Frank Leslie's Illustrated Newspaper/Volume 18/Number 450/Gen. Banks and Staff
GEN. BANKS AND STAFF.
With the present interest attending the movements of Gen. Banks, our readers will view with pleasure the group of the General and his staff, from a strikingly good photograph of Jacobs, of New Orleans. Of Gen. Nathaniel P. Banks, the General commanding the department of the Gulf little need be said. The bobbin-boy who steadily rose by his own efforts to the highest rank in Congress, who, as a General, has displayed many high qualities and deserved success, is too well known to need a sketch here.
Brig.-Gen. Charles P. Stone, his Chief of Staff, is an old army officer, a native of Massachusetts, who entered West Point in 1841, and after acting as professor there till 1846 won distinction and promotion at Molino del Bey and Chapultepee. He is in the regular service Colonel of the 14th infantry, and till recently was Brigadier-General, having been appointed May 17, 1861, although recently mustered out.
He commanded at Ball's bluff, and was then confined in Fort Lafayette for many weary months, to be at last discharged, untried, unheard and uncondemned.
Brig.-Gen. A. S. Lee, the Chief of Cavalry, led the van in the first of the three days' fights.
Brig.-Gen Richard Arnold, Bank's Chief of Artillery, was a cadet in 1846, and in 1850 entered the service as Brevet Second Lieutenant in the 1st artillery, and became a First Lieutenant in 1854. He is now a Captain in the 5th artillery, his commission dating from May 14, 1861.
Lieut. Col. William Stretch Ahert, a son of Col. J. J. Ahert, became Second Lieutenant in the 4th artillery, June 18, 1885, and First Lieutenant March, 1857. On the 14th of May, 1861, he was made Captain in the 6th cavalry, and holds the position of Inspector-General, with the rank of Lieutenant-Colonel.
Col. E. G. Beckwiib, the Chief Commissary, was a cadet in 1838, and in 1842 entered the 2d artillery; in 1846 he rose to the grade of First Lieutenant, and became Captain in 1855. He has held the rank of Colonel on the staff since 1862.
Col. Clark was appointed an additional Aide-de-Camp, with the rank of Colonel, Nov. 18, 1861.
Major Guido Normen Lieber, a son we believe of the celebrated professor, is by birth a South Carolinian, but was appointed from New York in May, 1861, First Lieutenant in the 11th infantry.
Major Richard H. Alexander, the Medical Director, is an experienced army surgeon, whose commission dates back over a decade.
Col. James Grant Wilson is a gentleman of fine education, who previous to the war edited a paper at Chicago. Since it began he has published a volume comprising biographical sketches of the Illinois officers.
The other members of the staff are Major Von Sherman, A. D. C.; Lieut. Charles E. Sargent, S. B. Holabird, Chief Quartermaster; Capt. J. S. Crosny, A. D. C.; Capt. William B. Boe, Chief Signal Officer; Lieut.-Col. George W. Stipp, Medical Inspector; and Capt. Charles L. Bulkley, Chief of Military Telegraph.
All accounts attest the splendid conduct of the staff of Gen. Banks on the field, Col. Wilson and Col. Clark being specially mentioned.