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[352]
through condemnation of others.
Conceive my astonishment at the announcement in our first paper from the North, that “General Banks attributed his loss of the battle of Cedar Mountain to General Gordon's failure to obey his orders.”
The moment I saw this article I carried it to Banks's headquarters.
“General Banks, I do not know that you are responsible for this: newspaper correspondents publish much that is not authentic.
Did you authorize it?”
handing him the paper.
Banks looked at the paper, and returned it, remarking, “'T is true, sir, I did say I thought you were late in getting into action at Cedar Mountain.”
“Ah! did you?
I am very glad, then, that this has become known to me now, while the evidence is at hand to show the absolute falseness of such a charge.
Will you remain in your room, sir, for fifteen minutes?”
“I will,” replied Banks.
Galloping rapidly to the headquarters of General Williams, I greeted him with a brief extract from my conversation with Banks, the purport of which was that the latter accused me of not moving into the fight when ordered.
“Did he say that?”
asked Williams.
“He did.”
“ Why-- ,1 you ran into the fight the moment you received the order,” uttered Williams in a breath.
“I know it,” I responded.
“I waved my handkerchief,” continued Williams, “and at the same time told Pittman to gallop to you with the order to move forward and support Crawford.”
“I know it; and I was ready, and moved instantly at the double-quick; and that is what I want you to go with me to tell Banks,” I replied.
James R. Osgood and Company, 1883.
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