New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1874-09-16
rHE THIRD PRECINCT
THE LAST TO SURRENDER
GALLANT CONDUCT Of CAPTAIN lAWleR

When the forces Of Rey. Joseph, Chau.
mette and BahRke, with those of Lawler,
comprising the Second Battalion, found
themselves compelled to leave the field,
they carried Oft their guns and fortified
themselves in the third precinct station.
The first two off GERS were uhhurt. Chsu-
,nette had slight wound in the hand, and
Bahnke one in the leg. The battalion had
never got fairly into action, but Captain
Lawle- had received two wounds, one
slight one in the left hand. and dangerous
and painful one across the left abdomen.
deeply grazing the two lower ribs.
After making sure his command would
reach the station in safety he started alone
70. medical assist ance. but all the shops
bein: closed he went to the St. Louis Hotel,
where DR.. Newman dressed his wound. He
then tried to obtain some reet and ease, but
about nine O'Clock. heard there was no one
at the third precinct. and left the hotel to'
60 there.
During this time affairs had gone badly
a. tha. station. Unaware Of the exact
state OF the calamity, but hearing and Civ.
ing credence to the widest rumors, cut off
from ali intelligence, compelled by their
situation 70 maintain guard to exclude all
outsiders, the men we're rapidly becoming
demoralized, and the officers loudly com.
planned Of the lack Of aid they expected.
Order was fast disappearing. an attack
feared when stampede was sure to occur,
weepin. women touching the weaker parts
Of the sterner sex still more. at nine o'clock
it needed but . word to cause the place to
be vacated.
The arrival Of Lswler changed this as if
bv magic. With his shirt stained with
blood, every motion causing his wound to
give him pain, he sat in his chair and re.
stored order ont of chaoe. Rey, Chaumette
and Joseph left him to seek aid at the Gus.
tomhouse and did not return. BY eleven
o'clock, with the aid Of Sergeant Bahnke, he
had SO tar inspired confidence that even
the pickets were cheerful on their posts
and the enthusiasm of others 20 aroused that
he permitted chem 10 60 outside and seek
for recruits. In little while they brought
to him abou: Fifty more men, whom he
readily armed. He then had q force of
about 125 men and two cannon, plenty OF
ammunition and reeolute will to Offset the
disaster of the day. which. he continually
said he couldn't understand The change
in the aspect of things in two hours to the
eye of visitor was most marked.
After twelve O'Clock the White League
began to extend its pickets below Canal
streets. At about two they reached the
corner Of Canal and Bienville streets. At
this time It occurred to Captain Lawler
that there nigh: be come men in the Gus.
tomhouse who would be OF more service at
jackson Square. With ten men he started.
very little skirmishing followed, and he
obtained passage and reached the Canal
street entrance. Entering, he could only
obtain forty men who were willing to share
his peril. With his fifty men he marched
back TO the station. Redisposing of the
men. he felt as if he might take some rest,
and stretched himself on sofa.
At five he awo oke and another change had
taken place. With :he exception Of the
new recruiting officer and few of his men,
not more than ten, every man of his force
had disappeared. Not a man of the Metro
poltan Brigade remained. He only said,
well, We'll DO what We can with what
we've GOT Abont half an hour later thirty
more men came IL. An hour after this the
precinct was fred On, and knowing that the
White League must have been informed of
his movements during the night, trusting
the desertions which crippled MIN were un.
known. and hoping against hope that help
might come. he made show Of force, and
two of his 1nen were killed. At this the rest
melted away. He was almost alone, and word
was brought to MIN that the State House
would soon surrender. No matter, he
would not. At half past eight he was told
it had surrendered, he had better do the
same, and Colonel Angel would come to
the station. Unwilling to expose his weak
ness he cleared the. squares around him by
a few scattering shots. and consented to
meet Colonel Angel ''half way" In the
meantime the cannon, from Leeds foundry,
had been brought down Bourbon. street.
by about 2OOO men.
The disabled. deserted. defeated, but still
defiant Lavler gave up his sword. He had
five men and two gums to surrender.
With the instinct Of . soldier he sought
the Cnstomhouse. and made his final report
to his superiors. Then he started for home
Friends gathered round and begged him to
stay where he was safe, or at least take of
his uniform. No, he would 60, and undis-
guised. Crossing his arms over his wound
he wearly went up Canal street.
At the corner OF Royal street company
OF White Leagrers. flushed with triumph.
passed him. To the notifications this last.
best and bravest Of the captains of the Me:-
ropolitan Brigade, was added the pang of
seeing many OF the most trusted of those
who promised fidelity to him the night be-
fore marching with shotguns on their shoul
ders az gleeful as the rest. Here Maurice
Hart. Esq. and few Of his friends surround.
ed him and generously insisted that he
should not be permitted 70 60 through the
streets unprotected: and they escorted him
home.
At rest at last he vas taken care Of and
al will say of HIM and his men, desperately
wounded chief. ''they wers beaten, but not
Late in the day. An incident occurred
which revived his spirits. Colonel Angel.
by two other gentlemen. called
1t his room. and with few pleasant words.
returned him his sword. 81 am very glad