George H. Gordon, From Brook Farm to Cedar Mountain

In the light of the subsequent orders from Pope, communicated through General Roberts to Banks while on the field, can the latter defend his interpretation of the written order, received through Colonel Marshall in Culpeper at 9.45 in the morning,--his interpretation given to the committee, “that he was ordered to attack Jackson's army with his corps” ? If that written order and Pope's verbal instructions to Banks, and the information which a corps commander ought to have of the intentions of the commanding general, and which the latter says Banks did have,--if these were not enough to instruct him as to his duty, could he not comprehend General Roberts's orders? I say nothing now of the exercise of that prudence which the most inexperienced of men, intrusted with the lives of his fellow-creatures, is bound to employ: I ask only, Did Banks know what he was ordered to do? Of this there is no doubt. The answer is plain, the proof irrefutable. It is found in the conferences, while on the field, between Banks and Roberts, and in the subsequent action of Banks, and the reasons he gave for such action; it is found in the words that fell from Banks's lips in his sworn testimony before the committee, when he says that “within an hour from 9.45 A. M. [the date of the order from Colonel Marshall], as his troops were on the march, he left the head of his column, went to Pope's headquarters, and asked him if he had any other orders, to which he said, ‘I have sent an officer acquainted with the country, who will designate the ground you are to hold, and will give you any instructions he may deem necessary.’ ” And if this is not enough to show that Roberts was authorized to act for Pope, and that Banks was to hold a position, and that Roberts would show him the one he was to hold, we have the additional evidence, given by Banks himself before the committee, once before quoted, that upon his arrival at the field he “[I] saw ”