Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1866-05-17
Death Of Henry Watkins Allen.


The statement which appeared in th
| Picayune few days ago, relative to tn
death of Gov. Fl. w. Allen, has been ia u.
confirmed. There are few men VIII,
could have departed this life, who woul'
be more generally mourned throughou
the limits of Louisiana. He was en-
deared to every class of our people b.
his brilliant qualities of head and heart
by his chivalric bearing as a gentleman
and soldier, abd his ever generous, &c
nisl and unsel6sh virtues and manners
He was, indeed, the Chevalier Bayard O
the late war, the prcux chevalier of Lou
isiana, sans peur, sans reprOche. The
qualities which shone with such splendol
during his brief military career, hac
marked his whole course Of life, A ma
tive of lower Virginia, Of the best blood
of the Old Dominion, he had received Q
good education, and emigrated to Missls
sipp so soon as he reached manhood
Here he'was engaged some years in cot
ton planting. Some fifteen years ago he
removed osthis State, and purchased
fine sugar plantation in West Baton
Rouge. He was sue ,essful as planter
and having secured a competency, en-
gagged in the politics and legislation ol
the State, ASH prominent member of the
General Assembly. His intelligence
6rmness and earnestness gave him d
conspicuous position and great influence
in the political arena and in public
affairs. He was ready speaker and
writer After engaging in political life,
he mades visit to Europe, and wrote and
published very pleasant account of his
travels, under the title of The Sugar
Planter Abroad" When the secession
movement began, he took prominent
part in the drama, and it was in his hands
the Pelican flag was first unfurled on the
adoption of the secession ordinance at
Baton Rouge, on the 26th of January,
1861. When war became inevitable, he
Immediately offered his services TO the
State in the field, and was elected Lieut..
Oolouel of that fine regiment, the 4th
Louisiana, and abandoning his valuable
plantation and luxurioas home, EN-
barked in the hard, perilous and labor
ious life of a soldier, The sickness Of
the Colonel compelling his resignation,
Lieut. Colonel Allen succeeded to the
command of the 4th, and ever afterwsrd
led il in battle through many bloody
scenes, until he. received the terrible
wound at Baton Rouge, which ever after
wards disabled him from active service.
He had been previously wounded in
other actions, especially in his first reg
ular battle-that Of Shiloh-where, de
spite his wounds, he remained on the
field among the very last Of the small
rearguard which protected the retirement
Of Beauregard's army from the held
which it had won. On that occasion his
appearance on the field, all covered
with blood, his. horse riddled with
balls, his regiment almost anuihilated,
and the army in great confusion and dis
array, was one of the most heroic incl
dents of that sanguinary conflict Wher.
ever be could rally score Of men he
would beg them to stand by him, and by
the inspiration of his daring and enthu-
siasm would induce them,to deliver one
more blow at the advancing foe. After
the affair at Shiloh, Col. Allen was en-
gagged in active service at Vicksburg and
elsewhere. until ths expedition against
Baton Ronge, projected by Gen. Van
Dors, and commanded by John c. Breck.
inridge, on which occasion Col. Allen led
the brigade on the Confederate left, which
swept through the. Federalcamps, killing
Gen. Williams, and many other valuable
officers and men, and reaching the sub
urbs, we're about to enter the town, when
Col Allen received terrible wound,
which broke both his legs This event
produced partial panic and some coz
fusion in the Confederate lines, and Gen.
Breckenridge hearing ofthe failure of the
ram Arkansas, determined 10 withdraw
and abandon the attempt to occupy the
town. The wounds of Col. Allen, IL was
thought for a long time, would prove
mortal. Few men have survived so long
such severe fractures. But his great for
titude. and skillful surgery deferred ihis
fatal result, and he finally recovered so
far as to induce him to offer himself for
active service But his friends thought
that his enthusiasm and earnestness had
over-estimated his physical powers, and
against his wishes and warm protesta-
tons, he was unanimously elected to the
GoEernorship Of that portion of the State
which was held by the Confederates
The incidents Of his administration are
too familiar to our readers TO require re
capitalization at this time. That portion
of the history Of our State has yet to be
written Suffice IL to say, that during
his administration he displayed his pecn-
liar characteristicsin a strong light, and
won the confidence Of all the people who
recognized his authority, by his honesty,
his enthusiasm, his generosity, and his
-untiring energy.-N o. Picayune