The Carolina Spartan. [volume] (Spartanburg, S.C.) 1852-1896, 1856-03-20
A WARRIOR AND REYOLUTIONIST.

and leaders who rendered themselves con-
.picuous at the battle of New Orleans, for
their conduct and gallantry, was General
Humbcrt, the victor Of Casllebar, and lead
er of that desperate and chiva!:ic cxpedi-
ton from France to Ireland in 1898. He
was often detached by Gen. jackson ON
scouting and reconnoitering service, ard
rendered himself highly useful in many Of
the more important arrangements that re-
quired knowledge OF military service and
art. The following sketch Of this eccentric
gentleman is from Walkers jackson and
New Orleans"
lie was stern soldier, familiar with the
routine, as rractised in the best disciplined
armies, finn believer in the potency of
science, rs applied to the conduct of war,
AN cxacting martinez in all the ru'es and
punc;ilios Of the profession. lie WIS
stout. squarely, and compactly built man,
Of the mcst rectangular uprightmcSs of car.
riage and rigid cxactitude of movement.
His air was thoroughly military, and his
dress neat aud l.t,umg. To the day of
his last sickness, he never abandoned The
old uniform of - general of the French re-
public. 1t is within the recollection of
many, now IN the bloom of life, what
great sensation the veteran general was
wont 10 excite among the residents Of the
old square of New Orleans, us every day
at noon, clad in the same old, well preServ-
ed military frock with the ehapeau of the
French revolution OH his head, and the
sword of a general under his arm, lc would
march with all the port and precision ofan
officer on duty, 10 an ancient cafe kept by
an old comradc in arms, OH the lcvcc near
the French market. On arriving nj the
cafe he would salute his old comrate with
grand air militoire, and then, laying his
sword OIL the table, would proceed leisurcly
To arrange the do,ninocs ior a game nj that
very quiet favoriic diversion of elderly
happen 10 be present. y glass Of cosniac,
frequently replenishcd hy his faithful
friend and host, would serve to give spirit
to the game.
Thus would the veteran spend the great
er part Of the day, now and then relieving
its tr,lium by vivacious conversation, and
exciting "reminiscences exchanged with his
admiring comrade, until his prolonged po
ta,ions, producing their usual effect, would
arouse him TO III re active, but less diIni-
fled, demonstrations oil his natural ardor
and military enthusiasm. Then lie would
appear in the character which attracted the
admiration and curiosity of the little Creole
boys. who, fired with military prile and
ambition, would regard with intense inter.
est ''le grand general de la -Repub!iquc
Francaise," rs, ilourishing his sword, he
walked down the streets, shouting, at the
top of a powerful voice, snatches Of the
Marscllaise and of the ChaRt du Depart
and other revolutionary airs.
Alas! tho poor old Gau! had outlivcd his
generation. lie had descended from times
of military emprise and ambition to an era
OF trade and money .scrambling. Mammon
had long since displaced Mars in the world
around him. lf, thus isolated from the
busting crowd, lie was driven TO tile use of
that oblivious antidote, by Which the
gloomy present could be mumentariy ban.
is"ed, and the glorious past, with all lis excl
ting scenes and noble associations, brought
vividly TO mind, due allowance must be
made for the weakness which cIcumstan-
ces forced upon gallant and sturdy old
soldier, who, in his day, had played n con-
spicuous part in events Of great moment.
Yes, that old soldier, who died twenty
years ago, in poverty and destitution, who
was indebted to an old quadroon woman
for his only attendance in sickness, and
was buried at the public expense, had once
been n proud general of the French repub-
lie in its palmy days. TO him was intrust.
cd the com uand of the expedition to eman.
cipa:e Ireland from English rule, in 1903.
\ more desperate enterprise was never con
ceived. It's character, events, and results
have found parallel in the expedition Of
Narcisco Lopez to Cuba, in 1851. For q
long time, this design had occupied the
most anxious deliberations of the French
republic. The presence in Paris OF several
prominent Iiish patriots served to keep
alive this feeling, and encourage the plan
Of striking "perfde Albion" in this her
weakest point. The French never doub. cd
the assurance that the Irish were united
and harmonious in their devotion TO re-
publican liberty; that they were ns hostile
to the British dynasty rs the French were
TO the Bourbon rule. Various plans Of in
vasion were proposed, and great prepara-
tions were made to carry them out. Fail
ure spon failure, disaster after disaster fol-
lowed, and frustrated all the efforts Of the
Irish patriots to organize an efficient expc.
dition to proceed from France. One great
difficulty was to obtain leader in the
French army Of sufficient experience and
prestige TO take charge of such an expedi
tion. They were all willing 10 go with II
large army, but none would venture with
mere experimental force. 1t was in vain
the Irish patriots, Tone aud Sullivan, rep
resented that the Irish people were united
in the cause; thsi they only needed a small