Rebellion Record: a Diary of American Events: Documents and Narratives, Volume 10.
Frank Moore, Ed.

No. Lvi.--The Joint Resolution expressive of the Thanks of Congress to Major-General Nathaniel P. Banks, and the Officers and Men under his Command.

In the Senate, on the fourteenth of December, 1863, Mr. Wilson introduced a joint resolution expressive of the thanks of Congress to Major-General Nathaniel P. Banks, and the officers and soldiers under his command at Port Hudson, which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Military Affairs.. On the eighth of January, 1864, Mr. Wilson reported it back without amendment. The Senate, on the eighteenth, on motion of Mr. Wilson, took up the resolution, and it passed unanimously.

In the House, on the twenty-sixth, the resolution, on motion of Mr. Eliot, of Massachusetts, was taken up and passed. The joint resolution tendered the thanks of Congress to Major-General Nathaniel P. Banks and the officers and soldiers under his command, for the skill, courage, and endurance which compelled the surrender of Port Hudson, and thus removed the last obstruction to the free navigation of the Mississippi River; and was approved by the President on the twenty-eighth of January, 1864.

No. Lvii.--The Joint Resolution expressive of the Thanks of Congress to Major-General Ambrose E. Burnside, and the Officers and Men who had fought under him.

In the Senate, on the fifteenth of December, 1863, Mr. Anthony, of Rhode Island, introduced a joint resolution expressive of the thanks of Congress to Major-General Ambrose E. Burnside, and the officers and soldiers who had fought under him, which was read twice and referred to the Military Committee. On the eighth of January, 1864, Mr. Sprague, of Rhode Island, from the Military Committee, reported it back without amendment. The resolution provided that the thanks of Congress be presented to Major-General Ambrose E. Burnside, and, through him, to the officers and men who had fought under his command, for their gallantry, good conduct, .and soldier-like endurance; and that the President of the United States be requested to cause the resolution to be communicated to Major-General Burnside, in such terms as he might deem best calculated to give effect thereto.

On the eighteenth, the Senate, on motion of Mr. Wilson, proceeded to the consideration of the resolution, and it was unanimously adopted. The House of Representatives, on the twenty-sixth, passed it unanimously, and it was approved by the President on the twenty-eighth of January, 1864.

No. Lviii.--Joint Resolution tendering the Thanks of Congress to Major-General W. T. Sherman.

In the House, on the eighth of February, 1864, Mr. Cobb, of Wisconsin, introduced a joint resolution expressive of the thanks of Congress to Major-General W. T. Sherman. The resolution declared that the thanks of Congress and of the people of the United States were due, and that the same be tendered, to Major-General W. T. Sherman, commander of the department and army of the Tennessee, and the officers and soldiers who served under him, for their gallant and arduous services in marching to the relief of the army of the Cumberland, and for their gallantry and heroism in the battle of Chattanooga, which contributed, in a great degree, to the success of our arms in that glorious victory. It was passed without a division.

In the Senate, on the thirteenth, Mr. Lane, of Indiana, from the Committee on Military Affairs, to which the joint resolution had been referred, reported it back without amendment, and it was passed, and approved by the President on the nineteenth of February, 1864.

No. Lix.--The Bill Reviving the Grade of Lieutenant-General in the United States Army.

In the House of Representatives, on the fourteenth of December, 1863, Mr. E. B. Washburne, of Illinois, introduced a bill, reviving the grade of lieutenant-general, which was referred to the Committee on Military Affairs. On the twenty-fifth of January,, 1864, Mr. Farnsworth, of Illinois, reported it back, with an amendment in the nature of a substitute. The substitute revived the grade of lieutenant-general in the army of the United States, and authorized the President, whenever he should deem it expedient, to appoint, by and with the advice and consent of the Senate, a commander of the army, to be selected, during war, from among the officers in the military service of the United States, not below the grade of major-general, who were most distinguished for courage, skill, and ability, and who should be authorized, under the direction of the President, to command the armies of the United States. By the second section, the lieutenant-general so appointed was to be entitled to the pay, allowances, and staff described in the act of twenty-eighth May, 1798 ; also to the allowances described in the sixth section of the act approved August twenty-third, 1842; provided that nothing in the bill should be construed to affect in any way the rank, pay, and allowances of Winfield Scott, Lieutenant-General by brevet, then on the retired list of the army.

Mr. Fessenden demanded the previous question; but the motion was lost — yeas, fifty-eight; nays, sixty-six. Mr. Pendleton, of Ohio, moved to postpone the further consideration of the subject for one week, and that the bill and amendment be printed. Mr. Washburne demanded the yeas and nays, and they were ordered — yeas, ninety-three; nays, fifty-six. So the motion to postpone was agreed to.

On the first of February, the House proceeded to the consideration of the bill. The original bill, introduced by Mr. Washburne, provided that