Wessington Springs herald. (Wessington Springs, Aurora County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1891, 1888-04-20

such was the plan OF campaign. The
authorities at Washington had con-
ceived the curious idea that Gran
ought to move down the river and join
Banks in first reducing Port Hudson,
while Grant was anxious that Banks
should Immediately come up and re-en-
force him. It was very fortunate, as
things turned out, that neither plan
was adopted, but that both sieges
were going on at the same time. It is
certain now that had Banks joined
Grant, New Orleans would have been
captured by the Confederates who raj
lied again in Western Louisiana; and
had Grant turned away from Vicks-
burg and joined the smaller army be-
fore Port Hudson, General Joe John
ston would have moved his army into
the former place. No man can say
what disastrous results might not
have occurred to our arms in the
Southwest had these things happened.
These plans of the War Department
and General Grants anxiety to have
Banks army with him, led to frequent
attempts by these commanders to get
an understanding in regard to the
manner in which the great river cam
paign of 1868 should be conducted.
Very fortunately-as it now seems
no understanding was ever reached,
and Vicksburg and Port Hudson were
beseiged much as distinct operations.
The difficulties in the way of commune
cation through hundreds of miles of
hostile country, by land or water, were
too great to be successfully overcome.
Dispatches crossed on the way, and so
many days were required to get one
through. that the situation would
change before q reply could be re-
turned.
But practically useless as the serv-
ices of the daring men proved who car
ried these dispatches, that should not
abate our admiration for them. The
union of these armies was thought by
the Generals and by the Washington
people (including President Lincoln)
to be something Of the highest import
ance; and that the plan and all its fea-
lures were a mistake, and would
have been calamity had they
succeeded, should detract nothing
from the courage of Gabaudan
and others, who risked their lives in
trying to forward them. \ brief mem
ton of two Of the perilous journeys of
this man on this service will illustrate
its nature.
On the 23d of March Grant sent q
dispatch to- Farragut, to be forwarded
to Banks, describing the operations of
the former around Vicksburg so far.
saying that he had sent to the Ohio
River for light-draught steamers, and
vy1 L.
Banks up Red River reinforcement
of $1,000 men.
With this dispatch l'arragut steamed
down the river to u point just out of
range OF the Port Hudson batteries
This was April 9th. Giabaudan volun-
teered to- take a small boat and pass
the batteries in the darkness. He did
not take the dispatch, but committed
II 10 memory for fear OF accident or
capture. He was entirely successful
IN his daring mission, reaching Baton
Rouge On the sth. From there hs took
steamer to New Orleans. Banks had
already taken the field in Western
Louisiana. and Gabaudan overlook him
He repeated the dispatch from
memory. Banks gave him a re-
ply, describing the object of
his moving through Western Louisiana.
and saying that he would be around
Port Hudson by May 10, with not more
than 5000 men. With this dispatch
Gabaudan Immediately returned to
New Orleans, and went up to Baton
Rouge. His resurn was beset bv diff
culties: He could not hope to pull q
small boat past the batteries again at
the swift current, and to take the roads
on the left bank would have exnosa5
nm to great danger of capture by the
enemys scouts and pickets. He crossed
the river, went ashore at the VAST
wooded swamp opposite Port Hudson