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MONDAY. MAY 27. 1963
MEDFOHD MAIL TRIBUNE. MEDFORD. OREGON
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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
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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