MAJOR-GENERAL NATHANIEL BANKS

On page 769 we give a portrait of NATHANIEL P. BANKS, Major-General in the Army of the United States, and commander of the Great Southern Expedition which is now on its way to its destination. Our likeness is from a photograph by photographer Mathew Brady, who is responsible for most of the photographs made during the Civil War.

General Banks was born at Waltham, Massachusetts, on 30th January, 1816. His parents were poor operatives who worked in the mills; young Nathaniel went barefoot to the common school, and there obtained all the education he ever enjoyed as a lad. He was soon called upon to take his place in a factory to earn his living, and for several years he worked regularly with the other operatives. Simultaneously he assisted in the establishment of a debating society, and contributed to the columns of the local paper. He subsequently became editor of this paper, and in 1842 was brought forward as Democratic candidate for Assembly from Waltham. He was defeated. He ran again in 1843, and in each of the following four years, with equal non-success. At length, in 1848, just as he was thinking of seeking fortune in California, he was elected, and remained a member of the Massachusetts Legislature until he was sent to Congress, voting and acting with the Democratic party. In 1850 he was chosen Speaker of the House; and in 1852 was sent to Congress, and became Speaker of that body too, after one of the most memorable contests in our Congressional history. As Speaker of the House Mr. Banks won high fame by his Parliamentary skill, firmness, and fairness. It was well said of him, at the close of his term, by a political opponent, that he "stood so straight that he almost leaned over to the other side."

At the close of Mr. Banks's term in Congress he withdrew from public life, and after spending some time in retirement at Waltham, accepted the post of Superintendent of the Illinois Central Railway, which had just been vacated by General M'Clellan. He was discharging the duties of this post when the rebellion broke out. It found him neither unprepared nor astonished. He went to Washington in February, 1861; foretold the secession of Virginia and the outbreak of the civil war, and created quite a commotion in the ranks of those who pinned their faith to Mr. Seward's honeyed phrases and rose-color visions. When war actually broke out, and troops were called for, Mr. Banks was at once designated by the public voice for a military command, and he was accordingly appointed Major-General by the President. With his usual foresight he had been studying strategy for some time, and when he took the field was thoroughly competent to command. He was given a division of the Army of the Potomac, and set to watch the upper fords of the river. Many months were spent in training his army. At length, early in 1862, he crossed the river and advanced up the Shenandoah Valley. He was driving Jackson before him, and doing his work well and faithfully, when the War Department began to withdraw his troops. First a brigade, then a regiment, then a whole division were ordered to the defense of posts which were supposed to be in danger; so that at last General Banks was left with only about 4000 men, while Jackson lay opposite him with 15,000. The circumstance soon became known to the wily rebel, and the attack on Front Royal followed. Banks's retreat to the north side of the Potomac, without the loss of a gun and with a very small loss in men, is rightly accounted one of the most brilliant military operations of the war. Jackson's disappointment at the escape of the prey he already deemed secured was severe. It was on the occasion of this retreat that the incident of the little slave girl, whom Banks carried out of Virginia "on the national cannon," took place. Nothing in his career has made him more popular than this.

When McClellan commenced his retreat from the Peninsula, Banks was ordered forward to the Rappahannock under Pope. He fought the battle of Cedar Mountain with very inferior forces to the enemy, and with Sigel's aid held him in check until McClellan had retreated safely to Yorktown. He did not take part in the battles of Centreville or Bull Run the second. Wounded at the Rappahannock, he was doing duty at Washington as military commander.

General Banks has now been appointed to the command of a Great Southern Expedition, part of which has already sailed. That he will be heard from in a manner which will rejoice the Northern heart no one who knows his lucky star can doubt.