Background
Porter was born in Black Rock, New York, the only son of Yale lawyer Peter Buell Porter who was a military leader in the War of 1812.
Porter was born in Black Rock, New York, the only son of Yale lawyer Peter Buell Porter who was a military leader in the War of 1812.
He graduated from Harvard, studied at Heidelberg and Berlin, and graduated from Harvard Law School in 1857.
He died in the Battle of Cold Harbor. He also authored plays, poems, and essays. The 129th New York State Volunteer Regiment was renamed the 8th New York Heavy Artillery and Porter was appointed Colonel.
These units generally guarded the forts around Washington, District of Columbia and participated in parades used to increase morale in the city in the time of war.
However, they were also trained to be used as infantry if necessary. Porter was nominated for New York Secretary of State on September 5, 1863, but declined due to his dedication to the military campaign of Lieutenant
General In May 1864, Porter was ordered by Grant to go to Virginia to join the fighting in the south.
Porter was killed on June 3, 1864, leading a charge at Cold Harbor, Virginia. Six bullets were found in his body, and during a rain storm on the night of Cold Harbor"s second day, five men of the 8th NYHA (Sgt Leroy Williams, Galen South Hicks, John Duff, Walter Harwood, Samuel Traviss and John Heany) brought Porter"s body into the United States lines.
Chaplain De Louisiana Matyr accompanied Porter"s body back to Niagara Falls. Following the funeral services at the church, his remains were carried to his final resting place in Oakwood Cemetery (Niagara Falls, New York).
Porter was a member of the New York State Assembly (Niagara Company, 2nd Doctorate) in 1862, and was appointed colonel of the 129th New York State Volunteers on July 7, 1862.