The Bridgeport evening farmer. [volume] (Bridgeport, Conn.) 1866-1917, 1916-01-29
Centenary of Nathaniel
P. Banks, Factory Hand,
General, and Statesman

One hundred years ago this Sun
day. on January 80, 1916. Nathaniel
Prentiss Banks was born in Wa1tham,
Mass. The centenary is worthy of
commemoration not only because of
the honor due to a man who served his
country faithfully and well both as
soldier and statesman, but because the
career of Banks affords another illus
tration of the truth of the statement
that America is the land of oppor-
tunity, where birth and blood count
for nothing.
The toilers in the manufacturing
establishments of the busy industrial
city of Waltham may claim Banks as
their own, for he was the son of work
ing people, and started life fac
tory hand. His education was con-
fined to the common schools but af-
ter becoming workman he continued
to study privately. His earliest am
bitiOn was to go upon the stage, and
he was the "star'' of the local drama
tic club and also of the village debat-
ing society Not finding an oppor-
tunity to display his histrionic talent
on the professional stage, he entered
the lecture field, and was quite sue
cessful in his tour of village 1yceums.
After that young Banks entered
Journalism and was for time the
editor of newspap ers in Wa1than and
Lowell. In those days every editor
had to be active in politics and every
newspaper\was a political organ. Dur
ing the administration of President
Polk, Banks held a public Office in the
Boston Custom House. After years of
vain effort, he was elected to the Mas
sachusetts legislature, entering that
body in 1S49,f and becoming speaker
of the lower house two years later,
being at that time the leader of the
Democratic-Free Soil coalition which
o
he went to Washington as Member
of Congress. There he voted against
the Kansas Nebraska bill, and with
drew from the Democratic party. He
was reelected to Congress by the new
Republican party and the 'Know
Nothings.''
After a memorable contest which
lasted for two months and aroused the
passions Of the whole nation, Banks
was Chosen Speaker of the House of
representatives. It has often been
asserted that his administration as
Speaker was characterized by an i'm
partially never before or since sur
passed, and at the end of his term
all parties Joined in paying tribute to
his ability.
In 1857 the former Massachusetts
factory hand resigned from Congress
and returned to his native State as
Governor, and Was reelected in 1853
Banks retired from public life to be-
come the president Of the Illinois Cen
trail railway, then the greatest of
western transportation systems, oper-
ating more than 700 miles of track
between Chicago and Cairo, Centralia
and Dun1eith. The Illinois Central,
built at a cost of nearly $25, 900, 900,
was considered wonderful system in
those days, although many predicted
that Illinois would never become suf-
fciently well settled to support a rail-
road built at such a, tremendous cost!
The career of Banks as a railway
president was cut short by the out
break of the civil war. He immedi-
ately offered his services to President
Lincoln, and in 1851 was created
maj general of volunteers and APP
pointed to command the Annapolis
military district. His first big battle
was at Winchester, to which place he |
had won a race with 'Stonewa1l''
Jackson. He was not permitted to
rest there, however, for the Confed-
crates, 10000 strong, were close be-
hind his force, which numbered only
1000. General Ewe1l attacked Banks
before the dawn of May morning in
1852, and a furious battle ensued. The
Confederates were held in check for
five hours, but, Jackson's whole force
Banks gave the order for
retreat. The Union army passed rap
men firing upon them from windows.
After a forced march Banks reached
the Potomac opposite Wil1iamsport,
the Confederate pursuit having been
abandoned at Martinsburg, twelve
miles away Within forty-eight hours
Banks and his little army had march,
ed f1fty-three miles and fought one
severe battle and many skirmishes,
losing only thirty eight killed, 155
wounded, and I'll missing. Only fifty
five of his 500 wagons were lost. 1t
was one of the most mastery retreats
of the war, and Banns, although van
quished, won high praise.
= In the following July Banks COM
manded the attacking force IN the
battle of Cedar Mountain. Again he
was outnunbered having only 5000
men to hurl against the 20, 900 veteran
Confederates drawn up in line of bat
tie. The battle ragged for an hour and
a half, and was characterized by deeds |
of great vaIor on both sides, but the
Union forces were pushed back.
Banks was then called to Washing !
ton to. command the defences of the |
national capital, but in the Fall of
1862 he was sent to New Orleans to |
succeed General Butler, who was so
bitterly hated by the citizens of the |
Crescent City. Buffers woman or |
DER to the effect that when any
female shall, by word, gesture, or
movement, insult or show contempt
for any officer or soldier of the United !
States, she shall be regarded and held
liable to be treated as woman of
the town plying her avocationf' arous-
ed widespread Indignation in the Con-
federate States It also led to much
criticism of Butler in the North, with
the result that he was suppIanted in
New Orleans by Banks. The latter
was much more successful than his
predecessor in winning the respect
and confidence of the officials and peo-
pie of the conquered city.
In 1854 Banks was placed in COM
mand Of the Red River expedition,
which had for it's object the reposses-
sion of Texas by an invasion via the
eLLar.a1rnr