New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1871-07-18
Colonel Gardner Ranks

The Boston Journal says of the late
Colonel Gardner Banks:
He received his first commission from
Governor Andrew as captain OF a company
he had raised in Waltham at the opening of
the war. This company was attached TO
the Sixteenth Regiment of Volunteers, of
which he became major, then lieutenant
colonel. and in 1862 the colonel. 1t was an
excellent regiment General Hooker said
in letter to Governor Andrew: There is
no doubt but at Glendale the Sixteenth
Massachusetts saved the army" He was
with his regiment at Fair Oaks, Glendale
Malvern Hill, Kettle Run, Chantilly and
Fredericksburg. Lieutenant Hiram B.
Banks, his brother, was killed by his side
in the second Bull Run battle. From con-
slant exposure Colonel Banks contracted
an intiammatory rheumatism, which COM
pletely disabled him for active service. The
battle of Fredericksburg was the last he
shared with his comrades of the Sixteenth.
In 1864, after an illness of several months
at Waltham, he went to New Orleans, where
be remained until his return home, July ),
four days before his death. The climate of
the South was for some time beneficial, but
he occasionally suffered from the seated
malady, which the physicians at Waltham
say was the primary cause of his death
For long time he battled against this
secret enemy with confidence and hope, but
when il touched the vital organs he yielded
the contest. His life was stormy, but his
death, when it came, was like falling leaf.
A considerate care for his men, fidelity to
the cause he served, an honorable capacity
as an officer, and unwavering courage
marked his career as a soldier. As man
he was kind, patient hopeful, wise, gener-
Gus and just. He gave no otense and
cherished no malice. He had the respect
and love of his men, and hosts of friends
wherever he was known. This was especially
true at New Orleans, where men of all
classes during his last illness gave him and
his family the most generous evidence of
sincere and manly friendship. He leaves
wife and one daughter, to whom he was
most gentle and generous protector.
The Boston Herald says of the funeral of
Colonel Banks:
The obsequies were conducted with
quiet solemnity BETTING such occasions,
and were largely attended by relatives,
members of the colonels former command |
and other friends. Post No. %, Grand Army |
of the Republic, and members of the Fire |
Department, who volunteered an escort to |
the cortege. The services were also COM |
memorative of Lieutenant Hiram Banks. |
another brother, who was killed at the sec
ond battle OF Bull Run. The remains of |
the colonel laid in a rosewood casket, bear
born August 10, 1880; died July 9, 1871" |
At the foot of the coffin there were por-
traits of the two deceased brothers, |
wreathed in evergreen and beautiful flow |
ers, this and the other elaborate floral de-
signs in the hall being the work of Mrs w.
w. Clark. The exercises We're opened by |
prayer, followed by selections of Scripture,
a beautiful address, full of patriotism and
Christian feeling, hymn, and the patriotic
requiem, They died for you and me-" by
the Waltham quartette.
The remains were escorted to the grave
by Post No. %, Commander H. G. Sher-
man, and the engineers and members of
the fire department, headed by the metro
politan band, which played as dirges the
dead March in SAUL" Prayer from Me
dea" and Dholman's Bereavement" The
bearers were Colonel S. W. Richardson
Major j. +. Capelle, Captain S. McKeever,
and Adjutant NJ. S. Foster, of the Sixteenth
Regiment NJ. V. NJ, and Lieutenant Charles
Rupert and privates A. 2. Hanson, John
Perry and John Russell, of company H,
same regiment, which was Colonel Banks
first command The hearse was first fol-
lowed by thirty members of company H,
and then by the mourners in carriages, the
chief being the widow and daughter of the
deceased. his two brothers, General \. 2.
and Miles Banks of New York, and his two
sisters. Mrs. Sanger Of Waterfowl, and
Miss Susan Banks OF Walthams Business
was generally suspended on Main street
during the passage of the procession. There
were brief services at the grave, which is
in Grove Hill cemetery, close by that OF the
colonel's father.