JPK Huson 1863
Brev. Brig. Gen'l
- Joined
- Feb 14, 2012
- Location
- Central Pennsylvania
' Registered enemies ' didn't look that way and scenes like this further dispelled hostile intent, as an oath discouraged open revolt. Banks knew, however, what havoc could still be his, were sleeping tigers awakened. Those refusing to take the oath were escorted, in great ceremony, to ' occupied ' shores.
To the other side. " Such adieus and kissing of hands I never saw before ", writes Frank Leslie's artist-correspondent-on-the-spot, traveling with New Orleans citizens under General Nathanial Bank's flag of truce, on steamer JD Brown. Said citizens were composed on a 5-1 margin of ladies who, refusing to take the oath, were offered honorable escort into Sessesionland, as the journalist so named their destination.
You hear nothing of Beast Banks, Butler's successor by January, 1863, in New Orleans. Why? This will violate all, sound, military reasoning but if opinion counts- he managed to stay on the right side of The Ladies. No fool, General Banks. Without the slightest wish to have his image superimposed on chamber pots 150 years later, he knew this hardened, perfumed, lace-bedecked kernel of resistance was more a threat to his tenure in New Orleans than the Louisiana Tigers.
A collision, and another bad one was inevitable. With an entire war on his hands, having offered the Oath of Allegiance along with a very clean city and ample provisions to this belligerent core, what's a fellow to do? It's an opinion. He avoided another series of running skirmishes. Sending these hardened veterans where they could do least harm was brilliant. Maybe Banks is indeed under rated.
Commission a couple of steamers, designate said ladies ( and a few men who, you feel, had little choice given some conversation picked up along the way ) " Registered Enemies ", which they'd have treasured, be sure, and send them to Madisonville. Situated a few hour's water distance across the great lake Pontchartrain, considered enemy territory, a delegation was mustered to meet them. In great ceremony, fanfare and with much distinguishing attention- this is exactly what occurred.
The London News recorded a scene where officers and men of both armies mingled, soldiers jumped-to in the bustle, enemies became neighbors who lived across a large lake for a just a few hours and a steamer puffed at a dock.
What no one recorded save Leslie's excellent artist and the London paper seems to have picked up on, is the atmosphere that day- February 2? 3rd? 1863. Port Hickok, on the Southern shore.
Men of both armies, under Flag of Truce, and I'm sorry, hysterically waiting for women, do what they've always done- waited, chatted, and forgot those uniforms. I really liked this story- obviously a war on, obviously some of these women harbored awful thoughts. But. There was this, carefully recorded.
Also this- as noted, a war on. And really, do not ask a female whether or not her waist is large because she is hiding smuggled goods. If she is- my advice is to let it slide. If she is not? You're in a lot of trouble.
The artist-writer did a nice job. It was a stupid war, for driving us so, so far apart we couldn't see ourselves any more. This was helpful.
Please no one go up in smoke. A war was on.
One is the JD Brown, unclear which. No ' prisoner exchange ', dreary handover, this.
Madisonville, across that ancient lake, scene to so much- still under Flag of Truce.Each drawing makes a point of illustrating troops mingling. Cool stuff.
Yes, rough, having to leave. No, I sure will not become in an argument. Create another thread, please. Been looking at this article and sketches for years without coming to firm conclusions. Recently decided to go with one- Peace broke out, on a nearly unrecognizable day in February, 1863. None of these registered enemies took the Oath and Peace broke out, anyway.
Almost a normal day, on Lake Pontchartrain.
More in the article on Hathi, in Harper's and elsewhere, like Internet Archives, all Public Domain. Eyewitness accounts are good, although I'm sure those who wished could make it seem just awful.