davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1888-07-13

withdraw more closely within their lines,
and enabled the Union forces to advance pro
portionally. Banks lost in this assault 1900
men. Among the wounded was Gen. Neal
Dow, of Maine. He was also taken prisoner
during the siege Of Port Hudson. He is a
native of Maine, born in 1903, an uncom-
promising temperance reformer, and author
of the famous Dow prohibition law passed
in ISL.
A strange incident happened during this
assault that nearly resulted in the surrender
of Port Hudson. At one moment IL white
flag showed above a rampant in the fort A
regiment of men in butternut gray filed out
at an opening AMI stacked arms.
"What does that meanN asked the Union
troops nearest them.
I'VE suppose we have surrendered,' re-
piled the mon in butternut gray.
If any Union officer of sufficiently high
rank had been present to order the Union
Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1888-07-13

ernor of his state three terms, and major
general of volunteers during the war, and
congressman after it.
The new commanders instructions devel-
oped a triple plan. He was to guard the gulf
ports, to cooperate with Grant III opening
the Mississippi, clear the country south Of
Red river and west of the Mississippi from
Confederates, and take possession of the
state of Louisiana. The Confederate COM
mander, Gen. Richard Taylor, was in full
control of most Of the region across the Mis-
sissppi from Vicksburg,
To fulfill the first part of his commission
Gen Banks dispatched Brig. Gen. Cuvier
Grover up the Mississippi Immediately on
his arrival at New Orleans. The places
above New Orleans which the government
desired to capture were Baton Rouge, $50
miles above New Orleans; Port Hudson, 25
miles above Baton Rouge, and Vicksburg.
nearly $50 miles above Port Hudson and 400
miles above New Orleans.
Soon after Cen Banks arrival he sent
regiment to Galveston, Tex. This port had
been captured from the Confederacy in Oc-
tober Banks regiment reached Galveston
the last of December. The place was imme-
diately attacked by a Confederate force
under Gen. Magruder and captured. They
held It 10 the end of the war,
Gen. Banks first important move was to
send two expeditions west from the MiSsis-
sippi. His army was called the Nineteenth
ARMY corps. 1t was in four divisions under
Mai Cen. Augur and Brig Gems. T. w.
Sherman, Grover and Emory.
Gen. Richard Taylor, a son of Zachary,
was PECULIARLY called "Dick," and was famous
both Tor dash and strategy. The Confederate
gar.sons Ut Nicksburg and Port Hudson
were supplied with provisions from the west,
and it's cup;ure was therefore of the first i'm
porJance.
On the map the reader will note the course
OF Bayou Teche and the AtcAa-alaya. The
latter name is commonly pro- ounced Chat
a-lya Along that We're Gen. Iaylors torti-
fcauiors. from Alexandria, on Red river, to
BrrShear City. Near tine mouth OF Bayou
Teche was work called Fort bis
land On the Atchafalaya, twenty miles
north Of Grand Lake, was another. AT a
poir. called Butte la Rose, few miles be-
low Alexandria, Oh Red river, was Fort ia
Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1888-07-13

teries, to receive n double share of the terri
BILE fire.
A shell fragment struck the hoatswain's
mate, tearing OF both his legs, and an arm
at the elbow He lived only few moments,
murmuring with his last breath, Don't give
up the ship, lads"
The terrible bend in the river made the
Confederate fire doubly deadly. At its CEN
ter the boats were commanded by batteries
from each end. On the bridge Of the Rich
mond stood her commander, Capt. Alden,
and her first officer, Lieut. Com. Cum
minGS. Cummings had his speaking trum-
pet l. lis hand, giving orders TO the men.
There yls binding sheet OF flame, followed
by roar, and the two men fell upon the
deck as if struck by lightning. Men FASTENED
to raise them. Capt. Alden was unhurt, ex-
cept 10y the conclusion, but Cummings left
leg was shot away at the knee. As they
raised him from the deck he SAID
PUT tourniquet on my leg and send my
letters to my WIFE Tell her fell doingI
Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1888-07-13
AT PORT HUDSON.
How Gen, Banks Sailed from New
York December, 1862.
MYSTERIOUS EXPEDITION.
Banks Takes Command of the De.
partmcnt of the Gnlf.

"I Greet You, MY Comrades, and Say
FarewelI'-The Thrilling Story of Far
racut's Passage by the Port Hudson Rat
teries-Banks' rans-Mississippi Cam
paign--winding Like "A Serpent Around
Port Hudsoi-The Fort Surrendered
July o, 1863, a Quarter of Century
Ago.
General we want to know whetherto take
thick or thin clothng,n said one of Gen. N
z. Banks staff to him in 1869.
"Take BOTH" was the reply, land you will
be sure to hit"
No other expedition of the war excited SO
much curiosity or stimulated the newspaper
men to such activity as the Banks hotilla;
and in no other case was the secret so
thoroughly kept As the first great success
of the Union cause had been gained in the
summer of 1861 by a sudden dash on the
coast of North Carolina; as Burnsile's brill
liant success at Roanoke in February 1862,
had been gained by similar strategy, and as
IL was known that President Lincoln warmly
favored the plan of an advance into North
Carolina from the coast, the public mind
finally settled down to the belief that this
was the work designed for the Banks expedi-
ton; but the newspaper men were chagrined
at their failure to penetrate the secret. At
length one of them, who enjoyed the per-
sonal friendship of Mr. Lincoln, determined
to worm it out of him" and made his ap-
proaches with the subtlety of a diplomat.
Finding the president in most gracious
humor, he ventured to say that patriot
he would really like to know where the
Banks expedition was going.
"Wel,n answered Mr. Lincoln with all the
eobernesS his long face could express, lit is a
state secret; but for the sake of old times [
will venture to tell you. The Banks cXpedi-
ton is, really and truly, going south,'
Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1888-07-13

An expedition of 5000 men was fitting
out nobody knew iol what point They left
tho port OF New York in aIlnoi vessels and
steamers Their header, Cen. ~ =. Banks.
bore a letter from Cen. Hailcck Dee.
10 the mysterious fleet anchored off New
Orleans. IlGllcck> letter directed Gen.
Banks forthwith to take command OF that
department. supcrsediug Gen. benjamin
Butler The latter issued to his soldiers n
stirring farewell address, in which he said:
~ greet you, my brave comrades, and say
farewell!
"You have deserved well of your country.
"By your practical philanthropy You have
won the confidence of the oppressed race.
Hailing You as deliverers, they are ready to
aid YOU as willing servants, faithful labor
ers, or to fight with you in the field
81 commend you to your commander. You
arc worthy of his love. Farewell, my com
rides, a~ain farewell"
Dec 1G Gen. Banks took charge of the de-
Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1888-07-13

1t was 1880 o'clock when the Mississippi
grounded. She lay there helpless for thirty
five minutes, drawing all the fire of the shore
batteries, her engines meantime backing
with all their force, but in vain.
Her commander, Capt. Melancthon Smith,
determined to set fire to and abandon her.
Her wounded were put upon shore, the fires
were lit, and the captain and some of the
crew took to open boats and hoated down
the river past the batteries in the darkness.
The gunboat Essex, Capt c. II. b. Caldwell,
picked them up below.
Some of the Missssippi's crew of 800 mon
met with a tragic fate. The fires in one part
of the vessel were lit sooner than was in
tended A ranic ensued and many jumped
into the river Some were drowned; others
swan to or were landed on the west bank.
Seventy started afOot down the west bank to
reioin the fleet They suffered great hard
ships, wadng baYouS, enduring hunger and
lodging the Confederates, finally reaching
the point opposite the feet in safety. The
Essex took OF the wounded from the west
bank.
The Mississippi, lighted 10y throwing over
board the SNAIL guns and by the absence
Of 300 men from her decks, 1oatcd again
She drifled down stream "a floating noun
tain Of fire. At Prophets Island there
was tremendous explosion. The flames
had reached the powder magazine. Then
tie brave old Mississippi sank ont of sight.
I'm this attempt the Union forces lost ll3
Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1888-07-13

duty. would give my other leg il we could
pass those batteries"
A few days later he died, ms bravea man
as ever fell in discharge of duty.
The Richmond and the Genesee passed down
the river till they were out of range and
were moorcd.
The Monongahela, with her consort, the
Kineo, came next. She grounded in the
darkness on the west shore. The kineo
broke loose from her and attempted to pass
ahead. But her rud1er was gone and she
grounded speedily. She aoated presently,
however, and backed down to the Mononga-
hea and succeeded in dragging her free.
Again the Kineo and Monongahela started
ahead, lashed together Fate was against
them. In few minutes the Monongahela's
engines stopped dead A heated bearing
made it impossible for her to proceed. Moth
ing could be done but to wait until it cooled,
which was impossible, and these boats, too
drifted down the river defeated.
The Mississippi was now the only one left,
She was sidewhcel steamer, and hence
Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1888-07-13
Rouge,
BRAsHEAR CITY TO ALEXANDRIA.

Eighty miles west of New Orleans is
Brashear City, at the southern end of
Grand lake The Atchafalaya flows through
Grand lake and emptes into the Gulf of
Mexico The AtChafalaya river rises near the
mouth of Red river, so near that in high
water the Red discharges n portion of its
waters into the Atchafalaya. Bayou Teche,
or Teche river, empties into the Atchafalaya
near Brashear City
By commencing operations at Brashear
City, Banks expected to be able to work up
the Teche and Atchafalaya to Red river,
capturing and conquering as he went.
OF Banks four divisions Wcitzcl's was at
Brashcar City early in April. Growers and
Emory's joined him there by April TO- There
were now 1000 troops ready for action.
April Banks reached Brashear City. April
/ the movement began up the Techc Gen.
Weitzel'S attempt on the Same stream short
time before had been unsuccessful, the Con
Tolerate Gen. Mouton driving him back
down to Brashcar.
But now. with the three Federal divisions
united, the advance told a different story.
Gen. Taylor's first considerable work was
Fort Bisland, short distance up the Teche
river April l3 the advancing army met the
Confederates at Pattersonville, near Fort Bis
( land. There was sharp, brief fight, and
the Confedcrates retreatcd inside the fort
During the night they retreatcd up the
river Growers division had been sent ND
Grand lake in boats to land at Franklin and
meet this very contingency of the Confed-
erato retreat But simultaneous military
movements are very rarely successful, and
Growers was no exception. Grover vas I'M
able to land with his main body until April
II, after the Confederates had made GOOD
their escape. They We're commanded by
Gen. "Dick' Taylor in person.
/ With Grover was n small feet of gunboats
under command Of Lieut.. Com. AUGUSTUS +.
Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1888-07-13
under comm

Com, Cookies fleet attacked the Queen of the
West, now flying Confederate colors, and
destroyed her
When Gen. Taylor retreated he destroyed
gunboat, the Diana, and some other boats
he still had left at Franklin. Gen. Banks
army fastened in pursuit.
New Alberta, on the Techc, was the next
objective point in Taylors hurried flight
lie only paused there however, to destroy
five boat loads Of provisions and ammunition
April Il, Banks occupied New Alberta, and
destroyed what Taylor had left, among other
things a cannon foundry and a salt mine
Up to this tinc he had captured 500 prison
ers and many stores.
TAYLOR hastened to Opelousas. There was
Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1888-07-13

b'lll. wv ~, llpN-
ever. Hardly had the boats started when
signal lights flashed from point to point in
the Confederate Notifications, and soon the
whole shore was ablaze. The land force
meantime had been delayed so that it only
approached near enough to exchange picket
shots.
The shore batteries extended along the
bank distance of four miles. One after
another they opened on the fleet.
The Confederate guns were concealed by
the trees, at this time in full foliage, so the
feet could take no accurate aim, but it re-
piled TO the Confederates with broadside
after broadside The blackness was lit by
binding flashes as round after round was
fired. \ roar from the shore was replied to
by a broadslde from the feet.
1t was one of the most exciting episodes of
the war.
The Hartford was n vessel of twenty-eight
guns. Immediately behind her came the
Richmond, twenty-five guns. In the midst
of the heavy firing, smoke added to the dark
ness, and soon IA steamer could not be distn-
guished from shore battery or the pilots see
their way.
The officers Of the Richmond say a flash
which they believed came from a Confeder-
ate gun They were on the point Of pouring
full broadsido into the supposed battery
when suddenly lieutenant exclaimed:
"Ilod ON, you are firing into the Hart
ford"
1t was true, but the terrible mistake was
prevented.
The Hartford, with the Albatross dashed To
her port side, succeeded in clearing the bat
teries soon after midnight, unin jured; but
Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1888-07-13

no rest for him, however, in this sharp chase.
From there he was forced on northward to
Alexandria, on Red river
April 20, Banks took possession of Opclou-
sas. Lieut. Com. Cooke with his gun
boats supplemented on the Atchafalnya the
work of Gen. Banks up the Techc, capturing
the Fort Butte la Rose April 20 The only
one now left of Taylor's important foriica-
tions was Fort De 3ussy, on Red river, just
below Alexandria,
Banks remained at Opolousas from April
20 till May. The first week in May Taylor
retreated once moro. going TO his last strong
Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1888-07-13

Russey, thought to be strong enough to pre-
vent the passage of Federal gunboats.
Banks determined to work his way through
the swamps by way of woods leading along
Bayou Techc and tho Atchafalaya to the Red
river country
He sent Gen Godfrey Weitzel, late in Jan
uary, 1863, up Bayou Teche with 1000 men.
Gen. Emory with the Other expedition, was
to start FROM Plaquemine and advance TO the
Atchafalaya and meet Weitzel. who was to
move eastward from the Tcche. The two
weis to cooperate and attack and capture
Butt, Ia Rose. But Emory could not fol-
low out the route laid down on account OF
the swamps, and the expedition came to moth
ing. Emory returned to New Orleans, leav-
ing Weitzel on tho Teche.
Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1888-07-13

right, Ton. T. w. Sherman on the left Tho
order of the day was heavy artillery
bombGrdmcnt early in the morning, followed
by an assault. At 10 o'clock it was begun by
Weitzcl on tn, right. Grover and Paine con.
tinued it toward the left.
The orders for a simultaneous attack we're,
however, rs usual, not carried out. The
left, under Con. T. W. Sherman, with Gen.
Augur on his right, did not attack tail the
afternoon Woit2el's attack was continued
till in the afternoon. His e%trcme right
was held by two regiments of negro troops.
It was the first time they had been called o. 10
fight, and many eyes were watching to soo
how they would behave. During lh15
bloody day they made three charges o. the
Confederates. driving them into ther Ioi;i
ficatons. Weitzel, on the right, was able TO
advance his line AMI hold it,
For the fight the Confederates had chosen
a strong position on the plain outside of
their principal defenScs On the Onion lcrt
the attack, after it did begin was desperate,
bloody and persistent. The troops even
reached the ditch around the parapet, but
could not mount tho breastwork itself
Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1888-07-13

batross that had
run the Port Hudson batteries, and the Es-
trela and Arizona, that had come up through
the Atchafalaya They were Under com
mand Of Lieut.. Com. John T.. Hart. Then
Admiral Farragut returned to New Or
leans, turning over the Red river fleet to
Admiral Porter.
The Eunboats reached Fort De Russv, be-
low Alexandria, before the Confcderates had
left on the Sd of May The Union gunboats
attacked with great vigor, but the Confed
crate steamers escaped to Shreveport with
their guns, giving up Alexandria.
In the month from April to May Q, 1868,
Banks had advanced from Brashear City to
AleXandria-from the Gulf to the interior
Red river region. He had captured 1000
prisoners destroyed three Confederate gun
boats and taken twenty-five large guns.
He had cleared well nigh all of Louisiana
of Confederate rule. There was no danger
longer of molestation to the Union troops on
the Mississippi from the west He now
turned his attention seriously toward Port
Hudson. Part of his instructions had been
to cooperate with Grant in opening the Mis-
sisslppi Considerable correspondence as to
re-eniorcemcnts from one to the other passed
between the two generals. But it seems
never to have been quite convenient for
either one to rc-enforce the other Con
sequently the correspondence ended by each
Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1888-07-13

the woods to the entrance Of the road In the
hill
ELK bayonets," shouted the commander,
this order being followed the next momenk
hy the ringing words
Forward double quick, march,
Bravcly the order was obcyed in the begin
ming Bravoly the soldiers double quicked
along the road a dcalenng roar met them
as they advanced their way filed with
smoke They moved more slowly, then there
was IA dead stop, hrghtful pause
the rear
1--WE can't the fighting IN front has
choked up the road" was the thrilling an
swer.
The column moved on at length, but now
slowly and painfully The wounded and dy-
ing began to he carried past them to the rear,
the blood from their awful hurts dripping
along the narrow road.
Heavy work for you up there, boys said
white faced officer who crcpt painfully
down the hill with half his LETT arm goney
and the torn stump all CHASTITY and bleed
ing.
The spfrc was so narrow that the rs
saulters ut that point became packed into an
inextricable mass And still all around the
Internal roar and flash, still the shouts Of
combatantS the cries of the wounded.
Ger Dwight was on the Union left in the
attacking columns Glover and Weit2el on
the right, and Brig. Gen. fIalbert f. Paine
in the center. Gen. Paine led his command
Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1888-07-13

They lay there I'M
til Il ark es $ en-
abled them to cross
in safety the bloody
road by which they
cane, and then re-
turned TO c n m p
When they did re
turn, their leader,
Gen. Z. w Sher-
man, had lost a leg
on tn at h OF y
fought field.
The land assault
was unsuccessful,
except as it caused
the Confedcrates TO
Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1888-07-13

B n II k s IN owed
t hree divisions,
Augur's, Emory's,
and Growers, up to
Baton Rouge, and
thence, March -,
both proceeded up
the river, Banks
by land, building
bridges as he went.
On the night of
March II Farra
gut started with n
portion of his fleet
of gunboats, NOR
tar schOOncrs and
sloops of war to
Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1888-07-13

partinent, having
under his com
mand over $4,000
men.
n t h a iel ?.
Banks was born
in Massachusetts, in
1916, and entered
political life early.
serving first in the
Massachusetts leg
islature, and next
in congress, where
he was speaker one
term He WAS GOV
Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1888-07-13

that was the only
one. The Rich
mond was immedi-
ately behind the
Hartford, with tho
Genesec dashed to
her. just in the
bend of the river a
shot struck the
Richmond's safety
valve, destroying
it and letting the
steam escape; so
the two vessels
were forced back
down mast thp hat
Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1888-07-13

through the air for
a distance of over
three miles, and
burst above t h Q
Confederate bat
teries. Admiral
Farru gut h a d
hoped that the fire
from the land and
the commandment
of the mortars
would distract at
tention from h is
feet to a great eX-
tent. Not so, how
Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1888-07-13

hold in Louisiana,
Shreveport, on the
Red, near tho Texas
border. He dared
not risk n battle.
having only 1900
men.
May Q Gen. Banks
took possession of
Alexandria. A d
M iral Farragut
sent three gunboats
up Red river to CO
operate with him.
They were the AL
Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1888-07-13

towed no other ves-
sci. S h @, to o,
grounded on the
west bank, and, in
nautical parlance,
"keeled over two
streaks to port"
OF the seven ves-
sells, all reached the
fatal bend, bu t
only the Hartford
and AlDatross, with
Admiral Farragut
on board, succeeded
in passing it.
Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1888-07-13

Starvia 1.I- 81 Ks
burg. Covered
ways and ap-
uroqcl.cs wee on
...cJol that .!allv
Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1888-07-13

''4A- "Ill's tNi'il p.
this road the col
ann was to rush
into the fray. At
5 o'clock in the
morning a single
mushet shot echoed
through the gray
mist that filled the
air 1t was fol
lowed by another,
then another, then
by n roar of artil-
lery from the Con
fed crate guns.
Shot and shell few
from the Union
ranks and the min
Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1888-07-13
SIEGE AND SURRENDER.

The Union army settled lo"n 20 Tho work
of starving ont Port Hudson. us C~..-, was
Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1888-07-13

mont against Tort
hudson had been merely demonstration
and came to nothing AS soon as Banks
learned that Farragut had passed the bat
terics March -, he returned to Now Orleans
Gen. Augur's division was left at Baton
Rouge
Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1888-07-13

such deVlllsh noises as are only heard in the
internal regions or in battle"
Tie assaulting column marched through
The west Tennessee star. (Bolivar, Tenn.) 1888-1888, 1888-07-27
HER LAST FILTRATION.

The Awful Fate of a Pretty Woman who
Deceived Her Husband and Went Boat
ing with Another Man.
NIAGARA FALLS, n. Y, July 20.-Mrs.
p. J. Tully young and handsome mar
ried woman, lost her life last evening by
going over the American falls. Mrs. Tully
was twenty two years old, and came here
with her husband from Macon, Ga, a few
months ago. Unknown to her husband,
she accepted an invitation to go out sail
ing with William H. Barbour, whose
mother keeps the Grand Trunk ticket Office
in the International Hotel.
They started early, and had gone quite
a distance up the river when, in making
a tack, Barbour let go the sail and the
boat turned over. Barbour is weak physi-
cally and Mrs. Tully was badly frightened.
They drifted down the river toward the
cataract, slowly getting nearer the upper
rapids when their predicament was dis
covered by the crew of Sherman Jewett's
yacht Titania, and a small boat was sent
to the disabled sail boat.
Barbour was rescued, but Mrs. TuI ly let
go from the capsized yacht, to which she
had been clinging, and slipped down into
hundred feet down the rapids, and at 6:15
a m. her body, almost Hfeless, passed
under the Goat Island bridge, going over
the American falls a few seconds later.
Her husband left the bridge a few min
utes before this, having been there with
his partner watching for her.