Nathaniel P. Banks avoids attacking the Confederate garrison at Port Hudson by instead targeting objectives in western Louisiana.

Exploring the most important 55 months in American history
Nathaniel P. Banks avoids attacking the Confederate garrison at Port Hudson by instead targeting objectives in western Louisiana.
Nathaniel P. Banks receives orders assigning him to command the Federal Department of the Gulf, operating mostly in Louisiana and Texas. Banks would eventually succeed the controversial Benjamin F. Butler.