Cursing Banks and Franklin: With the 77th Illinois at Sabine Crossroads

CorporalSamuel Van Horne of the 77th Illinois spoke the sentiments of manyof his comrades in the ranks when he found the generalship of GeneralsNathaniel Banks and William B. Franklin lacking in the spring of 1864.

Thinking specifically of the Battle of Sabine Crossroads, Van Horne opined “I don’t suppose you will ever get a true accountof the affair as it was so miserably managed all through. Generals Banks andFranklin will never have it published. It seems to me that any private in theranks would have done better. I tell you it was poorly managed and there is nota soldier in this department but will (or do rather) curse Generals Banks andFranklin.”

Such sentiments are understandable when Van Horne shares thatof the 460 men of his regiment who went into action at Sabine Crossroads, only 160 came out andmany of them (himself included) were wounded. His account of the battle firstsaw publication in the May 16, 1864, edition of the Zanesville Daily Courier.

This detailed view of the regimental colors of the 77th Illinois shows a bald eagle and shield with a ribbon calling our state sovereignty and national union. The colors were presented to the regiment by the Misses' Aid Society of Peoria, Illinois. 

U.S. GeneralHospital, New Orleans, Louisiana

May 1, 1864

          I once more have the opportunity of penningyou a few lines. You see by the heading that I am in the hospital but, thankfortune, not on account of bad health. I suppose ere this you have heard allthe particulars of the battles of Mansfield and Pleasant Hill fought on the 8thand 9th of April. The 77th Illinois with several otherregiments were pretty badly cut up. Our regiment went in with about 460 men andcame out with about 160. Co. B, of course, lost its share in killed andprisoners.

          Our brigade was in front and wasdriven back some three or four miles before the enemy could be checked so thatnearly all of our wounded and a great many who were not fell into the enemy’shands. Our company numbered 28 and about 12 came off the field, 5 of themwounded. I received two slight wounds early in the engagement; a Minie ballpassed through my hip just below the joint and not deep enough to strike thebone so it is a slight wound. Another small ball went through my right legbelow the knee, passing through the thickest part of the calf. I think it toois merely a flesh wound and both are doing well. Quite a number with whom youare acquainted are wounded and with me here. George Chambers received a fatalwound and died here in the hospital a few days ago. We know of 7 or 8 who weretaken and I hope without wounds. Four or five of our company came out without ascratch; there are only 8 men left in Co. B commanded by the orderly.

General Nathaniel Prentiss Banks

          I don’t suppose you will ever get atrue account of the affair as it was so miserably managed all through. GeneralsBanks and Franklin will never have it published. It seems to me that anyprivate in the ranks would have done better. Our brigade skirmished from 7 a.m.to 4 p.m. when we met the main enemy 25,000 strong and our brigade onlynumbered 5,000. The Second Brigade came up and was ordered to our right whichgave us no support at all. The Third Division of the 13th Corps wassome 3 or 4 miles in the rear when we first made the attack. They were broughtup on the double quick but were too late to give us any assistance. The enemywas flanking us on both right and left, forcing us to fall back. Still theycame in solid column outnumbering us and driving the Third Division inconfusion.

          About the time the fight commenced,the 19th Corps was ordered into camp 6 or 7 miles back. When we weredriven back, the 19th Corps was ordered up while the Third and FourDivisions were still falling back with the Rebels following close behind insolid mass, both flanks moving up with the center. The 19th Corpsheld the enemy in check until dark when the firing ceased. The whole army fellback that night, the 13th Corps as far as Pleasant Hill where wecamped the night before and where General A.J. Smith with the 16thCorps was preparing to meet the enemy. The Rebels followed close up,skirmishing with the 19th Corps until they reached Pleasant Hillwhere General Smith held them until the night of the 9th. Smith wasthen ordered to fall back that night.

Battle of Sabine Crossroads

          It was afterwards found out that theRebs retreated at about the same time Smith did. Smith held his men in a horseshoeshape and trapped the Rebs before they were aware of it and opened on them allat once, just more than mowing them down. The Rebs made three desperate chargesbut were forced back with about one half the number they came up with. GeneralSmith wanted to follow them up but Banks ordered him back. Smith told Banks hewas losing a glorious victory but no attention was paid to this and so he was.I and many others know (or think at least) that General Smith could havecaptured all or nearly all that we lost the day before, but no, he must fallback.

          One of the worst features of the wholeaffair was having the train right up front. A long ammunition train was notmore than a mile and a half behind the advance and it blockaded the road sothat the artillery could not get back. The Chicago Mercantile Battery lostevery gun, nearly all their horses, and half of their men. I tell you it waspoorly managed and there is not a soldier in this department but will (or dorather) curse Generals Banks and Franklin.

          The wounded here are to be sent homein a few days on 60 days furlough. I should like to see you then.

To learn more about Sabine Crossroads, please check out these posts:

Worse Than Madness for Us: The 56th Ohio at Sabine Crossroads

Every Man for His Own Pork and Beans: The 29th Wisconsin at Mansfield

Source:

Letter fromCorporal Samuel Van Horne, Co. B, 77th Illinois Volunteer Infantry, ZanesvilleDaily Courier (Ohio), May 16, 1864, pg. 2