Banks, Nathaniel Prentiss, 1816-1894 to unknown
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Gilder Lehrman Collection #: GLC02626 Author/Creator: Banks, Nathaniel Prentiss, 1816-1894 Place Written: Charles Town, West Virginia Type: Autograph letter signed Date: 11 March 1862 Pagination: 2 p. ; 21 x 14 cm. Order a Copy
Plan to trap Thomas "Stonewall" Jackson near the Strasburg road. Written just after Jackson began his Shenandoah Valley Campaign. Three days earlier Jackson had defeated Fremont at Battle of McDowell, the beginning of his Valley Campaign. Banks believes Jackson will now try to retreat and that "his only escape" is to "reach Strasburg, and then by the way of Woodstock go down to Harrisonburg and Staunton." Banks plans to cut Jackson off along this route, and defeat him there. Believes this position on the Strasburg road "is now perfectly safe...There is now no danger of an enemy in the rear. If we are on that line, he cannot possibly escape us." Banks would in fact be soundly defeated by Jackson more than once during this campaign, as Jackson continually confused and out-maneuvered Banks. Addressed simply to "General."
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