Orleans independent standard. [volume] (Irasburgh, Vt.) 1856-1871, 1863-08-21
Energy and Pluck of Gen. Banks.

A month before the surrender of Port
Hudson the general expectation was that
Gen. Banks would be obliged to raise
the siege and retreat to New Orleans.
Almost any other man would have done
so, but Gen. Banks had determined to
win, and this determination carried him
through TO glorious success. The New
Orleans correspondent of the Boston
Journal gives a graphic account of the
disheartening circumstances out of which
Gen. Banks extorted success -:
"A week before the surrender things
had assumed a melancholy phase.
Commanding officers had begun to feel
discouraged; regiments had become re-
duced to less than hundred men, in
some-in many-cases in more than
one instance, lieutenant colonies we're in
command of brigades, and colonies in
command of divisions; the hot sun
poured down its beams in all its swelter-
ing fury upon the workmen in the
trenches and the troops in camp, which,
with he dewey nights, sowed the
seed of fever in many rugged constitu-
ton. For time the hope of success
seemed vain. Yet Gen. Banks never
was disheartened. He seemed to have
an instinct of ultimate success. General
officers predicted speedy raising of the
siege, for the enemy had come SO strong
ly upon our rear as to make the position
of our army rather an uncomfortable
one. Two steamers had been captured
and burned almost under our noses.
Grierson, with all his cavalry command,
had fallen into rebel trap where the
brave Lieut.. Perkins was killed and
Capt. Godfrey lost all but twelve men
out of full company, and that company
one of the best in the service in cover
ing bis retreat. Our forage trains had
been sent few miles to the rear and
the rebels had seized score or more of
them. Gen. Dow had been captured at
house mile in the rear of our lines.
An impudent raid had been made by
squad of rebel cavalry on our stores at
Springfield Landing, but the raiders
succeeded only in burning few private
stores before Capt Wilson company of
the 4th regiment of Ullman's brigade Ia
black company put them to fight,
wounding and killing in the affair their
two leading officers. All these things
and score of others pleaded strongly
against continuance of the seige and
more than all, when the fact became
known that the enemy had cut off our
communication with Baton Rouge and
had planted batteryaat Donadsonville
10 intercept river transportation, the
camps in rear of Port Hudson were fill
ed with gloom. But from camp to camp
rode the commanding general, his face
stamped with the surety of success, in
spiriting the troops. The flower of the
army had been called apart from their
comrades, and under Col. Birge (than
whom no officer of the department bet
ter deserves the star of the brigadier.
for his gallantry has ever been conspicu-
Gus and his GOODNESS unequaIed) placed /
under discipline 10 a separate camp, and
who were to constitute storming party. I
BY happy fatality circumstances did
not demand an exhibition Of their cour-
age, though Col. Birge's thousand we're
the first TO march into Port Hudson al
ter the surrender, to the tune of the
Star Spangled Banner"
AS l said before, when everything
looked discoursging to the army, one
could read no misgivings Oh the immov-
able face of Gen. Banks. He cheerfuly
assured his army of success, and won
dered why any could doubt it. The iron
will and answering faith oil Gen. Banks
won Port Hudson. On the 9TH the glad
news of Vicksburg's surrender came
down to US. The next day was effected
the surrender of Port Hudson. The
news from Vicksburg fastened the sur.
render OF Port Hudson only day or
two. Gen. Gardner assured some of
our officers that be should have surren-
dered in three days, as he could have
held out no longer. Then let the old
Bay State be proud of the commander
OF the department of the Gulf. Free
from the manipulations of the politicians
OF Washington, because SO far away, he
has been let alone to achieve victory at.
Ter victory. Though government has
ienled him troops enough to hold all the
territory be has passed over, yet he holds
he whole state of Louisiana to-day un-
Ter his swordhilt. You called him the
iron man in other fields. How we'll be
wears the soubriquet, let perforated sand
ranks and splintered guns Of Port Hud-
on answer. True to the motto of bis
'arly manhood, be maintained that sue
.ess was duty, defeat was crime He
I'D his duiy-and the stars and stripes
Savelng to-day from the bluffs of PORT
hudson bear evidence of the success Of
Iis iron will" III