Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1869-01-28
THE GRANE.BANKs sEESA-
TE0S.
Another Version Of the secret
Chapter In the History
of the War;
Special Dispatch to the New York Herald

| Special Dispatch TO the New York Herald.
WAsHIEGToN, January 2l.-A cores
pondent of New York morning paper,
whose communication was published
yesterday in regard to the orders of
Banks to supersede Grant before the fall
of Vicksburg, is sipgulsrly misled in his
statements. The simple fscts are these ::
The President, Secretary Stanton, Hal
leck, and Grant, all agreed that the ar
mics of Grant and Banks should be COM
bined, the more efficiently to operate
against VicksbuTg and Port Hudson.
Banks was the senior officer. For that
reason, when the armies we're combined,
the command would necessarily have
devolved upon Banks. On the I'd of
April, 1858, Halleck telegrsphed to
Grant, What is most desired, and your
attention is again called to this object, is,
that your forces and those or Gen.
Banks shall be brought into cooperation
as early "a possible. II he cannot get
up TO cooperate with you On Vicksburg,
cannot you get the troops down 20 help
him on Port Hudson ?" On the llth Of
May, after Grant had captured Grand
Gulf and Port Gibson, Halleck teie-
graphed him as follows: at posi-
bic, the forces of yourself anG
Banks should be united between
Vicksburg and Port Hudson, - as
TO attack these places separately
With the combined forces. The same
thing has been urged on Bsnks.n On
the 18th Of May Grant telegraphed to
Hslleck, from Jackson, Miss, Gs FOL
lows: 81 sent q special messenger to
Banks, giving him the substance Of the
Information I had and asking him to
Join me as soon as pOssibie.H This mes
=. -. I 81
June Hsiieck telegFsphed 10 Grant SIS
follows: II have sent dispatch after
dispatch to Banks to join you. Why he
does not DO not understand, His sep
arate operating on Port Hudson is in di-
rect violation Of his instructions, II pos
sible send him this dispatch" Oa the
same day President Lincoln telegFsphed
to Grant ss follows: Are you IN COM
munication with Gen. Banks? Is he
coming toward you or going further OF?
Is there, or has there been, a5ythipg to
hinder his coming directly 70 yen by
water ?' On the S "a OF June Grant tel
egraphed to President Lincoln " send
by mail letter from Gen. Banks." Tnis
letter from G5n. Banks stated his rea-
Sons for not proceeding with Ai5 army to
com biDe il with Grants army and as
sumo the command to which his rank
entitled him. When Banks remon-
strated against the orders fF0m WASH
ington and Grants own request
that he Banks should join him
Grant. which necessarily would give
Banks the command - unless there
was express designation by the
President to the contrary" Grant /
s snt member Of his staff tU urge upon /.
Banks to bring his srmy up the river. I
fr1rsglar fpsrFT1afgd fhia Cfffaar 70
say to Banks that hs hopei 10 fssling of
deiieacy in regard TO the matter Of rank (
would deter him; that h, Grant, would I
cheerfully surrender the command. /
Both Generals acted nObly in the mat
teT-Grsnt in sinking RIl personal con- .
for the supposed good OF the .
ssrvice, aud Banks Ia declining 10 step
in and take the fruit which Grant bsc
shaken until IL Was ready 90 fall. You 4
will see, therefore, that The correspond T
ent is grossly mistaken in supposing that .
Gen. Grant has received any new light .
on this subject within the past month, I .
am assurea ~ a gentleman who was
there with Gen. Grant, that it was well .
at Grants headquarters, not /
that Banks was speedily ordered to re-
ijeve Grant, but to Unite the two armies,
which would have resulted ia his super
seding Grant, because he (Bsnks) was
The senior officer. l ara further assured
By the same authority, that there was no (
time during the siege Of Vleksburg when
9en. Grant dl0 not possess the eatire
confidence sad receive the earnest CO.
operation Of the President, ths Secre-
tsry of War and the General-in-Chief.
Mr.. Dana, the Assistant Secretary Of
War, was with Grant, and Was fully sd-
vised of sill his plans and operations
turing the eutirs siege Of Vicksburg.
He made fpll and frequent reports to
and approved and sppIaudei
Grants conduct. The fact that the
matter Is not discussed In the text of
Bsdeau's book Is probably because he was
lot aware that Banks at that timsrauked
4fant, and therefore did not appreciate
he effect OF the orders and kilograms
which are published in the appendix to
lis book. Badeau was not, till long
8 member of Grants staff,
md had no personal knowledge OF this
nest interesting period OF Grants his
OTy, Grants whole conduct during this
,eTiod displays the remarkable fact that,
n all his campaigns and all his reports,
le never seemed to do anything for his
,wn personal distinction. He was resdy
o yield command on the eve Of apparent
'Ietory TO make the success OF the cause
more Certain.