The National tribune., 1906-02-22

200 were left out on the field, and
about ESQ prisoners"
Col. Morgan was severely blamed for
this miserable affair and brought be-
fore q court-martial and charged, first,
with misbehayior before the enemy, in
shamefully abandoning his post or posi-
ton. exposing the advance guard on the
other side of the bayou TO Obstructive
cross-fire, and in abandoning his skirm-
fshers, leaving them to be captured by
the enemy. The second charge was
drunkenness on duty. The court
martial found him guilty of both
charges and sentenced him to be
cashiered and utterly disqualified from
holding any office under the Govern
ment of the United States Gen. Banks
disapproved this sentence because the
evidence appeared conflicting and un-
satisfactory.
The execution was suspended until
the pleasure of the President could be
known. When the record reached
Washington it was returned to Banks
with instructions that az nothing re-
NAMED for the action of the President
the proceedings were at an end, and
Col. Morgan must be released from ar
rest.
Col. Morgan. who had behaved very
well during the siege of Port Hudson,
was finally dismissed April g. 1864.
Neither Banks nor any of his subor-
dinates seemed to be filled with burn
ing INDICATION and desire to punish this
insult To the army. Their repression
was due to the terribly wearied condi-
ton of the troops and the desire to hold
the enemy in their front until the gun
boats could arrive in Berwick Bay and
cut off his retreat. Unfortunately the
war vessels had suffered as severely as
the army In the long operations con-
nected with the siege. Some of the
heavier draft had been caught upriver
by the fall of the water; all of them
were sadly in need of repair and none
really fit for service, so that it was
July 22 before the Estrella and Clifton
made their appearance I'm Berwick Bay
TO aid the little Hollyhock, which had
remained in that neighborhood since
the capture of the place. Taylor watch
ed all these moven ents with calm
face, was kept fully informed as to the
progress by his spies in and out of New
Orleans. and when he finally saw the
| two gunboats coming into the Bay he
, was ready to retreat with what force
and supplies he had not previously sent
off. He concluded his operations by
burning the roliing-stock of the rail-
way, running the engines into the
bayou, throwing the heavy guns after
them, and destroying the bridges so
thoroughly that ii was five weeks be-
fore the road could be again put in
operation. Then he withdrew with
leisurely dignity and took up his posi-
| ton on the farther side of the Teche,
having completely refitted and resup-
piled his army and heartened 1T up
greatly with his decided successes
Congratulations md Thanks.
Gen. Halleck sent dispatch of
| thanks to Gen. Banks as follows:
| Headquarters of the Army,
Washington, July %, 1888.
| "Maj.-Ge Banks, New Orleans
General: Your dispatches of July
| s, announcing the surrender OF Port
| Hudson, are received / congratulate
you and your army on the crowning
success Of the campaign. 1t was re-
served for your army to strike the last
blow to open the Mississippi River. The
country. and especially the great West,
will ever remember with gratitude their
services.
Very respectfully. your obedient
| servant.
III. w. Halleck. General-in-C Chief"
The Congress OF the United States
| adopted the following:
"Public Resolution, No. z.
Resolution expressive Of the thanks
: OF Congress to Maj.-Gen. Nathaniel p.