Dallas herald. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1849-1873, 1866-06-16

/ Rouge he must have experienced TO
an intense degree, the battle glow of
pleasure, the guadia certamiauS of
the heroic warrior, In charging n
battery at the head of his regiment
at Baton Rouge, both his legs were
shattered by n shell, He fell in the
very moment of success, and was
carried from the field, rs it was
thought, mortally wounded. But
after many months Of intense suf-
fcring, the care of his friends and
devoted surgeon, aided by his re-
marlably vigorous constitution, re-
suited in partial recovery. He was
promoted to the rank of brigadier
general for his conspicuous gallan.
try, went to the Trans Mississippi
department to organize brigade,
was elected Confederate Governor
in November, 1868, was inaugural
ed in January, 1864, succeeding
Gov. Thomas o. Moore, and contin-
ued in Office until the lst of June,
1865.
In the discharge of the functions
of his ofllce Governor Allen dis
played great administrative capaci-
ty, and talents of the highest order.
He addressed himselfto the work Of
relieving the general and severe dis
tress suffered by the people of that
Fart of the State within the Conted-
crate lines. Poverty and suffering
were universal. The people lacked
all the luXuries, very many Of the
comforts, and not few of the ne
cesssities of civilized life-ragged
starvation called tor food and cloth
ing. The supplies were exhausted
for army use within the Confederate
lines, or were destroyed by floods or
by invasions. Conscription had tn,
ken away most Of the able bodied
men-impressment had exhausted
provisions, cattle, and work ami
mails. White women were plough
ing in cornfelds in torn hGmespun,
or driving lame horses with rickety
carts to some distant place in search
ofa little bacon or meal. The wealthy
were reduced to pauperism--tho
poor to squalid wretchedness. The
accumulated suffcrings Of the un-
complaining heroic people are be-
yond all description.
Gov. Allen devoted himself to the
relief Of this distress. He had moth
ing to operate with but depreciat-
ed State currency, whereof forty
dollars represented one dollar in
coin. But he established q labora-
tory for the preparation of indigen-
ious medicines. He established a
dispensary, from which a million of
dollars worth of medicines were dis
tributed in twelve months. Helm
ported and distributed forty or fifty
thousand pairs of cotton cards. He
appointed agents in many places
and gave them many steamboat
loads of corn to distribute. lie
contracted with mill owners and Sc
cured their services for the distress
ed people. He raised, armed, and
equipped fine regiment of cavalry.
He built foundry and had a fine
furnace in operation. He printed
and distributed five thousand spell
ling books and as many grammars.
He imported and sold at very
moderate price twenty thousand cal
leo dresses, and quantity Of gene
raj merchandise, almost beyond be-
lief. He made harness, clothing
farming implements, He watched
theConfedetate officials with n hawk
eyed vigilance and had many hun
drod cases of oppressive or thought
less action corrected. He fought for
the legal rights of his people and
stood between the proprietor and
the careless commissary. Yet he
gave powerful helping hand to
good men in office, and worked with
enthusiasm for the cause he thought
just. Never was man more pa.
tient. His Office was thronged all
day with people who had some aid
to ask. He listened to each one,
however humble, until his or her
story was done, and then in his
quick off hand prompt way gave an
order for assistance or relief. If an
Arkansas, Missouri or Texas soldier
wanted shirt or pair Of shoes,
the order was issued. If poor la
dy's last mule had been impressed,
an aide-de- camp was sent instantly
to head quarters. If news was
wanted of some young private in
North Carolina or Virginia, secreta-
ries were ordered to write at once.
If the people needed an appeal, the
proclamation was written and print
ed and circulated in ten hours. The
Governors office became the great
centre and focus of excitement
Men and women came from Arkan-
sas and Texas for the aid they could
not get at home, and the Missouri
ans claimed Allen astheir Governor.
Gen. Smith and all his staff loved
and trusted him. Every day in the
week, including Sundays, and all
the year, to the very day of his de-
parture from Shreveport to Mexico,
continued this unending labor, and
on the very day of the surrender
Allen seemed to takeas much pleas
ure in giving a poor woman an or,
der for a bushel of meal as he did
in presenting a sword to Gen. Po-
lipnac. The amount of reliefhe gave
is beyond estlmate-the manner in
which IL was given is beyond de.
scription. This giants work lasted
fifteen months-the last day was
the same as the first "God bless
! =, -. AL, ~ so;d fha Moor. rUo-