The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1866-12-05
THE FUNERAL.

notice. The committee of ladies, to
whom was entrusted the task of deco
rating the hall in which the body lay,
performed their work in the most adj
mirable manner. The hall was draped
in mourning throughout its whole
length, and wreaths, arranged in the
most tasteful manner, were hung in all
parts of it. The whole was beautiful
and imposing in the extreme. Our fair
friends labored to perform the duty
assigned to them with an industry and
which recalled to mind
their heroic labors in the darkest days
of the Confederacy.
Notwithstanding the severe rains OF
the three preceding days, rendering the
roads almost impossible, there were as
many ladies and gentlemen present as
could find comfortable sitting or stand
ing room in the hall, the largest that
could be found in the town. At an
early hour the visitors commenced to
arrive, and it was near IL o'clock be-
fore the audience was sufficiently quiet
for the exercises to commence. The
Masonic fraternity, TO which the de-
ceased belonged, came in with their
regalia, and took their seats in front,
near the stand on which the body was
placed. The members of "Stafford's
Brigade" entered and were seated on
the platform with the Speaker, Gov
ernor Moore, who was President of the
meeting, the Committee of Arrange
ments and number Of invited guests.
Among them, with his brigade badge,
we observed Wallace, the old and faith
full servant of General Stafford, who
had been with him from boyhood,
served him through his military life,
was present when he received his
wound, and nursed him on his dying
bed. We heard this faithful old do
nestle, after the meeting, close a de-
tailed account of the incidents attend
ing the wounding of his master with
the remark ~ would rather have beua
killed myself"
The exercises were opened with m
appropriate prayer from Rev. Mr.
White, of the Masonic fraternity. Gov
Moore then introduced Mr.. VIM. A.
seay, who had been selected to deliver
the address. The delivery occupied
forty-fve minutes, and the address was
listened to throughout its whole length
with the most profound attention. We
need not offer any apology to our read
ers for yielding to the general request
and giving up so much of our space to
its publication in our columns to-day.
The Rev. Mr.. Dove then pronounced
the blessing, and the audience quietly
retired from the room.
On Friday morning the coffin was
placed on a car constructed for the
purpose, which was handsomely drap.
ed by the ladies, and was carried, at
tended by an escort from the Ole
brigade, and a number of friends, te
the family cemetery near Cheneyville
On Saturday morning at II o'clock &
large concourse of his old friends ani
neighbors assembled to witness thu
concluding ceremonies at the grave
After the body was lowered into thu
Earth the Rev. Mr.. Lansdell, the family
pastor, delivered few exceedingly
appropriate remarks together with {
touching prayer. The whole was con
cluded with the benediction.
And thus was the body of our FRIEND
inferred in his native soil near thu
home of his childhood, amid the tear
of affectionate kinsmen and friends
many of whom had known him from
his childhood. The ceremonies wer
all exceedingly imposing, and show il
what esteem the deceased was hell
among those who knew him best. I
speaks well for the virtue Of our peopl
that such qualities as he possessed ar
so highly appreciated and esteeme
among us. We sincerely hope that hi
example may long be held in memoir
and initiated by those who are to com
after him.
The bereaved family of the deceased
whose wounds have been opened aires
by these scenes, have the heartfe
sympathy of all who admire. the chal
acter and eminent services of him ft
whom they now mourn.
On none does the blow fall heavie
than upon us. We grew up with poe
Lee Stafford, and have known him in
timately from his earliest childhood
A nobler soul never animated mort;
frame. Kind and generous in all hi
impulses he never proved false to til
dictates Of friendship. Long shall W
remember the happy days we hay
spent together and often shall we mour
over the premature loss Of one wb
promised so much usefulness in his da
and generation.
LETTER FROM A CoLoRED MAN.-Tt
following letter from colored man is pul