Natchitoches union. [volume] ([Natchitoches, La.]) 1859-1864, 1861-11-28
81 ~ S~~-@--e~-- As-~s-@----S->2
PRESENTATION OF A FLAG
TO THE
CH AS s E y RS A PIED.

Last Friday at nine o'clock A. \
> the "Chasseurs 4 pied" ass embed |
t full uniform at their usual place
{ rendezvous. There was a threefol
object In this military turn out---a fla
presentation, a religious service an
the benediction of the flag. The con
pany was out in full force, and thei
appearance and bearing was quit
martial. ~z.
Alta quarter past nine, the compan,
took of the line of march, fol owe,
by a detachment of the Natchitoche
Guards, and halted opposite til,
dwelling Of Mad. Alexander Buard
which was the place selected for th
presentation Of. The flag. Oa thei,
arrival, Capt. ]. B. Cloutier formed
the "Chasseurs a Pied, and "Natchi
toches Guards in line of battle, a. d
Lieutenant J. G.. Janin presented the
flag, and pronounced from the balcony
the following address, which was
much applaud ID.
GENTLEMEN, H5E
sihcerly regret that Mad. Janin,
to whose efforts, we are principally in
dcbted for our, flag, has been deprived
OF the pleasure Of presenting il to you
in person. You will be kind enough
gentlemen, to excuse her; her mour,iiang
as a sister is too recent, and the wound
that sheihas received with 30 much
courage, is yet bleeding. -
I" IL was my duty to replace her and
toaccePt this service, of confiding to
the bravery of the "Chasseurs a pied"
OF Natchtoches, the colurs which sym
bollze the cause of right against force
'-' e'esN h'"oS, B"i'oh WE are All
called OF to- protect, even to the she'd
ding Of blood.
u" dentlcmen,l am no orator. and
know no rhetorick but that of the
heart, which consists more in action
than word and with my whole heart
l tell you, that all of us whether chill
dren of Louisiana by birth, or born on
the soil of France, Claim to have the
same blood running in our veins, the
French blood. 1t was the civilizing
genius of France, which patiently con
qnered from barbarsm, the soil which |
low bears us il was the persevering]
industry of our fathers which rendered
it fertile, and for those frenchmen who
ascend the Mississippi and the Red
RIVER, explored by their ancestors,
Louisiana is still their country Here,
in @Natehitoches, the oldest French
colony inaLoulsiana, Frenchmen and
Jreo es arc equally, at home.
You understood this, gentlemen,
when under creole officers, chosen by
as more Immediately re-
presenting the local interests of the
'ountry, you spontaneously offered
yourselves, to take noble part in its
lefence, and to lend your aid, and de-
,ote yourselves to the success of
ause which is common to all. j,
Born protectors Of our wives, our
hildIren, our servants ahdImfproperty,
rmed by the State against invasion
rom abroad, we will even, Gentlemen.
circumstances require it, follow our
eaders, and bear our flag with honor :
any point of our territory where
ur independence may be Threatened
II this. we will defend everywhere |
galnst every assault and at any
iice, even 70 tnc pouring out OF our, [
lood."
Mr.. Ernest lie Gendre, selected by '
ne company to answer, expressed him. /
elf as follows
LIEUrENANT-
Selected by the company of "Chas- b
purs a Pied" to answer your address G
the presentation of this flag, | feel t
..aait .at my mission is almost useless, af- b
er the noble and generous words t
'hich You have just addressed to us. $
What more, indeed, can / say, than n
D retrace those SO truly french and 4
atriotic sentiments which You have =