The Donaldsonville chief. [volume] (Donaldsonville, La.) 1871-current, 1876-09-23
Death Of Capt. william Sims.
Assumption Chronicle ]

l.
AS already announced in the NOR
,uary column of last weeks issue, this
amented gentleman breatlled his last
1t Glenwood, gu Friday, the 8th day
Of September, 1876, at 8 O'Clock A. NJ.
It can not be expected, even at the
risk of unbinding fresh wounds, to
pass unnotieed one whose life had
been replete with stirring events aud
whose character was distinguished by
marked traits. Capt. Sims was born
at Donaldsonville, parish of Ascen-
sion, on the 4th day of April, 1888,
but removed here with his parents
while a mere lad aud grew up to
splendid manhood in this parish.
After having attained sufficient pro-
ficiency in his elementary studies, he
entered the University of North Car
olina, Chapel Hill, in company with
the following classmates, then all of
Assumption Il. N. Sims, Esq, This
sole surviving brother); the brave Ma
ior Whit. Martin, killed in action at
the siege of Vicksburg; R. L. Pugh,
ESQ, and r. C. Martin, Jr., both plan
tiers residing in this parish. 1mmedi-
ately after his creditable graduation
at Charel Hill he returned home,
making the whole way from North
Carolina here on foot, not from neces-
sity, but to indulge his strong passion
for pedestrian exercise, and found
our country on the verge of gigantic
civil war. Capt. Sims started with
one of the first military organizations
that left the bayou for the seat of
war, the Phoenix Guards. whose of
ficers were Capt. afterwards General)
Francis L. Nichols, Lieutenants L.
ID. Nichols, Victor st. Martin, Whit.
Martin, and Capt. Sims as Orderly
Sergeant. Upon the organization OF
companies into regiments at Camp
Moore, the Phoenix Guards were at
tached TO the Eighth Louisiana Regi-
ment C. S. Volunteers, and Capt.
Nichols became Lieutenant Colonel
of the Eighth. As soon us the Eighth
was formed it proceeded without de-
lay to Virginia, and was soon after
its arrival baptised in the fire of the
first Manassas.
All of the original company officers
of the Phoenix Guards, Captain L. D.
Nichols, Victor st. Martin and Ben.
Birdsall, were killed. Lieut.. Whit
Martin having been called to new
field of duty as Major of the Twenty
sixth La. Regiment, the Orderly Ser,
geant, VIM. Sims, was made the last
captain of the Phoenix Guards, and
led it's survivors until his capture in
one of the Rappahannock battles. Al
the battle of Fredericksburg he was
severely wounded and -incapacitated
from service for several months. Upor
his recovery he rejoineds his company
and, together with large portion o.
Hays Louisiana Brigade, was cap,
tured ON the Rappahannoek eighteel
months prior to the close of the wal
For eighteen long, weary months hs
was confined as prisoner of war a
Johnson's Island, and was only re
| leased at tile cessation of hostilities
between the States. He then returned
here, and after completing his lega
course was admitted to practice in tn,
courts of this State. A copartnershil
was formed between two ex- Confed
crate officers, Hiram H. Carver, Esq.
and William Sims. under the mann
and style of Carver & Sims. Mr.
Carver being elected District Attorne,
of the Fourth judicial District, com
prising the parishes of Assumption
Ascension. st. james, st. John aut
st. Charles, in 1866, was NECESSARILY
absent on official business some fou
months in the year, and the JUNO
member of the firm had almost exclu
sive charge of its onerous civil affairs
which, by the nntiriug industry an,
talents of Mr.. Sims, Invariably me
with success.
On the 4th of April, 1869, Capt
Sims married one of the most charm
ing and accomplished daughters o
Mr.. George w. Jones, Miss Lizzie
and the future of no loving twain
! ever appeared more auspicious. TIL
| young husband was full of health
hope and admirable self-reliance, ant
the blooming young bride glowed witt
devotion, and cheered with woman
sweetest smiles the joyful and san
guine anticipations of a fond associate
in life's stormy struggles.
In 1870, Capt. Sims, with his usua
sagacity, quickly perceived that hi
native State, SO deeply involved il
civil discussions and political convul
sioas, was rapidly declining in indus
trial, social and business interests
and his opinion was that it was bette
to seek another location. He state,
to the writer, 81 will seek anothe
field of operation ia new and rapid,
increasing city in Missouri-kansa
City, with which desire TO identif
myself, and where my children cal
grow up within a great commercial
centre. There | will have a full op
portunity to engraft myself upon !.
| people who guarantee all possibl
educational facilities; in short, wild
field in which ! can become connecte,
and firmly established with all tn
social, industrial aud moral institu
tons of aprogressive, prosperous an,
enlightened community.n
With this commendable view i