The New Orleans crescent. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1866-1869, 1869-02-02
erAnti and Banks.
AKn THER VERSION OF THE vIcKsBURG STORY.


AEn THER VERSION OF THE vIcKsBURG STORY.
Gen tanks arrived in Boston on the SD. and on
the next afternoon the following article appeared
in the Trs veler, as is understood "by authority ~
The receA revelation that order was issued
from the war department TO Gen. Banks lust he
fore the fall o. vicksburg, directing him to repair
TO that point ar> supersede Gen. Grant, has been
made a tonic fa comment in newspapers in all
parts of the counfvv IL has been denied by Secre-
tsry Stanton and N 9 truth Of the stateu:ent has
been called in ques.N by Mr.. Dana whg was as.
sstant secretary of w,r at the time but 3otwith.
stsBding this, we hsv,i the assurance That the
statement is strictly trus..
The reader may ash, n this Is so, how has the
fact leaked out now and why was 1t withheld
from the public so long In answer to: this ,it
nsy be said thst the enemies of Gerera Grant
have reported something to this effect before, the
matter having been brought 10 the knowiedge Of
few army officers at the time. This hos been
denied at the war department, and there s-e no
papers on file here to confirm the truth OF. the
port. General Grant never heard of the story un-
ti about four weeks ago, when one of his friends
called his attention to H.. General Badeau. Of his
stan. and congressional FREUD called on General
Banks, and hot only learned that the story was
dtnce barweenf himself and the A was dspsT tsnt
on the subject, he having retained his ordeia, and
guarded them with the more care when he learn
eo that Secretary Stanton had disposed Of the
duplicates. The contents of these documents
were discussed at General Grants headquarters,
ter to the correspondent of the New York Times,
who first made il public.
1t may be ssked how Secretary Stanton can
deny these facts. but those who know him best
find little difficulty in answering it. Perhaps the
fact that they in the handwriting of Gen, Hal
leck, and signed by him, will be urged as an ex-
cuse for his denial, but their contents when pub
lished-end we presume Gen. Grant will publish
them some time-wil show that both Secretary
Stanton and President Lincoln knew Of what was
written, and that all was done under their direc-
ton.
Officers of the nineteenth army corps knDw of
this correspondence at the time, and Gen. Banks
WAS urged 10 obey the order, but he ventured to
disregard il, and the fal of Vicks0urg, fev days
later, vDdicsted Gen. Grant, aud the war depart
ment III not TO call Gen. Banks TO account for
the disobedience. He kept his own counsel. kpow-
ing that The publication OF the correspondence or
The fact OF its existence prior 20 the reeentielec-
ton, would irjure the Republican party. and It is
only made public Low by the friends of sGen.
Grant.
Some weeks since, while Secretary Stanton
was talked of for position in Grants cabinet,
our Washington correspondent expressed the
opinion that he would not be invited to such
position, and lew days later-about the time
Gen. Grant obtained this correspondence his
friends announced that he proposed 10 remain In
private lie. II it should turn out that he took ad
vantage OF bis position as secretary os war 10 de-
strt important public documents, and especially
tbose which might prevent his own political pre-
ieIment, it will be for regret 20 the coun-
Try ihet Ills determination was not reacneC some
years ago.
CIRcUMsTAHTIAL STATEMENT.
New York. Jan. 29.-The Herald has the fol-
lowing important communication signed W.
New York City, Jaa. 2s. ls69.-Seeing the con-
Trajectory setements published in the papers re-
garcing the fact, or other wise, of an order having
been issued from the war department to Gsneral
Banks shortly before the fall Of Vicksburg, d.
recting him 10 relieve Gen. Grant beg TO state
the exact facts in the case, and thus settle this
much controverted matter.
While Gen. Grant was operating in fr0at of
Vicksburg, was employed as clerk in Secretary
Stsnton's office at the war department, in Wash
iDgton. Secretary Stanton wrote two orders di-
Tecting me 10 make t"O copies OF them, one for
telegrsphiDg, one for tling. The frat of these
orders wss addressed TO Gen. Banks directing him
10 proceed at oIce TO Vicksburg and relieve Gen.
Grant.
The second order was addressed TO Gen. Grant,
directing him to turn over his command to cen.
BankE on the arrival OF the latter, who had been
ordered 10 relieve him. / do not pretend 20 give
the wording OF these orders. have given, how
ever their exact substance, and they should be on
file now in the war department, unless they have
since been removed. | will state further that the
copies Of these ORDERS TO be transmitted by tele-
graph, sent by q messenger TO the war depsrt-
ment telegraph Office, by order Of Secretary Stan
ton. These copies should also be on file in the
latter Office.