are there. "Birnam Wood _has_ to great
Dunsinane come." There is but one remedy for us. Every male creature
born and unborn must become a soldier. Soldiers do not criticize, so
you must consider this _Private_. And believe me very truly yours,
etc.
N. P. BANKS.

HEADQUARTERS, DEPARTMENT OF THE GULF.
_New Orleans, 27 Decr._ 1863.

MY DEAR SIR:--
I have written to the President upon the subject of a free State
organization in Louisiana. It appears quite certain to me that the
course pursued here by the officers to whom the matter is entrusted
will not lead to an early or a certain result. It will not be
accomplished sooner than August or September, and then will be involved
in the struggles of the Presidential contest, and very likely share
the fate of that struggle. It certainly ought not to be dependent upon
that issue, and settled, not only independent of it, but before it
opens. It can be easily done, in March. A Free State government upon
the basis of immediate emancipation can be acquired as early as March
with the general consent of the People, and without any material
opposition, in such a manner as to draw after it _all_ the Southern
States, on the same basis, and by the same general consent. But it
cannot be done in the manner now proposed here. It is upon this subject
that I have written the President. Three months ago I wrote him upon
the same idea but did not send my letter. Subsequent reflection and
inquiry have made the theory so clear to mind that I felt impelled
to put my views before him. I write this as from the request of my
previous letter you may have spoken to him upon the subject of the
Depart't and the reorganization of the State. The election of next
year does not seem as clear to me as it appears to you. I fancy it to
be a struggle between the Democratic Party, backed by the entire power
of the regular army and the People. It will be a contest of great
violence.

* * * * * * * *
The report of General Halleck is singularly incorrect, in its references
to the Department--so much so that it is impossible to attribute them
to anything else but misapprehension of facts. I refer to that which
relates to Galveston, and the movement against Port Hudson in April.
If it were not so palpable, I shd think the Department hostile & shd be
very glad to know if you see or hear anything to indicate such feeling
towards me. General Wilson would probably know the facts.

The Aust