General Nathaniel Prentiss Banks was a Lincoln favorite. Had Banks had taken Port Hudson before Grant took Vicksburg, it would have most likely been Banks taking over the Union forces against Lee.

In March 1864 Grant did not want Banks going up the Red River, he wanted him to attack towards Mobile, but Lincoln over-ruled Grant and let his favorite do as he wished.

Ah the fates of war.

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David Upton