Speaker: Mr. Stewart L. Herron

Topic: Rock Island Prison

7:00 p.m. at the Pickering Center

The Enduring Rivalry between Generals Edmund Kirby-Smith and Nathaniel Prentiss Banks during the War Between the States

By R.E. Lee Camp Member, Beecher Smith

Almost every student of the War Between the States is aware of certain famous rivalries that existed between some of the Union and Confederate generals. Most memorable is that between Robert E. Lee and Ulysses S. Grant. But others are also well known, such as the constant conflict between Southern general Joseph E. Johnston and Northern general William Tecumseh Sherman, and the two armies’ cavalry commanders, Confederate general J.E.B. Stuart and Union general Phil Sheridan.

Much less known, but perhaps even more interesting is the rivalry between Confederate general Edmund Kirby-Smith and union counterpart Nathaniel Prentiss Banks, which endured throughout the course of the war.

Edmund Kirby-Smith (1824-1893) was born and raised on a Florida plantation. Strong- willed and stubborn even as a small boy, his father gave up on beating him to try to try to instill discipline and instead sent him to military school. He excelled there, and advanced with an appointment to West Point. He graduated just in time to receive his commission as an officer in the Mexican War, where he was cited for gallantry. Peacetime offered little opportunity for advancement, but he had risen to the rank of major by January of 1861, when Florida seceded from the Union. He resigned his U.S. commission and accepted an appointment as a brigadier general with the Confederacy.

Confederate Gen. Edmund Kirby-Smith Supreme Commander of the Trans-Mississippi Department

Nathaniel Prentiss Banks (1816-1894) came from a family of fire-brand abolitionists in Boston, Massachusetts. His anti-slavery views led to his election as a U.S. Congressman, then

Governor of Massachusetts. When war broke out with the firing on Fort Sumter, Banks raised a regiment of volunteers and received an appointment from President Lincoln as their commanding general.

From the outset of the war it was clear that Kirby-Smith was a professional soldier, whereas Banks was merely a politician with vain dreams of military glory. Whenever they engaged in battle, Kirby-Smith’s superior military mentality and professionalism prevailed.

Their first encounter came soon after Banks embarked on his Shenandoah Campaign in M ay 1861. Using advance troops thoroughly familiar with the country side, Kirby-Smith’s forces surprised Bank’s pickets and attacked the unprepared militiamen, easily routing them.

Serving under Gen. Joseph E. Johnson, Kirby-Smith again caught Bank’s forces by surprise and outflanked them during the First Battle of Bull Run, sending Bank’s fleeing in a panic back to Washington. Banks had to use all his political clout to hold on to his commission. Promising revenge and harsh treatment of the Confederates, Bank’s regrouped and led his troops back into Virginia. He was soundly routed and humiliated by Stonewall Jacksons’s forces at Cedar Mountain, in advance of the even greater defeat of the Union army at the Second Battle of Bull Run.

Having displayed a deplorable lack of talent as field commander, Banks became a staff officer in Washington, where he served as a military bureaucrat for the rest of 1862 and into 1863. Meanwhile and during this time period, Kirby-Smith assumed his own command and moved west, racking up several important victories against the Union forces in Kentucky and Tennessee. Like Nathan Bedford Forrest, Kirby-Smith’s troops usually kept themselves well supplied with what they captured from Union quartermasters.

After the fall of Vicksburg, Jefferson Davis promoted Lt. Gen. Kirby-Smith to full general and appointed him Supreme Commander of the West (Trans-Mississippi Department). From Arkansas to Arizona, Kirby-Smith’s forces conducted a long series of successful raids that effectively disabled Union forces west of the Mississippi.

Spoiling for another chance to redeem his tarnished reputation, Banks appealed to Lincoln for a new command which he could assume, promising to defeat his old nemesis. Banks had gained some more field experience as an adjutant under Grant in the capture of Port Hudson late in July, 1863, which was the last Confederate base on the Mississippi after Vicksburg. Lincoln granted the appointment and sent Banks after Kirby-Smith.

For months the Confederates led Banks on a “wild goose chase” throughout the Southwest. Then, in April of 1864, Kirby-Smith’s forces surprised Banks in the Red River Valley and again routed him, capturing all of his supplies. Banks barely escaped. Kirby Smith’s forced became the best supplied in the Confederacy. They held out until June of 1865, when Edmund Kirby-Smith became the last Confederate commander to surrender.

After the war, Banks returned to Congress, where he helped engineer the infamous Reconstruction Act. Kirby-Smith founded the Peabody College in Nashville, Tennessee, then became Professor of Mathematics at the University of the South at Sewanee, Tennessee. Greatly loved, admired, and respected, he taught there until his death in 1893.

Bibliography

The New Colombia Encyclopedia (Columbia University Press: New York, N.Y., 1975)

The New Encyclopedia Britannica, 15th edition (Encyclopedia Britannica, Inc.: Chicago IL, 1989)

R. E. Lee Camp Meetings – An Opportunity to Educate

The May meeting of the Lee Camp will be held Monday, May 9th at 7:00 p.m. at the Pickering Center, 7771 Poplar Pike in Germantown, TN, just east of Germantown High School. If you haven't marked your calendar, now is a good time to do it!

For our May meeting, we are very fortunate to have another outstanding speaker. Mr. Stewart L. Herron will speak to us on the infamous Rock Island Prison (Yankee prison in Rock Island, IL). Lyn is a good friend of Clark Doan and in their association they discovered that both of them had ancestors in captivity there. Lyn has a wealth of information to share on this subject. Not only is Lyn very active in SCV, he is very active in the National Society of the Sons of the American Revolution. We will save the rest for the introduction but as you can see, we have another in a list of outstanding presenters this year. Many thanks to those of you who provide leads on speakers. Without you, we would not have the quality of speakers we have been able to secure. Anyone who has a recommendation for a speaker should contact me or Commander Buchanan. We do have dates available and appreciate your recommendations. Thanks.

Our April meeting featured Mr. D. Jack Smith's outstanding presentation on Abraham Lincoln. I think we all agree that Jack's presentation provided information on and insight into Mr. Lincoln that many of us had never known. Thank you, Jack, for an excellent presentation.

Let's work hard to ensure a great turnout for May 9th! If you have been thinking about inviting a friend and just have never gotten around to it, this would be a great time to act. Education is one of our primary levers in protecting and celebrating the heritage of the Confederate soldier. Our speakers work very hard to research and provide valuable information to enable people to learn the true history of the WBTS. Bringing someone to a meeting is the most effective way to support that effort.

I remain, your obedient servant,

Rick Lantz

Lt. Commander

Robert E. Lee Camp, SCV

Traveller - Now Online

Traveller, the R.E Lee Camp 1640 newsletter, has caught up with the 21st century and is now available on line. Find it monthly at:

http://www.tennessee-scv.org/camp1640/

SCV LIFE MEMBERS ROSTER

T. Tarry Beasley II T. Tarry Beasley III

Winston Blackley John Cole

James Anthony Davis Hubert Dellinger Jr., MD H. Clark Doan Eugene Forrester Robert Freeman Donald Harrison

Frank Holeman William P Hunter, Jr

Bobby Lessel Jerry C. Lunsford

Frank M. McCroskey Arthur Oliver Charles Wendell Park Bill Simmons Larry J. Spiller, Sr. Osborn Turner, IV Charles L Vernon William C. Wilson

Donald Harrison Lee Camp’s Most Recent Life Member

Camp Adjutant Cade Buchanan has informed Traveller that long time camp member and former Camp Commander Donald Harrison has become the Lee Camp’s most recent SCV Life Member. Donald’s name has been added to the Traveller Life Member’s Roster. Life membership is a great way to financially support the SCV while confirming your dedication to the cause. For more information about SCV Life membership see Adjutant Buchanan or any Lee Camp officer. Congratulations Donald!

“The dangers which threaten us are twofold: First, from the Confederate forces, composed of men whose earnest convictions and reckless bravery it is idle to deny. Secondly, from ourselves, compelled to make use of a military power of proportions so gigantic that no nation ever permitted the existence of such without more or less risk to the people who employed it. If we think lightly of this latter danger, we slight the teachings of all past time.”

From a letter to Abraham Lincoln from Indiana Congressman Robert Owens

Prominent local attorney and historian, D. Jack Smith, addressed the April 11 meeting of the Robert E. Lee Camp, Sons of Confederate Veterans, at the Pickering Center, Germantown. The topic of his presentation was "The South's 'Worthy Adversary', Abraham Lincoln".



Shown in the photo is Camp Commander, Mark Buchanan, (on left) with Mr. Jack Smith

The well-documented remarks were enthusiastically received by a large audience of members and guests. The Robert E. Lee Camp meets on the second Monday of each month at the Pickering Center, Germantown. Meetings start at 7 PM and are always open to the public.
Shown in the photo is Camp Commander, Mark Buchanan, (on left) with Mr. Jack Smith