Culpepper C. H., Va., April 20, 1864.
. . . The news is that Longstreet has at last reached Lee
and that thirteen thousand troops are on the way from Mobile to join Lee. There
is no doubt of the truth of this information. General Banks has been badly
defeated near Shreveport, we learn through the press, but no official
intelligence has yet been received from him. The fact is, he has permitted his
expedition to straggle in detachments up the Red River, instead of moving in
mass, so as to be able to meet the enemy in force should he venture an attack.
Finding him advancing in this loose and desultory manner, they concentrated
heavily against Banks's advance, and severely defeated it, with a loss of 2,000
men.
Among the killed I notice Cyrus E. Dickey, captain and
assistant adjutant general to General Ransom. He was a brave and noble soldier
and worth a dozen of the Banks Union Sliding Generals. General Ransom, also a
personal friend of mine, was severely wounded. I hope this blunder of Banks may
place him where he really belongs — in retirement.
The success of our Republican institutions depends upon our
defeating the armies of the rebellion in battle, and while the God of humanity
and of liberty is on our side, He will not permit us to triumph except through
honest, patriotic, unselfish men. Banks is in the wrong place. I pray God
different fortune may attend him hereafter than heretofore. Much, very much,
depends upon the faithful execution of the orders entrusted to him in the
coming campaign. May he lose sight of self and for once become imbued with the
true spirit that ever insures success. Up to this time he seemed to have
studied how to make his Government responsible for his failures, and he
certainly reads military instructions with a view to giving them a different
construction from that which their author intended. I measure the man aright,
you can be assured.
The enemy is reported to be massing a heavy force on our
left near Fredericksburg, some suppose with a design to attack us. For my part,
I do not believe he means any such purpose, especially in that direction. We
are fast assembling a large army here, and perhaps ere you read what I am now
penning, especially if it takes my letters as long to reach you as it does
yours to reach me, a terrible battle will be fought and the campaign in this
quarter ended. I pray for victory to our arms; I know the same prayers go up
daily from your pure heart and that our prayers meet in Heaven far separated as
we are. Should I meet my fate in the conflict, know, dearest, that one at least
has fallen whose every heart's pulsation was for his God, his country's honor
and the welfare of his dear wife and children. . . .
SOURCE: James H. Wilson, The Life of John A. Rawlins,
p. 420-1
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