The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1869-01-22
FIRST EDITION
The Facts in Regard to the Vicks-
burg Campaign-AnOther
Story.

authenticated by the N. Y. Times correspond
cnt, relative to a curious episode in the career
of General Grant while before Vicksburg. Tue
n. Y. HeydibS Washington correspondent this
morning gives "the other side" of the story, as
follows:-
\ correspondent OF a New York morning
paper, whose communication was published
yesterday in regard to the orders OF Banks to
supersede Grant before the tall of Vlcksburg is
singularly msled in his statements. Tue sinple
facts are these:-Che President, Secretary Stau-
ton, HaeCk, aud Grant, all agreed that The
armies OF Grant and Banks sho lid be combined,
the more efliceutlytO to operate against Vicksburg
and Port Hudson. Banks was the senior officer.
For that reason, when the armies were con-
bined, the command would necessarily have
devolved upon Banks. On the 2l OF Apdl, 1868
HalleCk telegraphed 10 Grant;-"Wbat is most
desired and your atten ion IS again called to
this object, Is, that your forces and those Of
General Banks shall be broueht into co-Opera-
tiOn as early as possible. II he cannot get up
TO cooperate with you on Ntcksburg. cannot
you get troops down to help him on Port Hud-
SOM" On the I1'h of May, after Grant had
captured Grand Cult and Port Gibson, Halleck
telegTaphed him as fOllows;-"lf possible, the
forces of yourself and Banks should be united
between Vicksburg and Port Hudson, so as to
attack these places separately with the COM
bined forces. The same thing has been urged
on Banks On the 18th OF May GrAut tele-
eraphed to BalleCk, from JACKSON, Mss, as
lollows:-"I sent special messenger to Banks,
giving him the substance of the information |
had, and asking him to join me as soon as
possible" This message was sent on the
10th. On the Sd of June Halleck telegraphed
TO Grant as follOWs:-'I have sent despatch
after despatch 10 Banks to join you. Why he
does not / do not understand. His separate
operations on Port Hudson is IN direct violation
OF his Instructions. 1t possible send him thus
despatch" On the same day President Lincoln
telegraphed to Grant as follows:-"Are You in
communication with General Banks? Is he
coming towards you or going further Off? Is
there, or has there been, anything to hinder his
coming directly to you by water" On the 9Th
of June Grant telegraphed TO President LIncOlu:
u send by mail letter from General Banks"
This letter from General Banks stated his rea-
sons for not proceeding with his army to
combine it with Grants army and assume the
command to which his rank entitled him.
When Banks demonstrated against the orders
from Wa hingtOn and Grants own request that
he (Banks) should join him Grant, which neces-
sarlly would give Banks the command "un-
less there was express designation by the
President to the contrary" Grant sent mem
Der of his staff TO urge upon Banks to bring his
army up the river Grant further instructed
this staff officer to say to Banks that he hoped
no feeling of delicacy in regard to the matter of
rank would deter hlm; tnat he (Grant) would
cheertuliy surrender the command. Both Gene
rails acted noOly in the matter-Grant inIsiuking
all personal considerations for the supposed
good of the service and Banks in declining to
step in aud take the fruit which Grant had
fhaken until 1t was ready to faQ. You will see,
therefore, that the correspondent is grossly
received any new light on the subject within
the past month. | am assured by gentleman
who was there with General Grant, that 1t
was well understood at Grants headq Iarters
not that Banks was specially ordered to
relieve Grant, but to unite the two armies;
which would have resulted in his superseding
Grant, because he (Banks) was the senior
officer. | am further assured by the same au-
thority that there was no time during the siege
| OF VicksOurg when General Grant did not
possess the entire confidence and receive the
| tinron nf fbo 1apfi hos Sann
taTy of War; and the General-in Chet Mr..
Dana, the Assistant Secretary of War, was with
Grant, aud was fully advised of all his plans and
operations during the entire siege of VlCksburg.
He made full and frequent reports to Stanton,
and approved and applauded Grants conduct,
The fact that this matter is not discussed in the
text OF Badeau'o book is probably because be
was not aware that Banks, at that time, ranked
Grant, and therefore did not appreciate the
effect OF the orders and kilograms which are
published in the appendix TO his book. Badeau
was not, till long afterwards, a me enber of
Grants sIaf, and had no personal knO OWledge OF
this most important period of Grants history.
Grants whole conduct during this period dis
plays the remarkable fact that in all his cams
palgns aud in al his reports he never seemed to
10 anything tor his own personal distinction.
He was ready to yield command on the eve OF
apparent victory TO make the success of the cause
mole certain.
Grant and the Conservative Movement
I'm Virginia.
Washington Jan. Is Edn0riUl Correspondence Of
Tie R tchT1OTd Wing.
The Virginia Conservative Committee, ac-
companled by several other gentlemen from
Virginia, made second visit TO General Grant
| This morning, also visiting President johnson
| and G neral SChodeld. Their conversation
| with G neral Grant related principally to the
! Virginia movement, and his remarks on the
| subject were in the highest degree encouraging.
! He seen ed to desire no secrecy as to his views,
! but spoke out with perfect openness and free.
dom ! feel that no confidence is violated
when / say that he sincerely hoped this
| whole subject would soon be setled.n He has
| evidently studied our Virginia affairs, and fully
| understands the Under wood Constitution.
| He expressed himself as being warmly
in favor of striking out the dsfTan.
| chising clauses OF that instrument the
| homestead clause, and the provisions re-
lating to county organizations, which last he
| seems to regard as more Objectionable even than
| the rest. He said that if permitted to stand as
| part OF the constitution they would necessitate
| the election OF negro judges, sheTifs, maIs-
| trales, clerks, commemorative attorneys, CON
| stables, ETC., and that the condition of affairs
| would be so ntolerable that in those localities
| where there Is preponderance of blacks the
| whites would be compelled to remove aud seek
| homes IN other portions of the State He ex
| pressed the wish that the prOYosed arrangement
| may be speedily carried out, and indicated nus
| confidence in such result.
| The conversation with President johnson WAS
| more general bearing but slightly on the sub.
| iect above referred to. He thanked the com
| mittee for calling and talked pleasantly
| General SChoheld's views are so well under
stood that 1t is needless 10 refer particularly TO
| them.