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About Medford mail tribune. (Medford, Or.) 1909-1989 | View Entire Issue (May 27, 1963)
in r mi MONDAY. MAY 27. 1963 MEDFOHD MAIL TRIBUNE. MEDFORD. OREGON WTUWM ft 3 5 .; Bw. . gfr' 5 1 v t3H- SEIGE ON PORT-In late May, 1863, a Fed eral Army clomped a seige on Port Hudson, La., which, with Vicksburg, was the only foothold the Conlcderacy retained on the Mississippi river. The job ol reducing Port Hudson was given to National Prentiss Banks, a political general. One of the ways that President Lincoln used to unify the Democrats was to appoint members of their ranks to high military positions and iden tify them with the war. Banks made an at tempt to take the port, but was repuiscd. He was forced to settle down to a seige. This composite photo, from the Library of Con gress collection, shows Banks, inset, over a sketch of an earlier bombardment of Port Hudson by the Union fleet. (UPI) The Battle of Port Hudson, La. By MEHTON T. AKERS UPI Correspondent Late in May 1863 a Federal army clamped a siege on Port Hudson, La., which with Vicksburg, Miss., was the only foot: old the Confederacy re tained on the Mississippi Riv er. Earlier that month, MaJ. Gen. U. S. Grant had put a strangle hold on Vicksburg after a brilliant 20 - day cam paign. The job of reducing Port Hudson was given to Nation al Prentiss Banks, a political general, one of many appoint ed at the start of the Civil War to command the mush rooming Union armies. Political generals, howev er much confusion and blun dering they are credited with, solved two problems for Pres ident Lincoln. He needed more general officers than there were West Pointers In and out of the military serv ice, to command the brigade and divisions which floked to the colors afler the Confed erates fired on Fort Sumter, Lincoln headed a divided North. The new Republican partly was a sectional organi zation, victorious In the 1860 election because the dominant Democratic parly split Into northern and southern wings over the vital Issues of the extension of slavery and se cession. The northern wing of the Democratic party split again 1o War and Peace Democrats. The War wing favored vigor ous prosecution of the war. the Peace wing wanted to end the war at almost any price. To unify the country and to win the war Lincoln felt he must keep as many Democrats on his side as possible. One way, he felt, was to aunoint Democrats to high army posts and identify them with the war. Banks was one of the first of these politicians named as major generals of volunteers. He was a self made man in nearly every sense of the word. Born in Waltham, Mass., In 1816, Banks, like Lincoln, re ceived virtually no formal schooling. He went to work in a textile mill while only a boy for $2 a week of six 12-hour days. There he earned the name of the "Bobbin Boy." He made himself a skilled me chanic, read Shakespeare, went in for stump speaking and eventually landed head over heels In Democratic pol- spcaker. From the Massachu setts legislature, where he was speaker of the House, he went on to Congress and there, too, was elected speaker. Banks in his long politi cal career reaching from the 1840s to the 1800s was a mav erick, being In turn Demo crat, Free Sollcr, Know Noth ing, Republican, Democrat again and Republican again. In 1861 ho wus a Democrat and governor of Massachu setts. In May nf that year Lincoln made him a major general of volunteers, al though Banks had no military experience. Banks' first taslc of war came in the Shenandoah Val ley of Virginia in 1862 where Stonewall Jackson soundly thrashed his army and those of two other political generals. Jackson defeated him again at Cedar Mountain in the Second Manassas campaign. From there Banks went to New Orleans where he suc ceeded a fellow Massachu setts political general, Benja min F. Butler. Must Double in Brail As commander of Hie De partment of the Gulf, Bunks eventually discovered he must double in brass. Not only was ho expected lo win battles and especially lo capture Port Hudson but Lincoln also expected him lo pacify that part of Louisiana which had been occupied, organize and In time bring It back into the Union as a pattern of recon struction once all the South was subdued. Port Hudson, Banks' pri mary target, stood about 25 miles above Baton Rouge, Miss. It was perched on a bend in the river where its guns could rake the channel. The. fort mounted 21 heavy guns, numerous smaller ones and was garrisoned by 12,000 to 10,000 troops in the spring of 1863. (Port Hudson exists no more. The river obliterated it.) Rather than approach Port Hudson from Baton Rouge on the south, Banks chose to flunk It by ascending the At chafalaya River and Bayou Teche which parallel the Mis sissippi on tlie west. His ex pedition was contested by a small Confederate force of about 5,000 commanded by Muj. Gen. Richard Taylor, son of President Zachary Tay lor. Taylor was able to do lit tle more than harass Banks' army which penetrated as far as Alexandria, La. Then Banks swung his army cost, crossed the Alchafalaya at Simmesport, La., and on May 23, 1H63, crossed the Mis sissippi by transports at Bayou Sara, a few miles above Port Hudson. The investment of the stronghold was completed on May 26 with some extra troops coining up the river from New Orleans. Bunks dc- ployed about 14.000 troops around a seven-mile perimeter enclosing the fort. Decided To Assault Encouraged by the feeble preliminary fighting of the Confederates as the invest ment was proceeding, Banks decided lo assault the works. (By this lime the garrison had been reduced by three bri gades which had been sent Leaves OK'd To Enter Peace Corps Salem - The Oregon State Legislature has passed a law providing leaves of absence for public employees who join the Peace Corps as volun teers. It is the first such leg islation by a state. The Governors of Illinois and Oregon have made such provision for Peace Corps vol unteers by proclamation. The Oregon AFL-CIO, with assistance from Prof. Charles Daiiey of Oregon State Uni versity, was instrumental in leading the Peace Corps legis lation through committees of the House and Senate. In a letter informing Peace Corps Director Sargent Shriv er of the success of their ef forts, Richard House, legisla tive representative of Ore gon's AFL-CIO, said: "We were pleased to have a part In furthering President Kennedy's program, which we think is one of the most out standing programs in the field of foreign relations ever de veloped in our national government." A number of public em ployees already are serving in Peace Corps programs overseas. to help in the defense of Vicks burg.) The assault started early on May 27. Much of the fighting occurred in "a dense forest of magnolias, mostly amid a thick undergrowth and among ravines choked with felled or fallen timber, so that it was difficult not only to move but even to sec; in short, in the phrase of the day, the affair was a 'gigantic bush-wack,' " Lt. Col. Richard B. Irwin, B a n k s' adjutant general, wrote later. The right wing under Brig. Gen. Godfrey Weitzel led the attack and drove the Con federates back Into their works. ", . . The Confederate artillery opened with grape and canister, but our batteries, following the infantry closely as possible, soon took com manding positions within 200 and 300 yards of the works that enabled them to keep down the enemy's fire," Ir win wrote. To Weitzel's left other Fed eral troops advanced about the same distance. On the left Banks ordered another assault. The troops "moved forward with great gallantry but soon (were) caught and cruelly punished in the impassable abatis (shar pened timbers)," Irwin wrote. Brig. Gen. Thomas W. Sherman led this assault on horseback, was wounded and lost his right leg. Gained Positions "No (more) progress was possible," Irwin wrote, "and when night fell the result was that we hud gained command ing positions, yet at a fear ful cost," Irwin said. Banks lost 203 killed, 1,545 wound ed, 157 captured and missing; total 1,905. The Confederate loss was 235. Confederate LI. Howard Wright of the 30th Louisiana described the fighting in the True Delta, a New Orleans newspaper: The fighting, Wright wrote, "was of desperate and bloody character as has been seen during the present war. and full credit was accorded by the garrison to the courage and delerminolion evinced by the enemy, particularly as shown in reforming their lines of battle under fire, and re newing attacks which had failed before, charging again and again over ground which was swept by a tornado of leaden hail , . ." With the repulse Banks sct- tied down to a siege. mtm t lis , & pi mm m HOSE FESTIVAL PRINCESSES These gills, repicsenl- lollc Anderson, Girls Polytechnic: Suianne Baldwin. Wil ing Portland High schools, will compete June 10 for the son; Gall Weyand. Franklin; Julie Ann Levin, Lincoln, title of Queen of Roseria. to reign over Portland s R050 Buck row. Sandra Ross, Madison; Linda Mae Anderson, Festival. They are, front row from left. Krisline Schray, Washington; Mary Tamela Galloway, Cleveland, and Vickl Independent; Gwendolyn Lcicht, Jefferson: Linda Jean Kerancn, Roosevelt, (UPI) Jackson, Gronl; Roxannc Pici t, Marshall. Middle row. Char- Former Minister Here Receives Master's Degree The Rev. James W. Neely, minister of First Baptist church In Medford for five years, received the degree of master of religious education from the Conservative Bap tist Theological seminary, Denver, Colo., this month. Mr. Neely was president of the Medford Ministerial as sociation and was active in a number of valley groups while in Medford. While attending the sem inary, Mr. Neely also pastored the Berean Baptist church in Denver and for the past three years he and Mrs. Neely have served as dormitory parents for single theological male students. The former local minister is a graduate of Philadelphia School of the Bible, Gordon College of Theology and Mis sion in Beverly Farms, Mass and has done graduate work at Moody Bible Institute and Northern' Baptist Seminary, both in Chicago, III. He plans to continue his pastorate at Berean Baptist church, which plans to dedi cate its new sanctuary in Sep tember, and as dormitory par ent. He was recently elected president of the Woodbine Camping association which consists of the Conservative Baptist Churches in Colo rado. Illinois Valley Fire Cave Junction The Il linois Valley Volunteer Fire department and auxiliary held a regular business meet ing May 21 at the fire hall. The Auxiliary held a work hour preparing clothing and household articles for a fam ily whose home burned re cently. The men held a practice fire drill during the evening. The two departments shared the social hour and enjoyed cof-"ee prepared and served by the women. A Too lata To Classify FOB SALE Iris ior DcconTtion day. Kalhchno's Iris Gardens. 3.)fi3 Jacksonville Hwy. Phone 773-2428 in the evenings. FOR SALE Grand piano 6 ft. ma hogany, fine tone, sacrifice if sold by Wed. 482-1067. LOST May 19 (Sun.) Canvas bucket containing fishing reels & Argus Camera. Reward offer ed. 772-4023 after 5 P.M. COMPLETELY equipped Pallet Mill. Write Box 3024 So. River Rd., Grants Pass, Ore. or phone 476-3702. ALTERATIONS U sewing done, reasonable rates. 773-7610. FOR RENT or Lease Business lot with office apace. In Central Point. 826-0083 or 664-3533; FOR RENT 3-Rm. Furn. Apt. Newly decorated, upstairs, $70. 773-5423 or 772-2355. FOR SALE View acreage, cfose in. Corner lot. city water, no sew age. 773-6130. FOR RENT Nice clean 2 bdrm. house In Central Point. Carport. S85 mo. Water pd. 773-6123 or 272-8822 WANTED from Owner. 2 or 3 bdrm. 1100 or more Sq. ft. Town orcounlry772-694. FOR RENT Large 3 Bdrm. house. Storage rm. Children welcome. $100 mo. Refs. required. 772- 6H!I7. PARTLY Unfinished 2 or 3 bdrm. house on 1 .- acre. Between Jack sonville - Medford Make offer. No trades. 773-6888. STRAYED in S W. Medford. 4WF calves 400-450 lbs. 773-4007. FOR RENT 2 bdrm redecorated. parity lurn. apt. 827 Penn. 773 3231 or 772-4578. CHILD CARE my home, fenced ard. ag?s 1 to 10. 773-7610. DISHWASHER wanted, neat In appearance. Apply at Bamby's. FOR SALE 2 bdrm. house, good location. SI.0O0 dn.. StiO mo. SII800. 888 Sunrise. 772-8452 niter 5 ' 1 Are we closing it? It's good news to know that many of our schools are stepping up their physical education programs. But the so-called "muscle gap" Is still too big. Far too many of our children still aren't getting the daily, vig orous exercise needed to put and keep them in good physical condition. You owe It to yourself and your children to sup port a vigorous school ac tivity program. Make your interest known where it will count. With your local school officials. For more information, write to The President's Council on Physical Fitness, Wash ington 25, D.C. Montague Rotary Club Views Slides Of Historical Area By CHARLOTTE DAVIS Mail Tribuna Correspondent Montague - With the use of colored and black and white slides, Mr. and Mrs. Fred Meamber took the Mon tague Rotary club members on a historical tour of the north eastern section of Siskiyou county, following their Mon day evening held in the club room of the Montague Audi torium. The dinner was prepared and served by members of the Montague Women's Society of Christian Service, followed by a brief business session con ducted by the president, Tom Dickinson. Earl Flock as program chairman for the evening, had made the arrangements with the Meambers to show the pictures, which were augment ed by an interesting commen tary, wherein Mrs. Meamber described the many historical scenes shown. Many of the slides were tak en by the Meambers, while several others were old time pictures taken in Montague by Andrew Terwilliger, father of Theo Terwilliger of Hay- ward, who loaned them for the occasion. Prior to showing the slides, musical selections by a talent ed trio from the Yreka High school set the theme for the pictures to follow. Brian Fa vero on the banjo, and Buck ey Pendley and Greg Frank on the guitars, played and sang three lively American folk songs. The Meambers opened the "visual historical tour" at the Fire Protection Classes Are Planned Prospect - The first in a se ries of fire protection classes will be held at the fire hall here on Monday, June 3 from to 9 p.m. A total of three classes will be held during June, conducted by Warren Richie of the Medford Fire de partment. All residents of the area are urged to attend the classes. The first class will offer in struction on prevention of fires and how to stop one aft er it has started. Women are especially invit ed to attend, a fire department spokesman said, because they are home more of the time than men and should know what to do in case of fire. Earl Fiock ranch near Mon tague, and proceeded via Ager, Topsy grade, Butte val ley. Grass lake and Sheep Rock gap into Little Shasta. Present-day farm houses, as well as historical structures and sites of the past were shown of the valley. The old time slides provided by Ter williger, revealed early -day views of Montague, old ve hicles and many early families. South Side of Union Creek Camp Closed Prospect - The south side of Union Creek campground will be closed most of t h e summer because of clean-up work being done there as a result of the Oct. 12 storm, road construction and con struction of a new bridge. Roads in the area that lead up to the summer homes are open, however. Only the pub lic campground is closed. Illinois Valley Mr. and Mrs. Louis Maurer are mov ing into their newly complet ed home near Bridgeview. They have been renting a home for the past six months while their new house was under construction. Work Starting on Siskiyou Co. Fair Yreka - Now is the time to begin preparing exhibits and ideas for the Siskiyou County fair to be held in Yreka Aug. 16-18, fair officials announced. Premium books are now at the printers and should be) ready for mailing this week. Premiums and prizes amount ing to $22,000 are available to be paid out to top exhibitors and contestants. Newcomers who are inter ested in exhibiting and are not on the fair mailing list may call 842-2767 or send names to Box 338, Yreka, Calif. r'-v-J is a D.ttc I Cowciw!sS.i-, TO OUR FRIENDS AND CUSTOMERS THRU THE YEARS The R. A. Holmes Agency, sold to Lowell A. Iverson, has been merged with MEDFORD IN SURANCE AGENCY, "The Insurance Center" at 25 West Main Street. Mr. Iverson is associated with Mr. Insurance Fred R. Brennan in the enlarged agency. Mr. Brennan will lend every assistance to Mr. Iverson in bringing your coverage up to date, and packaging coverages for you in the most economical manner. Mr. Iverson and Mr. Brennan will spend your premium dollar as if it was their own. We urge you to give every support to Medford Insurance Agency, as we are personally assisting them to make your acquaintance. It is our desire to have you continue with this Agency. Why not visit them at their modern new office with customer parking available. We urge you to do this. The R. A. Holmes Agency, Meet Mr. A. B. C. o n ii D f i j If ?0 JtP. itep 55 - He Works for our Advertisers He is one of the experienced circulation auditors on the staff of the Audit Bureau of Circulations. Just as a bank examiner makes a periodic check of the records of your bank so does Mr. A.B.C. visit our office at regular intervals to make an exacting inspection and audit of our circulation records. The circulation facts thus obtained are condensed in easy-to-read audit reports which tell our advertisers: How much circu lation we have; where it goes; how it was obtained; and many other FACTS that tell advertisers what they get for their money when they advertise in this newspaper. Advertisers ore invited lo ask for a copy of our blest A.B.C. report. The Audit Bureau of Circula tions, of which this newspaper is a member, is a cooperative, nonprofit association of nearly 4,000 advertisers, advertising agencies and publishers. Or ganiied in 1914, A.B.C. brought order out of advertising chaos by establishing: A def inition for paid circulation; rules and standards for auditing and reporting the circulations of newspapers and periodicals. Medford-tTribune
