The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1867-01-30

! biography before us esMany friends of the Con
federate' Governor Of Louisiana, cognizant OF th,
close friendship and intimacy which existed be
tween u.s. instigated by an affectionate curioaity
awakened naturally by the unusual circumstances
in which, as people, we find ourselves placed al
this epoch OF time, desirous to know all that car
be made public Of the private life Of one so justly
beloved, who expiated in exile the crime Of haT.
ing fought for us and served us,thoso still CRATE
full friends have requested me to write sketch o1
his life and give it to the public
The task, o labor of love, was accordingly under
taken, andsatiBfactorily accomplished.
q. W. ALLEN was born on the 29th day of April,
1920, in Prince Edward County, Va, (the same
county that gave birth to Gen. JOE e. JoHNsroN).
In 1888 his father, DR.. THOMAS ALLEN removed
with his family to Missouri. In due course Of time
he went to Marion College, where he remained two
years, ran away from college, only II years old,
and began life on his own hook as teacher at
Grand Gulf, Miss. Here he commenced the study
OF law, and soon after was admitted to the bar.
In 1912 he raised company and went to Texas,
impelled thereunto by call for assistance against
Mexico, issued by President HOUSTON Captain:
ALLEN took part in the battle Of San Jacinto.
After tho termination OF that war he returned
to Mississippi, where he was married in 1874. In
1916 ho was elected to the Legislature Of Missis-
sippi, and at once took q prominent position in
the councils Of the State. His wife having died,
he removed to Tensas Parish, Louisiana, and in
1852 to ''Allendale, in West Baton Rouge and in
1853 was elected to the Legislature of Louisiana.
In 1859 he went to Europe, attracted thither by
the Italian war, but he arrived there too late to
take personal part in the struggle, as he had in
tended to do. He spent several months in travel,
and then retuaned home.
In 1861 he revisited Virginia, and on his return
went to Havana, where he remained till May. The
war had, in the meantime, kroken out, and MIR.
ALLEN at once enlisted as o private, though his
health was very weak. Upon the organization Of
the 4th Louisiana Regiment of Infantry, he was
elected Lieutenant-C Colonel. The regiment was
pi. In March, 1852, ALLEN became Colonel Of his
regiment, and reported to BEAUREaARD, at Jack
son, Tennessee. There is full description of the
battle OF Shiloh in which Colonel ALLEN was
wounded.
He was next ordered to Vicksburg, where he
remained till July, 1868, when that city fell.
There are some very interesting letters in this
work. giving closer insight into the Vicksburg
among them several from Gen. Jos. E.
JOHNSTON, dated October 10 and December "A,
1866, written in answer to inquiries by the au-
thorcsa.
In October, 1868, he was elected Governor Of
Louisiana, and his field Of operations was hence
forth in the Trans Mississippi Department. Ho
had previously been appointed Brigadior- General
in the Confederate army.
He remained ut his post, discharging his ar
duous duties, till the final catastrophe in June,
1865, when he became voluntary exile, md went
to Mexico. There he established the Mexican
Times, in November, 1866 and for q willie oditod
that paper. But his career was nearly run. He
died Afril %, in the city Of MoHco.
We have thus given mere outline Of the prin-
,ipal facts Of his life. We have Mother time nor
space to do more.
Gov. ALLEN, IN many respects, WIS Southern
representative man, and as such merits biogra-,
ply such as DIrs. DORSEY has prepared
Tho book being tribute Of affection, we do not
Ike to critcise, but wo should hayeiked it botter
1ad there been less Latin, Crock, German, French,
Spanish anu italian in it. Learning now appears
20 be the weak point with our fair authoress. It
Is not always convenient to carrya polyglot lexi-
ION in ones great coat pocket; and most persons
Eould be rerdant enough to think such an encun-
,rarce unnecessary on setting out to read Con-
ederate biography.
There are other objections also ON tho soore OF
aste, but still, cvon as it stands, tho book will
prove one Of great interest to many persons all
,ver our Southern land.