Stanton, who was
the most exacting of men, whenever an officer failed in his duties.
General Banks' military career may be considered in three parts. As to
the campaigns of 1861 and 1862, on the Potomac, and in the valley of
the Shenandoah, it is to be said that his fortunes were in the main
the fortunes of McDowell, McClellan, and Pope, yet even in the presence
of general disaster, he gained distinction by his courage, resolution,
and equanimity of temper. The capture of Port Hudson, undertaken and
accomplished under his command, opened the Mississippi River below
Vicksburg to military operations and to business intercourse. The
event was second only in importance to the surrender of Vicksburg.
The Red River campaign was an ill advised undertaking, for which
General Banks was in no degree responsible. Indeed, he advised against
the movement. This I say upon his specific statement made to me. The
undertaking was a great error. There never was a day after April,
1861, when it was not apparent that the south-western portion of the
union, beyond the Mississippi River, would yield whenever that river
was opened to the Gulf, and the army of Lee had capitulated. Hence the
unwisdom of the undertaking. It is sufficient to say that nothing
occurred in that campaign which was discreditable to General Banks.
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