Year: 1863

mENT.


The movements Of General Banks are
altogether inexplicable. During his late
excursion from Baton Rouge, he was COM
missioncd TO make feint Of attacking
Port Hudson, so as 10 draw of rorticn
Of the cncmy's fire from Furragut's fleet,
when he attempted to run the batteries.


But he was eight hours too late to rcn~
der any assistance, owing it is:said, to some
Of the steamers conveying the troops being
sucked in by crevassc which had been
cut BY the rebels. His programme was to
get to the north Of the rebel Notifications,
by marching around them on the west
side Of the Mississippi. But he utterly
failed to do anything, and has returned to
New Orleans TO chew the cud Of his tail
ure.


There has been good deal Of mystery
about this Generals conduct, ever since he
took command Of the Gulf Department.
When he left New York last fall, he had
with him an army Of thirty thousand men,
and on his arrival at New Orleans he found
there, ready for service, another army num-
bermg twelve thousand troops, which he
Joined to his command. With these forty
two thousand men he was to have driven
the rebels from Louisiana, to have reduced
Port Hudson, and to have assisted the fleet
above in its general operations


The people were taught to expect great
things from this expedition, which had
been foated and equipped at the enormous
expense Of twelve millions OF dollars But
Gen. Banks has been as idle ut New,
Orleans, as Gen. Forey in Mexico, and has
done nothing with all the vast armaments
and military resources which have been
placed at lis disposal


Even now he is lying supincly upon
his oars, and las no plan against the rebels,
with which the public is acquainted, to oc-
cury his enraged army. They are anxious
enough for service, and did not at all like
the inglorious return Of the expedition, on
the Farragut occasion


What the meaning Of all this may be, it
is not for US TO say. But is in the highest
degree suspicious, to say the least of it;
and his whole conduct demands rigid in
resignation. If he don't move soon, it
will be too late to move at all; for the
majority Of his men are Of tie nine months
enlistment clEss, and their time expires in
May. We can't very well afford to miss
any great opportunity nor to waste such
vast sums Of money as tlis expedition has
cost; but it seems that We have rot to
come to it.


This is what ne have gained, so far, by
placing Banks over Butlcr-the man Of in
action over the man Of action-and We
don't like the look Of the balance sheet.


We make these statements with extreme
reluctance, and from sense Of duty only.
Gen. Banks left the army Of the Potomac
under such tlattering auspices, and with
such an unsullied reputation, and military
fame, that the country looked for great
achievements from him in his new COM
nland. Nc hope, even at this last hour,
that he will yet redeem himself by some
splendid victory over the rebels; for moth
ing short Of this will satisfy the people;
and if lie continues inactive, resting upon
the dishonors ofhis last excursion, there will
go forth snch cry against him, and such
q universal demand for the restoration of
Butler, that even the Secretary Of State,
through whose influence Banks was placed
in his present position, will not venture to
disregard the admorition.