BANKS, NATHANIEL PRENTISS (1816-94). An Anwri•an soldier and politician. born at Wal tham, Mass., where he received a common-school education, and learned the trade of a machinist. Ile then edited a lot-al paper: studied law, and was admitted to the bar; served several terms in the Massachusetts Legislature, for part of the time as speaker of the Assembly, and in 1853 was chairman of the Massachusetts Constitu tional Convention. In 1853, also, he was elected to Congress by a coalition of the Democrats and Free-Soilers, but soon joined the 'know Nothings,' and afterwards identified himself with the newly organized Republican party. During his second term in Congress he was Speaker of the House, having been chosen on the 133d bal lot. Ile was Governor of Massaehusetts from 1857 to 18.59, and then became president of the Illinois Central Railroad, which position. how ever, he resigned on the outbreak of the Civil War, to enter the Federal service. Be was com missioned majo•-general of volunteers on May 16, 1861: commanded the Fifth Army Corps along the Upper Potomac and in the Shenandoah Valley in 186162. and on March 23, 1862, a part of his army under Shields defeated Jack on at Winchester. In April, 1862, at the head of two divisions, lie was assigned to the task of protecting the Shenendoali while Mc Clellan proceeded against Richmond by way of the Peninsula; lint, soon weakened by the withdrawal of one of his divisions, he was de feated by Jackson at Front Royal on May 26.
-and was foiced back upon the Potomac. Soon afterward: he joined Pope, then commanding the Army of Virginia, and on Aug,ust 9 was defeated 1,v a force of Confederates in the battle of Cedar Ile then was in command for a time of the defenses of Washington, and in De cember. 1862, commanded the expedition to New Weans, and replaced Gen. B. F. Butler as com mander of the Department of the Gulf. In the spring of 1863 he conducted the campaign :against Port Hudson (q.v.), which, after resist ing several assaults. was finally surrendered, July 9, 1863. on the receipt of the news that Vicksburg, farther up the river, had been taken by Grant. Early in 1864 General Banks was di rected to lead an expedition up the Red River. with a view to regaining western Louisiana from the Confederates, but he was defeated by Gen. lti•hard Taylor at Sabine Cross Roads, and was to withdraw to the Mississippi. In May. 1864, he was relieved of his command, and. re signing his commission, was again elected to Congress, where he served, with the exception of one term, until 1877, and was for many years chairman of the Committee on Foreign Rela tions. He was again elected to Congress in 5385, but after 1890 suffered from a mental dis order and withdrew wholly from public life. In 1891 Congress voted him an annual pension of Because of his factory life when a young man. he was popularly known as 'the Bobbin Boy.'