The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1900-12-06

and destroyed or dispersed. thus open
ing the Atchafalya TO Red River and
the Courtableau 20 Washington Of
Louisiana.
Gen. Banks's headquarters being In
the field, Gen. Ullman left at once 70
report to him in person at Opelousas. In
early May he returned bringing Gen.
Banks's General Orders No. 40, in which
he announce his proposal 60 organize q
Corps d'armee OF colored troors, to be
designated the Corps d'Afrique, and 70
consist OF Is regiments In thres divisions
of three brigades each.
The command OF this organization he
lproHered to lden. UIiman. VINO perempto'
lriIy refused 1t, although very strongly
urged 60 accept it by his stat and regi-
mental commanders.
In this refusal he lost his opportunity
to distinguish himself and promote the
officers OF his organization, and not only
this, but he .iost the control Of his own
brigade by its being merged in ths
Corps d'Afriqus with new designations
for each OF the regiments by ueneral
Orders NO. A. OF June 9th, and again by
special Orders OF the Adjutant General
OF the Army, August l4th.
After Gen. Banks had been appraised
OF the Investment OF vicksburg. he sent
Gen. Augur.s division back to Baton
Rouge, and concentrated the remainder
OF his forces at Simmesport on the
AtchafaIya, while all the available troops
south OF Port Hudson on the Mississippi,
/ were concentrated at Baton Rouge, and
q strong force sent East and then moved
North and West and effected junction
with Generals Augur and Sherman.
Meanwhile Gen. Banks had moved rap
idly down the river to Morgana, crossed
the Mississippi to Bayou Sara, and effect
ed junction with the division OF Gen.
Augur, and the investment Of PORT Hud-
son was complete. This occurred ON the
22d OF May, and a general assault on
the 9th was disastrously repulsed. The
lines were drawn closer, and the seige
prosecuted vigorously.
| AS soon as official news OF the surren-
der OF yicksburg was received and COM
municate1 to zen. Gardner, commander
of the rebel forces, no expressed his de-
sire to surrender, and his forces laid
down their arms July z, 1868.
The Unman brigade continued in SER
vice as portion OF the garrison Of Port
Hudson, during the war. Gen. Uilman
was never in command OF the brigade
which bore his name after IL was or
dered to Port Hudson. but kept his head
quarters in New Orleans, without any
command, and was mustered out OF SER
vica at his own request In 1864.
| ten. Bangs spoke feelingly OF the dis
tinguished officers who accompanied him
ON this expedition, many OF whom he
survives.
Gen. Bangs gave the following sketches
descriptive of officers who accompanied
the expedition;
| Colonel Henry G. Thomas as comman-
der OF the end regiment, accompanied
us to New Orleans, thence to Brashear,
where he succumbed to the miasma Of
the .Louisiana Lowlands Low;p re-
signed his command to his lieuten ant
colonel and returned to his position In
the regular army, leaving us the most
pleasing recollections or his wiz, good
humor ana eayoir faire.
| Col. Thomas entered service as Dap
tain in the 9th Mama. and was appoint
ed successfully captain U S. A. colonel
Secon1 U. s. Vols; co onsl U. s. col
ored infantry, brigadier general and
brevet major general U. y. Vols; brsvet
major, brevet co.onsl and brevet briga-
dier general U. s. army. Gen. Thomas
died in 1897.
The Third regiment was assigned to
the command of Cyrus Hamlin, captain
A, u. Q, U. S. army, son of Hon. Hani-
bal Hamlin, an officer of fine executive
ability. thoroughly conversant with
"ruIes and ORDERS" from his association
with regular army officers and heads of
departments at Washin yton. He thus
became our mentor in "red tape, )" and
our friend.
1t is family trait to gain friends, to
reward them-to keep them; AMI his
bonds OF friendship were eheerfully
worn and not easily broken.
After organizing his regiment at Baton
Rouge be commanded a brigade there.
| Col. Hamlin was brevetted brigadier
general and major general u. S. Vols.
he remained in New Orleans after the
war, and died there OF yellow fever in
1867.
che Fourth regiment was command
ed by Col. John f. Appleton, captain OF
the 18th Maine; he being at that time on
duty with his regiment in the depart
ment OF the Gulf, and did not report TO
Gen. Uilman for assignment to his COM
Inand until after the surrender OF Port
Hudson, refusing to leave his company
during the siege. The organization OF
this regiment devolved upon myself.
Col. Appleton was brave and skiiiful
officer and would have earned distinction
II his health had permitted. He was the
only officer In Gen. Banks's army who
reached the rebel works during the siege.
In the assault OF the 18th OF June, he