The morning star and Catholic messenger., 1878-05-19
GENERAL BANKS HUMANITY.

AS General N, p. b .nks, of Massachusetts.
(famliary known as Stonewall Jackson's COM
missary) has been waving the "bloody shirt"
recently in Congress, it may be we'll for our
people to be reminded of how humane a man
he proved himself during the war. One in
stance " i'll suffice. We take it from the Phil
adelphia Weekly Times of the 11th
THE SECOND ASSAULT ON PORT HUDSON
LOUISIANA.
On the morning of the 18Th of June, 1862,
tremendous hombardment was opened by The
enemy, followed by chow of force. The
firing then ceased and General Banks sent in
flag of truce and demanded the unconditional
surrender of the place. He complimeuted the
garrison ob their defense their courage, he
said, amounted to heroism, but it was folly
for them to resist longer, as the place was at
his will thatit would be impossible to save The
garrison from being put to the sword when
the works should be- taken by assault; that
his artillery was equal to any in extent and
efficiency, and his men out-numbered the gar
rison five to one. General Gardiner replied
that his duty required him to hold the post.
Before day on the morning of the 14th the en-
emy's land batteries and the fleet opened fire
with unusual rspidity, only ceasing when the
assault was made. The northeast angle was
the centre of attack, hut feints or real attacks
were made along the entire lines SO as to pre-:
vent reinforcements being sent to the relief OF
the points most in danger, The portion OF the
line which Banks had determi q ed to break was
held by the First Mississippi and Forty ninth
Alabama, while further to the left was the
First Alabama The FedeIals had advanced
their parallels to lees than three hundred
yards and in these their infantry had been
massed during the night. Forming outside
their bitches under cover of the artillery smoke
they advanced to the charge, preceded by
skirmish line of sharpsbooters and by sappeES
and miners rolling bales of cotton with which
to fill up the bitches. The charge was most
gallantly made, but they were received with
such a deadly fire that they were every where
or slain. Some got into the ditch,
and by mere ply steal pressure of numbers a
few were forced over the works, but only to
be shot down. Percussion hand gr -nades,
made somewhat after the fashion of school boy
darts, were thrown by the enemy who reached
the ditch, bat did not explode, and were pick
ed up and thrown bacf with much better ef-
feet by the Confederates. The battle lasted
about two hours, though the artillery fire was
kept up with great severity oil day. General
Banks admitted a loss OF 500 men in this at
tack but it must have been much greater, aS
eco were killed and 100 taken prisoners in
front of the centre alone,
GENERAL BANKS INHUMANITY.
After this repulse General Banks sent no
| flag of trnce to remove the wounded or bury
| the dead for three days. During these three
days of broilng sun many of the former must
| have perished as they could be heard piteous-
! Iy begging for help. Confederate, unable
longer to endure the appeals, took bis csnteen
| and attempted to carry water to one who lay
| within sight of the works ; but before be
could reach hin he was wounded by Federal
| bullet and had to return ga the i|th zen
| eraI Gardiner sent out flag of trucs and re-
| duested General Banks TO bury his dead. The
| latter replied that there were no dead to barry.
| General Besle, at General GARDENERS request,
| then sent out flag of tTnoe to the comman deI
| immediatel in his front General Augur) with
| q similar request. General Augur replied that
| be did not believe he had any dead there, bot
| that he would grant suspension of hosIlltie'
| to a,certAin. Accordingly parties of Cnuted
| crates were detailed to pass the dead bodies
| over to the Federsls and previously stated
| two hundred aud sixty were removed. Among
| the Ce I'd was fouud one wounded man, q cIp