Orville Browning on Fitz-John Porter controversy

The Diary of Orville Hickman Browning. edited with introduction and notes by Theodore Calvin Pease, and James G. Randall.  (Springfield 1925)  https://hdl.handle.net/2027/mdp.39015014632247

p. 513  Tuesday Dec. 10, 1861: “At night was at a wedding party at Mr Carroll’s, Miss Sallie Carroll married to Capt Griffin, of US Army. The President & Mrs Lincoln were present.”

p. 584-5;  Wed. Nov. 12, 1862  “Had a conversation with Butler this morning in which he told me that during the battles in Virginia under Pope's command Genls Fitz Jno Porter and Griffin sent a courier to Genl McClelland with a despatch signed by them saying "hold on, dont send reinforcements, and we have Pope [585]  where we can ruin him", and that the despatch fell into the Presidents hands and he now had it.

I asked him how the paper got into the Presidents' hands, and he said the President was notified that such a despatch had been sent, and that he had the courier watched for, seized and the note taken from him I asked him if this was true how it was possible the President could permit either Porter or Griffin to remain in Command a day, and why he did not have the arrested, tried and shot. He answered that he did not know unless he was afraid to have them arrested.”