New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1870-10-05
s.
GENERAL JOHN F. APPLETON.

We copy from the Bangor Whig and
Courier the following communication TO
that paper relating to the death.Of General
John F. Appleton, who was at one period
during the war on staff duty at New
Orleans, and made many acquaintance and
warm friends here. General Appleton was
o few months since appointed United
States District Judge in Texas. but the fail
ure Of his health prevented his entering
upon the responsible duties OF that position
We quote the communication referred to:
The Whig aad Courier Of Friday an
nounced the death Of General John r. Ap-
pleton at the residence OF his father How
many "reminiscences sad and happy OF the
days that are gone that announcement re-
calls to memory, of many who reads this
brief tribute to his memory.
General Appleton has grown up from
childhood among us. and OF d brave, gener-
Gus and cOmpaniOnable nature he was from
my earliest recollection general favOrite.
He was industrious at school, and gave ear
ly promise of fine powers as an advocate.
From an early age he showed warm SYM
pathy for the oppressed wherever found,
and among his boy companions advocated
with warmth the freedom of the slave when
such sentiments were most unpopular.
In the spring of 1856, ut the graduation
exercises of the Boys High School, he took
the first prize for defamation. He pre-
served high character in his college course
at Bowdoin, where he graduated in the
class of 1863. After leaving college he read
law with James 5. Rowe, Esq, but his heart
was in the war, and finally throwing his
books aside, he raised a company and en-
tered the Twelfth Maine regiment as q CAP
tain, and started OH the Butler expediti0n
for Ship Island, in the New England
division. For u long time the Twelfth
Maine, as a regiment, saw no active duty.
1t remained at New Orleans during the sum
mer of 1862, inactive, and it was not until
the arrival of General Banks in the winter
of lS6:}lS64 that it saw much military duty
in the field. After the arrival of General
Banks in the Department of tho Gulf, there
was much activity in raising colored troops,
but there existed a strong prejuelice ut the
time against them among the officers
The few regiments raised by General But
ler had been Oificered by men of no social
standing, and it was the common talk that
no gentleman would be an officer in a mig.
ger regiment Even General Weitzel.
afterward commander of negro corps,
and a warm advocate of their efficiency.
openly expressed his dislike to them, and
accepting positions in cOlOred regiments.
The officers OF these regiments in cOnse-
duence Of this feeling were for a time gen
orally ostracised socially.
One day Captain Appleton spoke to me
of his intention to take a negro regiment,
and in answer to my question whether he
could stand the social Ostracism attending
it, said that it would be a most trying posi-
ton, but that when he thought Of the mo-
tad tn 20
when he felt the necessity of arming the
negroes and OF having them well CON-
nlanded, and. convinced as he was, that he
could be more useful in q cOlOred regiment,
as the negroes were then situated, than
elsewhere, he thought it would be unpa-
triotic in him to refuse a command if offered
him. And SO. against the protest Of his
associates. enduring the ridlcule of many
with whom he had served SO long, he took a
despised command.
The cOlOred regiment to which he was ap-
pointed was not fully raised, and by accept
ing his position at the time it was first
offered, he would escape the fighting at Port
Hudson; and so remaining with his old cOm
pany captain. with a colOnels commission
in his pocket. he marched down the La
follrche. up the Teche, and through the Red
river country with General Banks, until the
junction with General Augur was effected,
and Port Hudson surrounded by the Union
army.
Most gallantly he served his country
through that trying siege. Day after day
he saw the army wasting; he saw the men,
bers of his company and regiment lessening
each succeeding day. He witnessed the
slaughter of our troops on the twenty-sev-
enth of Nav and the fourteenth of June, but
ever brave and hopeful, he encouraged his
men and lived through that horrid butchery
until the final triumph, and then the brave
young colonel, having proved his cOnstancy
in the field, assumed a despised command,
and in his position socially showed a moral
courage superior to his heroism in the field
On the twenty of May, while our
soldiers were struggling through the thOrns
and underbush, cut down by rebel bullets
at every step, q small detachment OF men
reached the ditch in front Of the rebel
works, and there few brave men, the rem
nant of brigade, exhausted stopped. But
Captain Appleton alone among ten thou
sand who fought that day, mounted the
rebel parapet and stood there alone facing
the whole rebel army, a mark for thou
sand rifles, stood there powerless except to
die. The following evening willie talking
the affair over. he told me that at the time
of his greatest danger, this passage oc-
Cured to him with great force, and he
found strength in dwelling upon it. Not
IL sparrow falls to the ground without the
knowledge of Your Heavenly Father, and
We are of more value than many sparrOws."
a Confederate officer told me after the sur
render, that as he saw that young man
standing there so calm and brave he could
not bear to see him die, and he told his men
not to fire upon him.
In the prime of opening manhood, with
fine talents, high social position and bright
of Mninn'S nnhlnct
has gone from us.
was appointed and confirmed by the Senate
of the United States District Judge of East
ern Texas, which appointment he was
obliged TO decline by reason of his failing
health
| add a copy of part of the letter OF
General Appleton to Hon. John Peters, de-
clining his appointment:
Hon. John A. Peters:
Ny dear sir, if you will think of what
the emotions of man sick and weary OF
vain search for health, a stranger among
strangers, must be, when he receives tidings
that his friends far away have been mind
ful of him beyond his deserts, and have
shown by their acts the greatest confidence
in him. calling around them their friends
and vOuching to them for the sick mans IN
tegrity and general fitness for d responsible
and most enviable place, you will under
stand somewhat Of my feelings on reading
the dispatch Mr.. Blaine SO kindly sent me,
announcing my appointment as United
States District Judge, for the Eastern Dis
trict of Texas. But you can, l think,
hardly appreciate them in their full force,
by an effort of the imagination for a man
with my complaint, losing in strength, in
will, power, and something l fear i'll mind,
gains in all those emotions of the tenderer
and more susceptible nature. Ineed hardly
state then how deeply obligated and CRATE