George H. Gordon, From Brook Farm to Cedar Mountain

“I'll send Pittman,” answered Williams.

“I prefer you should go,” I urged. “It was your order I obeyed.”

But Williams for some reason or other did not seem to wish to meet Banks upon this subject, and ended the matter by calling Pittman, and directing him to return with me and tell Banks what he saw.

With Pittman, I again sought Banks, whom I addressed as follows:--

“ General Banks, I have seen General Williams, who, as division commander, gave me the order to move my brigade to Crawford's support. General Williams knows and acknowledges that I obeyed the instant I received the order; he saw me run my troops into the fight. And he prefers, instead of coming himself to tell you this, to send Captain Pittman, his aid, who has all the information that he has.”

“Yes!” said the Captain; “General Banks, I carried General Gordon the order to move forward his brigade into action. He moved instantly on the double-quick; when I returned to General Williams I said, ‘See how quick General Gordon has got into the fight.’ ” ¹

“ I am very glad to hear it,” was Banks's reply.

“ Then, sir,” I said, “I presume you will correct the false impression you have given.”

Banks muttered that he would; at least such was my understanding as I left him.

But not only did Banks fail to correct then what he knew to be false, but he has since repeated the untruth, until impressed upon some of his followers, they too have spread the report. Even Crawford has repeated it, but with added blunders and misstatements.