New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1876-05-24
Lieutenant Woodruff Monument at
Shreveport.


broke out in the city Of Shreveport, which
swept hundreds of its Inhabitants to the
grave. At the time the pestilence COM
menced there was on duty in this section
Eugene A. Woodruff, lieutenant of enei-
neers of the United States army, engaged
in the work of removing the great Red river
raft. While prosecuting his duties above
here in the raft region, the news reached
him of the spread of the fever, that num-
bers of men, women and children were
daily being carried to heir graves, and,
although entirely unacolimated and with
ont any personal experience of the treat
ment of yellow fever. with sublime heroiem
he came into the midst Of the dying and the
dead, joined the Howard Association, and
went earnestly, untiringly and devOtedly
to nursing the sick, and alleviating the
wants OF the distressed. HIS cheerful
presence, watchful care and kindly touch
often brought the light of hope again
to the eye of the Respondent. and
did much to relieve their sufferings
and queli the ravages Of the almost inexOr-
able disease. Alas, that one who had so
nObly risked his life tor the sake OF his fel-
low men, should himself fail q victim to
death! But so it was ordained, and the
hero, greater than if he had won lasting
fame in arms, yielded to the encroachments
OF the disease, and gave up his life, mar
tyr to those he lopged to serve. In the
prime of life, when il opened fairest and
brightest before him, he gave it up without
a murmur at the 6ispensatiOn OF that God
IN whom he trusted ard upon whom he re-
lied, regretting OF the j. wing of his aged
and widowed u Iitr. family and friends.
HIS memory is sti, ir.sd. anG his character,
so noble, manly, generous and devoted, will
be long cherished III the hearts of those who
knew and loved him.
A few weeks since Colonel L. L. Tomkies,
of this city, received letter from Mr..
Charles B. Chase. OF ST. Louis, who was
with Lieutenant Woodruff here as draughts-
man, asking him if he would receive and
superintend. at the request of Lieutenant
WOodruff's mother and himself, the putting
up of q headstOne over his grave. He r
piled in the affirmative. On yesterday it
was received here, and under Colonel Ton
kies' directions placed in position by Mr..
w. II. Kinney. We visited the cemetery to-
day, and found the heacstOne to be of the
finest and purest marble, resting on gray
limestone pedestal about two feet in thick
ness. The headstone is about four feet
high, two feet wide and six inches in thick
ness. 1t is very neat indeed. At the head
of the inscription appear the cross and
crown, in very beautiful design. The in-
scriptiOn reads:
To nv beloved son
EUGENE A. WOODRUFF
Lieutenant of Engineers. U s. A.,
member Of the Howard Association during the
Great Epidemic
Died September 80, 1873
Aged 81 wears
II was sick and We visited me-"
The stones were furnished by the marble
house of H. & D. Sale, No ll19 Olive street,
st. Louis, and are very creditable. The
expense of the came has rested entirely, We
believe, upon the aged mother of the Ia
mented dead. Mrs. Harriet Woodruff, of
Independence, Iowa. She was devotedly
attached to her son. and, although lily able |
to do 90, from pecuniary reasons, has placed |
this testimonial over his heretofore almost |
unmarked grave. Aud here we will be |
paldoned for sayIng that it was the duty of |
the people of Shreveport and of the How |
ard Association to have placed a mon ument |
over the grave of Lieutenant Woodruff |
for greater love or heroism hath no man |
shown, for in a land almost of strangers,
he laid down his life in the cause of human |
ity. In hastily gazing back at the many |
testimonials. complimentary presents. med |
als, etc awarded to the survivors, the ap- |
of q portion of the funds re- |
naming on hand since the close of the cpl |
demic could not have been more appro- |
priately or justly applied than to commen-
crate the virtues and her0ism of Lieutenant |
+. A. Woodruff, as an evidence of the high |
and universal esteem in which he was held |
by the people, for and with whom ne Ia |
bored, and for whom he sacrificed his life |
in the prime of manhood.-Shrerepor Tele- |
gram.