Page:The Presidents of the United States, 1789-1914, v. II.djvu/185

 ZACHARY TAYLOR 143 battle. In the autumn he was made a brigadier- general, and in the spring of 1862 he led his brigade in the valley campaign under &quot;Stonewall&quot; Jack son. He distinguished himself at Front Royal, Middletown, Winchester, Strasburg, Cross Keys, and Port Republic, and Jackson recommended him for promotion. Taylor was also with Jackson in the seven days battles before Richmond. He was promoted to major-general, and assigned to the command of Louisiana. The fatigues and ex posures of his campaigns there brought on a partial and temporary paralysis of the lower limbs ; but in August he assumed command. The only communi cation across the Mississippi retained by the Con federates was between Vicksburg and Port Hud son; but Taylor showed great ability in raising, organizing, supplying, and handling an army, and he gradually won back the state west of the Missis sippi from the National forces. He had reclaimed the whole of this when Vicksburg fell, July 4, 1863, and was then compelled to fall back west of Ber wick s bay. Gen. Taylor s principal achievement during the war was his defeat of Gen. Nathaniel P. Banks at Sabine Cross-Roads, near Mansfield, De Soto Parish, La., April 8, 1864. With 8,000 men he attacked the advance of the northern army and routed it, capturing twenty-two guns and a large number of prisoners. He followed Banks, who