Comments on the Seventy Days’ Campaign.
The Red River Campaign was at last, after seventy days, at an end. It was a failure and as barren of results so far as having any visible effects in hastening the close of the war, as it would have been if made to the North Pole. History records it as one of the severest campaigns of the war. The men suffered more from hardships and privations than any other portion of the army. Especially was this true of the 16th Corps, which, on account of the incompetency of Gen. Banks and his apparent dislike of the Corps, was always placed in the most exposed positions, either in the advanced front or in the rear. It was also unprovided with clothing and shoes and at the close of the campaign presented a most abject appearance. Indeed Gen. Banks might in truth have called the men, from their appearance, “Smith’s Guerrillas.”