The New York herald., 1869-01-27
GRANT AND BANKS.
A Probably Truo Version or the vicksburg
story.

A Probably Truc Version or the vicksburg
story.
BOSTON, Jan. 20, 1859.
General Banks arrived here from Washington last
evening, and the following article, which appears Ia
the Traveller this afternoon, Is understood TO be ''by
authority:''-
The recent revelation that an order was issued
from the war Department TO General Banks Just
before the fall Of Vicksburg directing him TO repair
made topic for comment I'm newspapers In all parts
OF the country. IL has been denied by Secretary
Stanton and the truth OF the statement has been
called In question by Mr.. Dana, who was Assistant
Secretary )f War at the time; but Notwithstanding
this, we nave the assurance that the statement Is
The reader may ask, II this is So how has the fact
leaked out now, and why was II withheld from the
public longf In answer to this IL may be said that
the enemies OF General Grant have reported some
thing to this eject before, the matter having been
the time. This has been denied at the war Depart
ment, and there are no papers ON le there to con-
hqar % he o ,ne 81 so sse u about ar wses ago.
when one OF his friends called his attention to IT,
General Badeau Of hs star and eongresslonadl
that the story was true, but obtained from him nj
the correspondence between himself snd tne MM M
Department on the subject he having retained MS
ORDERS and guarded them with the mefc care wDen
he learned that secretary Stanton had disposed bf
werc discussed at General Grants headquarters xpd
a member OF the stan communicated tue mettex TO
the correspondent OF the New YORK fHaes whof hrst
II may be asked how secretary stanton can deny
these facts but those who know him. best
fnd little diilculty in answering It. Peshyps the
fact that they are In the ha1lwritinG oi General
IIallccK. and signed BY him, VIII be nryd as an
excuse for his DENIAL but heir conte1.s -, when
published--and VIC presume General Gray.t viii pub
ian them some tine-wll sJow thai BON Secretary
stanton and President Lirc0n knew Of what was
written aud thai a was done under fheir direction.
u0cers OF the Nineteenth army cor ,s knew OF this
correspondenee at the time anu Gw heral Banks was
urved 10 obey the order. but he vsnured TO disrc-
gard A. and tae fall OF vicksbu,v few days later,
vvindicated General Grant ard '.ne war Department
saw M nos 10 call General B3 aks to account for his
disobedicnce: He kept hs f,wn counsel, knowing
thar the publication of .h0 correspondence. or the
| fact OF its existence prw TO the recent election,
would Hyure the repns lcan party, and u " only
| made public now by ~ friends OF General Grant.
some weeks siuceS while secretary stanton wa
| talked OF for fvston In Grants Cabinet, oui
| Washington corr~ pondent expressed the opinion
that he would no. be invited 10 such position ai.t
| few days lats'.-about the time General Grant ob
tanned this er fespondence--his friends announcet
| that he pro- ,osed 10 remain In private life. " l
shoHh tty a out that he took advantage OF his po
sittn ~ secretary VI War 10 destroy important puO
yt dors suments and especially those which nigh
prev snt his own political prcferment wil be
casc for regret TO tho country tnat thus deteruias
.,oa was not reached sJme lears ago