crater in the Confederate works. But Union
misfortune continued. Union troops were
slow to hit the breach. When they arrived,
the crater walls were too steep to allow
rapid advance or retreat. Senior Union offi-
cers remained in the rear (one drunk)
instead of leading their troops. The result
was chaos, and some of the costliest and
bloodiest combat of the war.
When the attack became a disaster, Grant
decided to view the situation personally. He
chose only an orderly and one officer,
Porter, to accompany him on reconnais-
sance. Under direct and heavy fire, they
entered the crater so Grant could commu-
nicate directly with officers there. Grant did
nothing to countermand the orders of those
brave junior officers; the real problems
were in the rear with the senior officers.
Confederate counterattacks forced Grant
to withdraw. On Porter’s suggestion, they
dismounted and returned to the Union
lines. Having seen firsthand the situation
in the crater, Grant stopped the attack. He
saw no point in further futile loss of life by
following a failed plan.
In the later summer and fall, Porter was
an active participant in battles for Peters-
burg, Five Forks, and White Oak. His valor
and actions were recognized on several
occasions. On August 16, 1864 he was pro-
moted to brevet lieutenant colonel “for gal-
lant and meritorious services in action” at
the Battle of Newmarket Heights. Porter’s
abilities and reputation continued to grow,
and Grant entrusted him with increasingly
sensitive missions. In September 1864
Grant sent him to Atlanta to confer with
Sherman and communicate Grant’s inten-
tions. Porter also provided news to Sher-
man of Union actions designed to coordi-
nate efforts against the shrinking
Confederacy. While Grant put key points
and the overall plan in a letter to Sherman,
he informed the general that “Colonel
Porter will explain to you the exact condi-tion of affairs here better than I can do in
the limits of a letter.”
At their first meeting, Sherman impressed
Porter. They discussed the war in Virginia
and elsewhere. Sherman asked Porter to
communicate to Grant his intention “to
strike out for the sea.” While both agreed
Sherman could operate effectively by living
off the land and cutting himself off from
his base, neither worried that Grant would
be unaware of the location and progress of
Sherman’s force. Porter recorded that
owing to the regular exchange of Union
and Confederate newspapers across the
lines in Virginia, “there will be no difficulty
in hearing of your movements almost
daily.” As a result of his understanding of
Sherman’s plans and intentions obtained at
their meetings that September, Porter fre-
quently became the spokesman for Sher-
man when the latter’s activities were dis-
cussed by Grant’s staff.
Another example of Grant’s faith in
Porter’s judgment arose when Grant was
selecting a man to lead the assault on Fort
Fisher. Porter recommended General Alfred
Terry, whom he had known at Hilton Head
and Fort Pulaski. On January 2, 1865
Grant sent for Terry and gave him the com-
mand. Terry subsequently captured the
fort. Soon, Grant sent Porter to Fort Fisher
to see what Terry had accomplished. Porter
reported that the fort indeed had been a
formidable place, and that Terry had done
well. Grant’s trust in Porter’s judgment was
well rewarded.
Porter was breveted colonel and then
brigadier general of volunteers in February- In March, he received two Regular
Army brevet promotions, one to colonel,
U.S.A., and the second to brevet brigadier
general, U.S.A. Both Regular Army brevet
promotions cited Porter for “gallant and
meritorious services in the field.”
Also in March 1865, Porter had another
opportunity to observe President Lincoln
and learn more about prosecution of the
war, national politics, and world affairs.
Typical of both Grant and Lincoln, staff
members again were allowed to partici-
pate in the meeting. With the end of the
war in sight, they focused on planning for
the future.
Following one series of discussions, Lin-
coln entered a tent in which Porter and
some other officers were relaxing and set-
tled in with them. He petted a stray kitten
while chatting amiably. To Porter, such
actions by the president surprised,
pleased, and impressed him. His esteem
for the man grew.
Ultimately, the siege at Petersburg came
to a head. Lee attacked. Grant counterat-
tacked. At the height of the fighting at Five
Forks on the western end of the line, Grant
needed frequent and precise appraisals of
the situation from the front. He ordered
Porter to spend the day with General Philip
Sheridan and the Union cavalry. Porter dis-
patched orderlies to Grant each half-hour
throughout the whole day’s fighting on
April 1. Significantly, as the battle pro-
gressed and Sherman maneuvered his cav-
alry seeking an opportunity to move
around or through an opening in Lee’s
defenses, Porter was empowered to suggest
tactics to Sherman. “You know my views,”
Grant had told Porter, “and I want you to
give them to Sherman fully.” Grant knew
and trusted Sherman. But he also recog-
nized that Porter knew and understood his
plans and intentions. When the fighting
ended on April 2, with Union victory
assured, Porter rode to Grant’s headquar-
ters with the news.
Porter called the U.S. Civil War “a great
war tragedy.” After four years, it ended at
Appomattox Court House, Virginia, on
April 9, 1865. Porter was present at the
surrender. He was fortunate to be one of
few people inside the McLean House to
witness the event. He took careful andWhen Porter reflected on the years of battle, he
recognized “the terrible realism of relentless war.”
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