henri Marion in John Paul Jones' Last Cruise and Final Resting Place the United States Naval Academy, pp59‑63; it's unexpectedly interesting.


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