American Historical Ephemera and Photography

CDV, standing view of General Nathaniel P. Banks. [New York, NY: Mathew Brady], ca 1860s. No studio imprint (toning, edges trimmed). -- CDV of Banks posed with his staff. New Orleans, LA: E. Jacobs & Co., ca 1864 (toning, some edge wear). Staff members include Lt. Col. William S. Abert, Assistant Inspector General; Col. Edward Griffin Beckwith, Chief Commissary of Subsistence; Brig. Gen. Charles P. Stone, Chief of Staff; Col. John S. Clark, Aide-de-Camp; Col. Samuel Holabird, Chief Quartermaster; Brig. Gen. Richard Arnold, Chief Artillery; Brig. Gen. Albert Lindley Lee, Chief Cavalry; Maj. G. Norman Lieber, Judge Advocate; Maj. D.C. Houston, Chief Engineer. -- CDV, studio portrait of Banks and his family. New Orleans, LA: E. Jacobs, ca 1864 (print and mount trimmed, residue on verso). -- Together, 3 CDVs.

Before the Civil War, Nathaniel P. Banks was a noted politician. He acted as speaker of the Massachusetts legislature in 1851 and 1852, was a congressman, elected onto the "Know-Nothing" ticket, speaker of the House of Representatives, and Governor of Massachusetts. He was commissioned as a major general and commanded the 5th Army Corps in the Army of the Potomac. He and his regiment defeated Stonewall Jackson at Winchester, yet, suffered many other defeats (most notably at Shenandoah). In November 1862, Banks was given command of the Army of the Gulf. Banks was relieved of his command in May 1864 and returned to serve in Congress. Mental illness forced him out of public life from 1888 until his death in 1894.

Provenance: Acquired from the great grandson of Union General Edward Griffin Beckwith (1818-1881) (consignor relates). Beckwith commanded the defenses of New Orleans from August 1863 - January 1864, after the fall of New Orleans in 1862.