The Washington herald., 1914-03-25

main body. was on hand to greet Gen.
BaEks on his arrival.
Gen. Smiths men had been more prompt
in carrying out their part OF the pro-
gram They had reIched Alexandria two
days before the appointed time. after
capturing Fort De Russy. a stror S>work
designed to close the Red River to navi-
CATION. Being Joined by Gen. Banks
cavalry. under Gen Albert L. Lee. on
the 18th. and bagging a large party of
confederate cavalry at Henderson's Hill.
twenty-five miles upstream from Alex
andria, on the 21st, the troops settled
down TO await the arrival of Gen. Frank
Inns column
The hardness OF this command in
reaching Alexandria already had occa-
stoned considerable adverse comment
among Gen. Smiths men. and their feel
ing regarding the soldierly qualities of
Gen. Banks troops was not improved by
the arrival at Alexandria of Gen.
Banks. Gen. Smiths men were all hard
ened veterans who had fought under
Sherman. Their first impression of Gen.
Banks was not a favorable one. He was
toe much a military Beau BrummeI to
suit their taste.
Ragged Guerrillas."
The review was arranged by Gen.
Smith to display his fighting men.
Admiral d. d. Porter. whose fleet of
gunboats had accompanied Gen. Smith $
force to Alexandria, was present He
afterward described Gen Banks as "a
handsome, soldierly looking man. though
rather theatrical in his style of dress. -
The description continues: He wore
yellow gauntlets high up on his wrists.
looking as clean as if they had just
come from the glovemaker; his hat was
picturesque. his long boots and spurs
were faultless. and his air was that Of
one used to command. In short, I never
saw a more Misunderstanding soldier.
"His staff were not far behind him in
appearance; they had spent the winter
in the gay saloons of St. Charles. and
may have lacked a little the rough
look OF the soldiers, but they
were a fine looking set Of men and ex-
ceedingly imposing in their gay uni
forms"
Banks and his stan. immaculate and
handsome. sat on well-groomed horses
and watched Gen. Smiths veterans
swing past in review. When the last
man had passed and the officers turned
to leave the field. Gen. Banks was said
to have remarked: Those are ragged
those are not soldiers. II
general can't dress his troops better
than that he should disband them"
There Is no proof that Gen. Banks
made this remark. II may have origi-
mated with some one who had a griev-
ance against him: but Smiths men ac-
cepted II as authentic and put II at
the head Of their account with Gen.
Banks. Possibly II ranked because true,
for there was no doubt that they were
A rough-looking lot.
The iIl-feeling which thus early threat
ened to reduce the effectiveness OF the
force was to increase
after the arrival of Gen. Banks troops
on March % and q. II was to grow
also through a coolness between Banks
and Admiral Porter. The latter was
voluble. and stubborn. Hell
held Gen. Banks lightly and sided with
Gen. Smith in all questions between thel
two. He adopted a policy Of leaving
Gen. Banks and his army severely alone
"a policy not likely to bring about theI
most effective cooperation between the
land and water forces of the expedition.
Gen. Banks himself was now in mol
pleasant mood. Worried by the delayed
arrival of his own troops, and by the
knowledge that he must wait Tor the
river to rise until POrter's gunboats
could pass the rapids above Alexandria, |
he was to be further disturbed by theI
receipt on March q OF a dispatch from
Gen. Grant, as follows: