PORTSMOUTH—
Portsmouth men were the first to answer Lincoln’s call for volunteers to fight for the Union cause in the American Civil War. More than 3,000 responded, from a city population of 10,000, affecting life at home as well as on the southern battlefields, where they fought.
Opening for the 2011 season on May 1, Strawbery Banke Museum’s commemoration of New Hampshire in the Civil War leads with the history of Fitz John Porter, the political intrigues that shredded his illustrious career, his court-martial after the Battle of Second Manassas and the struggle for his ultimate exoneration - 125 years ago this August. Born in Portsmouth and a hero of the early battles, commended by President Lincoln, Porter ran afoul of War Department politics. General Pope, on the ascendant gave Porter orders at Second Manassas that were impossible to follow. Porter’s “insubordination” based on better knowledge of the enemy’s position saved his troops from certain disaster. But the Court martial listened to biased observers with bad maps. Even after a military tribunal corrected the account of the incident, it took until 1886 for the pardon that would clear Porter’s name.
The Museum looks at Porter’s record with an exhibit in the Rowland Gallery that invites visitors to make decisions for themselves about the verdict, based on the evidence. The exhibit is based on research in Porter’s letters and the court martial records. Highlights include Gen. Fitz John Porter’s sword (recently discovered and purchased for the Strawbery Banke Museum collection) and his field glasses (on loan from the Manassas National Battlefield Park).
On August 6 - the 125th Anniversary of the pardon of Gen. Fitz John Porter - the City of Portsmouth conducts a wreath-laying ceremony at the Gen. Fitz John Porter statue in Haven Park. Members of the 5th NH 2nd Volunteer Regiment and NH Civil War Roundtable join representatives from Strawbery Banke Museum for the program. On August 20-21, the Museum will host an encampment of 5th NH Regiment 2nd Volunteers, music of the era and a rally with “Governor Goodwin” exhorting the troops to perform their duties in New Hampshire’s name.
Beyond Porter, the museum will be interpreting NH’s home front during the War at the Goodwin Mansion, the home of NH’s 1859-61 Civil War Governor. In collaboration with the Portsmouth Historical Society and Portsmouth Athenaeum, visitors will also be able to participate in a walking tour of Porter’s Boyhood Portsmouth and Civil War Portsmouth.
Associated programs include a fall lecture series featuring prominent historians: Richard Schubart, Phillips Exeter Academy, on Lincoln’s 1860 Visit to New Hampshire; Col. Fred Borch, US Military Academy at West Point on military tribunals; and Dr. Brent Glass, Director of the National Museum of American History at the Smithsonian Institution in DC.
In addition, Strawbery Banke Museum curator Kimberly Alexander, and Dane Morrison, Salem State University faculty, present a Summer Institute course, “Topics in Local History: New England & The Civil War” at Strawbery Banke Museum, July 11-15, 2011. For information on the course, call 978-542-600 or visit https://www.salemstate.edu/academics/2803.php.
“So far, it appears that Portsmouth is making one of the largest commitments to the Civil War 150th in the state,” said Lawrence Yerdon, President of Strawbery Banke Museum. “We take quite seriously the responsibility of including the role of New Hampshire’s 34,000 - including Gen. Fitz John Porter and our 3,000 other Portsmouth men - in the great national historical discussion taking place over the next five years.”
Strawbery Banke Museum’s commemoration of Portsmouth in the Civil War is made possible by grants from The Roger R. and Theresa A. Thompson Endowment Fund, The Putnam Foundation of the New Hampshire Charitable Foundation, the New Hampshire Humanities Council and individual donors who have helped procure artifacts for the exhibit. The Civil War programming also includes collaborations with Civil War Roundtable of New Hampshire, Portsmouth Historical Society, Dover Historical Society, Massachusetts Historical Society, Manassas National Battlefield Park and Fredericksburg National Battlefield Park (National Park Service), New Hampshire’s Fifth Regiment, Phillips Exeter Academy, Portsmouth Athenaeum and West Point Military Academy Archives.
Photo caption: Gen. Fitz John Porter was one of thousands of men from Portsmouth who joined Lincoln’s call for volunteers in the Civil War, but Porter’s story adds political intrigue to the mix. (Photo courtesy Strawbery Banke Museum)
Portsmouth men were the first to answer Lincoln’s call for volunteers to fight for the Union cause in the American Civil War. More than 3,000 responded, from a city population of 10,000, affecting life at home as well as on the southern battlefields, where they fought.
Opening for the 2011 season on May 1, Strawbery Banke Museum’s commemoration of New Hampshire in the Civil War leads with the history of Fitz John Porter, the political intrigues that shredded his illustrious career, his court-martial after the Battle of Second Manassas and the struggle for his ultimate exoneration - 125 years ago this August. Born in Portsmouth and a hero of the early battles, commended by President Lincoln, Porter ran afoul of War Department politics. General Pope, on the ascendant gave Porter orders at Second Manassas that were impossible to follow. Porter’s “insubordination” based on better knowledge of the enemy’s position saved his troops from certain disaster. But the Court martial listened to biased observers with bad maps. Even after a military tribunal corrected the account of the incident, it took until 1886 for the pardon that would clear Porter’s name.
The Museum looks at Porter’s record with an exhibit in the Rowland Gallery that invites visitors to make decisions for themselves about the verdict, based on the evidence. The exhibit is based on research in Porter’s letters and the court martial records. Highlights include Gen. Fitz John Porter’s sword (recently discovered and purchased for the Strawbery Banke Museum collection) and his field glasses (on loan from the Manassas National Battlefield Park).
On August 6 - the 125th Anniversary of the pardon of Gen. Fitz John Porter - the City of Portsmouth conducts a wreath-laying ceremony at the Gen. Fitz John Porter statue in Haven Park. Members of the 5th NH 2nd Volunteer Regiment and NH Civil War Roundtable join representatives from Strawbery Banke Museum for the program. On August 20-21, the Museum will host an encampment of 5th NH Regiment 2nd Volunteers, music of the era and a rally with “Governor Goodwin” exhorting the troops to perform their duties in New Hampshire’s name.
Beyond Porter, the museum will be interpreting NH’s home front during the War at the Goodwin Mansion, the home of NH’s 1859-61 Civil War Governor. In collaboration with the Portsmouth Historical Society and Portsmouth Athenaeum, visitors will also be able to participate in a walking tour of Porter’s Boyhood Portsmouth and Civil War Portsmouth.
Associated programs include a fall lecture series featuring prominent historians: Richard Schubart, Phillips Exeter Academy, on Lincoln’s 1860 Visit to New Hampshire; Col. Fred Borch, US Military Academy at West Point on military tribunals; and Dr. Brent Glass, Director of the National Museum of American History at the Smithsonian Institution in DC.
In addition, Strawbery Banke Museum curator Kimberly Alexander, and Dane Morrison, Salem State University faculty, present a Summer Institute course, “Topics in Local History: New England & The Civil War” at Strawbery Banke Museum, July 11-15, 2011. For information on the course, call 978-542-600 or visit https://www.salemstate.edu/academics/2803.php.
“So far, it appears that Portsmouth is making one of the largest commitments to the Civil War 150th in the state,” said Lawrence Yerdon, President of Strawbery Banke Museum. “We take quite seriously the responsibility of including the role of New Hampshire’s 34,000 - including Gen. Fitz John Porter and our 3,000 other Portsmouth men - in the great national historical discussion taking place over the next five years.”
Strawbery Banke Museum’s commemoration of Portsmouth in the Civil War is made possible by grants from The Roger R. and Theresa A. Thompson Endowment Fund, The Putnam Foundation of the New Hampshire Charitable Foundation, the New Hampshire Humanities Council and individual donors who have helped procure artifacts for the exhibit. The Civil War programming also includes collaborations with Civil War Roundtable of New Hampshire, Portsmouth Historical Society, Dover Historical Society, Massachusetts Historical Society, Manassas National Battlefield Park and Fredericksburg National Battlefield Park (National Park Service), New Hampshire’s Fifth Regiment, Phillips Exeter Academy, Portsmouth Athenaeum and West Point Military Academy Archives.
Photo caption: Gen. Fitz John Porter was one of thousands of men from Portsmouth who joined Lincoln’s call for volunteers in the Civil War, but Porter’s story adds political intrigue to the mix. (Photo courtesy Strawbery Banke Museum)
